Ella slipped away when a maid came up bearing some letters for the young Lord. As she wandered across the beautiful ground, her mind mulled over the difficult task Arthur asked her to accomplish. Well, it wasn't a compelling one, she could back out of it at any time.

"I want you to be my companion at the ball." He had requested.

Ella did a double-take, eyes widening in utter horror. "What did you say?"

Arthur nodded, with a desperate look in his eyes. Ella understood. Her heart beat slowed to normalcy.

"This is about the princess, isn't it?"

Arthur smiled sheepishly, cheeks burning a deep shade of red in embarassment. "You figured us out."

Ella grinned. "I'm not blind, Lord Arthur."

He rolled his eyes at her mischievious demeanor. "So, are you in or out?"

"In."

Ella was far too deep in her thoughts until she collided with someone. A girl.

She was carrying a basket filled with clothes way out of her proportion that reminded Ella of Star.

"Oh my...I'm dreadfully sorry." She said, dumping the basket on the bright green grass.

Ella smiled, not in the least offended. "It's nothing."

The girl seemed relieved. At what exactly? "For a moment, I thought you were going to strangle me."

Ella grimaced at the picture of strangling an innocent person. "But why would I do that?"

The girl shrugged. "I guess not. The name's Ismat and you look like a very pleasant person."

Ella bowed her head, slightly overwhelmed with her words. "Well-"

Ismat scrutinized Ella with her dark-brown orbs. Flicking a strand of her long red hair out from her face, she gestured at the basket.

"Do you mind helping me out?"

Ella got to know several places in the huge mansion, the Library, Arthur'ss personal study, the kitchen, the laundry, the Servants' Lodge for both male and female.

Ismat was originally from Saudi Arabia. Her parents were wealthy people witha long line of businesses. She had two other male siblings, Aziz and Ali who were always kind to her.

Her wicked uncle had ordered her kidnap and she was secretly shipped to Europe with his other slaves. There she realized he was running an illegal trade in slaves. He sold them to who ever wanted them for whatever purpose.

"That's really mean."

Ismat nodded. "True. I don't know if he's alive or not. After the police discovered his secret, he went into hiding."

Ella hoped he was dead. Wicked souls like him didn't deserve to live.

Ismat gasped as if realizing something. "Pardon me, I did not ask your name."

"Ella."

Ismat folded some more clothes in the laundry. "Ella, you're really beautiful, you know."

Ella blushed again. Ismat caught her blushing and smirked.

"So, Aria..."

Of course, news travels fast. Ella proceeded to tell Ismat everything she could remember.

Ismat had an agreeable personality. Ella mused as she headed up to her room. She had stolen a glimpse of Eric and Charity through the window. They were comfortably seated in the garden talking about something.

With a tune under her breath, Ella opened the door and stumbled back upon seeing Arthur in there.

"Oh, shoot." Arthur swore, angry he had startled her.

Slowly, colour returned to Ella's face. "Arthur, what are you doing in here?"

Arthur edged away from her bed. "Clothes for dinner this evening and for the ball."

So quickly? Wait...dinner?

"Dinner?"

Arthur walked to her dresser. "The Duke of Basewood and his wife invited themselves over for dinner." He responded with a frown.

From his facial gesture, Ella deduced that he didn't like this 'invitation' that much.

She chuckled and in her good-natured way said:

"Oh, it can't be that bad, can it?"

Arthur's frown deepened and Ella wished she hadn't said anything. "I'm sure you'll see for yourself this evening. Try out those dresses. I'll send Ismat up to help  you out ." And he left Ella alone in the room.

She didn't know whether to feel sad that she had annoyed him or merry that she would see Ismat again.

Ella's finger strayed to the locket she always wore under her dress. Blinking back her treacherous tears, she opened the small gold case and stared at the picture of her mom and father. This was the only memory she had of her father. He was murdered when she was only a month old.

Ella tried to imagine how much grief her mother suffered before Brian entered their lives and added more fire to everything.

He will pay for everything. Ella vowed.

A subtle knock on the door distracted Ella. She quickly concealed the locket.

"Come in."

Ismat poked a head in first and grinned before stepping into Ella's room.

"I hear the Duke and his wife are coming over for dinner this evening."

Ella nodded, eyes wandering to her bed. "Yes, they are."

Ismat felt the fabrics and grinned. "Are you going to try these on or what?"

When Ella mumured some words in her throat, Ismat smirked and forced one of the dresses, a beautiful light blue one into Ella's arms before pushing her into the changing area.

Ismat was gobsmacked when Ella emerged, uncertain of how she looked in the blue dress.

"How do I look?"

Ismat smiled, rushing over to her. "Absolutely fabulous, Ella."

***

Ella realized the reason Lord Arthur wasn't pleased earlier today. The Duke, George Welburst and his wife Amelia Welburst were talkatives. Throughout the dinner, they talked about how much they had, houses, mansions, horses, factories and other stuff.

Arthur's lips were set in a firm line and he responded in a gruff voice whenever it was necessary. Even the Princess Charity was irritated at the incessant bragging.

Ella wished she could snap her fingers and the couple would just disappear and leave them alone.

The only person that wasn't bothered was Prince Eric. In fact, he was amused at the pair. Ella decided she would ask him about his weird amusement later.

After dinner, when the Duke and his talkative of a wife had left. Ella engaged Prince Eric in a discussion, beating his sister to it. For all she knew, Lord Arthur was itching to have a private time with the Princess.

"Why were you smiling back there?"

Eric's lips curved up. "Back where?"

Ella scowled. "Oh come on, don't put up an act."

"What was there not to smile about? The way they bragged like they had everything...it was simply amusing."

Ella rolled her eyes before deciding to talk about something else. "Any plans yet?"

Eric's countenance fell. He stared ahead of him at the horizon dotted with glittery stars. "I'm going back to Aria."

Ella was stunned. How could he want to go back there, and without help.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? To save my kingdom."

Ella couldn't believe her ears. He was going back to save his kingdom without a concrete plan? Does he want to get himself killed? Because for all she knew, Brian would be glad to run a sword through his heart.

"Have you lost your mind?"

Eric was shocked at Ella's outburst. "W-what do you mean?"

Ella's nostrils widened with annoyance. "Are you trying to get yourself killed? Because obviously my step-father would be willing to help you with that once you show up in Aria without an army behind you. We didn't escape his fangs only to run back in unprepared, Eric!"

Eric grimaced at her steely tone. Charity had also flipped out when he told her this afternoon. But they didn't understand, nobody did. His parents were in danger. Hell, he had no idea if they were alive or not.

"Ella-"

But Ella wasn't done yet. "I thought we talked about this. You aren't going back without a solid plan, that would just be suicidal."

Prince Eric heaved, then with eyes fixed on Ella, he seized her slender fingers. Ella tried not to hyperventilate at the sheer contact.

"Ella, trust me. You have to trust me." He pleaded.

Ella glanced away. "Do you have a plan?"

Eric nodded. "Yes, I do."

She rose, their eyes colliding again. "If that's the case then, I'm coming with you."

Eric's lips floated open and shut like a fish in water. "W-what?" he spluttered.

"I'm coming with you. But after Lord Arthur's ball."

"What are you two doing over there?"

Ella and Eric craned their necks at the sound of Charity's shrill voice.

Eric scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, sparing Ella a brief glance. "We were having a small talk?" He replied with uncertainty.

Princess Charity flung him and Ella a suspicious glance. "Whatever. Ella, I need your help. Dearest brother, I'm stealing her away."

Prince Eric sighed. "Can I say no?"

His sister shook her head, petite fingers latching onto Ella's arm. "No."

And she pulled Ella away up to her room. Ella hadn't gotten Eric's approval yet, but she was certain if he was returning to Aria, she would be right beside him. This was her fight as well as his.

~~~~~~~~•••~~~~~~~~
Get your armour on, my twisted ones because there's a battle coming up!

Honestly, I'm surprised that I haven't abandoned this book. I still have the energy to get it going and no matter how long it takes, this book will certainly be twisted, um, completed.

Next chapter, we'll be jumping into Benjamin's body back at Aria, lol.

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