Rapunzel returned to the kingdom with Flynn by her side. By now, everyone had heard about the return of the long-lost princess. (The thugs from the tavern¹ were not exactly a quiet group, especially when it came to romance.)

 

Clutching Flynn's hand, Rapunzel followed a royal escort to the palace. Soon they entered the throne room.

 

Rapunzel heard a voice that seemed far away but actually was quite close. A royal guard was addressing her parents: "Your Majesties², this way. There she is!"

 

And then she saw them: the King and Queen. Rapunzel looked into their eyes. She knew. Their love seemed overwhelming, filling the room and Rapunzel's heart.

 

Flynn, too, felt overcome with emotion as he stood back and watched. Rapunzel, with her emerald-green eyes, looked exactly like her beautiful mother. As for the King, his eyes, aged³ by years of worrying about his daughter, suddenly brightened.

 

Unable to hold herself back, the Queen rushed to Rapunzel and held her tight. After a moment, the King joined them. Weeping with joy, the King and Queen knew, just as Rapunzel did. Their daughter, their precious child, had come home at last.

 

It did not take long for word to spread throughout the kingdom. A joyous⁴ celebration ensued. The people of the kingdom did what they had done for eighteen years, launching a thousand lanterns and then joining together in the palace courtyard to dance for — and this time with — their beloved princess.

 

And after that? They all lived happily ever after.

 

(The end)

 

乐佩在费林的陪伴下回到了王国。现在，人人都听说失踪了很久的公主回来了。（酒馆里的恶棍们可是喜欢声张的人，尤其是浪漫故事。）

 

乐佩握着费林的手，跟随皇家卫队进了宫殿。很快，他们进入了正殿。

 

乐佩听到一个似乎很遥远但其实就在近旁的声音。一名皇家卫兵启禀她的双亲：“尊贵的陛下，这边请。她在那儿！”

 

接着，她见到了他们： 国王和皇后。乐佩看着他们的眼睛。她确信无疑。他们的爱看上去势不可挡，填满了整个屋子，也填满了乐佩的心。

 

费林站在后面注视着，也情不自已。碧绿眼睛的乐佩和她漂亮的母亲长得几乎一模一样。至于国王，这么多年来，因为一直担忧自己的女儿而变得苍老，他的眼睛现在突然明亮起来。

 

皇后按捺不住自己情绪，冲向乐佩，将她紧紧抱住。一会儿，国王也加入了她们。国王和皇后喜极而泣，他们和乐佩一样确信无疑。他们的女儿，他们的宝贝孩子，终于回家了。

 

很快，消息传遍了整个王国。欢庆活动开始了。王国的臣民们做了一件他们做了十八年的事，放飞一千盏天灯，然后在宫殿的庭院里一起跳舞——这一次是和他们心爱的公主一起。

 

那之后呢？他们从此都过上了幸福的生活。

 

（完）

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