[ A messenger has arrived for Princess Brenda and looked like they were holding a huge bouquet of flowers and a box of high-quality chocolates. They presented the gifts along with a letter. ] "Hello Lady Brenda, I'm sure you're well. Happy Valentine's Day to you. Do you celebrate this holiday as well? Hope you enjoy this gift I have to offer. - Prince Jade Curtiss"
Brenda didn’t really know what to do with the gifts. She had never had a suitor in her life, and Valentine’s was more of a quiet day to celebrate friendship and whatnot. But when the messenger came, bearing fresh flowers and such fine chocolates-- that her sister emphatically asked to be tested for poison before being delivered to the princess-- she really didn’t know what to do. Should she thank him as a friend? Not responding to such a kind gesture would be seen as incredibly rude. She read over the Prince’s letter, over and over again, before deciding that she wanted to give him at least a little something before the day was over.
She took out pen and paper and began to write:
Hello Prince Jade, we do, indeed, celebrate Valentine's. However I'm ashamed to admit I lost track of time.--
She pursed her lips. No, no that wouldn’t do... She didn’t want to just admit that she had forgotten to send him a token of friendship on this day. She began to write another letter.
Dear Prince Jade, I wish you a very Happy Valentine’s Day. I am very grateful for all your many thoughtful gifts and attentions. I am quite happy that you thought of me on this special day. I have sent with your messenger my own gifts.
Yes. This was good... Now she just had to think of what sort of gift to give. She could give him chocolates. Or-- how about something that will give the Prince’s court something to gossip about? A peevish smile came to Brenda’s lips, when the opened a drawer and picked out one of her ribbons and a locket. Brenda tied up a small bit of her hair with the ribbon, and snipped it off. She had heard about this in a story: about how a knight carried around a piece of his lady’s hair as a good luck charm. And once the messenger would arrive with this, she wondered just how would he react? He’d probably be worried. But all the ladies of the court would start gossiping away. And the thought of that was strangely satisfying.
I do hope that you don’t mind the gesture in this letter. I wanted to offer you something quite special, since unfortunately this gift might arrive a few hours later. You know how my father usually lets guests stay over the night before going on their way! I will enjoy making pressed flower bookmarks from the beautiful bouquet you gave me.
With kindest regards, Princess Brenda Emily Stanford.
She slipped the lock of hair tied with the ribbon into an envelope, and sealed with a gray wax seal. Then, she carried the letter to give to the messenger, but not before stopping by the kitchen and asking the chef to prepare a batch of gingerbread cookies to send back to the Prince Jade as a thank-you gift.
