A/n: Okay, first I want to say Sorry for taking forever! I planned on updating last week but I had forgotten Christmas was in that week and I got wrapped up in last minute shopping and church. So, sorry!

Second, Merry Christmas (though that is a bit late)! If you don't celebrate Christmas, then Happy Holidays or Happy Winter!

I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and thank you to all my reviewers and readers and people who favorite and alert me! You guys keep me going!

Disclaimer: Do I really have to say it? I don't own Cinderella. There.

Chapter Twelve

The night certainly was going to be a long one. Prince Eldon and I were angry enough to add the 'intensity' that was needed to look like we were falling in love with each other, but calm enough to not react to the anger rashly. His hand was warm in mine, and I fervently wished it wouldn't start to sweat. As we continued to dance, the prince and I shared our views of the ball, taking a break from making each other angry.

"No, no, no. The guy with the antlers really did take the whole 'masked' thing too far. There are other ways to show you are a stag rather than going for the ridiculous and obvious way," argued Prince Eldon. I brought my head closer to his to continue the discussion without anyone else listening.

"See, that's where I disagree. It just shows that he's not afraid to make a fool of himself. It exhibits masculinity and confidence." I replied, making sure to whisper my response in his ear.

Prince Eldon snorted. "He probably ended up with the short stick. No man would voluntarily wear antlers! Every man knows that isn't attractive to women. See, he's completely alone tonight."

Admittedly, he was alone. There were very few women sitting, and those few sat in groups deep in discussion, gossip being the most likely subject. Nevertheless, I sniffed and squeezed his hand until his flinched. "And of course, you would know everything there is to know about women now, wouldn't you?" I guess this was the beginning of 'angry mode' and the end of the break we were taking.

"Oh that reminds me." Prince Eldon swung me around suddenly until we were in the middle of the dance floor standing face to face. Both my hands were in his grasp, and if I hadn't been pulling him up, he would've gone down on one knee. The other dancers edged closer, most likely anticipating the words about to come from their beloved Prince. "Fire of my Heart, I ask for your forgiveness," he whispered in a suave voice, looking earnestly at me. The couples around us were edging closer still, not having heard what he said, and I inwardly flinched and rolled my eyes. Prince Eldon really did enjoy the acting gig we were in.

"Oh darling, there is nothing for me to forgive you for." I replied coquettishly, fluttering my eyes for good measure. Let the people coming close to suffocating me think we were just flirting.

"Oh but there is, Flaming Heart, I thought you to be the same as other tiresome girls, and I have realized you are not. So, forgive me." He said dramatically, letting go of my hands to spread them out before placing them in the dancing position.

I pinched his shoulder discreetly as I returned it there. He was being quite idiotic. "Darling, I forgive you as long as you forgive me. Many of the women in the kingdom told me you are a womanizer, flirt, and a selfish pig. I'm glad they are mostly wrong." I replied.

"Mostly wrong? Which one am I still then?" asked the shocked Prince.

"Oh don't you worry about it Sweetheart! I'm sure you'll grow out of it." I said, grinning. He muttered something under his breath but didn't broach the subject again.

Time passed much more quickly than I thought it would. Prince Eldon and I danced a good portion of it, but had to take frequent breaks because of my feet. Luckily no girls swarmed around him when we sat.

Still, I was nearing despair of the Prince ever giving me the signal. I had begun to sweat, which caused my dress to feel uncomfortable against my skin. I had the urge to take it off, step into a cool fresh lake and scratch, scratch, scratch. I was tired of the mask obscuring my vision and I felt like my make-up was running. Most of all, my feet hurt. It felt like they were on fire. I hated the shoes I was being forced to wear, and couldn't wait until it came time for me to hurl a shoe away.

Needless to say, I was feeling quite cranky and definitely not glamorous.

"It's time," whispered the Prince in my ear. I nodded and almost kissed him in relief, but instead allowed him to lead me out of the wide doors and into the garden. We were to look like lover's escaping to private grounds, when in reality I would be making my escape. It was better to have fewer witnesses to romanticize my escape more, or said Mr. Tebu.

The moon was out, giving pale light to our surroundings. The garden was large, bushes, trees, and rows and rows of all types of flowers organized in a way to make it look like they chose to grow there, not the gardener. For all its beauty, the moonlight gave the feeling of everything being surreal, much like my situation. The feeling of surrealism was ruined when I heard the music coming from inside the castle, as well as laughter and the sound of talking voices.

We sat on a bench under a large oak tree a little ways off from the path that lead back to the castle. I gave a big sigh and Prince Eldon followed with his own big sigh. "Can you really imagine the rest of our lives being this complicated and… false?" I asked him, already tired of all the acting and genuinely curious.

"Well, there is no other choice for me, so I just don't look ahead in this matter. Just do it as it happens." I nodded slowly. It is better to think in that way instead of worrying about a future that hasn't happened yet. What was that phrase I heard once? "Spend your efforts on your days as they come to you. Worry not about the past or the present, for what done is done, and what will be, will be." I guess I should start to take that phrase to heart.

"Yes, I suppose the makes sense. You know, things are going to get tougher when my family comes next week. They need to be absolutely convinced that we love each other."

"If we fooled an entire court, I'm thinking we can fool your family."

"Yes but they don't know me as much as my family knows me. Eddie has known me since I was born, and my stepmother not too long after." I replied, thinking of them fondly.

"What's the deal with this Eddie? Should I be worried that he will whisk you away and marry you as soon as he finds out we are to marry?" I began to laugh but stopped short when I saw his face. He looked at me with serious eyes.

I gaped at Prince Eldon in shock. He looked back at me, wanting an answer.

"Eddie is twice as old as I am, probably more, but I don't know his exact age. He's more like an older, very protective brother or favorite uncle. So stop thinking him as a rival, it grosses me out." I said testily, but with an inevitable shudder at the thought of marriage with Eddie.

"Don't get mad at me, I had to make sure I have no rivals. Sheesh, you're pricklier than a porcupine!"

"Yes well—"Something cut me off, something I could not believe.

My eyes were wide open in shock, not comprehending the sheer nearness of him to me. The shock passed later than what I could hope for, but was replaced with fury and indignation.

A slap resounded as soon as my hand hit Prince Eldon's face. He jerked away from me in pain, cradling his cheek.

"What in the world was that?" I asked, furious. I wiped my lips and grimaced. He only shook his head and pointed to a large bush. I raised my eyebrows in confusion, and was about to hit him again when I saw two heads appear over the hedge. I looked back at Prince Eldon. He reached to me and whispered in my ear. "Those girls were watching us. I had to do something to shut you up. A hand to the mouth would be rude and appear odd if we were in love, the same with a hush or a nudge to your ribs. I did the only thing I could think of." The only thing he could think of? Ooh, the nerve of him!

I was about to reply when I heard the castle clocks chime twelve. I stood up, leaned over Prince Eldon and, hoping to sound very threatening, I whispered, "We will finish this discussion tomorrow," before running around the garden to the servants' stairway. I took both shoes off and threw one down the path. I sighed in relief as soon as I felt the cool marble underneath my sore feet and continued up the steep staircase.

EPOV

I ran my hands through my hair. I honestly had not meant to do that, especially not with Darielle. But what else was I suppose to do? She was about to go on a rant, which is not how newly met lovers act, and I saw those girls, and well, I panicked. So I did the only thing that popped into my mind and now she was after my head. Where was the justice in this world? I touched my cheek again, wondering what my mother had gotten me into.

I wanted to burn that memory from my mind, that dreadful, dreadful, dreadful, memory.

I shuddered again before running back to the castle to become the infatuated and frantic Prince my mother wanted me to become. Clutching her red shoe (and finally understanding why Darielle spent half the night complaining), I opened the wide doors and starting yelling for guards to find the girl I was to marry.

Of course, chaos erupted.

a/n: Thanks for reading, Tell me what you think! (I know EPOV is short, but he didn't have much to say in this chapter that I thought was important!)