Cute not-Disney princess story

I've been re-reading some of the old Rejected Princesses entries. (They're "rejected" for almost certainly being too terrifying, weird, etc. to be a "safe bet" for the likes of Disney et al. It is admittedly hard to imagine an animated movie about Julie d'Aubigny for kids...)

One of the cuter ones is Anahit, the Queen Who Made the King Get a Job. Prince singing about his love to the birds? Check. Comedy sidekick (and bonus comedy spear-carrier--dammit, Petros!)? Check. Girl who does not swoon for the prince and insists he learn a practical skill? Check. Adventure and secret messages and that practical skill coming in surprisingly handy at a critical moment? Check!

I might need to check out the book version from the library so I can read the book-only stories.