⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

"Oh my God! It felt so magical. It felt like I was on another planet." Ella could hear Courtney ranting from the hallway.

After the ball, Courtney had returned with her father with great joy. Courtney disclosed to her that the Prince had danced with her all night and the other girls had glared at her with envy.

Ella didn't care for such information but she listened out of mere duty. Her mind was really unsettled as a result of the recent disappearance of her mother. She couldn't care for mundane things like listening to Courtney and Claire's endless gossiping session.

"Did he kiss you?" Claire asked.

Ella cringed and moved to the main yard. Brian was standing with a man close to the stables. They were in a heated conversation so they didn't notice Ella advancing.

"Our plans can kick off now, the stage is set." Brian spoke while stroking his chin.

What plans? Ella wondered.

From their stance, Ella knew they intended keeping their discussion secret.

Pent on discovering the root of their conversation, she hid behind a pile of hay and crouched.

"Surround the palace by the time I tell you. Kill the king, the prince and the princesses, leave no survivor."

"But.. But..." The other man stuttered, disagreeing with Brian.

"Do as I tell you or..." Brian left his speech halfway in a threat.

"I'll make sure your orders are thoroughly followed." The man bowed and marched away.

Brian, convinced that no one had heard anything, walked back to the main house. He was fully contended with the way his plans were going, he would make sure he becomes king and his daughter will just be a pawn in his evil game.

He chuckled as he imagined himself seated on the throne with the full weight of the crown pressing down on his head.

How glorious that day would be.

Ella let out the the air accumulated inside her lungs in gusts and sank to the floor.

She had to stop Brian before his evil plan actualizes.

How would she stop a well constructed plan? Even if she walks up to the king and tells him someone wishes him and his family dead, he wouldn't believe her. She would only get humiliated when the guards throw her out of the palace grounds.

She had to think out a counter plan without getting caught.

Finding her mom can wait till her step father is stopped.

"What are you doing?" The voice belonged to none other than Benjamin.

The abrupt manner he spoke almost made her heart jump out of her chest. She got on her feet and smiled at him, trying to conceal the worried state of her mind.

"Benjamin." She whispered and lowered her face.

He raised her chin with a finger and traveled across her face with his eyes.

"You seem troubled, what's wrong?" His finger left her face and fell to her shoulder.

"I can handle it."

Benjamin watched her with curiosity crowding his face."Handle what?"

Ella thought about asking for Ben's help, after all, he knew someone in the palace. He could help her with her plan.

She sighed and raised her eyes to meet his. "I need your help Ben."

~~~~~~~•••~~~~~~~~

"Get the carriages ready, I need to go somewhere."

Tom, Prince Eric's personal guard and friend shook his head in disagreement.

"I don't think so."

Prince Eric tried to get past him but he blocked his path. "Why not? If you aren't willing to help me, I'll ask Ed then."

Ed was the other guard assigned to Prince Eric and Tom detested him because he was too serious.
.
Tom frowned. "Go on then. I won't be a party to your romantic adventures."

"Come on Tom, help me this once." Eric pleaded.

His parents didn't like him leaving the palace grounds unless it was strictly official and he hates being locked up the dull walls of the place he called home. Of course, he had his sisters to entertain him but they weren't always around him. That's why he relies on his friend and personal bodyguard to help him sneak out whenever he wishes to.

"No."

"I'll increase your pay."

Tom swirled around with his back facing Eric. "Not interested."

What will I do with you Tom?

He hummed a tune for a while, probably thinking about what Eric could do for him in exchange.

"I want my paintings to be reckoned across the kingdom."

Eric smiled. "That's not a difficult task, let's go."

"I'm not kidding." He led the way out of my room in great speed while Eric followed him with a chuckle.

~~~~~~~~•••~~~~~~~~

"Prince Eric's here!"

"The prince is here!"

Ella, curious about the hullabaloo rushed to the front gate which was thrown open by one of the slaves. He beamed at the carriage which strolled into the main compound.

Ella wasn't excited as the other persons around her but she wanted to know what the prince looked like.

She felt guilty about abandoning Ben in such a hurry. They had almost concluded plans on how she'd pass as a servant in the palace while he'd keep an eye on Brian. But then, Prince Eric came into her life, just like that.

By the time she cleared her head of all her thoughts, Prince Eric had already been ushered into the house and her name was been yelled with such force that it should have caused an earthquake.

"Ella." Ben appeared next to her.

"I have to go Ben, I'm being called." Ella fled into the house.

Ben shook his head and walked towards the stable, all the while wondering what was going on with her.

Ella sighted Courtney clinging to the Prince's arm like her existence demanded it. Brian was addressing him in the most annoying manner. Well it was annoying to her because she knew the evil plan he had for the young, handsome prince.

Handsome.

Ella trembled when the Prince's eyes lingered on her. He was the only one who acknowledged her presence first so for an instant, they enjoyed the sparks that flew around in the air.

"There you are Ella, come over here." Courtney sang, releasing Eric's arm.

"Your majesty." Ella curtseyed.

Eric answered her with just a nod because he was lost in her blue eyes for what seemed like eternity.

"Ella, do get him something to drink." Brian ordered.

Ella's heart sank a few feet lower. She felt humiliated that she was nothing more than a servant and her stepfather chose this moment to throw it right in her face.

Prince Eric noticed the way the little smile on Ella's face fell when Brian spoke.

He couldn't help but wonder.

Is she just a servant girl or is she more?

Ella and Eric finally meet, but under unpleasant circumstances. How horrid!

Tell me your thoughts about this chapter and what you think will happen next?

Happy New Year fellas,

I'm happy you still consider this book worth your attention. Thanks for your support.

Updates will be once in a week or two so I can attend to other things, coupled with school reopening in a few days. I hope you understand.

Dedicated to
donnaf1828 Ice_Cold_Beauty queenofhxll- CassieM89 yourstrulydontaie, my new followers.