The lady briefly explained
what had happened then and how she had immediately recognized the
child when the woodcutter brought it to the holy house.
"You willingly gave me your son, even though I was evil?" the king
asked in disbelief.
"I loved you," the lady in waiting said simply. "And I loved my
son--our son--more."
When he realized how unjust and hypocritical he had been toward the
lady, the princess, and the queen, the king was so overwhelmed with
shame and humiliation that he fell to his knees and began pulling on
his hair and sobbing loudly. His crying was the only sound in the
room until the queen spoke.
"I forgive you, my husband and my king," she said. "And I love you."
"You love me?" the king asked, rising and turning to her with
astonishment. "You love me after I have banished your daughter and
proven unfaithful to you?" But there was no answer, for the queen
had already closed her eyes for the last time.
The king stood as one who had been stunned. He could not speak or
think. As he sat down in a stupor at the foot of the queen's bed,
the prince suddenly spoke. "I have found a mother today," he said.
"I must now find a sister, too. I shall leave immediately in
search of her."
"No!" the king yelled, standing up. But then, recollecting himself,
he said, "No, you're right.
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