Radiance, a colorful, bustling kingdom on

the coast of Britain, was once ruled by a

talented painter, King Gray. The rich hues that the King blended on a palette became likenesses of the seaside, floral gardens,  and his beloved subjects—be they peasants, tradesmen, or nobles. Two of his favorite models were his little girls, Azure—the eldest who liked to wear blue and run through the waves with him—and Scarlet—the mischievous one in red who helped him twist roses into coronets in the palace garden.   

His masterpiece, though, was a portrait of his wife, Queen

Golda, whose angelic beauty and compassion radiated like sun

rays.  

Indeed, the warmth of Golda's golden-brown eyes and the

tenderness of her touch drew broken-hearted people of all walks of life—be they peasants, tradesmen, or nobles--to her side for prayer. 

It goes without saying that the people

grieved mightily when Queen Golda died. But, she left a bit of hope in her place, the newborn princess, Ray. Ray’s sisters swaddled and stroked the tiniest

princess whose dimpled smile slowed

their tears.  

Even his daughters’ outstretched

arms and constant cries for their

Papa couldn’t console King Gray’s

grief. He lost the artistry required to be a painter, a father, and a king.  Though he knew he couldn’t blame little Ray for Golda’s death, his heart hardened anyway, becoming a sinister force that dimmed  Radiance’s joyful colors. Dreary clouds eclipsed the sun. Gardens and fields failed to flourish.  

Fishing nets caught only seaweed. 

The peasants, tradesmen, nobles, and three small princesses had no choice but to journey inland to a neighboring kingdom. 

  As years passed, King Gray, a stooped-shouldered hermit, roamed the barren kingdom with regret as his only companion. The princesses, who’d been taken in by a

kindhearted duchess, grew into lovely, resilient young

women.  The duchess agreed that after

their seventeenth birthdays, if they desired,

they could return to Radiance.   Azure was so

homesick that she often scaled castle spires, her

anxious blue eyes searching for the coast.

  Finally, one August day, she kissed the duchess and her sisters farewell and joined a royal escort on horseback to find her father. 

  At first King Gray didn’t know what to make of

the prim, quiet girl who dared cross his moat. “This is

a cursed land,” he growled. Undaunted, Azure

hummed her mother’s favorite songs, beat the dust

from tapestries, and scrubbed every grimy surface. She even charmed the sea into relinquishing crabs and lobster.  After many such days, the king realized that he was squinting more than usual. Blue! A bright, dazzling blue had returned to the sky and the sea.  

“Could it be?” He wondered, lifting the girl’s chin in his hand and studying her wide blue eyes.  

“Papa,” she whispered, her tears rolling over his fingers. 

“Azure! Azure! Ah, you’ve come home!” He peppered her cheeks with kisses before joining her in her tears.