Author's Notes: Short chapter for effect! Sorry about this, all.

Chapter the Thirteenth

"Your father married Hattie's mother?" I could tell Areida was incredulous.

"Yes." I answered, nodding my head sadly.

We were silent for a full ten minutes before Areida spoke again, "Tell me about Francois."

"Francois? Why?"

Areida shrugged easily. "I'm not sure, but ..." she trailed off, brow furrowing.

"But what?" I pressed.

"What do you know about him?"

"I know he is Char's brother and that he doesn't get along well with Cecilia. I also know that Cecilia doesn't trust him. She and Char had a fight about it." I looked down at the well-polished floor of Areida's bedroom before I met her gaze again. "She told me to not trust him at any cost and it worries me, Areida. She says he'll stop at nothing to have the throne of Kyrria."

"I have heard talk of him. The other girls at finishing school talked much of him. They called him the Spider." Areida looked thoughtful. "They also said that he was devastatingly good-looking and ... I agree."

I bobbed my head up and down, biting my lip. "Cecilia said that if getting the throne means stealing me from Char, Francois will do it."

"I have heard about royals killing their own family members to have the crown."

I gasped. "You don't think that Francois would do that to Char, do you!"

Areida looked sorry that she had mentioned it. "I - I don't know." she stammered. "I am only saying."

My heart was heavy with fear and I knew Areida could tell. She pulled me into a hug. "Oh, Ella," she continued, "I am so sorry for even mentioning it. My mouth runs itself off sometimes."

I rested my head on her shoulder, suddenly realizing I was shaking. "In the back of my mind, that thought was present." I admitted, voice too shaky.

Areida let go of me, staring me in the eyes determinedly. "You need to talk to Char about it." she told me. "Now, rather than later."

I nodded. "I will."

-X-

I stood in front of the door to Char and Francois' room, raising a hesitant fist. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I knocked.

Francois answered.

"You want Char." He said quietly.

"Yes." I replied. "I need to talk to him privately."

Francois studied my face intently, nodding. "All right. I will leave." And to my surprise, off he went. I stepped in, shutting the door behind me.

"Ella?" Char approached me, looking concerned. "Everything all right?"

"No." I responded honestly.

"Why? What's the matter?"

"I ... I don't trust your brother."

Char's brow furrowed. "You believe Cecilia?"

"Yes, but that's only because I've seen that -"

"Francois is honourable, Ella."

"But -"

"No, Ella. I trust Francois with my life."

"He's next in line, Char, he could -"

"Enough, Ella." Char interrupted angrily.

"Why won't you listen to me!" I demanded.

"Because you're wrong! Can you handle that? You're not always right, Ella!"

I stared him, suddenly hurt. I had never thought that way. How could he possibly say that? He knew I didn't think that way. Tears swimming in my eyes, I ran for the door and out of it.

"Ella! Wait!" Char called wildly, but I didn't listen. I was hurt beyond belief. I ran past Cecilia and Areida's mother without even so much as a glance and didn't stop until I collided solidly with someone outside.

"Why are you crying?" The voice was concerned and I knew it immediately. Francois.

"N - none of y - your business." I choked out, trying to escape his slacken hold. He levelled a gaze with me, eyes searching me in concern.

"You fought with Char, didn't you?"

'Inquisitive, aren't you?' "... Yes, but it's still none of your business."

"Vicious."

"I'm not vicious!"

"You're certainly acting it."

"Am not!"

"Are so."

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

Francois suddenly burst out laughing and I looked at him curiously, wondering if he had snapped. His laughter subsided eventually and he grinned at me. I was blown away by the intensity of that grin, but composed myself quickly.

"What's so funny?" I asked, continuing to wonder if he had snapped.

"We were just acting like two children." He answered, still grinning.

"And that's funny?"

"Well, it wasn't just that ..."

"Then what was the other part?"

"You're very pretty when you're indignant."

I flushed; was a boy really allowed to say that about his brother's to-be wife? I wasn't sure. His grin faded.

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

"I think you might have."

"Oh, about you being pretty when you're indignant?" He said it so offhandedly!

"... Yes."

"Honestly, Ella, can't you take a compliment? Not like I'm asking you to marry me instead of my brother."

'Good point.' "That's true."

Francois raised his eyebrows. "Someone looks like she's having an internal battle with herself."

"Well, I'm a little unnerved." I admitted.

"About what?"

"You."

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't really know."

"I promise that I'm not madly in love with you." He said solemnly, placing a hand over his heart. It was my turn to raise my eyebrows.

"Comforting." I muttered.

Without warning, he pulled me to him and kissed me forcefully.

End Notes: Cue the twilight zone music. I'm sorry if this chapter's a little jumbled.