One Kiss by Nadia Lee

what his voice was like.”
    “I was cursed,” Robert explained. “Surely there must be others among you who remember me. You, Viscount? Or you, Lord Sirran?”
    “Don’t listen to that charlatan! He certainly is not my cousin!” John cried, addressing the high lords. “He is an evil wizard, trying to trick the princess into kissing him, so that she will be bewitched into marrying him instead. In this underhanded manner he can become a prince by marriage, perhaps to take over this kingdom.” He put a hand delicately to his chest. “Lords, my beloved cousin Robert, rest his soul, is dead. If he weren’t, he would’ve returned to us by now to claim what is rightfully his. It breaks my heart, but as the next heir my duty is clear. I must accept the crown, willingly though I would give it up if only I could see my dear cousin returned to us safe and healthy.”
    “I’m not dead!” Robert started hopping in anger then stopped—drat the frog habit. Did the high lords really buy his cousin’s ridiculous act? Did they truly believe him dead without any evidence? “If Serenia had been an honorable woman, my curse could have been undone, and I would stand before you all as a man once again. But she is not, so the point is now moot. Still, will you accept me as I am and allow me to inherit?”
    The high lords shifted, unable to meet his gaze. “Ahem.” An old duke cleared his throat. “Difficult, inasmuch as we cannot be sure that you are indeed Prince Robert. Sir Frog, would you allow yourself to be governed by a cricket of uncertain origin? How can we let some amphibian we know nothing about rule over us?”
    The others murmured agreement, though they still avoided making eye contact with Robert.
    He pressed his lips, swallowing a rant about their shallow nature. He had expected this would be their reaction, but witnessing it in reality was far worse than the imagining. Had he truly been foolish enough to hope that the high lords would be wiser and more farseeing, like Molly?
    “He is not Prince Robert,” Serenia said finally, fluttering her eyelashes at the high lords. “As the good Prince John has said, he is a foul black wizard intent on dividing us. Let us not be foolish.”
    “It is but his word against the princess’s and mine,” John said. “He doesn’t even have a witness to take his side.” John looked around challengingly. When no one stepped forward, he laughed and spread his hands. “You see? So the matter can be closed, and we ought to punish this frog for its impudence. What is the sentence for insulting the royal house?”
    A royal secretariat stepped forward smartly. “Death by hanging.”
    “Well, then. Death by hanging it is,” John said, his eyes glittering with triumph.
    “So you would kill me, cousin?” Robert said. A part of him wanted to flee and save himself, but the reckless part of him wanted to confront these idiots. If he were to lose everything—his crown, his human form, his dignity and reputation—was there really any reason to live?
    “He has no cousin like you.” Serenia sniffed, then lowered her voice. “Finally, I’ll be rid of you, you disgusting talking frog. What woman in her right mind would kiss a foul reptile?”
    “Actually, frogs are amphibians,” came the clear voice of Molly.
    Robert’s heart skipped a beat.
No, Molly.
    “And you did promise to kiss him for the third ball.” She held out her hands. In them were the three golden orbs, each of surpassing beauty. Molly came and stood by Robert. “I found them in your room, Princess Serenia.”
    The old duke stretched his neck, trying to see over the younger and taller lords around him. When they didn’t move out of the way, he smacked their knees smartly with his cane, making them step aside with cries of pain. The quicker ones moved out of the way with alacrity. Satisfied, the duke peered at the spheres in Molly’s hands. “Aye, those are indeed Prince Robert’s,” the old duke said finally.