A/N: Review, and all of that fun stuff. Pretty please?
It was the King and Queen.
"Honestly Guinevere, give the boy some freedom! Who knows, he might actually be having fun right now!" exclaimed the King.
"Victor, what if he has found himself a mistress or something! He has to be kept inside the castle! I have no clue where he is half the time and the other half he seems completely distant from me!" replied the Queen shrilly. The King sighed.
"Leopold is only fourteen; he does not have a mistress! Perhaps if you gave the child some freedom every once in a while, he would not be so distant. He wants to see the world, explore the kingdom for himself. Face it, Guinevere: he is growing up. You cannot keep him like a child forever! When he returns, speak to him about it, but be gentle and kind. I know you love him, Guinevere, just give him some space." The Queen hugged the King.
"Oh Victor, I'm so afraid that we will lose him. I do love him; he is our only son." The two rulers walked away, talking. I smiled.
"See, Leo. Your parents do love you. You should talk to them more; they seem nice," I commented. Leo nodded, thoughtful.
"We'd better get going. Your father will miss you, as my parents have already stated about me. Talk to him about getting married, and I'll talk to my parents. Does that sound fair?" he asked.
"Certainly." We shook on it, and it felt odd to grasp his hand. I was thankful for the dark room that hid my blush. Leo led me out of the castle and back to the garden, where we parted ways.
I arrived home only to remember to tell my father my thoughts on him getting married again. I took a deep breath and approached him.
"Father?" I began. He looked up from his books and smiled at me. He was such a kind man.
"What is it, Mari?" he asked. I looked at the floor.
"I wanted to let you know that I think it is fine if you want to get married again. As long as you are happy, father, I am happy," I finished. Father smiled, his eyes twinkling with delight. He embraced me.
"I would never marry without your permission. Thank you, my daughter," he said. I smiled. "I am leaving tomorrow for Queric. Who knows, I may come back with a fiancée in tow!" he exclaimed. I giggled. He looked so happy! I couldn't bear to ever see him unhappy. Father was so wonderful.
I said my goodbyes to Father as he got into the carriage and left. I walked down Fairy Lane to Allodia's ominous mansion. It was dark and creepy-looking, much like Allodia's outward appearance, but on the inside, well, that was also rather dark, but also very mysterious in a kind sort of way. I smiled, looking forward to the next few weeks with my godmother.
One of Allodia's many servants led me inside the house. I gazed around at the familiar hall. The gray marble flooring, the mahogany wood, the pillars, I smiled. Allodia would never change. She walked up to me from all the way across the hall, wearing a black flowing black dress, with bits of purple satin across the skirt. Her black curls were up in a loose bun. She wore white lacy gloves and a black cloak with silver embroidery.
"Were you all out of black gloves today, Allodia?" I asked sarcastically. She glared at me, but I knew she was quite happy to speak with me.
"Hasn't anyone taught you to respect your elders?" she replied.
"You're not old."
"I wanted to wear white gloves today," she answered. There was a thick silence, and then Allodia broke out into a huge smile. She gave me a hug.
"It's good to see you, Allodia," I said.
"It's good to see you too, Ella." She walked with me upstairs to my room, helping me carry my bags, although I could have done it myself; I did not have much. Allodia dropped my cases on the bed.
Dinner is at six o'clock sharp. If you are late, you do not eat," she ordered. I smiled. Allodia was so…whimsical.
"You really oughtn't be surprised that people call you a witch, what with you wearing black most of the time and your ominous mansion sitting on top of a hill. You might consider being a little less eccentric every once in a while," I said sarcastically. She waved me off with her hand.
"What if I want them to call me a witch? And I do not wear black most of the time, I like wearing red and purple. I can't help it if I have a…what's the word you use…eccentric style," she replied, walking off and pretending to cackle. "I'll get you my pretty!" she screeched. I laughed, sitting on the bed. I always had a good time with Allodia. Some day, I should introduce her to Leo.
I put on a simple and lovely red dress with a little gold material added. I liked it.
The clock struck six, and I descended the stairs to the dining hall. Allodia rolled her eyes playfully. She was still wearing black, of course.
"I apologize; I have no dark dresses that compare to your exceedingly mysterious, dark, and eccentric wardrobe. So I simply wore this red dress," I said before Allodia could mention anything about my dress. She smiled.
"You have a knack for finding other people's thoughts, my dear. Use it wisely," she said, motioning for me to sit. I did, and a servant brought out the dishes.
"Thank you, Eliza, you may go now, and tell the other servants not to come back in until my goddaughter and I are finished here. I have much to catch up with her on," ordered Allodia. The servant, Eliza, nodded, and left. Allodia turned to me next.
"Now. Since we have not seen each other in a while, I shall ask you about your life. Is your father doing well?" she questioned. I nodded.
"Quite well, actually. He wants to get married again, something which I am rather wary about. Perhaps I am being selfish when I say that I do not want him to. Either way, I have told him that whatever makes him happy will make me happy as well," I replied. Allodia smiled.
"How noble. Do you have any close friends that I should be aware of?" she asked. My eyes narrowed. "I get the feeling that I am being interrogated. And no, all of the children associate me with you, the Witch of Hetar, thus they do not like me. I do not mind, though. I enjoy being with you and writing, rather than speaking with unoriginal children," I answered. "Well, I suppose…" I started, almost telling her about Leo, but I decided not to. It was well known that the Prince should not be friends with me. I could not tell anyone, not even Allodia. She looked at me questioningly.
"Is there a boy that I should be aware of?" My eyes opened wide, and I gasped.
"Allodia, how can you say such a thing? I barely have any friends, and you accuse me of liking a boy!" I exclaimed. Allodia smirked.
"So there is a boy?" I glared at her.
"No, and if there was, I wouldn't tell you anyways." I crossed my arms and turned away.
"I knew it. There is a boy. Tell me!" she exclaimed.
"There is no boy! I'm fourteen, Allodia!" I said, raising my voice.
"Calm down, calm down, dear Ella. I was only teasing you," replied Allodia, waving her arms about. She always spoke with her hands. "And yes, you are fourteen, all of this telling me that there is something or someone you are not telling me about. It does not matter, though. I have my ways of finding these things out. In the meantime, shall we discuss my life now?" she asked. I smiled. Allodia was such a busybody! We talked for several more hours. I went to bed quite sleepy and satisfied from my day. I fell asleep writing in my journal.
