~*~*~*~*~*AUTHOR'S NOTE~*~**~*~*~*~*~

Hi all! Welcome to chapter two! So, you gotta think that the grand duke was punished for what he did, so this is how I imagine it happening. This chapter takes place on Ella's second day at the palace.

Also, there's no smut but at the end there is some slight reference to intimacy.

Feedback is appreciated! Enjoy!

"Kit, what's going on?" Ella gripped Kit's shoulder.

He was seated behind the grand desk in his study, where he did much of his work. Seated to the right of the desk was Lord Walters, one of Kit's senior advisers. He had also advised Kit's father for many years. And seated to the left of the desk was his captain, whose name Ella had learned was Rowland Marriot. Ella stood at Kit's shoulder.

"There were certain people who were plotting to keep us apart for their own gain. I plan to see them punished," Kit said, very focused. But then he looked up at her and took her hand. "Have courage, my love. I will make sure they do not come near us again."

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Kit called, using his most kingly voice.

"The grand duke, Your Majesty," A page announced.

"Thank you."

The page bowed and left the room. The grand duke walked in, nervous but trying to remain confident.

"My king, my lady," He bowed low.

"There are many offenses against you, sir," Kit said, purposefully avoiding the use of his title. "Shall we list them?"

Now his fear was showing more.

"If it pleases Your Majesty," He said quietly.

"First, you received a letter addressed to myself personally and not only hid it from me, but you destroyed it. That is keeping information from the crown and it is treason," Kit said. Ella could hear the passion and the quiet anger in his voice.

The grand duke bowed his head in shame, not denying the charge.

"Then you plotted with the Lady Tremaine and she agreed to hide the Lady Ella from the search to find the one the slipper would fit. That morning you knew she was locked away. But myself and Captain Marriot easily saw through your lies and deceit. Plotting against the crown once more, which would be what sir?" Kit spoke through his teeth.

"Treason, Your Majesty."

Kit gave a great sigh through his nose.

"Why should I show you mercy?"

"Whatever you decide I surely deserve," the grand duke said, knowing there was no way out of this. "You are a just king and a good king."

"But you didn't really believe that did you?" Kit leaned forward in his chair. "You clearly didn't think I was wise enough to even choose my own bride, after all. You sought to control me even before my father died, taking his wishes to the extreme in order to gain every ounce of favor you could from him. But," Kit paused, almost smirking. "What offends me the most, much more than all these wrongs towards me is the future that you were leaving the lady Ella to, to be at the mercy of that vile woman for God knows how long," Another pause. "I'll not send you to prison or worse on one condition."

"Anything, Your Majesty."

"You must beg forgiveness of your future queen," Kit's tone was absolutely final. "The lady Ella has a kind heart, as she's already forgiven her stepmother. Should she do the same for you I may consider mercy."

Ella felt nearly panicked as the grand duke appeared before her on his knees. She'd never before been in a position like this, to where she had such a great influence on someone elses fate. She looked at Kit, unsure of what to do. He merely nodded his approval for whatever she may say, having full confidence and trust in her. The trust a king has in his queen.

Have courage and be kind.

"My lady, I'm sorry for this offense to you and our king," He looked up at her as tried to say the right words. "I thought of nothing but my personal gain and for that I surely deserve punishment. But I do beg your ladyship's forgiveness. For only in admitting my great wrongs and appealing to your kind heart can my conscious rest."

His eyes lowered to the floor. She didn't need to punish him more. He surely would carry the lesson of this his entire life.

"You have my forgiveness sir," Ella took a deep breath. The grand duke looked up at her once again. "But like the king I, too, have conditions," The grand duke was silent while he listened. "Should the king show mercy to you in his wise judgment you will not waste it, meaning you will not commit another act of malice such as this again."

Ella could see the relief on his face.

"My lady is far too kind. You will be a wise and gracious queen," He bowed his head to kiss her hand.

Kit cleared his throat.

"Stand sir, I've made my decision," Kit waited for the grand duke to once again be before him in front of the desk. "You are immediately stripped of your titles and estates, the worth of which will be given to a cause of the Lady Ella's choosing. And you are banished from this kingdom. How you make your way in the world is your choosing. But should you step foot in the kingdom much less near the future queen you will surely spend the rest of your days in prison. And if you plot against me with any foreign nation – which you better believe I'll find out – well, I can only say it will make prison seem like a paradise."

The grand duke had gone quite pale. He bowed.

"As you wish, Your Majesty," He spoke barely above a whisper.

"Get him out of my palace," Kit said to no one in particular. Captain Marriot volunteered for the deed.

"Your Graces," He bowed to Kit and Ella before leading the grand duke out of the room.

"Well done, Your Majesty," Lord Walters said to him after the door was shut. "We'll have spies keep an eye on him, making sure a dangerous enemy wasn't just formed so early in your reign."

"For how long?"

"Indefinitely, sire."

"Good," Kit nodded, tapping his fingers on the desk. "The safety of the kingdom and of my family will always be the top priority. Nothing else matters."

Lord Walters nodded in complete understanding.

"Then safe is what they will remain, Your Majesty."

Kit didn't allow his features to relax, but inclined his head.

"You are excused Lord Walters. I thank you as always for everything."

"Your Majesty, my lady," Lord Walters bowed to them before exiting the room.

Kit and Ella both let out the breaths they'd been holding.

He stood and took his hands in hers.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry if you were uncomfortable," He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear in a comforting gesture. "But I wanted him to see that he hadn't just wronged me, but you as well."

"I understand, Kit," Ella put her hands on his shoulders. The weight of leading a kingdom was on these shoulders. There were no days off or breaks or passing it off to someone else when he got tired. There would be times when he would have to make hard decisions or, like today, pass judgment and punish those who intended to harm him or the kingdom. It felt odd to get a glimpse of this side of him. But he chose her to be his queen. So his queen she would be. "I promise to be there for you in any way you need."

"Thank you, my love," His hand went to her neck as he kissed her lips.

She felt safe and loved indeed.

"Tell me Lady Ella – what would you like your wedding gown to look like?"

Ella opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out.

An hour had passed since Kit's judgement of the former grand duke. Now she was seated in her sitting room across from Monsieur Goutier, the Master of the Royal Wardrobe.

"Well, something elegant to be sure. Something somewhat modest," Ella offered.

"What details did you have in mind?" He asked kindly.

"I'm not sure to be honest," She laughed at herself, shaking her head. If I'm going to be queen I have to get better at these decisions.

Master Goutier then stood. Oh dear, Ella thought. Apparently he too wishes Kit had picked a real Princess.

But instead he smiled – a conspiring smile at that.

"Come with me my lady – I think I know what might help inspire you."

After a few moments of walking with Master Goutier, with Ameila and Lucy accompanying her, he asked,

"Have you been shown the royal jewels yet?"

"No Monsieur," She smiled and shrugged a little. "It's only my second day at the palace – everything is a first to me."

They were now down in the basement of the palace, standing in front of a thick wooden door. There were two guards protecting whatever was behind it.

"Then my lady, it is my pleasure to be the first to show you the royal jewels of the House of Charmont," He nodded to the gaurds to open the door.

Ella didn't need much in life. Her family had been modestly middle class growing up. She didn't have silk dresses and jewels before yesterday – with the exception of what her fairy godmother had dressed her in for the ball. But she was content with that. All she wanted was the love of family.

And yet, she couldn't suppress the feeling of shock and, if she was truly honest, delight at looking at all the glittering tiaras, crowns, necklaces – every piece of jewelry imaginable. Most of the jewelry consisted of sets – tiaras with accompanying earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. There were sets of diamonds, blue sapphires, pearls, amethysts, and more.

"What are these?"

"The orb and scepter, ma'am. You and the king will carry these during the coronation in a few months time." There were two sets – both made of gold and jewels. One set was slightly smaller – likely the one she would be carrying.

"Oh," Ella didn't know about that. "Monsieur Goutier, forgive me, but what does being down here have to with my wedding gown?"

He smiled. "Just take a look around. I'm curious to which one you'll be drawn to."

Ella nodded. She peered closer at the amethyst set – a beautiful tiara that featured rows of diamonds in a teardrop shape that surrounded large amethysts. The necklace that matched it was grand as well.

"Purple – the traditional color of royalty," Monsieur Goutier stated. "Would you like to try them on?"

Obviously the room was made for that. It was well lit and there were several mirrors.

"Oh, I'm not sure if I-"

"Ma'am," Monsieur Goutier interrupted. "You are going to be the queen," He picked up the necklace. "You may try on any piece here. And I can see that you have an enormous respect for these gems represent, and that is a wonderful thing. But," He again smiled a smile with a touch of mischief, "You are allowed to enjoy them too."

Ella smiled, relaxing. "Very well." She sat in a chair in front of the nearby mirror.

Monsieur Goutier clasped the necklace on her, and then placed the tiara on her head.

"Very beautiful," He said, "These suit you."

Ella could tell he meant it. The feeling that overcame her was strange. The realization that this was real. She was really going to be queen and that she would get to wear these priceless jewels. The fact took her breath away.

"I look forward to wearing them. What kind of gown would I wear with it?"

"Well, for this set I might put you in a purple gown to match. But a silver gown would be particularly catching as well," He said. "But what does my lady think of this set for her wedding day? There's a lot to see."

"Yes, there is. I'd like to keep looking."

"Of course," Monsieur Goutier smiled, inclining his head.

After resting the necklace and tiara back onto their velvet platform, Ella moved on. She particularly loved a diamond tiara of a kokoshnik, or russian style, design that held a row of large aquamarines in the middle. But then she saw it.

"May I try this one on?"

"Of course," Master Goutier smiled.

"The Wildflower Tiara," He said as he placed it on her head. "This is quite a special crown. It belonged to the kings aunt the princess Alice – the younger sister of his father. It was a gift to her from their parents on her 16th birthday. Well, a couple years later she married a prince of another country so she left to live with him. She brought the tiara with her, but then a few years later she sent it back."

"Why let go of something so special?" Ella wondered, frowning.

Monsieur Goutier smiled, adjusting the tiara slightly.

"She wanted it to stay in the family."

"This is the one," Ella grinned.

It was a delicate tiara of gold, and simple in the way of gemstones. But it was like a crown of wildflowers on her head, hence the name.

Monsieur Goutier handed her a pair of earrings.

"If I may recommend these to go with it, my lady."

She put the blue drop earrings in. She smiled and nodded.

"Give me this afternoon, my lady, to make a sketch for you. Then may I call on you after dinner?"

"Yes, of course," Ella said, taking off the earrings and tiara and placing them on the velvet. "Thank you for everything Monsieur. You have my gratitude," She smiled.

He bowed over her hand and kissed it.

"It will be my pleasure to serve you, Lady Ella."

"I heard you made a trip down to the jewels after lunch," Kit commented, his lips brushing against her hair.

"Mm hmm," Ella nodded. She was so relaxed against her fiance`.

They were in their garden, and Kit had put in a hammock so they could relax together on something comfortable.

"I can't wait to see you wear everything."

"Everything was so beautiful. I feel blessed to be worthy."

"No one is more worthy to be queen then my honest country girl," He laced his hand with hers, stroking her fingers.

"This honest country girl didn't there was going to be a wedding and then a coronation," Ella teased, touching his nose.

Kit chuckled.

"Fate is a funny thing dearest. A mere month ago I didn't know those things would be happening so soon either. So I'm taking it all in the same as you, I assure you."

"Except you grew up at least knowing they'd happen eventually," Ella pointed out.

"Very true," Kit conceded. "Is there anything I can do to make all this easier for you? Just name it."

"Hmmm," Ella thought for a moment, dramatically. She smiled. "You must kiss me at the beginning and end of each day."

Kit laughed.

"Darling, if I miss a kiss I'll send myself to the dungeon as punishment."

"Well, I don't want that," Ella moved to kiss him, her fingers raking through his thick hair. His hand tightened on her waist, and her stomach did a flip. A very pleasant flip.

"Tell me what the coronation will be like," Ella said, wanting to distract herself.

"Well," Kit began, clearing his throat – his mind still on the kiss as well. "It will be four months after the wedding. I'm king and you'll become queen the day we marry, the coronation is just where we'll be ceremoniously crowned and anointed."

"Is it normal for to be that long after becoming king?"

Kit shrugged.

"It's mostly personal preference of said monarch as to when it will take place. Most are about six months to a year after ascending. And for us that gives us some time to settle into married life."

Ella shook her head.

"This still feels like a dream. A dream I'm supposed to wake up from. It frightens me a little," She unconsciously fingered the neckline of her dress.

Kit brought his hand to her face.

"You're mine. And I am yours," He said, looking into her eyes. "You can always be confident of that, Ella."

Her heart leaped when he kissed her forehead.

Later Kit held Ella's hands against his chest as they stood outside her rooms.

"I yearn for the nights when I don't have to watch you go in there and you can be next to me, where you belong," Kit held his forehead to hers.

"Only a few weeks. They'll be over before we know it," Ella assured him.

"It's late, I won't keep you from your sleep any longer," He kissed her hands.

"Good night, my king," Ella grinned and curtsied dramatically.

Kit laughed and returned a bow.

"Sleep well, fair lady," He said in his most proper king voice.

"I shall – knowing you'll be waiting for me at breakfast."

"I pity the poor soul who would try to keep me away."

Her sweet smile absolutely broke his heart as she peered at him before her door closed, leaving him alone in the hallway. After the ball where they'd met he'd been desperate to find her, and now she was here, in his palace. And there was only a few weeks before they would be husband and wife and they could share there love in the most intimate of ways.

It'd be an absolute lie to say he wasn't very much looking forward to it. And as much as his urges were screaming at him he wanted to be her husband when he took her for the first time.

Kit sighed. He would have to think of other ways to distract his body. Workouts, riding, sword fighting, and cold baths among them.