Married to the vegetative prince

Jane's heart raced as she gazed into Dubois' eyes, her breath hitching in her throat. The warmth of his hand against hers sent delightful shivers down her spine, igniting a spark of love she had never felt before.

"I... I can feel it too," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "It's like a veil has been lifted, and I'm really seeing you—for the first time."

A smile spread across Dubois' face, his features glowing in a way that took Jane's breath away. "Tell me," he said softly, "what do you see?"

Jane's free hand gently traced the outline of his face. "I see strength," she said quietly, "and kindness. I see a man who bears the weight of his duties yet still dreams of adventures beyond these walls."

A look of wonder flickered across Dubois' face. "How do you know me so well?"

Before Jane could reply, a commotion erupted outside the room. The sound of hurried footsteps and excited chatter filtered through the sturdy oak door.

"The prince!" someone shouted. "The prince is awake!"

Jane looked toward the door and then back at Dubois. "I guess our peaceful moment is about to be interrupted," she said with a wry smile.

Dubois chuckled, his laughter warming Jane's insides. "Maybe, but this is just the beginning for us, my dear Jane."

The door swung open, and a wave of servants and courtiers flooded into the chamber, their faces alight with joy and disbelief. Shouts of "It's a miracle!" and "Praise be!" filled the air.

Feeling a bit awkward about her closeness to the prince, Jane took a step back, but Dubois tightened his grip on her hand.

"Stay," he whispered, meant only for her ears. "I need you right here with me."

As the room filled with people, Jane stayed resolutely at Dubois' side, their fingers entwined. She felt how natural and right it was, her heart racing at what this new bond could mean for their future.

The crowd parted like the sea as the King strode into the room. His usually sharp, calculating eyes were wide with disbelief, filled with unshed tears. For a moment, he stood frozen, his gaze locked on his son's face.

"Father," Prince Dubois said, his voice steady despite just waking up.

That simple word seemed to trigger a flood of emotions within the King. He rushed forward, enveloping Dubois in a fierce embrace, and Jane watched as the prince's hand slipped from hers while he returned the hug.

"My boy," the King whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "My precious boy."

Jane's heart swelled seeing the usually stoic monarch show such vulnerability. She'd never seen the King like this, his royal facade cracking to reveal the concerned father beneath.

Dubois patted his father's back. "I'm okay, Father. Thanks to Jane."

The King pulled back, his gaze falling on Jane. She tensed, unsure of how he'd react to her role in this miracle.

"You," he said, regaining a bit of his authority. "You've done what I thought was impossible."

Jane swallowed hard. "Your Majesty, I—"

But the King surprised her by taking both of her hands in his. "Thank you," he said, his voice catching slightly. "You've not only saved my son but our entire kingdom."

Cheers erupted from the gathered crowd, and Jane felt warmth rise to her cheeks. Dubois smiled at her from behind his father.

"We must celebrate!" the King declared, addressing the room. "Let the news spread throughout the palace, throughout the kingdom! Prince Dubois has returned to us!"

The chamber filled with joyous shouts and applause. Courtiers rushed from the room, eager to spread the news. Jane could hear their excited voices echoing down the hallways, the sound of hurried footsteps and doors opening and closing.

"Listen," Dubois said softly, drawing Jane's attention back to him. "The whole palace is coming alive."

And it was true. The air buzzed with excitement and hope. Laughter and music floated up from below, and Jane could easily picture the scene throughout the castle—servants abandoning their chores to dance, guards tossing their helmets in celebration, cooks preparing spontaneous feasts.

"It's as if the whole kingdom is waking up with you," Jane mused, meeting Dubois' gaze.

He grinned, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "Then we better not keep them waiting, my dear. Shall we join in the celebration?"

Jane felt her hand tremble slightly as Dubois intertwined his fingers with hers. They stood together by the window, watching the festive crowds gather in the palace courtyard below. The warmth of his touch sent delightful thrills through her body, a stark contrast to the chilling grip of the witch's potion she had endured for so long.

"I never thought this moment would come," Jane whispered in awe. "To be here with you, like this…"

Dubois turned to her, his eyes shining with tenderness and determination. "Neither did I, Jane. But standing here now, it feels like my whole life has led to this very moment."

Gently lifting her chin with his free hand, he searched her eyes. "You faced so much to save me. Your bravery, your strength... it inspires me."

Jane felt a lump in her throat, recalling the despair she had felt just hours before. "I was terrified I would fail. That I'd lose you for good."

"But you didn't," Dubois said softly, squeezing her hand. "You overcame dark magic and saved not just me, but our entire kingdom. How can I ever repay you?"

Jane shook her head, a small smile spreading across her lips. "There's no debt between us, my prince. Love isn't about keeping score."

Dubois laughed, the sound warming Jane's heart. "How wise you are, my darling farm girl. I still have so much to learn from you."

As they shared this moment, Jane marveled at the unexpected twists of fate that had brought them together—a humble orphan and a prince, united by love that triumphed over curses and defied the expectations of their kingdom.

"What comes next?" she asked, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice.

Dubois' eyes sparkled with excitement. "Now, my dear Jane, we embark on the greatest adventure of all—building a life together. There will be challenges, no doubt. The royal court can be treacherous, and some may not approve of our union."

Jane nodded, her jaw set with determination. "We've faced worse and won. Whatever comes, we'll face it together."

"Absolutely," Dubois agreed, pulling her closer. "And think of the good we can achieve together. With your compassion and my position, we can create real change in the kingdom, helping those who need it most."

Jane's heart swelled at the thought. It was more than she had ever dared to hope—finding love and purpose all at once.

"It won't always be easy," she mused, leaning against his shoulder.

"The best stories rarely are," Dubois replied with a grin. "But I have a feeling ours is just getting started."

As they stood wrapped in each other's arms, Jane felt a deep sense of peace wash over her. No matter the challenges ahead, she felt confident that the love they shared would light their way into a future filled with hope, purpose, and limitless potential.

As Jane and Dubois embraced their tender moment, something shimmering caught her eye. She turned her head to the windowsill, where a radiant butterfly rested, its wings shimmering with an ethereal glow.

"Look," Jane whispered, nudging Dubois' side. "It's the butterfly that brought us together."

Dubois followed her gaze, his eyes wide with wonder. "Incredible," he breathed. "I've never seen anything like it."

The butterfly's wings sparkled, casting a warm, golden hue across the room. It seemed to observe them for a moment, its antennae twitching softly.

"Do you think…" Jane hesitated, awe threading her voice. "Could it be more than just a butterfly?"

Dubois gently squeezed her hand. "After everything we've been through, I'm inclined to believe in a little magic," he said with a soft chuckle.

As if in response, the butterfly lifted off, its delicate wings catching the light. It circled the room, leaving a trail of sparkling dust in its wake.

"It's beautiful," Jane murmured, her eyes following it with fascination.

The butterfly dipped and swooped, coming closer to the couple. For a brief moment, Jane could have sworn she saw a glimmer of something more—a hint of joy, a knowing twinkle—in the butterfly's iridescent form.

Then, with one last loop around their heads, it fluttered toward the open window. It paused on the sill for just a heartbeat, glowing even brighter for an instant.

"Thank you," Jane found herself murmuring, though she wasn't quite sure why.

With one final flutter, the butterfly soared into the night sky. As it flew away, it left behind a trail of shimmering light that lingered in the air like stardust, slowly fading but leaving a warm, wondrous impression.

Jane and Dubois watched in silence until the last spark disappeared into the distance. The air felt charged with possibility, as if the butterfly's flight marked the beginning of something extraordinary.

"Well," Dubois finally said, his voice filled with awe, "that seems like a pretty good sign for our future, don't you think?"

Jane nodded, her heart overflowing with hope and love. "Absolutely," she replied, leaning into his embrace. "A sprinkle of magic to guide us."

As they stood together, basking in the afterglow of the butterfly's flight, Jane felt they had been touched by something truly special—a force as timeless and powerful as love itself.