A/N: You will love me then hate me.
Disclaimer: Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella song 'Do I love you because you're beautiful' is not mine.
Ch. 10: Who He Was
By the late evening, Aidan had finished his chores. He tiredly walked through the backdoor to the kitchen before he heard a knock at the front door. "Aidan, get the door," Dmitri ordered loudly.
Aidan sighed and walked through the kitchen to the front door. He opened the door and standing at the door was Lionel who was looking into a giant bag before he looked up. "Good- you? Why are you here," Lionel questioned in surprise.
"I live here," Aidan answered. "How can I help you?"
"His Majesty, the king wishes to invite all the eligible bachelors in the kingdom."
Lionel handed Aidan the invitation. Aidan twisted the invitation in his hand before he asked Lionel back, "What is it for?"
"It's for the ball to find Princess Annabel's new husband and the future king."
"Oh…"
Lionel stepped away from the door with Aidan closing it. He then turned around, resting his back against the door. He looked down at the invitation with a sad expression before he heard footsteps storming down fast. He looked up and noticed Jon, Will, and Dmitri approaching him. "I saw a royal horse," Will stated while Aidan handed the invitation gave it to him.
"It's an invitation for the ball that's in two nights time for Princess Annabel."
"Excellent! Jon, you must prepare yourself," Dmitri told his oldest.
"What about me, Father," Will inquired.
Aidan looked from the doorway while Dmitri tried to answer the question. He gave a very unrealistic smile to his youngest son. "I'm sure you will find a lovely lady, William but we need to focus on Jon and how he's going to get the princess's affections," Dmitri explained.
"Oh right but what about Aidan?"
Aidan's head shot up at the sound of his name. Dmitri looked at Aidan then at Will, "What about him, Will?"
"Will he go? He's a bachelor."
Aidan brighten up a bit before Dmitri released a loud laugh, "That is priceless Will but Aidan is staying home to do chores."
"It says all the eligible bachelors, sir," Aidan argued. He stepped forward, "I have a right to go also."
"You are staying here and that's the end of the conversation," Dmitri ordered. He turned around and began to walk up the staircase before while Jon followed his father up the staircase.
However, Will stood behind as Aidan returned to the kitchen. He approached the door to the kitchen and placed his ear against the door. "Aid, I know it's upsetting," Marta stated to the young man.
Aidan shook his head, "Ever since Mama died, everything has been a nightmare. I've been not his son but a servant and for once, I would like to be happy."
"Aidan, please don't get too loud. You don't want to be whipped again," Louise argued with him with a hush tone.
"I'll take the whipping then forced to live a miserable life here." He suddenly grabbed his cloak, wrapping it around his body before he stormed out of the cottage. Will pulled back then looked up the staircase before he stepped away as well.
F&S
Annabel waited against the tree hoping Aidan would arrive soon. They had made plans but of course, she would understand if Aidan was tired. He's the sweetest man I'll ever know but my father and that ball…what am I going to do, Annabel wondered. Suddenly she heard footsteps and turned around to see Aidan appearing quietly. She smiled widely as she whispered his name, "Aidan…"
Aidan felt his anger and hurt slowly disappear from the sound of his name slipping from her lips. He slowly approached her before she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He hugged her back and softly said, "I missed you."
"I saw you last night."
"Yes but it's lonely to not have someone to confide to like I have with you."
Annabel felt a warm blush cross her cheeks before she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Thank you," she whispered to him.
Aidan smiled and cupped her cheek gently. He then pulled back and asked softly, "Have you ever been to a festival before?" She shook her head and Aidan's smile widened, "Come with me." Aidan took Annabel's hand, guiding her slowly out of the forest to the plaza.
As they disappeared further into the forest, unknown to them, someone had follow them. They gave a curious look before they noticed the closeness then realized that Aidan was with the princess. They slowly backed away and returned home, waiting for Aidan to return so they can have an interesting conversation.
F&S
Annabel followed closely behind and soon they arrived to see streamers and children running around. She smiled at the display before turning around to look at Aidan, "Why are we here?"
"You told me that you want to act like we have a normal friendship. I believe this is something you should experience not as a princess but as Anna."
"Aidan," he suddenly heard. Aidan turned around and he felt two arms wrap around him in a tight hug as he lifted Rose up in the air and spun her around. "Aid, you came," she giggled before she hugged Aidan again then she looked over her shoulder to see a smiling Annabel. Rose tugged on Aidan's shirt and whispered in his ear softly, "Who is she?"
Aidan looked over his shoulder, "This is my friend, Anna. Anna, this is Rose or Rosie, she's a friend's child."
"But Rosie sees Aidan like her uncle," Felicia completed the sentence. Felicia smiled and kissed Aidan's cheek before she gave a small nod to Annabel.
Aidan then placed Rose down who walked up to Annabel. The princess crotched down to Rose's size while Rose smiled at her before looking at Aidan then back at Annabel. "She's very pretty," Rose complimented.
"Why thank you," Annabel smiled.
"Mama, can I show Anna around?"
Felicia smiled, "As long as it is okay with Anna." Annabel nodded and Rose quickly took Annabel's hand taking her further into the crowed. Felicia's smile dropped slightly as she turned around and looked at Aidan, "Why is she here, Aidan?"
"Because," he vaguely answered.
"Because…" she rubbed her forehead softly then sighed, "Aidan, I know you like her but-"
"Felicia, it's been a long night and we had this conversation this morning."
Felicia attempted to open her mouth then she noticed Aidan's gaze was away from her. She looked over to see his gaze was on Annabel who was dancing with Rose. A small smile formed on her face before she sighed softly, "I might thank her later for what she has done." Aidan looked at her confused before she shook her head and they walked over to Rose and Annabel.
Rose giggled softly before she felt a small tap. She looked up to see Aidan with his hand, "May I have this dance?" Rose smiled and jumped into Aidan's arms with him carrying her.
Annabel stepped back then she felt a hand on her shoulder. Annabel looked over her shoulder to see Felicia guiding her away from the crowed. Annabel sat down and smiled at the sight of Aidan spinning around Rose, a calm smile on his face.
"I have never seen him this happy for a while," Annabel looked over at Felicia who was watching the sight as well. She looked at Annabel and released a sigh, "When his mother died, he seemed to become a shell of his former self. When Rose was born, it was a new light for him but he still wasn't the Aidan I knew then he met you."
"Me," Annabel questioned.
Felicia nodded, "I understand that you are a princess but please don't hurt Aidan."
"I wouldn't hurt him. He makes me feel like I'm actually someone besides a princess when I'm with him."
"It's a nice reality but what happens at the ball, Annabel? I've seen the way you look at him."
"And how is that?"
Felicia glanced over, "You have feelings for him and I can't stop it because you make him happy. You made him the person I once knew and I'm grateful."
Annabel touched Felicia's shoulder, noticing a small tear running down her cheek. Annabel gave a small smile before she looked back at Aidan. "What was he like," Annabel asked softly.
"He loved to read a lot. He was well educated and he loved to sing to small tunes that his mother used to sing. To see him just do that shows that he's happy."
Annabel looked over at Aidan then stood up. She walked up to him and taped on his shoulder before he turned around and smiled, "Hi."
"May I have this dance," she placed her hand out to him. He chuckled lightly and placed Rose down before taking Annabel's hand, pulling her close to him. She placed her hand on his shoulder while Aidan's hand traveled to her back then they linked hands together as he began to dance slightly.
"I can't waltz," Aidan whispered.
"Let me teach you…"
Felicia watched as Aidan was slowly learning how to waltz. The smile on his face slowly formed but she noticed a small twinkle in his eyes. "Come on, Rosie. Let's leave Aidan with Anna," she whispered.
Annabel rested her cheek against Aidan's shoulder as he clumsily tries to dance. "You are doing very well," Annabel reassured him.
Aidan shook his head, "I'm going to step on your feet sooner or later. I'm not good at this whatsoever."
"Then tell me something you are good at. Give me a poem or a small song," she whispered against his chest.
Aidan blushed slightly. He looked up at the sky before he mumbled softly, "Felicia is telling you old ghost stories."
"No more stories about who you are."
"Who am I," he smiled.
"Someone I've grown fond of."
Aidan blushed before resting his cheek against hers. "Do I want you because you're wonderful? Oh are you wonderful because I want you," he sang softly in her ear. She pulled back while Aidan's gaze seemed to be looking down as he continued on, "Are you the sweetest invention of a lover's dream or are you really as beautiful as you seem?"
Annabel smiled, feeling tears slowly go down her cheek. Aidan's thumb removed the tear slowly away while Annabel gently took his hand and walked into a small alleyway away from everyone. She wrapped her arms around Aidan's neck and gently leaned up with their lips inches from each other.
And you have to wait! Now, please pay attention to the lyrics because it's significant. Well small things that have been mentioned in the story is important but yeah, please review, PM, comment, etc! I told you would love me then hate me lol