Love Is Never Ugly

Chapter 53

On the marrow the maiden awoke in former bedroom, the one she slept in at the farmhouse she once lived in. That's when she realized that she had come home at last. First thing she did was leap from her bed, dress herself quickly, and lightly ran down the tottering stair to greet her beloved father.

"Father! Father! Father I'm home!" She called happily.

Lucifer was sitting idle and alone in the house, he was so overcome with grief and solitude that he spent that whole year in that same spot. Barely ever moving it, mourning the loss of his dear child. 

"Father it's me. Charlotte."

His dull eyes looked up at her in disbelief and he became afraid to hope.

"Charlotte?" His body trembled. "No. It cannot be. You are dead. Is this some phantom vision sent to be by cruel fate?"

She knelt down at his feet, took hold of his hand, and tenderly held it to assure the man that she was truly alive and truly here with him. 

"I'm not dead Father. I'm alive and I've come home."

She embraced him with loving arms and kissed him a hundred times. Soon Lucifer's sorrow turned to joy and he returned his daughter's affections. 

"Oh my Charlotte! My little apple blossom!" He said hugging her tightly. "I thought I would never see you again. You can't imagine how much I have missed you."

"I have missed you too Father. I am so happy to be with you again."

"But I don't understand. I thought you were to be eaten alive by that monster."

"No Father, he spared my life and throughout the year he took care of me."

"How did you escape?"

"I didn't. We worked out an arrangement. I would spend the year with him and at the year's end I would return home."

"I don't think I've ever been so relieved in my entire life."

At the moment he finally took notice of her gold-wrought gown.

"Charlotte where on earth did you get such a garment?"

"I have more good news for you Father." She smiled. "Not only have I come home but I have brought back riches that will restore your lost fortune. You'll never want for anything ever again."

"You're right I will never want for anything  because you have returned to me." He kissed her forehead. "I shall send for your sister, I'm certain that she will be just as joyful as I am when she sees you. She has married since you left but I know that she's missed you terribly."

Helsa was a very talented actress. She had fooled her father into believing she was just as grieved at Charlotte's absence as he was, when she heard that her sister was alive and had come home, she hoped that Charlotte had been torn to shreds by the beast. But when she saw her radiant and looking like a princess, her jealousy came back full force. However she concealed to her best abilities. 

"Oh I've missed you sister dear." Helsa said embracing her.

"And I have missed you Helsa." Charlotte said returning the embrace with a smile. 

"This is your sister?" Helsa's husband said, marveling at her outstanding beauty. At once he knelt before her. "Your highness, I am at your service."

"Oh stand up you idiot!" Helsa snapped. "She is not royalty!"

"She's not?"

"No." Charlotte chuckled. "Do not think of me as your princess or your lady, think of me as your sister for now that you have married Helsa, you shall be brother to me."