"Mother you wouldn't believe what happened!" Drizella exclaimed as the pair burst into the parlor, "The King has declared his love for that mystery princess he met at the ball." Anastasia said with her mouth gaped in mild disgust for it was neither girls' hands he was after.
Placing her book down Tremaine rolled her eyes at the news her daughters gave her. "Well of course he waits until his Father's passing to make such a proclamation, no King in his right mind would allow such a thing. This foolish girl who just disappears." She laughed.
"I wonder what he said to her to make her run off like that." Dirzella said followed by an erupted of laughs and giggling between the sisters. Anastasia made way towards the kitchen, "Cinderella!" She squawked into the corridor, only to hear nothing; "That lazy good for nothing, probably asleep at the table again." She spat.
"She has not returned Anastasia." Tremaine groaned.
Drizella confused as was Anastasia as she returned to the room, "She was gone from the markets long before we left the dressmaker shop."
"Not to worry, she's probably off talking to herself again." Tremaine cackled as her daughters joined in.
Little did they know how close to the truth they were.
"It's so beautiful, I wonder how someone could make such fine stitching." She whispered to herself.
Ella stood upon a pedestal admiring the fine embroidered work on the hem of her skirt. The seamstress had only left moments ago and Ella was expected to join Kit soon in the main living room of the private quarters. Her dress was made of pale peach satin, with off the shoulder sleeves and tight fitting bodice. Her shoes replaced with matching slippers with the softest insert and lacing tied around her ankle that she could only giggle at the thought that may have come with that's decision.
"Will I truly live up to the perception he has of me?" The words uttered out of her.
She hopped off the pedestal before delicately touching the pins that held her tresses back. She was nervous all over again.
Of course when Ella finally entered the room Kit was enamored with her presence alone. He too had changed into his more formal attire, in particular his sash and royal broaches glittering in the daylight. He walked from the window to the center of the room to meet her. He broke her curtsy by gently lifting her shoulders up to have their faces only inches apart. "You look lovely Miss Ella, how are you feeling?" he smiled.
She let out a shaky breath, possibly from the proximity of him, perhaps her nerves, "A little overwhelmed but a bit better now." She smiled.
They were alone in the room together, something that was soon to change upon the proclamation he was about to make – hence the afternoon attire change. Kit -knowing that the moment their betrothal were to be announced they would have constant eyes upon them- took this opportunity for himself to kiss her and of course she too leaned into the affection. His hands dropped down to hers and fingers entwined as they melted into each other's embrace. As they pulled away their faces beamed with excitement of today. "Shall we?" Kit asked to which Ella eagerly nodded.
With one hand he lead Ella down the hall to the next room which she assumed was his study. There were a few key advisors as well as the Captain of the guards- she had forgotten to ask for his name - awaiting for them.
Kit looked around the room as he announced, "My lords I'd like to introduce to you Miss Ella, our future Queen as she has accepted my offer of marriage." Only to finish his address with eyes on her. The room erupted in a cheer with claps of hands and other forms of merriment suitable for lords to display. Kit continued, "Let it be known to the land in a formal address this afternoon." A scribe whom had only under an hour to let the ink dry on the proclamation, approached Kit with the final document, signed and sealed by the King himself moments after allowing Ella out of his sight with the contingency that she would return to him. Otherwise he would no doubt sent a team of his guards to track her down.
As he approached the end of the proclamation he smiled, "It's a official." He whispered turning the document on an angle so she could see. The script was beautiful and there it was in ink and parchment that she was to have her Kit. They whispered loving nonsense to each other as Kit rolled the parchment back into shape before passing it to the scribe to deliver to the town crier - they believe he had only just returned following his proclamation this morning to the neighboring villages.
After receiving their congratulations and well wishes Kit lead Ella out of the room through the glass doors onto the balcony overlooking the palace gardens and the sea. She was silent in awe of the view, she had not seen the sea from the cliffs.
"What are you thinking?" He asked curiously. He wanted to know everything about her. "It's beautiful up here." She spoke, "Is it always like this?"
"Like what?"
"Peaceful?"
Kit gently laid his chin on her shoulder before wrapping her in his embrace. "Not always, especially not with you here I can't imagine another peaceful moment in my chest. Surely you can feel it, can't you?"
Ella giggled, it seemed like her stomach would never cease to have butterflys and even so her heart fluttered every time he spoke.
"Where did you come from? Some far away land?" He probed.
"I live south of the village towards the forest with my Step-Mother and Step-Sisters in my family home."
"Near the glade of course, where we met?" Kit sounded annoyed with himself for he should have looked near there. "Not quite it's a bit further past from there, I was out riding that day for other reasons."
"Doesn't matter anymore you're here." Kit's embrace on her tightened ever so slightly.
"And I'm not going anywhere."
The thought did not occur to Ella, however her stepfamily began to wonder as the sun faded over the hill where she was.
"Surely she's not that stupid, when was the last time she forgot our dinner?"
The girls had perched themselves at the windowsill looking out onto the road.
Lady Tremaine, sat on the edge of the lounge, her finger on her chin in an anxious pose. On one hand she wouldn't have to feed the girl however there posed a greater problem of as to who was to tend the house and their meals and of course the chores. Her anxiety turned into rage as to how irresponsible the girl was.
Along the road appeared a pair of riders from the Kings guard whom turned off into the front of the house stopping at the fountain before one dismounted from their horse.
"It's from the Palace!" The girls squealed. Treamaine jumped from her seat when the wooden door was rapped.
"Kind Sir how can I help you," she purred. "A letter from the palace." He announced handing the parchment to her. "Good evening madam." He tilted his head and placed his hat back upon his head and returned to his horse. The girls watched the riders disappear from their sight down the road before turning to look at their Mother.
Tremaine began to open the letter as she returned to the lounge.
"What does say?" Anastasia probed.
"That girl." She fumed, crumbling the parchment in her grip.
Back across over the village and to the Palace, Ella and Kit had just finished their first meal as a betrothed couple, only to find themselves wondering the palace's more secluded areas. Of course they were not alone but Kit wanted to avoid being announced in the greater areas of the castle. He didn't want to overwhelm her-well more than what she was currently; to be truthful he had not quite gotten use to it either.
It wasn't long before their wonderings amongst the castle lead them to a sitting room of the private chambers. Ella was to have the Queen's chambers, which had been prepared this morning after Kit made his declaration. They sat on the lounge for what felt like only moments yet hours passed as they asked back and fourth questions about each other, much like they did in the gardens during the ball.
The tower clock struck twelve, the bells ringing out to the kingdom. Kit watched her intently, "What's wrong?" She asked, curious as to why he was staring so. Until it clicked, "I'm not going anywhere." She said leaning closer towards him so she could place her hand on his with reassurance. He smiled, "Just being sure." Standing up he took her hand in his and lead her to her chamber doors.
"It's late, I'm afraid I've been rude to keep you up for my own selfish reasons."
"Then let me be guilty of the same reasons." She said.
"Tomorrow?"
"Sooner."
She met his lips this time, with a simple peak before he handed her over to the handmaidens to prepare her for bed. As he laid in wake he kept imagining the feeling, impossible it seemed that this morning he was alone in the world.