The Way The Story Goes

Princesses are supposed to love princes. That's how the story is supposed to go. But stories rarely go as they should. 

Years ago, at a ball announcing her eligibility, Princess Isobel of Albina danced with Prince Felix of Portswell. Neither Isobel nor Felix were having a grand time, but her parents, King Rufus and Queen Vivian, looked on with fondness. 

"Ah, to be young and in love...," swooned Vivian. 

"What a fine match for our daughter!" thought Rufus. 

Isobel wished merely for the night to end. 

As the music came to an end, an inky cloud of smoke burst from the palace walls, and within them was-

"Jessamine! It's the witch Jessamine!" cried a partygoer. 

"Jessamine, I had you banished from this kingdom long ago!" spoke King Rufus in his commanding way. "What makes you think you have any right to be here again?" 

The witch pointed a scaly finger at Prince Felix. "That boy is mine! His heart belongs to me!"

The crowd gasped, and the guardsmen charged forward. 

"No!" shouted Prince Felix. "She's right. You see, years ago, in exchange for our kingdom's protection, my mother promised Jessamine that one day we would marry. I am Jessamine's betrothed. But..." Felix sighed, "I'm sorry, Jessamine, but I can't marry you."

He turned to Isobel. "I can't marry you either, Isobel. I have a lover already- Sir Ignatius, Portswell's greatest knight. He is the my life's greatest happiness, and I will deny our love no longer." 

Touched by Felix's sudden boldness, Isobel stepped forward. "Mother, Father, people of Albina, I refuse to marry a prince or any man. They have sparked no interest in me since the day I was born. But this enchanting creature here,"she gestured to Jessamine "is one I could learn to love."

Jessamine's cruel expression softened, and she blushed. "I-is that true? Could you really learn to love me?"

"I could. If you could return me the pleasure, " Isobel smiled. 

The rest of the night, Isobel and Jessamine danced upon every inch of the ballroom floor, while Felix left immediately for his home and his Ignatius. King Rufus at first did not approve of the blossoming relationship between the princess and the witch, but as Jessamine grew kinder and gentler thanks to Isobel's love, his blessing was soon given.

Likewise, King Percival and Queen Elise of Portswell were shocked to hear of their son's hidden romance, but they, like everyone else in the kingdom, wept with joy the day of the royal wedding. 

At the altar, with new friends Isobel and Jessamine by their side, Felix and Ignatius looked into each others' eyes with nothing but pure passion and admiration. "Felix, my love, I'm still so surprised," whispered Ignatius. "What made you change your mind about keeping our affair secret?"

Felix shrugged playfully. "Love is like a witch's spell. It makes you mad in the best of ways."

The kingdoms of Albina and Portswell thrived under the reigns of Queen Isobel the Kindhearted, Queen Jessamine the Cunning, King Felix the Truthful, and King Ignatius the Brave, and their children would happily tell the rest of the world of their parents' extraordinary love stories. 

Sometimes princesses love witches, and sometimes princes love knights. That's the way this story goes.