Page 30 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

“Ludwig, might I speak to you in private?”

He nodded, moving into the next room of the house where Gunther entertained them regularly.Gunther slid the study door shut.

“I would like to ask you for your sister’s hand in marriage.”

Ludwig’s blood turned to ice.He blinked rapidly, the need to keep up the illusion of merchants from this realm clawing at his love for Marie.She couldn’t stay here!Her magic would die.And he… he didn’t know what he’d do without her.Did she love him?No.But heneededher.

Sensing his conflict, Gunther tried to persuade him.“I know she’s all you have left, but Ludwig, I’m desperately in love with Marie.She will want for nothing.And you would always be welcome at our house.”

A tendon in his neck twitched, and Ludwig tried to stretch it out without Gunther noticing.“I need time.”

Gunther nodded.“Of course.”

Ludwig stepped past him to the door of the study, then turned around.“You will love and cherish her always?”

“Until my dying breath.”

He pursed his lips, unable to give an answer yet.This was something he’d have to discuss with Marie.According to their own customs Gunther didn’t need permission, like he would had he been courting a human woman.“We will return next week.I shall give you my answer, then.”

Gunther nodded as Ludwig opened the door.

“Marie, it’s time to go.”

Bewilderment at his curt announcement colored her face, but true to their act, she followed him without question.She bid her suitor goodbye, and they strode down the cobblestone street.He had to force himself to let her catch up, grimacing when she clutched his sleeve to keep from tripping.

“Ludwig, are you well?”

“I can’t discuss it here.”

She blinked her big brown eyes up at him, her confusion clear.It would be so easy to just tell Gunther no.To leave her ignorant of the human’s intentions.He could take back the trinket she wore to keep her human form instead of a doll’s, trapping her in the Realm of Dreams.

Their failure to return would be answer enough.

But he was also Marie’s best friend.So, Ludwig knew by keeping her to himself, he’d shatter her trust in him, and destroy the only relationship she would give him.

What choice did he have?

“She was so excited, so in love with your grandfather.I helped her disappear.And I went to visit every Christmas; it was easier to only cross over once a year.After her death, I continued to check on the family.That’s how your father came to know me.”Sadness hung over Godfather Drosselmeyer’s head like a veil.Even without him saying so, Clara felt the love he’d had for her grandmother.So much love he’d let her go.

“I sent a letter to your parents before I left the realm.They should have it by now.I told them I took you traveling with me.”

“They won’t be happy about that.They’ll think I’m shirking my duty.”She shook her head, stuffing down her feelings of guilt.She’d deal with her parents later.“There’s still one thing I don’t understand.”

“What’s that, child?”

“How are you Klaus’s uncle, yet you knew my grandmother?”

Drosselmeyer chuckled.“That’s easy.I’m actually his great-uncle.”

“Oh.”She felt silly for having asked, but now it was out there.

Her godfather took her hand in his.“When I say you look like your mother, I mean Marie.You are the spitting image of her.”He smiled wistfully.“I should have known you’d inherited her magic.”

“Father didn’t inherit it because it’s stronger in women.”

Godfather Drosselmeyer nodded.“It was possible, as I, of course, knew, but I watched for the signs and Friedrich was not a mage.I can’t tell you how relieved I was; explaining everything to Gunther would have been dreadful.Especially once Marie was gone.It was bad enough explaining I wasn’t actually her brother.”

“What did you tell him?”

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