Page 60 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

Mama came and let him kiss her on the knuckles.When he bowed, she saw Clara at last.Shock came over her mother’s face.

“Clara!”

“I’ve missed you so much, my dear.”Papa came forward and hugged her.“Such a good thing you did, helping your godfather in his hour of need.”

“I’m only sorry there wasn’t time to talk to you about it first, Papa.”She let her father engulf her in his warm embrace.Hopefully not for the last time.

Mama stood in front of her and hugged her as well, an awkward encounter as she hadn’t been so affectionate since Clara was a small child.“And who is this?”Mama asked, eyeing Klaus.

“Ah yes,” Drosselmeyer said with a grin.“Friedrich and Margareta Stahlbaum, may I present my dear great-nephew, Prince Klaus von Süssland.”

Klaus bowed to her parents, who paid him equal respect.Mama’s eyes were wide when she rose from her curtsy, eyeing him with curiosity.

“A prince, you say?”

“Yes, my brother’s grandson.”Drosselmeyer smirked at Clara.He knew they had Mama hooked.“Good lad, fine soldier.There’s been some issues back home, you see.And Clara has made herself indispensable to Her Majesty.”

When Margareta looked at her for clarification, she tripped over her tongue a little.But she got the words out all the same.“Unfortunately, Her Majesty needs me, and that means I won’t be able to return for some time.”She looked back and forth between her parents, nerves churning in her stomach.

“Darling, you’re too modest.My people hail her as a hero.”Klaus gazed at her with unmistakable love and admiration in his eyes.Then he turned to Papa.“I have grown quite fond of your daughter, sir, and I would like to request her hand in marriage.”

She hid a smile because, of course, they were already married under his laws.

Papa and Mama looked at each other, communicating silently as they often did.She had never seen them at such a loss for words.Klaus snuck her hand into his arm, and she couldn’t help but smile at him.She stood tall with him next to her, loving and supporting her.Hopefully, her parents could see she’d found love all on her own.As much as she knew now she didn’tneedtheir approval, she found she wanted it all the same.

“But you only met a week ago,” stammered Mama.

“Actually, madam, we met ten years ago when Uncle Ludwig brought me to the Christmas Eve party.I was but a boy, but I remember her clearly.And I was thrilled when she returned with him.”

“I would have kept in touch, Klaus, but you didn’t exactly give me an address that night.”She giggled, playing it up for her parents’ sake.

“What can I say?I was young and foolish.”They tore their eyes away from one another and looked at her parents.

“Papa?”Clara licked her suddenly dry lips.

Her father hesitated.“Is this more amenable to you than — than the other arrangement we discussed?”

He was really considering it?A weight lifted off her chest as she nodded her head furiously.“I know it seems fast, but Papa, I love him.”

Godfather Drosselmeyer smiled warmly at them, then at her father.“The fates work in mysterious ways.”

Papa nodded.“You have my blessing, Your Highness.”Mama turned to him as the color drained from her face, and he patted her arm.“I need to speak with Baron von Galen, my love.I’ll return shortly.”She merely nodded as he strode away.

“We don’t need to advertise Klaus’s title.His kingdom is quite small, and I guarantee no one’s heard of it.”Hopefully Godfather Drosselmeyer hadn’t broken any rules telling Papa and Mama that Klaus was a prince.

“But it’s such an honor.”Goodness, Mama was laying it on thick.

“It’s fine, Mrs.Stahlbaum.Süssland is, as Clara said, small.”

“And I’d want to marry him whether he was a prince or not.”Clara rushed her words out.

Mama frowned at that.Too bad.“I see.Well, why don’t you go on and enjoy the party?We can make arrangements to pack up your things.”

The band struck up a waltz, and Klaus drew her further into the room.“Happy New Year to you, Mrs.Stahlbaum.”

“A Happy New Year to you as well, Klaus.Be sure you treat my daughter well.”

“Of course.”He turned to her.“May I have this dance, darling?”

---