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The quaint little tea shop in the heart of the capital was everything Elise had hoped it would be. Delicate floral decorations adorned the walls, and the scent of fresh pastries and herbal tea wafted through the air. She had been looking forward to this outing for weeks, imagining a perfect day with her husband, Jakob, and their son, Dwyer. Just the three of them, as a family; an occasion to spend time together now that the snow had melted into patches and the grass started to turn a little greener.
The earliest traces of spring were in the air, Elise’s favorite time of year. When she awoke this morning greeted by the crystal blue of the sky, the sun radiant and beaming, the young princess’ excitement for the day had only managed to grow even larger inside her chest.
The afternoon began well enough. Elise had been ecstatic to order her favorite lavender tea and a selection of dainty sandwiches, talking animatedly about the shop’s cute and charming decor. Unfortunately, it would seem Elise waved her white-gloved hands chatting to no one but herself, the atmosphere at their table tense from the moment both Jakob and Dwyer sat down.
Jakob, as per his usual fashion, decided that today would follow like every other, continuing to critique Dwyer’s every improper regard even while in the presence of just their little family.
“You call that posture? Sit up straight. This isn’t a stable,” Jakob had snapped, his sharp tone cutting through the bissful ambiance.
Dwyer, to his credit, only sighed and adjusted his seating, clearly trying not to escalate the situation for his poor mother’s sake. But it wasn’t long before the barbs flew again.
“You’re holding your teacup wrong, Dwyer. It’s a cup, not a tankard.”
“And you’re holding it like it’s a relic in the royal treasury,” Dwyer shot back, voice lax but ever-dripping with its usual sarcasm towards his father.
Elise’s cheerful smile faltered as she tried to steer the conversation back to lighter topics.
“Oh! Look at these adorable little pastries!” She giggles. “Dwyer, you should try the lemon tart—it’s so cute!”
“Sure. And maybe if I eat it incorrectly, Father will take the time to lecture me about that too,” Dwyer muttered under his breath, boredly tapping the tip of his fork against the edge of his dessert plate.
“That is enough, Dwyer!” Jakob slams two hands down against the tabletop. He slowly rises from his seat, glaring to his left where his son continues to sit unphased. “Don’t you dare take such a tone towards your mother and the royal princess of this kingdom! I carved out that tongue to have more respect than this utter display of insolence from you!”
“Both of you, please ,” Elise tried to interject, her voice trembling slightly as she lowered her teacup back down to its saucer. Her doe eyes can only frantically gaze about the room, every pair of stares like prickles on her skin as other tea-drinkers whispered and watched on at their comical display.
But the bickering continued, and despite Elise’s best attempts to lighten the mood, Jakob and Dwyer couldn’t seem to stop sniping at each other. Finally, Elise stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor.
“I need to get some air,” her voice cracks, throat thick with tears. “You two clearly have more important matters to sort through, so I’ll wait outside until you’ve finished.”
Before either of them could think to stop her, Elise turned and hurried out of the shop, leaving Jakob and Dwyer gaping after her in a stunned yet shameful silence.
For a long moment, neither said anything. Then Jakob sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is your fault,” he muttered.
Dwyer crossed his arms. “ My fault? You’re the one who started nitpicking me the second we sat down.”
“I was trying to teach you manners,” Jakob retorted. “But you seem determined to be insubordinate.”
“And you seem determined to ruin a perfectly good day for Mother,” Dwyer quipped back.
The weight of that statement hung in the air, silencing the both of them. Jakob’s sharp gaze softened as he looked toward the door Elise had left through, unsurprised by the gaping hole she left behind in the wake of her absence. The world always feels so dull without her smiling charm, like a cloudy sky that never met the touch of the sun. Like Jakob, long and forever ago before he clasped that smaller hand between both his own and pressed a kiss to the shimmering topaz he put on her finger, a ring that will always exist to represent the undying love he holds forever close to his heart.
“She was so excited about today…” Jakob admitted quietly. “And we ruined it for her. I ruined it for her. By the gods, I’m a poor excuse for a husband.”
Dwyer shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “She really wanted us to have a good time together. I guess I… I could’ve tried harder too.”
Jakob nodded, his shoulders sagging. “As could I. It’s easy to forget how much she does for us… How much she loves us.”
Dwyer looked at his father with a rare sort of softness in his eyes, an unusual moment of understanding passing between them.
“We love her too. And… I guess I love you, even if you’re the most infuriating father in the world.”
Jakob let out a dry chuckle. “And I love you, even if you’re the laziest son in the world.”
They share a small smile and a collective chuckle between them before Jakob makes a glance toward the door. “But Elise has been gone for far too long, and that concerns me. We should check on her.”
It took no more thought than that for both gentlemen to stand and politely walk out to the entrance. When they made a first step outside, the warmth of the tea shop gave way to winter’s lingering chill in the air, a bitter cold tied in with the breeze. Oh, his precious Elise must be freezing, loitering around out here for this long in only her tights. He’ll need to request a fresh pot of tea as soon as possible.
They scanned the street in silence, both men undoubtedly sharing in the thought of where Elise had gone off to.
“I hadn’t assumed she would go far,” Jakob mutters, but just as soon does his heart sink when he spots Elise across the street.
Both their eyes widen upon seeing her cornered against the wall of an alleyway, Elise’s wide eyes brimming with fear as two rough-looking men loomed over her.
“Hand over that pretty little necklace, sweetheart,” one of them sneered, reaching for the pendant at her chest as Elise squeezes her eyes shut tight, angling her face away from him as much as possible. Another held tight to her bicep, his entire hand large enough to wrap around the width of her arm. She regrets it now, if not for this predicament but for the raw red of her nose and cheeks left behind by the cold.
“Get away from her!” Jakob’s voice rang out like a thunderclap, drawing the men’s attention. Jakob and Dwyer moved like lightning as soon as the blonde of Elise’s pigtails had met their eye, the short sprint across the street providing just enough time to process the context of the scene and to fill their chests to new heights with indescribable anger.
Dwyer was already moving, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a fiery determination. He reached for a heavy ceramic teapot from another local shop’s outdoor display and hurled it at one of the men, the makeshift weapon shattering against the man’s shoulder and sending him stumbling back.
Jakob darted forward towards the one keeping his wife enclosed, his movements precise and deadly and just as ever clean as they’ve always been. His dagger flashed in the dim light of the sun, and within moments, the second man was disarmed and on the ground, clutching his arm and groaning in pain.
It took only one look at Jakob and Dwyer’s murderous expressions to have them fleeing, one lowly criminal scrambling after the other.
Elise let out a shaky breath as Jakob reached her, his hands gently cupping her face and inspecting the length of her figure for injury. “Are you hurt, my dear?” he asked, his voice soft but urgent.
She shook her head, hiding her face in the palms of her hands as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I-I’m fine. Just scared.”
Dwyer stepped forward, his hand trembling slightly before securing it upon her shoulder. “Mother, I’m so sorry we upset you. This never would’ve happened if we hadn’t been so horrible to each other.”
Jakob nodded, his usual stoicism cracking as he pulled Elise into a protective embrace. “He’s right. We both made for very obnoxious company today, the two of us; which is far too little than what you deserve. Forgive us, my love, let us make it up to you.”
Elise sniffles as she raises Jakob’s head from her shoulder, cupping his face between her hands as she looks from her husband to her son with the most grateful of smiles, especially when they are returned just as earnestly.
“I just… I just wanted us to have a nice day together. All three of us.”
“And we still can,” Jakob responds firmly. He glances over at Dwyer. “Right, son?”
Dwyer nodded, his resolve just as serious. “Right. We’ll make it up to you, Mother. I promise.”
When Elise breaks down into even happier sobs, her arms extend as both men step forward into the princess’ embrace and hold her close, each man occupying a shoulder as all three of them lingered in the warmth and love of one another. Elise’s heart can only swell with pure joy despite the fear she had just endured, knowing that this beautiful little family of theirs was something she played a hand in creating.
Whatever else might happen, she knew one thing for certain: her family, flawed and imperfect, would always be her home.