“I agree with Adelaide,” King Max declared. “All that gold and glitz is pretentious. I prefer our traditional decorations. Reminds me of my boyhood. Old-fashioned and friendly.”
The queen set down her water goblet with a thud. “But this is a palace, Max. We live in modern times. The decor should reflect that kind of sophistication.”
King Max let out a weary sigh but said nothing. Meanwhile, the queen scowled.
“Your decorations are very elegant, Mother.” Georg sounded apologetic.
“Oh, yes,” Adelaide jumped in. “Very sophisticated.”
King Max frowned but remained quiet. Perhaps too tired to engage.
“It’s not my place to question,” Adelaide began carefully, “but is the main hall tree meant to be for the enjoyment of the royal family or for the citizens of Montovia?”
King Max answered slowly, “Historically, and not so long ago, the main hall decorations were for villagers. The king would send the invitation to all, welcoming them to the palace for the start of Advent. And then sometimes again for a Saint Nicholas Day celebration. There would be music and fun. Villagers would be served gingerbread and Vanillekipferl cookies and mulled wine. Happy times.” With a faraway look in his eyes, he sighed. “I suppose I am old-fashioned, but I remember those times with happiness.”
“Maybe it’s better to keep the traditional decorations down there in the main hall,” Adelaide suggested, “and reserve the fancy golden ones for the spaces occupied by the royal family up here. The royal quarters could be elegantly decorated.”
“I agree with the first part of your recommendation,” King Max told her. “But must I tolerate pretentious bejeweled ornaments in my own living space when I, like you, would prefer gingerbread and candy canes?”
Queen Johanna’s silence was frosty. Her eyes were like fiery arrows, aimed directly at Adelaide. And yet Adelaide was still not willing to back down. For her father’s sake, she would speak up.
“You are the king, are you not?” she challenged him. “If you don’t want fancy decorations in your palace or personal home, you should not be subjected to them.”
King Max actually chuckled. “Spoken like a true princess.”
“I suppose you would like me to throw all my decorations in the rubbish?” The queen crossed her arms.
“Or give them to the poor. Although perhaps the poor would not like them either.” King Max grinned at Adelaide. “What do you think?”
Adelaide, not eager to stir up more controversy, decided to switch topics. “I just remembered the beautiful nativity set I spied in the holiday storage room. It appears hand-carved and rather old. I’m curious as to the story behind it.” She rested her hand on the king’s. “Father, why don’t you care to use it during Christmas?”
“Oh, ja, the Weihnachtskrippe.” He rubbed a wrinkled hand over his chin. “I have not seen it in years. Is it still down there?”
“Well, I only saw the shepherd piece, but there were certainly a lot of boxes down there. All marked ‘Weihnachtskrippe.’”
“My great-grandmother commissioned a very talented wood carver to make that set about a hundred years ago. My mother told me about it when I was a boy. It took the old wood-carver three years to complete it, and he was so old when he started, they did not know if he’d live to finish it. I always loved those pieces. Each one is a true work of art. I used to help my mother set up the Weihnachtskrippe in the main hall. Always to the left of the staircase, opposite the big tree. We’d place real straw in the stable and manger. With good lighting, it was quite magnificent and rather realistic. The children always loved it.”
“It sounds delightful.” Adelaide smiled.
The king turned to his wife. “Why has the Weihnachtskrippe not been used?” But before she could answer, he turned back to Adelaide. “I assign that task to you, mein lieber. Will you arrange the Weihnachtskrippe for me?”
“I would be honored, Father.”
“Christmas is about the babe in the manger,” he said solemnly. “We need not forget that. Can you do it tomorrow, Adelaide? For the start of Advent?”
“I’d love to.” Adelaide fingered her silver cross. “Because I agree, Father. The babe in the manger is why we celebrate Christmas. To honor him.”
His eyes glistened as he beamed at her. Was it because she’d supported his views or because she’d started to call him Father? Perhaps both. But it warmed her from head to toe, helping to defrost the queen’s cold vibes that chilled her to the bone.
As Georg enthusiastically offered to help Adelaide with the nativity project, Queen Johanna remained quiet, a smoldering silence that Adelaide felt responsible for. Although she regretted causing this disharmony within the royal family, she did not regret standing by her father. If the queen wanted a showdown, she might’ve met her match in Adelaide. But hopefully not in front of the king.
To Adelaide’s dismay, Georg made good on his offer to help with the nativity the next day. But she took charge by tasking him with the transport of the boxes and heavy wooden platform to the hall. Naturally, he delegated this chore to someone else. The same thing happened when she asked him to find some hay and the needed lighting. After she had everything necessary, Georg sat nearby, watching from a chair and chattering at her as she arranged and rearranged the pieces until she felt it was all perfect.
“So beautiful,” she said more to herself than Georg.
“Yes . . . very.” Georg’s whisper was so close behind her, she imagined his breath on the back of her neck. She cringed and stepped away, pulling out her phone.
“I want pictures.” She moved away from Georg. “To show the king.”
“You did a good job with it.” Georg kept his eyes on her as she took shots from various angles, zooming in on the Christ child in the manger. “Too bad Mother will hate it.” He chuckled like this was humorous.
She pocketed her phone. “Yes, it is too bad.” She pointed to the stack of empty boxes. “I’m sure you’ll see that those get put away. I have an eleven o’clock appointment.” Before he could respond, she took off running up the stairs. Georg wasn’t a bad guy but his overly keen interest made her skin crawl.
She headed straight to the king’s private quarters but was met outside his door by Queen Johanna.
“The king is not feeling well this morning,” the queen informed her.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Adelaide glanced past her to the closed door. “Perhaps a little visit will improve his—”
“Do you not get my meaning?”
“I have an appointment with my father,” Adelaide declared.
“Your appointment is canceled.” Blocking the door, the queen crossed her arms in front of her.
“Then I will simply tell him good morning, wish him well, and be on my way.” Adelaide reached past her royal roadblock for the doorbell, but the queen swatted her hand aside.
“Excuse me?” Adelaide stared into the icy blue eyes, then, without another word, elbowed past the rude woman to ring the doorbell. If Queen Johanna thought Adelaide a pushover, she had another think coming.
“Frau Smith.” Herr Schneider sounded glad to see her.