As soon as Graciosa had done this, she no longer saw Percinet or the tower, or anything around her. It seemed to her that she was back again in her father’s palace, in the chamber where the King sometimes went to be alone. She saw him there and in his hand he held a little picture of herself painted when she was a child and he was weeping and grieving over it so bitterly that Graciosa’s heart was wrung with pity for him. She wished to speak to him and throw her arms about his neck, but no sooner did she step forward toward him than she found herself back again on the tower with Percinet, and the vision of her father was gone.
Graciosa turned to the Prince, her face bathed with tears. “Dearest Percinet, if you love me, let me return to my father,” she cried. “He is grieving for me, and I cannot bear the thought of his sorrow.”
Percinet looked at her reproachfully. “And is my sorrow nothing to you?” he asked her. “You know how it would grieve me to the heart to lose you. The King was willing to leave you to the cruelty of Grognon, and I have treated you always with the tenderest respect, and yet you would gladly leave me to return to him.”
Graciosa could make no answer to this, and after a moment Percinet added with a sigh, “So be it.”
He then led her to the fairy and told her of Graciosa’s wish to leave them.
Finetta looked at her with a severe expression. “I fear Graciosa, that you are very ungrateful,” said she. “But if you wish to leave us, we will not keep you. Only, when you find yourself again in the power of the Queen, remember that it is of your own choice you are there.”
So saying, the fairy waved her hand, and at once the castle and all in it vanished away like mist. Graciosa found herself again in her father’s palace. With eager steps she hastened to the chamber where she had seen him sitting. He was still there, and weeping. She ran to him and threw her arms about him.
“Dearest father, do not grieve any longer,” she cried. “Your Graciosa has returned to you, loving you better than ever.”
The King was filled with joy at the sight of his daughter and embraced her and caressed her with so much tenderness that Graciosa hoped her sorrows were now ended, and that nothing but happiness lay before her.
But she had forgotten Grognon. The stepmother was furious when she heard that the Princess had returned to the castle. “Will I never be able to rid myself of this wretched girl!” she cried. “But wait a bit! I will make her so miserable that she will be glad enough to leave the palace herself, of her own will and desire.”