!#$&!#$&!#$&hi. im actually updating. i wrote chapter one a year and a half ago, didn't post it till---psh, who knows when, and then rewrote chapter two. i know this may seem a little out of character for both essie and william, but people do strrrange things when they meet certain people. therefore, please dont yell at me for this. i do enjoy reviews a lot. a heck of a lot. so please, feel free to comment on my story.!#$&!#$&!#$&

CHAPTER TWO

The following morning, Essie left her father's shop a little bit earlier than usual. She wanted to walk up to the castle after buying some pastries from Kenneth. She didn't want to deprive him of her help for too long, though, so she thought she would just take a stroll to see the castle and imagine it in all its ball glory.
She walked down her cobbled street and watched as the first people were waking up and opening their stores: book shops, blacksmiths, bakeries, the butcher's shop. All curtains were being drawn away from the windows, making the cramped buildings seem like they were opening their eyes from a good night's sleep. Essie felt happy and bright and cheerful to be here, in this town, where everyone—aside from Hazel—was friendly to each other. She wanted to wave hello at each house, especially the one winking at her with one curtain closed.
Essie arrived at Kenneth's bakery all too soon, not even noticing as she passed Hazel's house that the fruit stand was not there that morning. She pushed open the bakery door and heard the little bell tingle, welcoming the scent of fresh bread and frosting.
Kenneth's head poked out of his kitchen, where he had been preparing some muffins for that morning's sales. "Essie, lass!" he called. "Yer early!" "I know," said Essie, leaning on the sturdy counter. "I fancied a walk to the castle this morning, so I left a bit sooner than expected." "Did ya hear 'bout th' ball?" asked Kenneth, coming out from his kitchen with a delightful-smelling batch of muffins. He motioned towards the front of the bakery with his elbow, and Essie recognized the sign in the window.
"Yes, my father got one of those too, for his window." Kenneth put the muffins on a shelf behind the counter and covered them with a towel adorned with daisies. "Thought ye would run into th' prince by goin' up to there? Or did ye want t' choose yer dress accordin' to the color o' th' castle?" "Oh, Kenneth," sighed Essie. "I've never been to a ball, and I don't think they've ever held one here before. I just want to see the castle and think about how magnificent it's going to look with it completely decorated, with a hundred carriages in the front, with footmen standing here and there, waiting to let a beautiful young woman out of a silver carriage, a duchess or a princess or a lady. Someone just right for the prince." Essie left the bakery shortly thereafter, having acquired two cinnamon rolls upon realizing how quickly time was flying past her misty eyes. She licked the frosting off her fingers as she walked up a particularly steep hill, taking the shortcuts through the town. Passing Mella's house, she waved at eight of the thirteen children—one of which ran out to give her a recently picked dandelion.
Fifteen minutes later, she arrived at the castle's enormous gates. She stared up in awe as the rising sun reflected off the polished metal and sparkled into her rich blue eyes. The gates alone were poetic enough to fill her with wonder at the lives of royalty.
Beyond the gates was the castle itself. It sat there, nestled between perfectly trimmed fir trees and beautifully pruned rose bushes, beckoning Essie to find some way to slip into it, unnoticed, and explore all the passageways behind tapestries and the long, winding stairs to each of the four towers.
Essie noticed some gardeners pushing wheelbarrows and carrying rakes across the perfectly manicured grounds, and wondered if there was some sort of worker's entrance into the castle grounds. No guards were on duty for her to beg into giving her entrance, which meant that no one would notice if she walked around the outer wall, looking for a way to get in. Just to touch the castle—just to pluck a fat bud off a rosebush, just to look up and see the handsome prince watching the sunrise from a sculpted balcony. She couldn't wait five days. By then, everyone else would be there. Every other woman or girl or lady would be sharing in the castle's glory. Everyone else would get to marvel at the vast front hall or the golden ballroom. It wouldn't be special to Essie; it would be crowded. She wanted to explore for herself, now.
The outer wall of the castle was chiseled granite, hard and cold and gray. Essie ran her hand along the cracks between the slabs, hoping that her delicate fingers would catch a door.
The sun was getting higher and higher as Essie wandered around the wall. She began to walk faster and faster, telling herself that she must get home to help her father with the store, but she must also see the castle alone, from the inside. Soon enough she was running, running around a corner, running into— "Oof!" The sound was emitted from both her, and the person she just made very close friends with. Then the sound of pain as the two felt where their heads had met in a hard crack, then a thump as they both hit the ground.
Essie lay there, groaning a bit. She had received most of the blow, being the smaller person and thus received the bigger pain. The sun was high enough for her to see it from where she lay on the weeds outside the wall, but suddenly it was blocked out by a head. The head of her new acquaintance.
He was very handsome, she had to admit, as he helped her up. She brushed off her dress and shook her red hair out of her eyes, wondering if this new being was nobility or not. He had dark hair and green eyes, and he looked quite puzzled at her appearance. Hers was shabby compared to his; he had brown knickers and boots on, with a white shirt and a blue vest, all very well-kept. She was wearing an appropriate dress for her station—a working dress, with powder from the bakery still on it.
"I'm sorry," Essie finally said. The silence now was awkward. Both the man and Essie realized that they hadn't even noticed, while they looked at one another, that nothing had been said.
"No, it was my fault. I should not have left the grounds this way. Forgive me." This new man bowed gentlemanly, and Essie was impressed. No man in town, not even Kenneth, was this graceful, this . . . noble.
Essie bowed to him. "You obviously are royalty or some sort of nobility, sir. I apologize for not seeing this before. I shouldn't have been running around the wall---" "Yes," said the man. "What are you doing here, anyway? Do you work in the kitchens, perhaps, and fancied a run through town?" "Oh, no," said Essie. "I'm the tailor's daughter, Essence. I came to see the castle before the ball. I'm coming, you know." "Ah, yes, the ball." The man sighed. "Things are a little hectic here at the castle. You don't want to be here right now, madam, trust me. I know I don't." Essie couldn't help but notice the way he had called her madam. No one ever called her that. She was referred to as miss or girl, but never madam. She also noticed how he had not returned her introduction. She had clearly stated that she was Essence, the daughter of the tailor, but he had not said his name. He had not said, "It is good to meet you, Essence. I am Alexander, Duke Orson's second-eldest son" or "I'm the princes cousin, Edmond." She was quite disappointed at this.
"Well," said she, "I hope the bump on your head isn't as bad as the one on mine. I must return to my father's shop. He needs my help." "Allow me to escort you," said the man. "It's so stuffy inside, and I need something to do." He offered her his arm. She was a bit reluctant to take it, as she did not know his name, but caved in the end and placed her small hand on his arm.
The words "who are you" were on the tip of Essie's tongue. She had just to get them out, but couldn't manage. It seemed impolite and acting above her station to her. Perhaps he just didn't want to tell her who he was, afraid that she would spread it around town that "Edmond, the prince's cousin, walked me home today!" However, if that was what he feared, it was in vain that he did not tell her his name. After all, he was walking her through public streets right to her very own house.
After a bit of walking in silence, Essie threw caution to the wind and said, "May I ask who is gracing me with his presence?" "Ah," said the man. "You caught me. I was hoping you wouldn't ask. But now that you have, I cannot deny you my name when you have been so polite to me." He cleared his throat and bowed again. "I am Prince William." "Oh," said a shocked Essie. "I had no idea." Her face changed shades rapidly, matching her hair. "I'm so sorry for running into you. I—I shouldn't have been there." "Yes," said the prince regretfully. "This is why I didn't want to tell you. You would treat me like this, become a bumbling idiot, and not be able to control your mind for several minutes, perhaps the extent of our entire friendly meeting. It happens every time." He continued to walk, not offering Essie his arm or waving her to walk with him. She was so appalled at what he just said, she could only stand there for a second until his words fully sunk in.
"Excuse me," she said, trotting to catch up with him. "Excuse me, but did you just call me a bumbling idiot?" "Yes, because that's exactly what you turned into the minute I told you I was the prince." Said William, not even caring that Essie was offended.
"I beg to differ, your highness," said Essie, keeping up with the prince's lengthy strides.
"Oh?" said William, turning to face her. He stopped walking. "You become more sorry that you nearly gave me a concussion when you discover I am going to be king, you can't even get the words out of your mouth properly, and you disagree that you are not a bumbling idiot?" "I say that you are the bumbling idiot, Prince William, and I don't mean any offense," said Essie boldly. "You are the one who just insulted one of your subjects who was meaning to give respect but not knowing how because she's never met anyone higher than a peasant. You are the one who is sneaking out of the castle because you cannot stand the preparations for a ball meant to find you a wife. Perhaps the reason you need a ball, highness, to find you a wife is because every girl you come across who is not in formal attire, you insult immediately. And I? I'm not quite so sure I want to come to this bride-finding ball anymore, even if I wasn't expecting to meet you. No person that insults me can be worth supporting." With that, Essie walked away.

yup. that's the chapter. hoped you enjoyed it thoroughly. i know where im going with this one, im pretty sure... man i havent done fanfiction in forever.
REVIEW PLEEEEEASE have a great day.