Chapter I
The sun rose over the horizon as the king woke from yet, another dream, a dream of him spending time with his grand kids, while their parents watched, laughing at what they saw.
Shaking his head, he could only sigh, looking up at the picture of himself and his queen, their son in her arms before she had been taken from him all those years ago.
"I know I had promised you our son would have everything, but I just don't know Danielle, I just don't.", he whispered to himself before slowly shoving his sheets back and walking over to the window.
Looking out over the kingdom, he continued to think about his dreams and other things that had been bothering him lately.
He stood thinking, when he was startled by a knock, shaking him from his thoughts.
Rushing to the door, he growled under his breath, but was surprised when instead of the Grand Duke, he saw his son at the door, Cinderella beside him.
"W-What are you doing up?", he asked, wondering what his son was doing all ready out of his room, much less up and dressed.
"Sorry to bother you father but, uh...", Albert began when he stopped, looking to his wife to see if she wanted to tell his father instead, but she urged him on.
Nodding he turned back to his father, who was clearly becoming impatient. "Would you tell me, boy?", he asked.
"Ok... Well, you know how you've been so anxious for me to find the girl I was going to marry? Well-" at this he put an arm around Cinderella. taking her hand as he whispered for her to tell.
"Well, you'll have one of those grand kids soon.", she replied, involuntarily giggling as the king's eyes grew in surprise.
However, the next moment he frowned, turning toward his son. "You aren't trying to pull some kind of joke on me are you?", he demanded.
Taken by surprise, Albert shook his head. "No, no... Cinderella... she told me herself last night.", he replied, somewhat hesitantly.
"It's true.", she confirmed when the king still appeared to not believe them.
For a moment he could only stand silently as the news sank in.
Then, just as his son and daughter-in-law looked to each other, beginning to wonder, he broke out in a grin, his eyes lighting up as he began to laugh.
"I can't believe it!", he cried, gently taking Cinderella's hands in to his own as he looked up, giving her a fatherly glance. "You have no idea how happy I am, my dear.", he whispered.
"Oh, she might father.", Albert mumbled, scratching the back of his neck while rolling his eyes.
"Either way, you're the first person we've told.", Cinderella informed him.
Nodding, the king chuckled. "Well, you two head on and I'll be there for breakfast in a bit."
"All right, father.", Albert replied as he and his wife walked out, both smiling at one another, both still unable to believe they were really going to be so lucky.
Of course after finding this out, the King later ordered the Grand Duke to send word to the messenger that there was to be a ball at the castle the next night.
"Will you quit with that look on your face and get to work!?", Drizella yelled, annoyed at her sister, who was staring off into space, instead of drying dishes.
As she realized what she had been doing, Drizella punched her shoulder, causing her to drop the cup she had be holding.
"Ooo. You klutz! You can't do anything right! And it's all because of Amable, that baker!", she growled at her younger sister.
Though not having anything to say, Anastasia's eyes began to water as she sniffled, trying to keep from crying, but as she was about to begin sobbing, there was a knock at the door.
Still annoyed, Drizella gave her sister a warning, hoping it wasn't the guy they had just been talking about.
But, she was more surprised than thrilled when she saw that it was the King's messenger and numbly took the paper he handed her.
Looking at what was inside, she chuckled, glaring at her sister. "Now you're going to get it.", she hissed before she saw her mother at the doorway.
"And, what are you two talking about?", Lady Tremaine demanded as she walked over, snatching the letter from Drizella's hands.
"So, the King is throwing the two of them another party, is he?", she mumbled before scoffing. Can't believe he loves that girl this much, she thought to herself before looking to her daughters once more.
"Now, I want you two to get yourselves eligible men.", she told them, glaring at her youngest daughter, looking her straight in the eye. "And you know what I mean, Anastasia. Now get off the floor. You two need to be ready for tomorrow night... Oh, and Anastasia,... pick up that glass, then get us some bread from town. In the meantime, I need to speak with your sister, alone."
And with that, both her mother and sister walked out, leaving Anastasia on the floor, tears slowly trickling down her cheeks.
As she walked through the village, Anastasia could only sigh, her head down as she headed to the baker's shop.
Approaching the front of the shop, she was startled, hearing her name. At first surprised, her expression quickly changed, her lips curling up once she saw who had called her. "Hey, Amable.", she called, her eyes catching his for a moment before she sighed. "Mother sent me here for bread.", she told him.
"Any kind she want?", he asked, opening the door for Anastasia. "I just finished a fresh tray.", he told her with a smile. Then, laying it on the table, picked up a loaf, breaking off a small piece. "Want any?", he asked holding it out for her to take.
"Mm, Straight from the oven.", she whispered, smelling it before taking a bite.
As she chewed, Amable stood, taking a moment to think before slowly reaching out to take her hand. "Say, I hear there's a party at the palace tomorrow night.", he causally began, happy to see her eyes light up, letting him know he had her attention.
"Yeah.", she replied, dreamy look in her eyes.
"Well, you wouldn't want to go with me, would you?", he asked, slowly wrapping an arm around her, so his hand laid on her back, resting between her shoulder blades.
"Oh yes, I would love to.", she replied dreamily, laying a hand on each of his shoulders.
After looking in each other's eyes for a few moments, Anastasia watched, while Amable filled her basket, knowing what her mother wanted.
And a few minutes later, Anastasia stood, her hand on the open door to head back to the house.
"See you tomorrow night.", Amable said before kissing her on the cheek.
"Yes, thanks for the bread.", she replied before heading down the street, her head in the clouds, happy that she would get to dance with him again.
"Don't know why mother lets you go to town. You have that ridiculous look on your face every time you come back.", Drizella said as she watched her sister, starry look in her eyes as the two of them cleaned the floor.
"It's called love.", Anastasia whispered.
Hmph! Well, I'm getting a man mother approves of."
Though she had just returned from town a short time ago, Anastasia was more than ready to go back, already tired of her sister's cruel comments.
As Anastasia sat, watching her mother and sister leave, she could only sigh, but was startled a moment later when Lucifer walked by, kicking one of the glass shards, startling her as it hit her arm.
"Why not, Lucifer. Everyone else in this house says I'm beneath them anyway.", she whispered as the cat turned his head, appearing to give her a look that said he didn't care, before heading on his way.
"Wonder what Cinderella's doing.", she wondered to herself as she reached forward to pick up the broken glass, thoughts of what her sister might be doing, going through her mind, wishing that she could have that as well.
Though, she couldn't bring herself to smile, her eyes said something about what she thought as she had images of herself and Amable living above the shop, each of them knowing the other loved them deeply, both working during the day, working together to make bread and other delicious things.
Anything to get away from mother and Drizella, she thought to herself, hoping her mother and sister would leave her alone for awhile, though the thought now occurred to her, that she wondered how she could managed to make it to the ball without the two of them seeing her, especially with the more plain dress that her older sister had recently given her, helping her to win Amable's heart.
"I'll find one way or another.", she whispered, determined she would gain her prize.
"You sure about this?", Charles asked his brother as Amable had just told him what he planned to do. "I know she's sweet and I saw you two at the ball, but... I mean, her mother.", he commented, the last two words causing him to wince.
"I know, her mother and her sister, but she's not like them. She's sweet and pretty... like her sister, the one in the palace who married the prince.", he replied, becoming nervous about what he would say next.
"But, I know she's the one. Everything seems... better, when I'm with her.", he replied. "I just asked her to the ball this morning and..." With a smile, he took the small box out of his pocket. Then, smiling he opened it, revealing a simple diamond ring. "I'm going to ask her to marry me... I know she's miserable with her mother and sister.", he replied with a frown.
"If you say so. I hope you two are happy.", Charles replied, somewhat hesitantly. "I'm not against what you're doing, just that I know her other as well as you do.", he replied.
"Well,... didn't you ask Alison? Why don't you take her and you two can meet her?", he suggested.
Though somewhat hesitant, Charles nodded. "Ok, then. We can take them both to the ball together.", he agreed, causing his brother to smile.