He did not mind the swamp, not at all. The smells did not bother him and its outrageous residents amused him. He was welcomed as a dear friend by all even though he was a lawyer. In fact it was a business concern that brought him to the swamp that day. He had come to tell Princess Ella her divorce and settlement had become final.
He also hoped to get up the nerve to tell her that he was madly in love with her but doubted he would. The best he could hope for was that they would remain friends now that his services were no longer needed.
As he approached the ogre's manor he was buzzed by the dragonkids and nearly tackled to the ground by the ogre munchkins. Giggles and greetings flew around him. Yes, he liked it there.
Princess Ella rushed out to his aid but soon saw none was required. The Councilor had flung himself completely into the boy's game.
He did not know she was there so she watched him for a while. She thought he was handsome, not prince charming handsome but look how that turned out. He had worked very hard for her during the divorce, protecting her interests with ferocity. Until just then she also thought of him as a much too formal and somewhat dour man. His howls and giggles as he tried to avoid ogre bowling balls and kamikaze dragonkids told her there was serious fun inside that tall, trim body.
He had captured one ogre munchkin and one flying munchkin when he turned and saw Princess Ella. He released the kids, picked up his briefcase and strode towards her. His embarrassment over the circumstances in which she found him was overwhelmed by his happiness at seeing her again. He tried his best to compose himself with every step but the romp with the kids and the sight of Princess Ella kept his face in a big grin.
He extended his hand in greeting as usual but it was ignored. His smile was beginning to fade when Princess Ella placed three fingers on his cheek and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.
She said she had coffee ready for him and walked to the door. Princess Ella was about to ask him a question and noticed he was still glued to the spot she left him, hand extended in greeting. He now wore the goofiest smile she had ever seen on a man.
Her best friend, Ogre Princess Ona, had come out to see what was going on and asked what was wrong with the Councilor.
"I don't know. I kissed him hello and was going in to serve him some coffee and when I turned he was there just like that."
"You kissed him?"
"Well yes, just a little kiss. He is so nice and has worked so hard for me. He was playing with the boys just now, happy as could be. Now this. I guess it's some kind of curse."
"You better believe it's a curse, the worst one of all. Love."
"He loves me?"
"You may be the only person in the kingdom that did not know that. You better bring him in before the boys see him as an easy target."
Princess Ella went to him and held his hand as she led him to the house. She released his hand after he sat and noticed that her hand immediately missed his. She took his hand back into hers. Part of the curse she thought.
The Councilor recovered his senses as soon as Princess Ona placed his briefcase on the table. He brought out a sheaf of legal documents and handed them to Princess Ella to sign.
He had fumbled with them at first and was startled to note the Princess was holding his hand.
She blushed when she realized the situation and released his hand, although not promptly.
He successfully fought the urge to grasp her hand in his and continued with the task at hand, which he understood was not holding the Princesses' hand.
Princess Ella trusted him implicitly and signed without looking. She had not wanted anything from her marriage other than the return of her house. The papers were then passed to Princess Ona so she could sign on the witness line.
She did read them and began to comment on them.
"I did no know your real name was Daniella, I thought it was just Ella. I still do not understand why some people call you Cindy.
Ella, you got your house back.
Ella, wow, you now own the bicycle shop.
Ella! You own the theatre!
Oh my, you own the land between the swamp and the town.
OMG, Ella, you own the Third Bank and Trust. You are rich."
The princesses' laughed and jumped with joy. Princess Ona kissed the Councilor hard, literally taking his breath away. Princess Ella kissed him passionately again sending him into a state of stupor.
The stupor state must have been a bit contagious, as it seemed Princess Ella caught some of it. Her smile was nearly as goofy as his.
Ona gathered the documents and put them back in the briefcase snapping it shut. The Councilor again seemed to come out of it when he heard the sound.
Ella was now looking hard at him. He was afraid that this was the prelude to his dismissal. She was in fact re-running her recent life in her head, from the death of her father, to her mistreatment in her own house, to the short lived magic of the prince.
He had made love to her once, assumed she was pregnant and ignored her in favor of his drinking and hunting buddies. Apparently Princess Ella had mistaken the meaning of the term "Gay Nobility" as it applied to the prince and his friends.
She asked herself from whom did she ever have unconditional love. The answer came to her quickly, her father; and now the man sitting next to her.
Princess Ona at last got Princess Ella's attention and asked, "Who is going to run your new found financial empire? Who can you trust to do it?"
They each looked at the Councilor who was having a difficult time not blushing and ignoring the hairs standing up at the back of his head