Hey everyone! Clippy checking in. Ah, I loved writing this chapter - it was so fun. It's probably one of my most favourite chapters of all, since [SPOILER REDACTED]

Haha, anyway, if you want to know what I'm so hyped up about, you better get reading! I hope you enjoy the chapter :)

The sunlight poked out from the snow-coloured curtains, Angela struggling to open her eyes. She massaged her eyelids, her hangover making her want to drift off into another heavy sleep. She then shot her eyes open; this wasn't her room.

She sat up quickly, sucking in a hitched breath as a nurse grabbed one of her arms gently. "Hey, hey," she settled her down, "it's alright. Breathe." Angela did this movement, both of her eyes swelled with fright and confusion. "W-What is happening," her voice quivered, "where am I?"

"You blacked out yesterday," the nurse answered gently. "W-What?" Angela whispered, her features etched with concern. "It seems you were drugged yesterday at the dance," the nurse sighed, "and you had a little too much to drink."

Angela's memory was fogged about last night. Even if she could have remembered, she would have never wanted to know the truth about what she nearly missed. "How did I even get here then?" She whispered silently.

"The prince had brought you in," she handed her a cup of water, "you looked pretty rough." "He, WHAT!?" Her breathing quickened, Angela then covering her face with hair strands entwined between her fingers.

"The prince!? God no!" "What's the matter?" "What's the matter!?" She rambled in disbelief. "The prince had probably seen me when I was passed out, and I'm probably going to get fired for being so unprofessional. And, if I get fired, then I can't take my mom's place as Head Maid, and then what am I supposed to do with my life!?"

The nurse snickered, "I believe you're overthinking, miss." The prince smiled on the other side of the door, enjoying the returning chime of Angela's voice. After Angela had calmed down slightly, he opened the door handle, the eyes directing on him.

He crossed his arms, "Why, good morning Miss. Cunningham." She smiled nervously. "Hey, Hugo," she rubbed the back of her neck, "how are you?" "I would like to ask you the same thing," he stared at her, "it appears you were in a rough state the other night."

She groaned, "I mean I wouldn't know," she mumbled in defeat, "since I don't remember a thing~!" The prince chuckled, "though, I would like to ask why-" 

"Angela, darling!" Hugo turned his head over his shoulder, a man scurrying to Angela's side.

A woman with bright red hair then popped in, "Angela, my goodness, what happened!?" Angela giggled nervously, "Mom, Dad, I'm fine." Hugo took a quick mental note; it seemed that these two strangers were her parents. 

Hugo's eyes widen slightly, Angela's arms wrapping around both her parents. The man with groomed raven hair turned back at him, "You must be the prince, I presume."

"Correct," Hugo extended an arm, "I'm Hugo, a pleasure Mr. Cunningham." The man took his hand, shaking it with a firm grip. "Dr. Quinton Cunningham, it's an honour." Angela giggled, "Dad, you and Hugo are so similar."

Hugo smirked slightly, Quinton tossing his daughter a quick look. Hugo then glanced at the girl with a strawberry head and a wide smile. "Zoey," she flicked her hand up, signalling a wave, "nice to see you again Hugo."

Hugo had felt her face looked slightly familiar; "You work here, yes?" She nodded, "head maid." Hugo nodded slightly, remembering a glimpse of Angela's rambling.

"Do you know what happened, sweety?" Zoey asked, concern laced into her usual peppy tone. "I don't really remember anything," she muttered sheepishly. Her grip tightened on the hospital bed sheets, Hugo had noticed; Quinton still scanning the prince up and down for any sign that he hurt his daughter.

"I do believe that Jonathan had something to do with the matter," the prince stated after a period of silence, "And I presume that-" "Who's Jonathan?" Zoey interrupted, her head whipping back at her daughter.

Angela's eyes widened, her lips tightening as Hugo cleared his throat. "He was one of the staff in charge of the event," Hugo replied, not a hint of nervousness in his tone. "He may have known since he was chaperoning."

"Makes sense," Zoey brushed the side of her daughter's face. "Thank you for bringing her here." "Of course," Hugo replied simply. Then, all of their eyes drifting to the nurse who had entered the room. 

"I believe that you are free to go, Angela," she informed, tossing a quick smile at the girl.

Angela let out a breath of relief, Hugo and Quinton both leaving the room as Zoey said she would help her fix up her dress. "This Jonathan you had mentioned earlier," Quinton broke the silence, "do you know him personally?"

"No, of course not," he then mentally punched himself for sounding rude. "I mean to say that I didn't meet up with him at the dance."

***

Hugo cupped Angela's stone-cold face in his grip, his breath quivering slightly. He settled her into his arms, the moonlight sonata coming to an end as a scattered applause echoed through the hall.

He glanced left and right, making a clean exit as the now muted sound of chatter hitting him as the doors slammed close. He raced down the hall, Plagg shooting out of his breast pocket as soon as Hugo went out of view from the other workers.

"Someone's face is red~!" "Yours will be if you keep talking." "Too bad you can't hit me, prince boy," Hugo swore under his breath, Plagg going back into hiding as he arrived at the hospital wing. "Oh, my," the nurse gasped, the prince sighing.

He rest her gently onto one of the beds, "alert the system that Angela Cunningham will not be arriving at work tomorrow, and say that this was a direct order from the prince," he practically barked, the nurse scurrying off and coming back with a checkboard.

"Okay, alright," she mumbled to herself, "I'll be out in a second to do some tests, you are free to go." Hugo nodded, taking one last glance at Angela. "You better tell me everything that happened when you wake up," he whispered, pain laced into his tone, "I do not like viewing you in this state."

He got no reply, the prince sighing as he paused at the door frame. He walked back up to Angela, kissing her on the forehead before leaving. He left briskly, shaking out the red tone that had flushed onto his cheeks. "Angela," he muttered, "why do you do this to me."

***

His eyes squinted at the memory, Zoey's voice chiming as she finished. Hugo walked back into the room, Angela now wearing the dress he gifted her the other day. "Great," he smiled, "shall I escort you back to your room?"

Quinton opened his mouth to protest, Zoey grabbing onto his wrist. "That sounds great Hugo," she smiled warmly, Quinton crossing his arms sternly as Angela practically jumped for joy. "Let's go!" She dragged on his wrist, Hugo stopping her from running.

"No, we are not running," he scoffed, "you're fresh from the hospital, take it easy." She huffed, walking beside him as she entwined her arm in between his. They walked in silence, Hugo's thoughts deepening in his mind.

What if it had been Jonathan that had done something to her; what would he do then? He couldn't say to break up with him; she would obviously protest on the matter. Hugo stopped in the hallway. "Is something the matter?" Angela pivoted her head towards the prince.

"Can I ask you what happened the other night?" He looked down at her, "you looked as if you were in pain." As he got no reply, he simplified his question. "I can tell you have a bruised wrist, as well as finger indents on your neck."

She huffed, some of her memory becoming unblurred. Jonathan was with her, and she was crying with his hands wrapped around her throat. He promised everything would be fine, and she wasn't going to get hurt if she just listened.

She froze, her eyes glistening with fresh tears. "Hmm?" the prince asked impatiently. "I..." she fumbled, "work. It was work." "How so?" the prince didn't believe a drop of her ocean of lies. "My wrists are red since of, the, uhm..." "...and my neck is bruised because of a necklace I was wearing."

The prince stared at her, Angela letting some of her hair fall in front of her eyes. "If you believe I'm idiotic enough to believe that, you are truly mistaken." Hugo still stared at her desperately, Angela's silent breaths quickening.

"I would like to know the truth," he sighed, "that is an order." "Just because you're the prince," her breath hitched, "d-doesn't mean you get to boss me around." "And just because you make excuses about why you are bruised, doesn't mean I will believe them."

She went deathly silent, Angela walking forward as Hugo grasped onto her arm gently. "Angela, please." "No!" she shouted, "and that's final." "I beg to differ." "Hugo, just stop," she turned back to him, "I know what you're thinking, and that didn't-"

"Well, then, you can presume the worry I have."

"..."

"Angela, you are not leaving until you say what happened."

"...Well, then I'm not leaving."

They stood in silence, the prince waiting patiently for the girl to make any sudden movement. "Isn't lunch soon?" "I will starve myself waiting for you." "You have a job." "Well, I suppose you're going to have to tell me to go to it." "What if a villain attacks?" "Then I will stand here and die."

Hugo's brows furrowed, sighing deeply. "Jonathan did it," she muttered, "and that's all the story you will be getting." His fist clenched; "I knew it," he spat.

"I knew he didn't deserve you."

"It's exactly what I deserve."

"Excuse me?" The prince stared at her, "you do not."

"I do."

"And why is that?"

"Because of something you can't know, Hugo."

"I will stand here all day, Miss Cunningham."

"Night will come soon anyway."

"Angela."

His stern tone caused her to glance up. "Hugo, that's all I'm telling you," she whispered, "please don't make me walk away on you." "I will not let you walk away from me," he concluded, "and I care more than he ever would."

"Oh really," she spat, "when have you ever told me this?" "You're too closed off, Hugo."

Hugo's eyes sharpened, "I can tell you right now if you'd like," he whispered devilishly.

"Go ahead."

"Angela Cunningham," his breath hitched, "I care about you more than you could ever know. It could be your charming smile or the fact that you're the exact opposite of me that makes me love you so much."

"You could never begin to know everything I would wish to do with you - but can not. If I could find a universe where I wasn't typed as a stuck-up prince who didn't deserve you, then I would tell you this as that version of myself."

Angela looked at him in awe, the prince hiding his crying smile with a deep frown. "Why do you have to be so sweet," she laughed airily. "It's not sweet," he spat, "It's how I feel."

Her breathing hitched; Hugo cupping the left side of her cheek. He smiled at her sudden laugh, Angela smiling widely as tears danced down her face. "If Jonathan really cared about you, he would be here right now."

Angela looked down, "He does care about me." "He does not," the prince commented, "And I will continue to hate him for all eternity." 

"Are you now going to say what really happened?" he whispered. Angela shook her head, the prince sighing. His hand was still cupping her face, the prince unsure of what to do.

"I love you, Hugo-" "You do?" he whispered, astonished. "Thank you," he smiled. "For what?" "It makes doing this much easier."

Hugo and Angela's lips met, the sunlight cascading through the curtains.

:>

LOL the art is so old, but yes they kissed. And, oh crap, this unlocks a huge load of problems :D. But, y'know, let's just enjoy the fact that prince boy and Angela kissed!!

I'll see you all next week, and you'll find out what happens after ;)
Stay tuned!