All that night and all the next morning they had remained in bed together. The previous feelings of exhilaration Chammielle had felt at his various forms of romantic advances paled in comparison to the bigger picture. The long waking hours spent exploring each other and the slow and peaceful interims falling asleep in each other's arms flowed together in a rhythmic current.

She was in love with her husband. And he with her. And there was nothing to stop them.

Finally they'd left their room and ventured back to the coffee shop. The caffeine fueled them and the abundant pastries sated their increased appetites. The last night of the festival was spent dancing and enjoying the last of the fair in each other's company, followed by another sleepless night.

Their days in Torheit were like this. Every morning locked away together, and every afternoon out in the fife exploring, eating, and stopping for coffee. They made a lot of new friends this way. Everyone cheering them on with each new love bite or public display of their affection for one another. Including Chammielle shoving Will into an alley to have her way with him in broad daylight.

Their goodbyes were sweet and the Echinae family gave them a large basket of goodies for their journey. Junie baked Augustus a pie to have for himself as a token of her affection. Tildy begged them to have a daughter soon. Taft bowed to Will and he to him. The whole of them were sad to see them go, but they promised to return next year for the Cheese Eating Hare festival.

They sat together in the carriage with the bumps in the road still dressed as Bill and Cham Cornwall.

"I can't believe how enjoyable that was. We really must bring the Echinaes presents next year."

Will stroked her arm with his fingers, letting them splay over her skin as he counted her freckles.

"Mhm. Something for all of them, though perhaps not royal gifts. I'm sure if we brought Tildy a diamond rabbit friend for Munster they would become suspicious."

She giggled and kissed his cheek and he caught her face before she could turn away and captured her lips.

She sighed as they parted. Every one of her senses was his.

"I can't believe you pulled me into that alley yesterday..."

She let her fingers hook his ear and tug lightly.

"I didn't hear you objecting, Bill."

He rolled his eyes and gasped dramatically.

"Oh! But the propriety!"

She slapped his arm and he laughed.

"Honestly, if we hadn't found that alcove I was sure we'd be spotted. My wife has become a little minx when she was so shy but a week before..."

His fingers trailed over her bodice lightly and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"My Sweet William is very sweet indeed... I can't seem to get enough of you. Nor shall I ever."

He kissed her hair and moved to play with her fingers as they were jostled lightly in the coach.

"We have a long while for me to try and give you all I can. Eventually I'm sure you'll grow tired of me."

She butted her forehead with his and stared into his eyes.

"Never."

...

They stopped for luncheon at another inn, but this time a few people whispered as they spied them. News had traveled of royal wedding and the new princess this far no doubt. And it wasn't Will's fault he looked so much like his portraits. The Pink Palace only hired the best painters.

Fortunately, almost no one approached them. They were dressed to plain. Their coach did not look royal. And they seemed entirely content and exhilarated in each other's company. The matching gold rings were a sign of a little wealth but nothing telling.

They left shortly after, leaving a large tip for the establishment. It didn't matter if they knew who they were anymore. They'd be the Crown Prince and Princess again very soon.

"You know...I think I'd like to keep wearing this ring. It might be my favorite piece of jewelry you've given me so far."

He chuckled and eyed his own ring.

"They're rather plain. No jewels. Are you sure I can't have a more elaborate piece made for you?"

She shook her head.

"No, it's from our honeymoon. And we match."

His smile said it all but he annunciated it for them both.

"Then I shall never take mine off."

They talked the whole way, napping here and there, and distracting themselves with new discoveries in each other's features. He thought her hair could be seen as strawberry blonde now. She thought his eyes looked like a dark stone well as it went down.

Finally the air that flowed through the coach windows began to smell like home and Chammielle opened the pane to peer out.

"Kuchen..."

The streets were less narrow and the buildings stretched to three stories in some places. The little meadow they rode through into the village was dotted with wildflowers and tall grass, and doves and quail flew up from it as they went by. But most of all, the scent of flaky crescents and Bavarian cream flowed from the township and revived her. As well as her appetite.

"Oh, I didn't know how much I missed this place..."

Will hugged her about the middle and set his head on top of her own as he pulled her to sit between his legs.

"It's your home. All of your younger days were spent here. And I want to find every hiding place, tea shop, and bit of trouble you got into."

They went through the streets drawing very few eyes, until they rounded a bend and Chammielle's eyes flew wide.

"The Jewel Box..."

Royal guards were outside along with Chef Malbeck and a few palace kitchen staff. The windows were boarded up and the sign was in the landlord's hands. He was red in the face and shaking his head. A few people had gathered around.

Will called out to Augustus.

"Halt!"

They exited and walked together to the raucous scene.

"I don't know these people, and the Lord of Kuchen has not yet returned to tell me these things! Who's to say you don't just have some fancy coats and say you have some sort of decree? Sweet Day! I've never heard of such a thing!"

Chammielle rushed forward through the onlookers.

"Mr. Turst!"

He put his fists on his hips and his eyes were still fearsome even as he looked at her. She remembered suddenly she'd been afraid of this man as a child. Not anymore.

"Oh, the bastard is back. Lady Kuchen, these men are spouting all sorts of nonsense about a holiday for the princess. But this isn't a bakery anymore. Your grandfather was evicted two days ago. He couldn't pay the rent."

She grit her teeth and smiled serenely for all to see, turning to the Chef and royal guard.

"Gentlemen, you have not told Mr. Turst about this being paid for by the Royal Treasury?"

The obstinate man shouted at that.

"Who cares! I'm out money and it isn't even a bakery anymore! Tell these men to find another place to hold their holiday! Or else I'll take it out of your father, you half blood twit!"

"WHO DARES CALL MY WIFE SUCH OUTRAGEOUS INSULTS?"

His voice carried all through the street and the shock of it made the crowd part for him. Will marched forward and gasps punctuated the silence. He was unmistakable with his shoulders back and his ire swirling about him like a storm. She'd never seen him angry before. It was like a cold break had suddenly rolled in and the air was sucked from you lungs at the drop in pressure.

"Your highness! These men are-"

"I KNOW WHO THEY ARE! WHO ARE YOU TO INSULT HER HIGHNESS THE CROWN PRINCESS OF GARTEN?"

He came up and stood just behind her, letting his hands rest on the tops of her shoulders. He was doing this for her.

The wobbly faced man's red coloring drained out of his skin as his mouth fell open.

"That little welp is..."

She could feel his anger behind her. She set one hand atop his to soothe him and show her affection for him to the crowd. It just so happened to be the left hand sporting the simple gold ring.

Mr. Turst eyed it and sneered.

"Oh I get it, I'm having one being put over on me. You're just some look alike. I knew the Lord was fond of the old codger, but I never thought he'd stoop this low. I'll tell the magistrate on all of you! You little bastard get your troup of actors out of here and off my property! And if I ever see you again it will be in court!"

It was too late for him now.

"GUARDS! Seize this reviler of the Pink Crown!"

The royal guard stepped forward and grasped him about the arms and he seemed shaken out of his irate stupor.

"TAKE HIM AWAY!"

The crowd murmured and clapped as the hot headed fool was dragged away, spitting vile things about Chammielle and her dead mother as he was removed from their sight. Still not believing what was happening.

"Chef Malbeck, I believe we can now safely enter the premises without disruption. I am seizing this building as penalty for his crime of defamation against the Princess and her heritage. Is there anything you need?"

A guard stepped forward and let his voice be heard loud and clear.

"The landlord, your highness, he committed her highness Princess Chammielle's grandfather to the debtor's prison."

She shook. Her sweet and gentle grandfather...ill and in prison? Her mind went to the dungeons and she felt she would weep. He didn't deserve that.

"Take us to him."

Will supported her with his arm and she did her best to walk steadily with her head held high. She settled on a passive look though her chest heaved with ailing spasms of breath. They walked two blocks, the crowd following in silence to see what would be done.

The holding cells for the debtor's prison were in an old cellar under the Town Hall. It had been used for rations during emergencies not twenty years prior but had changed into a sort of dungeon until debts were paid off with time. It was a harrowing place.

The guard opened the door for them and Will strode through it with her at his side.

"What can I help you with?"

The court official was looking at his papers and did not bother to see them.

"I hear the Baker of The Jewel Box has been incarcerated here. What are the charges?"

She couldn't speak. All this time she could not speak. Her anger and sorrow at the state of things would not allow her. Why hadn't her grandfather let them help him when they offered months ago?

The clerk still did not raise his beady little eyes.

"He owes a debt of one month's rent and cannot pay. The sum is ten silver and Mr. Turst has handed him over to us for safe keeping. Unless you'd like to pay the debt, I'm sure Lord Kuchen will be along shortly to right the situation."

Will threw a bag into his papers to scatter them, and it clanked and opened revealing dozens of gold coins spilling out over the desk and onto the floorboards. The little man leapt. His eyes finally seeing them.

"His debt is wiped clean, but Mr. Turst shall not see a penny for his crimes against the Crown. His buildings and lands are now all property of her highness, Princess Chammielle of Garten and of Kuchen. My wife!"

The man's eyes shot to the back of the room where Will's painting hung in full view. It was as if he had to check he was actually seeing correctly.

"Y-your highness!"

"And... All other prisoners are to be released immediately if their crime is only that they could not pay someone back. My gift is sufficient in covering it all. The debtor's prison closes today sir."

Officials and constables came running and the situation was remedies as soon as they could make sense of it. The men and women were brought up from the dusky smelling place one by one, the stocks and chains on their wrists and ankles were loosed and Chammielle nearly cried when she saw him. He was so thin.

Will pressed her forward and it was all the prompting she needed. She ran to her grandfather and flung her arms around him. Crying into his shirt and speaking as though her words were a thousand footfalls of a steed on a long and hurried trek.

"You didn't tell us things were this bad and how dare you not let us help you before you got yourself locked up in such a God forsaken place and were starved for Lordy knows how long when all you had to do was accept a little help you thick headed old fool!"

He chuckled and it sounded sickly.

"I missed you too, Keks. Don't cry. I'm alright."

"No you're not you're thin as a rail when all this time you've had the jowls of a healthy farm pig and I've been on you about your weight and health and you decided to lose it like this? You idiot! There are better ways of going on a diet and don't tell me you're not that sick as if I were a blind little girl!"

She could hear Will chuckling behind her and she remembered herself. She straightened and wiped at her face, taking a breath and stared her grandfather down. His crinkled face beamed at her though his cheeks sagged low on his jaw and sunk deeply under his cheek bones.

"My little Keks...so grown up and ladylike. But you can still take the mickey out of me with a breath. Just like your mother."

Will stood beside her and offered him his hand.

"Sir, I'm her husband, William."

His eyes lit up with recognition and they darted between the two of them slowly.

"Well I never...Sigrid Whittenbloom, your highness."

He shook his hand and Will smiled at the man, though a pain she felt was in his eyes.

"Just William, or Will if you please. We're family now."

They escorted the elderly man from the Town Hall. As they exited the doors, they came upon a scene of families being reunited with their imprisoned loved ones. As they reached the top steps cries of joy reached them.

"It's the Prince! The Prince of Garten has freed them!"

"Lady Kuchen is his wife! All hail the Princess!"

"Long live Prince William! Long live Princess Chammielle!"

Will leaned in and held her about her waist with one hand and whispered into her ear.

"Wave to your subjects, Princess. These are your people."

Her hand came up and she smiled.

It wasn't like when Queen Magnolia had come through. It was a smile she felt. Not poised and benevolent. But it was genuine.

All of Kuchen would remember this day.