"Oh my seas!" Bella cried. Clutching her book tighter to her chest.

"Are you quite certain of this?" Rose asked. Her cheeks losing its pink hue. She rubbed her arms and considered my words.

"I might have read something about this." Rheanon spoke up Looking at all of us. "I know for a fact Ella is right."

"Alright, so you read about it. Ella how did you know about this?" Bella asked me. They all paused and waited for my answer, while I kept my mouth tightly shut. But I guess I broke during the prolonged silence.

"Fine, but its stupid, and if you don't believe me you will have only yourself to blame." I told them.

"Oh speak, and stop stalling." Rose rolled her eyes.

"Fine, you asked for this." I sighed.

"I can smell it." I told them.

"Err, smell what exactly?" Rheanon asked.

"Magic, I can smell magic." I confessed. My friends were stunned. I mean judging from their gaping mouths, and wide eyes.

"How is that possible?" Bella asked, skeptically.

"I don't know, i have just been able to do it I think." I told them.

"And what does dark magic smell like." Rose asked.

"Death." I told them. "It smells like death."

We fell into silence as we each tried to think of different ways to confront this issue. We were ladies. Most of us grew up with servers at our beck and call. We have never had to face the darker side of life, the darker side of Nivia.

"We have to go to class, during lunch time we meet in the library, and sort this out." Rose said at last.

We all agreed, and moved towards the class. We had Mistress Kara for dancing and grace lessons. It was a combined class, so it took place in one of the larger halls.

I have to admit, we were all skilled at dancing, even Rheanon.

And as we danced to a waltz, a loud crash disrupted rehearsals, and I noticed the disruption was caused by my stepsister, and her ridiculously huge feet. I am not afraid to say i smiled in absolute delight at her misery.

" Lady Annabelle Cromwell, I am going to have to ask you to stay behind after classes, for an extensive tutoring session." Headmistress Privilege, who had been overseeing the activities with Mistress Kara said.

Anna sputtered her protests has she was helped to her feet.

Devina also tried to help,and was given the same punishment, for her terrible playing of the piano.

   "Lady Arabella is your sister,is she not?" Headmistress privilege asked. And without waiting for an answer, she continued.

"Graceful is she in all things, perhaps you should seek for help, yes?" She asked.

"Yes Headmistress privilege." They both replied grudgingly. And I gave a beautiful curtsy, which earned me a rare smile from the Headmistress.

"I am beginning to think you are her favorite, after Rose of course." Rheanon said. As we moved up and down to the instructions, as graceful as possible.

"But of course." Bella smiled. While Rose let out a light giggle.
I stuck my chin up, my nose in the air, and gave a proud smile.

"It is well deserving, is it not?" I asked, in an haughty manner.

They all gave me dry looks, and shook their heads. I shook my head as well, for I didn't understand why they refused to acknowledge my greatness.

Soon it was lunch time, and we retired to the library with the apples Bella picked for lunch. Not that we had appetites anyways.

"We need to go over there and rescue her ourselves." Rheanon declared. Rose and Bella gasped, while I seriously considered it.

"You can't be serious! Do not fret, i will report this to my father, he will send knights and soldiers after her." Rose contradicted.
"But almost every knight and soldier of Nivia, are on the case of the missing children." Bella reasoned.

"You are right, the remaining available are on duty, protecting Nivia and it's royal family." Rheanon agreed. Giving Rose a pointed look. Rose sighed and nodded in agreement.

"You are right, we can't ask for help without any evidence of foul play." I added, in deep thoughts.

"Exactly! No one would take us seriously, they will all just assume we are nothing but a pair of empty headed ladies, and a spoiled princesss." Rheanon hissed, clenching her dainty fists.

"I do hate that notion men seem to harbor about our person." Bella agreed.

"There is only one solution really, we rescue her ourselves." I said finally. And Rheanon punched the air in triumph.

"How do you suppose we find her." Rose inquired.

"Simple, I follow the smell of death and hope it leads us to Fey." I sighed.

"Like a hound!" Bella exclaimed, and clapped.

Rose and Rheanon snickered. While I shot Bella a dirty look, not appreciating the comment at all.

"You know, if you follow the smell of death you could lead us to an actual murder scene." Rheanon teased. A playful grin on her face. More laughter ensued, and I gave them a glare, how dare they forget the noble quest at hand and mock me instead.

"Sorry Ella." Rose sobered up. "But if we are going to do this we'll need help."

"I don't see why, I am pretty swift with a sword."Rheanon commented. Noticing our surprised look,she said."what? I practice."

"I am quite swift on my feet, and can put out fire easily. It's a useful skill." I shrugged.
Rose gave me a lingering look, but denied ever doing so when I asked about it.

"That's great Rheanon, and simply weird Ella, but we still need help." Bella said, as reasonable as always.

"Exactly! And who better to ask, than my brother and his noble knighted friends. One of whom is the son of a general, and the other a prince of Ellenheim, the kingdom of magic." Rose finished,with a winning smile.

While Rheanon and Bella were in awe at the thought meeting a prince from the magical land of Ellenheim. I was frightened out of my wits at the prospect of meeting the Crown Prince I had rudely disrespected.

"No way! You told me not to ever cross his path again." I objected.

My statement was met with eye rolls, and extreme nonchalance by the people I called friends.

"Oh don't exaggerate." Rose rolled her eyes.

"And this is not about you, its about Fey." Bella said in exasperation.

"I still don't like it." I objected.

"What if Rose guarantees your safety?" Rheanon asked. We all shot Rose a look, who was shaking her head in disagreement, then quickly changed it too affirmation. I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Fine but I still hate it." I said quite seriously. While they shot me fond looks, as if I were a child they had to tolerate.

At the end of school, I went to my sisters who were grumbling in the hall in displeasure.

"This is quite sad, I wonder how mother would react to the news of her daughters been the least accomplished ladies in school." I said, inspecting my glove hands.

"You can't tell her Ella." They both pleaded, terrified looks on their faces.

"Of course I can, seeing you girls miserable would be the highlight of my day." I smirked.

"How are you so cold? we are your sisters." Devina cried. Hoping to use my emotions against me. Unfortunately for her, i had none where they were concerned.

"Oh stop." I laughed. "You know quite well there's no love nor affection between us." I said cold as ice.

"Alright, what do you want?"
Anna asked in defeat.

"Not much, I will not go home, instead I will wait around for you. Then we can go home around the same time, and spin a lie for mother dearest." I said with mock sincerity.

"Oh thank you Ella!" They cried in delight. And my smile grew. They were pathetic, the lot of them.

"Oh no, you will both owe me a favor each." I interjected. They both shared a look, before agreeing it was worth it.

"Well what do you want?" Devina asked.

"oh do not trouble your not so pretty heads about it, when it is time you will know." I giggled and made my exit. They were idiots, the pair of them.

My friends were waiting for me outside, and jumped to their feet as I approached.

"Well, did you convince them to help you?" Rose asked. I thought about it and smiled.

"Not quite, let's just say i got their help with a little manipulation on the side." I grinned.

The girls smiled in relief.

" Alright, we are to follow Rose's carriage alright?" Rheanon looked to us for confirmation. Bella and Rose nodded, while I looked away.

"Ella are we clear?" Bella asked with narrowed eyes.

"Oh fine, I suppose none of you care about the fact that I could be walking towards potential doom." I said, with a very dramatic sigh.

"Oh stop it, you will be just fine." Rose said with a kind smile.

" ignore her, its faster that way." Rheanon smirked. While my jaw dropped open in outrage. My friends just laughed.

"Alright, its time." Bella said. And with a nod, and extreme reluctance on my part, we got into our different carriages. And rode up to the royal palace.

~

The gentlemen are about to come into the picture!😁 Pls leave a star and drop a comment, pls🙏