EIGHT

Fabiano and Reyes

Once there were two kingdoms whose kings and queens were very good friends. One summer a baby was born to one of the queens, and she and her husband invited the other king and queen to baptize the boy. They christened him Fabiano.

Two years later the other queen gave birth to a baby girl, and the godparents of Fabiano were invited to baptize her. They named her Reyes. The boy and girl grew up together, spending one week at one palace and the next at the other.

The two grew up loving each other like brother and sister. Fabiano was an exceedingly handsome boy, but Reyes was not considered a beauty. When they were old enough they were sent to school to begin their studies. Fabiano took very good care of Reyes, because he loved her beyond compare.

But Fabiano was vain. He began to write love letters to one of the most beautiful girls in school. He shared the letters with Reyes because he totally trusted her.

—Reyes, he said, the girl I wrote to is the fairest in our school, and I will have only a beauty like her. I’d rather be blind than be seen with an ugly girl.

Reyes did not consider herself beautiful, and although she loved Fabiano, his comments made her feel ashamed.

—Dear Fabiano, she said, you deserve a virtuous and beautiful woman. One as handsome as you.

Throughout their school years Fabiano continued to fall in love with the loveliest girls and to despise those he considered plain.

When they completed their studies they returned home, and as was their custom they continued to visit one week at one palace and the next at the other.

The parents were so happy to have Fabiano and Reyes back home they held dances and fiestas and bullfights. Fabiano and Reyes always attended these events together, and he would dance only with the loveliest girls.

When he presented his partner to Reyes he would whisper,

—Isn’t she beautiful? I’d rather be blind than have an ugly woman at my side.

One week the festivities were to be held at the palace of Fabiano’s father, who promised to bring the best singers and bullfighters from across the sea. Fabiano and Reyes helped with all the preparations.

The first night of the dance Fabiano met a lovely young woman whom he immediately introduced to Reyes.

—Reyes, meet my sweetheart. Isn’t she beautiful? Then he whispered to her. You know I would never have an ugly woman as my girlfriend.

—Yes, replied Reyes. The woman who marries you must be beautiful and virtuous.

The following night Reyes felt so discouraged she came to the dance in a plain linen dress.

Fabiano reproached her.

—Reyes, why are you dressed in linen? A virtuous princess like you should be dressed in the finest silk.

—Oh my dear Fabiano, you know an ugly woman like me should not dress in silk. I don’t deserve fine dresses; the most common will do for me.

—But I would be ashamed to present you to my sweethearts who dress in silk while you wear plain linen.

—The women you fall in love with are beautiful and deserve silk, replied Reyes. I will dress to match how I feel.

Reyes’s father had invited a well-known singer from across the sea to sing, but the singer was drowned when the ship sank.

Reyes went to Fabiano and explained the situation.

—My father promised his guests that the singer would appear tonight, but now that is impossible. So that my father doesn’t lose his honor, I will sing tonight.

—No, no, replied Fabiano. Singing is not for a princess. People will criticize you, and then I will be ashamed.

In spite of Fabiano’s protests, Reyes decided to sing for the assembled guests. No one had ever heard her sing before, so all were surprised at her lovely, melodious voice. Even the arrogant Fabiano sat spellbound.

By the time Reyes finished her song Fabiano’s heart was throbbing with love. Immediatedly he went to Reyes and asked her to dance.

—Oh, you wouldn’t like to be seen dancing with an ugly woman, she replied. Please excuse me.

The festivities ended and the guests left, but Fabiano’s new-found passion would not let him rest. He had fallen in love with Reyes. Quickly he went to his parents and asked them to ask for Reyes’s hand in marriage.

Of course the king and queen were very happy, and, as was the custom, they went to ask permission for their son to marry Reyes.

All were shocked at Reyes’s refusal.

—I cannot marry a man who despises those he calls ugly. A person should not be judged by the looks God has given. Fabiano should marry someone as beautiful as he.

When Fabiano heard Reyes’s answer he grew very depressed. He couldn’t get over the love he felt for Reyes. After a month he went to his friend, a captain, and asked him to intercede. The captain agreed to go to Reyes and tell her that Fabiano was very much in love with her and wished to marry her.

Reyes confessed to the captain that she had always loved Fabiano, but because he had despised ugly women so much she could not marry him.

The captain sadly reported this to Fabiano, who decided to leave his kingdom forever. He moved far away, and every other day he would write Reyes a letter expressing his love, but he never mailed them.

One afternoon while Fabiano was hunting, the rifle he was using exploded and blinded him. While he was in the hospital his father and mother died. The caretaker of their castle went to the hospital and brought Fabiano home. All the people who had once worked for the king and queen were gone; there only remained the caretaker and the old housekeeper to take care of Fabiano.

Life in the deserted castle was lonely and sad. The old housekeeper cared poorly for Fabiano.

To console himself, Fabiano took out the letters he had written Reyes, but now he could not read them.

One day his old friend the captain came to visit.

—Has Reyes come to see you? he asked.

—No, replied Fabiano. She will not see me because I spoke ill of ugly people. Without her love I am slowly dying.

The captain went to visit Reyes.

—He is alone and he is blind, he told Reyes. You and he grew up together, and yet you don’t visit him. Why?

—I love Fabiano with all my heart, Reyes replied. But I believe he fell in love with my singing, not with me. Does he love me deep inside?

—Go and find out. The old housekeeper doesn’t take good care of him. The food she prepares is not fit for pigs. He needs a nurse. You should be that nurse!

—Yes, Reyes agreed, I would like to take care of Fabiano. But with one condition.

—What is that?

—You must not tell him I am the nurse.

—Ah, said the captain, so that way you will discover for yourself if he loves you with all his heart.

—Yes.

—Very well, you have my word I won’t tell him.

With that the captain rode off. He arrived at Fabiano’s in a joyful mood.

—My dear friend, he said, I have good news. I have found a nurse who will take care of you.

—Thank you for your kindness. I only hope she can read.

The captain brought Reyes to Fabiano’s castle, and when she saw the poor state he was in, she vowed to take care of him.

She heated water so Fabiano could take a bath, and she brought out his fine clothes. She prepared him good meals, and soon Fabiano regained his health. He was very happy with the nurse his friend had found.

—Nurse, he said one night, can you keep a secret?

—Yes, replied Reyes.

—You know the small suitcase I keep by my bed?

—Yes.

—Bring it to me, please.

Reyes brought the suitcase and Fabiano opened it.

—These are letters I wrote to the woman I love. Will you please read them?

Reyes began to read the letters Fabiano had written and never mailed, and as she read, tears filled her eyes. She looked at Fabiano and saw that he too was silently weeping.

The next day the captain came to visit and found Reyes in the kitchen. It was obvious she had been crying.

—Is something the matter? he asked her.

—I read Fabiano’s letters last night. I know now he truly loves me.

—What are you going to do?

—I will marry him.

The captain and Reyes rode to Fabiano’s castle. They found him in the garden, and at first only the captain spoke.

—My dear friend, you are alone so much. I think you should be married.

—Who would have me? asked Fabiano.

—Your nurse. She takes very good care of you.

—Yes, and I feel very close to her. But the love in my heart is only for Reyes.

—Then marry Reyes.

—She wouldn’t have me when I was young, why would she have me now?

—I spoke to her, and she will marry you. You see, the nurse who has been taking care of you is Reyes herself.

Fabiano was speechless. Tears filled his eyes. Of course he had felt Reyes’s presence when the nurse was near, but he did not trust his feeling.

—I would give you half my kingdom if that were true, he said with a sigh.

—It is true, said Reyes, stepping forward and taking his hand.

—I am blind and you will have me as a husband?

—I am ugly, will you have me?

—I have learned a lesson, said Fabiano. When I was young I judged people by their looks. I know now that we should love everyone equally.

—Perhaps we have both learned a lesson, said Reyes.

The two were married, and to this day they live together, taking care of each other and sharing their love.