This is the last chapter I had stored away early on. The next chapter hasn't been completed yet so the next update may take longer. For now, enjoy this chapter and continue looking out for those Easter eggs ;)
~Chapter Six~
Aubin knocked on the door of the orphanage and the couple waited for a response. An old woman with white hair and blue eyes answered the door.
"Bonjour Monsieur et Madame," she said, "How may I help you today?"
"We're interested in adopting one of your orphans," Anastasia said, "May we meet some?"
"Of course," the old woman said, "Come in."
The couple looked around the building. It was not as bad as they had expected it to be, which was likely due to the princess' funds towards them. But they could still see that the children's clothing was less than ideal.
"Now what kind of child were you looking for?" asked the old woman.
"What kind?" Anastasia asked.
"Oh you know, a farm laborer, a maid…"
Anastasia cringed, knowing this attitude. Was the whole world so apathetic to children who weren't theirs by blood?
"No," Aubin said, "We'd like a child to raise… As a family."
The old woman appeared shocked for a moment before smiling. "I see. Come with me then."
The old woman led them up the stone staircase to a room filled with toddlers playing.
"This is our toddler nursery," she explained, "From the time they can start walking to about four years, our children spend most of their time here. We also have another nursery for newborns."
"I think this age group will do," Anastasia said, "We have a nephew who's nearly a year old and we'd prefer his cousin be the same age or older."
"Understandable," the old woman said, "If you would like to acquaint yourself with some of our children, I'll get the paperwork ready."
"Merci, Madame," Aubin said as she left.
The couple watched the children play. Some chased each other in a game of tag, others played dress up, and others threw balls. One little girl with golden blonde hair was thrown a large ball and it hit her in the face, knocking her to the ground. She began to cry. The couple ran over to the child.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Anastasia asked.
The little girl looked up at the woman and ran over to her, hugging her legs.
"Aww," Aubin said, "I think she likes you."
"I didn't mean to hurt her," said the slightly older boy who threw the ball.
"Of course not," Anastasia said, "Accidents happen."
The girl held her arms up to Anastasia expectantly.
"Would you like to be picked up?" she asked.
The girl nodded and Anastasia lifted her into her arms. She stared up at the woman with curious brown eyes.
"You pretty," she said as she played with Anastasia's red hair.
"Why thank you," Anastasia said, finding her to be quite adorable, "You're very pretty too."
The old woman came back at that moment and smiled at the display. "Have you made a new friend, Josette?"
Josette smiled widely in response.
"Josette," Aubin said, "What a pretty name."
"A pretty name for a pretty girl," Anastasia said.
"She arrived here about a month ago," the old woman explained, "Her mother died in childbirth and her father took to drinking to cope with the loss. It was a very bad environment for her. Who knows how she would've turned out had she stayed there?"
Anastasia frowned, immediately feeling sympathetic towards the toddler. She knew what it was like to have an alcoholic father and she couldn't help wondering how her life would've turned out had she been taken away from him when he was at his worst. Aubin could sense the bond between his wife and the child.
"I think we've found our child," he said to the woman.
Anastasia nodded. "We'd like to take her."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In the castle music room, Lumière and Angelique playfully waltzed along to the court orchestra's rehearsal songs.
"Lumière, slow down," Angelique said, "I cannot keep up with you!"
"I know how to fix that," he said as he scooped her up bridal style and spun around, laughing as she squealed.
"Lumière! Put me down this instant!" she said, though she laughed along with him.
"I had a feeling I would find you two in here," said a third voice from the doorway.
"Oh Prudence, are we not allowed one moment of leisure?" Lumière asked.
"Not right now you aren't," Prudence said, "You're supposed to be helping to prepare lunch for the royal family. Now get to the kitchens!"
Lumière rolled his eyes. "Until next time, mon ange," he said, kissing Angelique on the lips.
The two walked down the hall and went their separate ways, Lumière bumping into his mother on the way.
"Maman?"
"Go on mon petit," she said, "I'll be back there in a moment."
Prudence came down the hallway and saw her. "Is there a reason you're not doing your duties, Diane?"
"I suspected you were about to scold my son and it seems I was correct," she said, "I'll have you know that Mr. Potts specifically told him we had enough hands today and that he could take time off."
"And I'll have you know that as head of this household, I am the one who gets the final say on who takes time off and when," said Prudence.
"Oh Prudence, lighten up just a little! They are young and in love. You're only like this for a short time."
Prudence rolled her eyes. "You are much too lenient on that boy, Diane. To think the princess wants him to be the prince's valet and the next maitre d' on top of that."
Diane's eyes narrowed. "Are you implying that my son is incapable?"
"As of now? Most definitely."
"Well I suppose only time will tell," Diane said.
"Yes," Prudence agreed, "I suppose so."
Meanwhile, Lumière had made his way back to the kitchens.
"Oh dear," Mrs. Potts said, catching his dejected look, "I suppose Prudence found you?"
"Oui," Lumière said.
"What a pity," Mr. Potts said, "You can still relax 'ere though. It'll be our little secret."
"Merci, Mr. Potts," Lumière said with a smile as he sat down at the small kitchen table.
"How would you like a nice cup of tea, love?" Mrs. Potts asked as she filled a cup, "Always cheers me up."
"Give him a few pastries too, Angela," Diane said, having just come in, "He needs it."
"Maman!" Lumière whined, his face turning red in embarrassment, "Must you always try to fatten me up?"
"Someone has to make sure you don't waste away," she said, grabbing one of his arms and wrapping her hand around it, "Look at you! Your arms are as skinny as a candlestick!"
"So you've told me countless times," he said as his blush grew deeper.
"Love," Mrs. Potts said to Diane, realizing the boy was feeling quite uncomfortable, "You do forget that you have quite the long set of fingers."
"Ah, oui," Diane said, "Jérôme said it was one of the first things he noticed about me. And mon Lumière de ma vie seems to have taken after me, haven't you mon petit?"
Lumière and Diane stretched their hands out, comparing the length of their fingers.
"I'd say so," said Bernot, coming in from the dining room, "Alright, the family is all seated. We can bring the trays out."
Mrs. Potts gave Lumière his tea, then picked up a tray of baby food and went to the dining room with Diane, Bernot, and some of the other kitchen staff.
"Good afternoon, everyone," Mrs. Potts said cheerfully as she laid the tray out on Prince Adam's high chair.
"Good afternoon Mrs. Potts," Cinderella said as she began to feed her son, "How is your day going?"
"Quite well, thank you," she said, "I see that Aubin and Anastasia are still out?"
"Yes," Cinderella said, "They should be back in a couple of hours, after they have decided on a child and filled out the paperwork."
"This will be splendid," the king said excitedly, "Not just one, but two lovely youngsters in the family!"
"I can't wait to meet him or her," Cinderella said, "It'll be so nice for Adam to have a playmate close to his age."
"Indeed it will," Mrs. Potts said, "I was very glad my first two pregnancies were twins. The little dears always had each other to play with."
"I confess," Daphne said, "I always wished I had another child for Alycia to play with when she was little. Luckily there were quite a few children in our neighborhood."
"I was quite lonely myself," Cinderella recalled, "But Papa tried to spend as much time with me as he could. When he couldn't, I'd spend time with Major and the other barn animals."
At that moment, there was a loud knock on the castle door.
"I'll get that," Prudence said as she got up.
"That must be them now," Cinderella said.
"Then why would they need to knock?" Beatrice asked.
"Oh," the princess realized, "You're right."
"Drizella," Prudence said, coming back, "You have a visitor. Lord D'Isigny. I've asked him to wait in the parlor for you."
"Oh Drizella," Daphne said teasingly, "I think you have an admirer."
"Right now?" Drizella said nervously, "I'm not nearly as made up as I was when we met."
"It's alright, Drizella," Cinderella said, "You don't need to be made up. Just be nice to him."
Drizella rang her hands together anxiously.
"Just relax, love," Mrs. Potts said, "Just relax and be yourself."
"Alright," she said, "Here I go."
Drizella walked into the parlor and saw Charles sitting there.
"Drizella," he said as he stood, "I'm glad to see you again. How are you?"
"I'm well, thank you," she said, "How are things with you, Charles?"
"Things are very well," he said before clearing his throat, "I was wondering, Drizella… Um, you see, my brother and I were going to go to the theatre today, but Alycia has taken rather ill and he wishes to stay and care for her. I don't know many people in this area yet… and I was wondering if, perhaps, you would like to accompany me?"
Drizella couldn't believe it. She was being asked to accompany a handsome man to an elegant outing. It was only because he didn't know who else to ask, she was sure of that. But he still wanted her to go with him.
"I'd love to go with you," she said, "If you will just give me a moment to look presentable-"
"What's wrong with the way you look now?" he asked.
"Well," Drizella stuttered, "I mean… I… well, look at me!"
"I am," Charles said, "I see a lovely young woman. I fail to see any need for enhancement."
Drizella blushed, as did Charles once he realized how he sounded. He cleared his throat again.
"Um, besides nobody is going to be looking at you anyway. They'll all be looking at the actors."
"Alright," Drizella said, "Let's go."
The two walked off towards the front door, unaware of the three women who were eavesdropping on them.
"Ooh… I think he really likes her," Daphne said.
"I wonder what play he's taking her to," Beatrice mused.
"He said it was going to be him and his brother so I wouldn't bet on it being a romance," Cinderella said as they returned to the dining room.
"Oh, hogwash," Daphne said, "Léon has never been interested in the theatre. He made that up!"
"Well, regardless of his motives, it's good to see him finally reaching out on his own," Beatrice said as they sat down at the table.
"Really ladies," Prudence said, "It's quite unlike you to be listening in on others' conversations. Especially you, Daphne. You should know better at your age."
Daphne shrugged her shoulders. "You're only as old as you feel."
"We just want what's best for her," Cinderella said.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After the play, Charles and Drizella dined at a nearby inn.
"That play really was wonderful," Drizella said as she sipped her tea.
"Indeed," said Charles, "I think Remy Allard as Frontin really stole the show."
"I know," Drizella said, "He really should've been given the lead."
Charles sighed reminiscently. "I remember as a boy, I had wanted to take up acting. But I quickly realized I was horrible at memorizing lines. Besides, I knew I was going to be very busy once I inherited my father's lands and title."
"I probably wouldn't do so well in the theatre either," Drizella mused, "I remember in our lessons as children, I had to study for hours to memorize the material."
"I was good at mathematics, thank God," Charles said, "Everything else though was a real struggle. When I met my wife at sixteen, she helped me a great deal in my studies. It's actually what brought us together."
"What was your wife's name?"
"Suzanne," he said dreamily, "We married when I was twenty and she was twenty-one, in my father's church. She looked so beautiful in her gown with white roses all across the hem."
"What did she look like?" Drizella asked.
"Well… actually," Charles said with a blush, "She looked a lot like you."
Now it was Drizella's turn to blush. "I wish I could've met her."
Charles smiled and the two gazed at each other before their waiter interrupted them and asked for their order. After having it taken, the two continued their conversation.
"So tell me more about yourself," Charles said, "Any hobbies or interests?"
"Nothing particularly special," Drizella answered, "I've always liked reading fashion magazines. Mother used to keep my sister and I up to date on all the latest trends. Back when there was still money left from our stepfather."
"Her Highness says Lord Tremaine died quite early into his marriage with your mother."
"They were only together for about a year," Drizella said, "He was very kind and treated Anastasia and I like his own, but I never really got the chance to feel like he was my father. It was still very sad when he died, though."
"I can only imagine," Charles said, "I was nineteen when I lost my mother and twenty-two when I lost my father and I still didn't feel like I was ready to live without them. I can't imagine what it must be like for a child to lose their parent."
"My real father, Victor Dupont… He was so cruel when he was drunk. He'd beat Anastasia and I for no reason. But it was still hard to lose him."
Charles took her hand. "I'm so sorry you have suffered so much."
"It's my stepsister you should feel sorry for," she insisted, "My mother beat her worse than Father ever beat us. She made her sleep in the freezing cold attic on a mattress made from straw, worked her to exhaustion, starved her, and we were no better. We used to dirty places on purpose just to spite her, and one time we even ripped apart her mother's dress. Life was Hell on Earth for her."
"It doesn't undermine your own struggles," Charles said, "My deepest sympathies go to all three of you."
"Thank you," Drizella said.
Drizella couldn't help staring into his blue eyes. He was so handsome and so sweet. She really hoped, if nothing else, she had made a good friend.
Charles constantly found himself staring into Drizella's eyes as well. She was such an interesting woman, and not just because she looked so much like Suzanne. He was determined to get to know her better.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So how'd today go, Cinderellie?" Jaq asked as he and his friends walked out of their hole, "Mice-mice haven't seen you since morning."
"It's been a very eventful day for my sisters," Cinderella said as she broke up a baguette to feed the mice, "Anastasia and Aubin have picked their child, a two year old girl named Josette. She'll be arriving at the castle in two weeks."
"Oh boy!" Gus said, "New baby in castle!"
"Will we get to meet her, Cinderellie?" Mary asked.
"Of course you will," Cinderella said, "She'll be staying in Anastasia and Aubin's room for now, but she'll come here often to play with Adam and then you can meet her."
"Anything else happen, Cinderellie?" Suzy asked.
"Well," Cinderella said, "Drizella spent the day with a young man. They had a lovely time at the theatre and dining out. Then as he brought her home for the night, he asked for permission to court her and she accepted."
"He gonna marry her?" Jaq asked.
"Maybe," Cinderella said, "We'll have to wait and see."
"What about you?" Mary asked, "What'd you do today?"
"Well, let's see," the princess said, "After breakfast, Adam and I went to the music room to listen to the orchestra rehearse for a while. Then we took a walk through the gardens until about lunchtime. After that, I left him to play with the king while I taught Caleb how to ride Major. Later, I brought Adam and some of the servants' children to the library where I read them a few stories. Then my ladies and I had tea in the parlor room. Afterwards, I had some letters I had to respond to. That lasted until dinner and now I'm here."
"Wow!" Gus said, "Cinderellie had big day!"
At that moment, Adam started crying.
"Oh what's wrong, my little angel?" Cinderella said as she scooped him up from the crib.
"Mesa think Princey want Cinderellie to sing him to sleep," Jaq said.
"I think you may be right, Jaq," Cinderella said.
Softly, the princess began to sing a lullaby her parents sang to her as a child, and one she continued to sing her whole life whenever she felt at her lowest.
"A dream is a wish your heart makes…"
I'd like to remind you, if you like what you see, to please leave a review. I haven't really been getting many and its been discouraging, tbh. But I'm not giving up yet. The next chapter will take place a bit later on in Adam's life and we'll also learn more about the rest of the cast. A happy September to everyone and in the words of Wotso videos:
Have a magical day!