The Tremaine family were surprised to receive an invitation from the Charming's to join them for a week during the summer before the children were to begin school once more. They were less surprised, however, to find that King Charming himself had added a condition to the invitation that very clearly stated that one unkind word towards Ella from Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, or Drizella, would result in the offender being removed from the premises effective immediately.
Anastasia's twin daughters, Annabelle and Angelina, were thrilled at the idea of being able to stay in the castle. Her son, Anthony, was less enthusiastic but couldn't deny curiosity at meeting his mother's step-sister that he'd heard so much about. Drizella's oldest daughter, Delilah, was interested in seeing what King Charming was really like, while the second daughter, Daniella, was looking forward to meeting a real-life princess.
However, none of these could beat the enthusiasm of Drizella's youngest daughter, Dizzy. Dizzy was ecstatic. One of her friends, Evie, had told her that Cinderella was not only really kind and gentle but also super fashion-forward with probably amazing taste in jewellery. The moment they received the invitation, Dizzy began on working something special to give to her. She knew that Cinderella probably had the most beautiful jewellery already but she wanted to give her a gift.
Evie had, however, warned her that Cinderella's son wasn't always the friendliest towards VKs. He wasn't as nasty as he was when they originally arrived, but there was always some bitterness towards them. Evie advised her to make him something as well, in order to create some kind of peace between them before anything happens.
Dizzy was stuck for a long time as to what to make for them. After all, what would a prince want? What could she possibly give him that he would like? She spent ages thinking about it and talking to Evie and her best friend Celia. She eventually found something to make him as well as for King Charming, so as to not leave him out.
Soon, the day arrived for them to travel to Charming Castle. A limo was sent to pick them up and take them to the Castle. The trip was a few hours long, but the children were all chattering so excitedly, that the hours flew by in absolutely no time. Dizzy kept her little gifts clasped between her hands, pressing them into her lap as she chatted away happily with her sisters and cousins, while Anastasia, Drizella and Lady Tremaine grew more and more silent as they almost folded in on themselves.
Dizzy had spoken to her grandmother beforehand and knew that while Lady Tremaine had very few regrets, she wasn't sure if she wanted to meet King Charming, as prior to ending up on the Isle, he had banished her and her daughters for their crimes against Cinderella. She was also still bitter that he'd chosen her step-daughter over her own flesh and blood. Dizzy had a feeling that her mother and aunt harboured similar thoughts.
When the castle came into view, the kids began climbing all over each other to try and get a good look at it. Even Anthony was eager to see this massive castle that his mother had been denied.
Soon enough, they pulled up in front of the massive doors and a butler was opening up the door for them. The six VKs stood with their mouths open as they were ushered in, servants coming to take their bags from the trunk of the limo. Lady Tremaine and her two daughters seemed less impressed but appeared to at least relax a little as they realised that King Charming and Cinderella hadn't come to greet them.
"Their Majesties will meet you in the main drawing room once you've settled in," the butler told them, "Please, come with me."
The Tremaines began to follow the butler through long hallways and staircases, all decorated with the finest things in life. Lady Tremaine ended up lightly smacking the hands of her daughters and grandchildren a few times to remind them not to touch anything.
Dizzy was placed in a room with her two sisters. Her female cousins were next door to them on one side and Anthony was on the other, while the adults each got a room to themselves across the hall. Dizzy squealed with delight when she saw her large bed and couldn't prevent herself from launching onto the soft mattress and burying herself into the mass of pillows.
"This is so cool!" she exclaimed in delight. "How amazing is this?"
Her two sisters looked up from the vanity mirrors they'd been checking their make-up in. "Yeah, I guess it is pretty cool," Delilah commented. "Do you think I'm wearing enough mascara?"
"Who cares?" Daniella asked, "My dress is all wrong to meet a princess!"
Dizzy laughed, "Oh, you guys! You look great! Evie herself made those dresses and, yes, Delilah, you're wearing enough make-up!"
Both of the girls looked sceptical of what Dizzy was saying but they didn't get a chance to fuss over their appearance any longer as there was a knock at the door.
Dizzy straightened her pigtails out a bit and bounded over to the door, opening it to find the butler there, with Anthony, Anastasia, Drizella and Lady Tremaine with them.
"Their Majesties have asked you to join them in the drawing now," the butler told them. Dizzy nodded in enthusiasm and looked back at her sisters, who looked mournfully at the mirrors before reluctantly joining the group. The butler made one more stop at the twins' room and then the Tremaines were taken to the main drawing-room.
As the doors opened, Dizzy noticed that King Charming and Cinderella were sat very close together, Charming's hands clasped over Cinderella's. Their son, Chad, was sat in the other corner, looking decidedly bored as he scrolled through his phone.
"The Tremaines, Your Majesties," the butler announced as the group of nine entered the room.
Cinderella rose from her seat, Charming not long after her, looking more at his wife than at the new arrivals.
The Tremaines, as prompted quietly by Lady Tremaine, all dipped into curtsies and bows.
Cinderella smiled at them, though it seemed a little forced. "Please, you are family. There is no need."
Chad scoffed, causing Charming to throw him a warning look. "What?" Chad demanded. "They're hardly family. There is no blood relation here. The only reason we have anything to do with them is because she duped your father into marrying her." He gestured towards Lady Tremaine.
"Chad, enough," Charming told him firmly. "I raised you better than that."
Chad rolled his eyes but returned to his phone, ignoring the newcomers.
"I apologise for my son's behaviour," Charming replied. "I may not have been pleased by this either but I raised him to have better manners than that."
Dizzy shifted from foot to foot before quickly saying, "I made presents for you guys!" Her grandmother glared at her, so she quieted down her voice and added. "As a thank you, for welcoming us into your home."
This time, when Cinderella smiled at her, it seemed genuine. "You must be Dizzy. King Ben got into contact with me to tell me that you were one of the new VKs who would be arriving."
Dizzy nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, that's me!" She then quickly looked at the floor again, clearing her throat.
Cinderella gave a little laugh that tinkled out into the room. "Well, that's wonderful. It's very kind and generous of you to make gifts for us."
Dizzy reached into the pockets of her dress and pulled them out. "It's not much and I've never really tried to make prince jewellery before so it's probably not my best work but I hope you'll really like it." Even King Charming had a smile on his face at this point. "Here!" She quickly deposited them into their hands then headed over to Chad. She could hear her grandmother sigh behind her but she couldn't help her enthusiasm. She really wanted them to like her.
Chad looked surprised as she approached him. "Wait, me too? I thought you were friends with Evie. And she doesn't like me."
Dizzy shrugged. "She says that you're better now. And that you would like a gift. After all, you're my cousin, right?"
Chad was still a little shocked as he took the gift from her. "Uh, thanks." He slowly opened the box he was handed. "Huh. Cufflinks." He pulled out one of the cufflinks to look at it closer. They were gold, with a pale blue stone set in them and on that stone was a curly, golden C.
Dizzy grinned as he studied them and skipped back to her family. Cinderella and Charming had also opened theirs. Charming was smiling as he looked at the tie-clip that had his symbol branded into it, decorated with tiny pale blue stones, while Cinderella traced her finger over the choker that was a thick golden ribbon, embedded with blue stones that matched the dress she had worn to the Princes's Ball all those years ago.
"Oh, Dizzy, these are beautiful," Cinderella informed her. "I shall treasure it always."
Dizzy beamed. "I'm glad you like them! I know you guys probably have everything but I thought it would be nice to try."
"It most definitely was," Charming replied, placing the pin back in the box and closing it. "Well, would you all like to sit?"
The rest of the Tremaine family, who had been standing and watching Dizzy interact with the Charmings, all took their seats. It took some time to get the conversation going, and even then it was primarily between the VK girls (as Anthony was more stoic than his sisters and cousins) and Cinderella and her husband. Chad still hung back, his eyes flitting back and forth between his phone, the cufflinks he had yet to put down, and the girl who had made them for him.
The time ticked away slowly but Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella were able to remain civil towards the Charmings and vice versa. There was clearly a long way to go on this road to healing if it were to ever happen at all.
After a long hour, Cinderella suggested that their guests may be tired and thus they should all retire to their rooms to rest before dinner. Everyone agreed, relieved to leave the room that was still quite tense despite the many attempts to defuse said tension.
Dizzy headed to her room with her sisters, who had begun bickering about something or other that Dizzy wasn't paying attention to. She kept remembering the smile she put on the faces of the Charmings, causing it to make her skip a little.
When they got back to their rooms, the older two daughter's of Drizella chose to head into Annabelle and Angelina's room, while Dizzy was left alone to go back to her own room.
She flung herself on the super-soft bed again with another squeal, laughing as she bounced on it slightly.
"This is so awesome," she whispered to herself.
There was then a knock at her door. She looked at it in confusion but got up, a grin still plastered on her face.
To say that she was surprised to find Chad at her door was an understatement.
"Oh, hi," Dizzy said, keeping her classic grin on her face. "What's up?"
Chad looked down at the cufflinks in his hands. "You, uh, you really made these?" He looked up at her with slightly narrowed eyes like he didn't believe it.
Dizzy nodded, "Yeah! Took me ages to figure out how to do it but yeah! Normally the stuff I make is less understated but Evie told me that simple is the best way to go for cufflinks."
"Huh," Chad replied, still staring at the cufflinks. "They're, uh, they're kinda cool."
"You think?" Dizzy replied, looking pleased with herself. "Thanks!"
Chad looked up at her and gave her a small smile. "Hey, do you think you'd be able to make some for some friends of mine too?"
Dizzy shrugged, "Maybe if they could pay me. These were gifts but I kinda want to start my own jewellery store!"
Chad nodded, "Cool, like Evie's 4 Hearts but for jewellery?"
"I'm going to call my brand 'Dizzy of the Isle'," Dizzy informed him, swiping her hand across the air as she told him her brand name.
"Sweet," Chad replied. "Hey, you're a pretty cool little girl, you know?"
Dizzy beamed, "Thanks! You're not as bad as Evie said you were."
Chad looked a little confused but then shook his head and shrugged. "Nice. Hey, you gotta sit next to me at dinner. I'm not sure I want to sit with anyone else from your family."
"They're not bad once you get to know them," Dizzy told him, "But sure!"
"Cool," Chad said, bobbing his head a little. "Well, I guess I'll see you at dinner...cuz."
"Yeah, sure," Dizzy replied, before awkwardly punching his arm. "Cuz."
Chad grinned a little then left with a tiny wave.
Dizzy couldn't help but grin to herself as she closed the door behind him. She squealed a little as she realised that this was not only a potentially great step in the right direction for her business but also the start of a potentially interesting relationship with her step-cousin.
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