The next letter arrived another three weeks later.

Dearest Kurt,

For you have become my dearest friend. I’ve done a lot since I last penned you. I’ve even been on a stage and that was an experience that was both scary and exhilarating. That night perhaps more than any other night I missed you the most. I wanted you there on the stage with me instead of that girl I was paired with. Will you sing with me when I return to Dalton?

Two days ago I went to a small fair and it is nothing like being in Dalton. Here everyone is so formal and there is nothing you can tell them to stop them from giving you free goods or calling you, “my lord”. I wanted to just scream. I longed for your familiarity with my name. I longed for actual conversation. Here they sing and speak their feelings through song.

My parents are heading back in two days, but I remain behind and never before have I wanted to come back home more. But we do not part on bad terms. I told them, Kurt, and they accept it. They accept me. Mother wants to throw a ball. Father keeps trying to introduce me to men here. I don’t know how to feel about either of these things.

What do you do to pass the time? Have you gone to see Margaret yet? Pavarotti misses the stables at home – I think even he misses you. I’m afraid this is yet another boring letter with my complaints and my wishes to be in Dalton.

Your friend, Blaine

Kurt read the letter at night, again, with yet another stolen candle. He sighed when it was over and wished for more. He set about writing him back at once.

Dear Blaine,

I would love to sing with you. My voice is a bit high, as well you know, but I’ve been singing with Rachel. She says my voice isn’t something to be ashamed of and it’s the first time I’ve actually started to like how peculiar it is. So, there, I have replaced you as my closest friend. No. I’m joking. I’ve gotten used to her, but she isn’t you.

Rachel talks too much. When she is not singing, she is talking. Always about herself. It makes me wonder if maybe because you are a Prince that the people of Carmel do not wish to hold conversation. Maybe they think it rude? We can’t get Rachel to stop talking. Or they want you to sing your woe at not having anything to talk to.

I have not see Margaret yet. Instead, I’ve baked many pies with Carole. Lady Terry likes having company over and Carole’s pies are the very best. One day, maybe we’ll make you some. I spend most of my time with Rachel and Carole who are better company than Quinn or her sister Brittany. So I cannot offer any exciting news, but I am glad for yours.

I am so happy for you, Blaine. We both know this isn’t an easy path through life, but it is the one we have and to have those that love you understand is the best thing that could have happened to you. So have your ball. Meet with those boys. It’s all in good fun and you never know who you might meet.

Give Pavarotti my love. I miss you still,

Kurt

There was a churning deep in his stomach at the thought of Blaine being introduced to other men that might actually be interested in him and even be able to marry him. He didn’t like that it could happen one bit, but he knew it would probably be for the best. As much as it hurt him, he was going to have to encourage it.

He sealed the letter and dropped it with the letter from Blaine between pages of a book and then he went to lay on his bed. It was harder than any bed Kurt had ever slept on and it made his back ache, but he wasn’t going to complain about it. Life was getting harder and harder now that his father was failing to really sell anything on the road. Lady Terry kept making him do more and more chores and even though she and Quinn didn’t officially know about the curse they understood enough to know that he would follow their orders even if he hesitated at first. Carole tried to soothe him after the long days, but Kurt knew there was no use.

He curled his feet up to his chest and tried to sleep.

The next morning he woke up to Rachel singing, and it was a better wake up call than Brittany’s cat jumping on him – though how a thing so massive could still jump on people Kurt couldn’t understand – or to Lady Terry yelling for him.

That night they were having guests over and Kurt was supposed to help Carole with the food. He didn’t know how Lady Terry was going to deal with him, and he wasn’t looking forward to finding out either. So while he scrubbed the floor in the entrance with Rachel, Kurt thought about Blaine instead.

He thought about Blaine all the time, it probably wasn’t very healthy of him to, not when he knew that ultimately Blaine would marry someone else and he would be alone. Forever alone.

Only Carole knew that Blaine and he were corresponding and she thought it was all very sweet. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with Kurt talking to the Prince.

“You can’t let what that fairy did to you rule what you do for the rest of your life. It isn’t fair for you to not live your life fully just because there is going to be some strife.”

“This isn’t about me,” Kurt had told her, “it’s about the things that could happen if someone finds out about my curse – the things that are already happening. What would Quinn do to him through me? Or worse, Terry?”

That night he ended up in the kitchen with Carole. He had no idea what Terry had told her guests about him, but there was no way it painted him in a good light – they didn’t seem to mind that he was absent and Kurt was kind of glad that he wasn’t out in the dining room with them. Their conversation – from what he could hear – sounded boring anyway. Quinn was back to talking about Blaine and how she’d met him the one time and they’d had a connection.

The next morning he and Rachel cleaned the house again, but not as intensely as they had the day before. As soon as he could, Kurt persuaded Rachel to cover for him and let him go out for the day. Rachel agreed, surprisingly enough and Kurt left and walked through side streets to the palace. The King and Queen had arrived earlier that week and their horses were in the stable along with the horses that had pulled the carriage. Margaret was in her stall and Kurt went directly towards her. The stable boy greeted him.

“Prince Blaine said you are welcome to use her,” he told Kurt.

Kurt smiled at him. “I only come to visit. Another time, maybe.”

He brushed her coat and talked to the horse while he was at it. For once Kurt felt like his life wasn’t all that bad. Of course, he’d have to return home and to his role as servant once he left the stable but for a while he just enjoyed the simple task of looking after Margaret.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can to take her out,” he told the stable hand.

The other boy nodded.

Kurt walked back home wondering if his life was ever going to get better. If he could get away from Quinn and Terry perhaps