It is true that I love a charming princess , but if the Fairy should set me free my gratitude would oblige me to love her only . '' `` Do you really mean what you say , Prince ? '' said the Fairy , quite deceived . `` Surely , '' replied the Prince ; `` how could I deceive you ? You see it is so much more flattering to my vanity to be loved by a fairy than by a simple princess . But , even if I am dying of love for her , I shall pretend to hate her until I am set free . '' The Fairy of the Desert , quite taken in by these words , resolved at once to transport the Prince to a pleasanter place . So , making him mount her chariot , to which she had harnessed swans instead of the bats which generally drew it , away she flew with him . But imagine the distress of the Prince when , from the giddy height at which they were rushing through the air , he saw his beloved Princess in a castle built of polished steel , the walls of which reflected the sun 's rays so hotly that no one could approach it without being burnt to a cinder ! Bellissima was sitting in a little thicket by a brook , leaning her head upon her hand and weeping bitterly , but just as they passed she looked up and saw the King and the Fairy of the Desert . Now , the Fairy was so clever that she could not only seem beautiful to the King , but even the poor Princess thought her the most lovely being she had ever seen . `` What ! '' she cried ; `` was I not unhappy enough in this lonely castle to which that frightful Yellow Dwarf brought me ? Must I also be made to know that the King of the Gold Mines ceased to love me as soon as he lost sight of me ? But who can my rival be , whose fatal beauty is greater than mine ? '' While she was saying this , the King , who really loved her as much as ever , was feeling terribly sad at being so rapidly torn away from his beloved Princess , but he knew too well how powerful the Fairy was to have any hope of escaping from her except by great patience and cunning . The Fairy of the Desert had also seen Bellissima , and she tried to read in the King 's eyes the effect that this unexpected sight had had upon him . `` No one can tell you what you wish to know better than I can , '' said he . `` This chance meeting with an unhappy princess for whom I once had a passing fancy , before I was lucky enough to meet you , has affected me a little , I admit , but you are so much more to me than she is that I would rather die than leave you . '' `` Ah , Prince , '' she said , `` can I believe that you really love me so much ? ''
`` Time will show , madam , '' replied the King ; `` but if you wish to convince me that you have some regard XXXXX me , do not , I beg of you , refuse to aid Bellissima . ''
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