Chapter Two

I cried myself to sleep. I was too depressed. Mandy tried to comfort me but I pushed her away. Can't she lift the curse off? Can't she use big magic just this once? What are the uses of fairies if they just sit around telling people they can't do this because it's big magic? Mandy is selfish keeping her gift for herself.

Hattie called me to help her undress after dinner. I knew something was the matter. The last time she did this was tell me about the balls. What is it now?

I climbed up the stairs and arrived at Hattie's room. Hattie was already sitting down in the chair infront her dresser.

"Ella, you won't speak to me while I say this and you will be silent.." she said quickly. An order. She was already making precautions. My mouth was zipped shut.

"Come here and help me undress." I went and started to unbutton her back.

"The balls were divine, Ella. Prince Charmont was handsome. He danced with me you know. And the ladies were beautiful but I'm still the best. But the food! It was delicious! The quail eggs, tarts, deer…" I tried shut my ears. This could take hours.

"But they have rumors too. They say King Jerrold and Queen Daria were disappointed that Prince Charmont have not yet found a wife. It is a displeasure. If Prince Charmont doesn't have a wife, he would have no heir and Kyrria won't have a queen. A princess. A royal family. Sure he has that sister but the kingdom needs a man. And his sister is not fit for a man's job. If she were to be ruler then, her husband might be a dictator. No, Prince Charmont must have a wife. But then, King Jerrold and Queen Daria would force him to marry whether he likes it or not. Kyrria must have an heir and he or she should be legitimate. Not adopted.

"Which brings me to my story. The other reason why King Jerrold and Queen Daria was disappointed because Prince Charmont has found, let me say this, it is too painful to think about…an acquaintance he favored. Do you know who?" she suddenly asked.

Her order was still there. "Oh, yes. Ella, you may speak now. After you ask, you will stop speaking again."

"Who? Was she a princess from another land?" I asked sardonically. Hattie smirked.

"Hardly you big idiot. You don't have an ear for rumors. It's the wench, Lady Lela of Ba—Ow!"

I accidentally pulled the strings of her corset. I was surprised.

"Idiot! Why am I an idiot? Ella! You won't hurt me." Hattie said while hitting me. I couldn't hit her back. The order was there. I tried to fight it but my complaints started. I stopped; it stopped.

"You are so stupid Ella." Hattie said while smiling her false grin. "You're suppose to take out the corset! Not put it back! Any way, Lela, is from Bast. And she always wears a mask. What is she hiding? She's obviously the ugliest person there! She's too ashamed of her face! I told Prince Charmont that she could have a scar, the face of a bandit, a disfigured face. But he didn't believe me!"

Hattie kept ranting about it. I quickened my pace in undressing her. I was happy that I was able to get away and seek refuge in my room.

I laid down on my bed while staring at the ceiling. My eyes were filled with tears. Why can't I be Lela again? I thought, Why can't I be Lela forever?

Char would get married and my heart would be broken into pieces. A thousand minuscule pieces. Stupid curse! Stupid Lucinda! She should must have lifted my curse before she renowned big magic! Idiot!

I wish I could see what Char is thinking now. I wish—oh yes! The magic book! How could I forget?

I climbed out of the bed and ran to my trunk. Inside was the magic fairy book Mandy gave me. I hastily opened and flipped its delicate pages. There was an entry in Char's journal.

The balls are now over, thank goodness. I can't bear to see ladies flocking on me. The only thing that made the ball bearable is Lela. She of all the ladies is the only one who doesn't treat me as a prince. Like a friend. Just like Ella.

I know I am breaking my vow of not talking or writing about her but I want to. Lela. She reminds me so much about Ella. Even their names are almost alike. Ella was childish while Lela was mature with a tinge of it in her. They were so alike! Their laugh. When Lela and I touched our hands, I thought she was Ella. It was a surprise that she wasn't. If only Lela liked to slide down stair rails! Then , I would be convinced that there are a more Ellas in the world. But then, the Ella I have loved was already married to a rich personage. She might even be traveling the world in search of riches. And if she was to come to the balls, she must have been showy, but then, I wouldn't have recognized her.

They looked almost the same or to me. Her hair was black too. But Lela is taller. I never got to see her face. I should must have told her to take off her mask. But I am to polite for that. And if I do that, I would be like Hattie.

I believe she isn't disfigured. If she is, she must have told me. She herself have said she wasn't her to look for a prince to wed. She was here to save stories for home. She's honest. And I am not that impolite to abandon a very favorable acquaintance like her. After all, she was the only one who didn't care I was a prince.

But the strangest thing was this. I looked up Bast in the library to find more about it when I visit Lela. The carriages were not orange there. It was actually green. Also, it was not their custom to keep their masks on at balls. People from Bast prefer to take them off. They never have masquerades.

But maybe Lela's carriage was orange because of Autumn. Maybe but I'm not sure. It looked like a pumpkin actually. A pumpkin with horses. And maybe she just kept her mask on because she doesn't now how to behave on a masquerade. And she probably thought you stay masked at a ball.

Father and Mother were disappointed I haven't found a wife at the balls. They say I am in need of an heir. I told them Cecilia could be my heir. They have no argument to that.

Father and Mother were also disappointed that I haven't favored Lady Lela. I like her but I didn't think her as a fiancée or a beaux. And Father demands to see her face first before I marry her. He wants to have a beautiful lady to be a daughter-in-law not a masked maiden.

My parents say I should visit Lela in Bast. How? I don't even have her address to write to her! I will find Lela in Bast someday but no matter what happens, Lela would never be my wife.



He looked up Bast! I am happy that he doesn't have any suspicion. And yet, I wanted him so much to work out the truth! If he finds out, he could say that I was lying to him and really didn't get married. He doesn't have to go to Bast and waste precious time! He could just go here and rescue me from Hattie, Mum Olga and Olive!

If Char wants to find Lela in Bast, he has no luck. Lela is not there. She is nowhere near Bast. Char hasn't got faintest idea of Lela being here in Frell. Lela is me. Ella. And Lela, right now, is slaving for her evil stepfamily.

He really doesn't know that Lela is gone forever.

-Thanks a bunch to Ironic Paradise, Lindsey, Th' Lady Shadow and Digital Moon Princess for Reading and Reviewing this story!

-Nayie