A/N: Exactly a week since I updated! In this chapter there is slight Stephanie/Charles. I'm working on letting their relationship build up from friendship to the "I Love You!" stage. So enjoy!
"Can't you pack faster! I do not pay you to dottle around like a cow!" Lancaster shouted as she angrily waved a finger at all the Ladies.
Lady Lisa just yawned and packed even slower, "Oh be quiet Lancaster! You don't even pay us! The King provides our money!"
"If you were smart you'd shut your mouth, servant!" Lancaster screeched.
Lisa threw down the gown she was holding, "I am one of Princess Michelle's Honored Maids so-"
"Enough!" Michelle commanded.
The Governess and Lady stopped immediatly stopped fighting.
"Servants should know their place, Princess Michelle." Lancaster hissed through clenched teeth, "If not I may be forced to remove them."
"No one's removing anyone! Now be quiet the both of you, I need everything ready by the twelth hour of the clock(1)! I do not need to spend even more time at Vienna Palace." The Princess sighed frustrated.
The packing continued in silence for no one wished to anger to Princess any further. At the other end of the corridor (A/N: Woah! With all this talk about corridors, windows and stairs I'm starting to lose track of direction myself!) the Ladies Mickey and Gia were also helping Stephanie to pack. Nicky and Alex were also there.
"Steph, you can always come back to retrieve your other belongings later now can we please hurry up and leave? I want to see Aurelie Couture for the first time! From the way everyone talks about it I'm expecting paradise!" Nicky exclaimed.
"I thought you two have already been to Aurelie Couture?" Questioned Stephanie while applying color to her lips with a cinnabar(2).
"We suggested it. Never said we've been there." The brothers said together.
"Yes, I suppose so. But don't rush me! I have no patience for that right now."
"Does she ever have patience?" Alex whispered to Nicky jokingly.
"You know I can hear you." Gia's voice came from behind.
"He's the one that said it." Nicky defended himself.
Alex rolled his eyes, "Whatever, I really don't care much. You," He said pointing to Gia, "Want to side with my brother? Go ahead!"
"Here we go again." Nicky grumbled.
"Side with the heir! Everyone loves him over the the ugly frog prince!" Alex said sarcasticly.
"Watch what you're saying we share the same face incase you haven't noticed!" Nicky yelled.
"True, but I'm much more handsome." Alex bragged.
Stephanie shrugged, "You both look the same to me. So Alex, stop bothering your brother or I'll call forth the axeman."
"You can't execute Alex! He's my brother...actually on second thought if he's dead no one would take my throne away!" Nicky smirked.
"Yes, you can't execute me because if I'm dead I won't be able to take the throne from Nicholas!"
"Why are you calling me Nicholas?"
"Because Nicky's no name for an Heir nor is it for a dead Heir." Alex replied in a mocking voice.
"I don't believe I fought that much with Donna Jo or Michelle before. You two are immature. Stop threatning to kill each other! It's not right for siblings to say that to each other." Stephanie said.
"What's going on in here?" Asked Jesse who is standing at the door.
"Father, Alexander wants to poison me and take the throne!" Nicky complained.
"Father, Nicholas wants to execute me!" Alex cried.
"Now boys," Jesse took a seat down, "I have taught you two things. One, even though Nicky gets the Empire, Alex will help you rule also. Two, if you want to kill each other, go duel outside."
Stephanie stared at her uncle, "This is what you teach them? What about being civilized Princes? I don't want savage beasts for cousins."
"From what I see, your father's being way too stiff. Your entire Kingdom has to loosen up a bit. Especially the cleaning laws. Did you know Daniel's got over fifty laws about cleanliness?"
"That is news to me. I just thought he liked his living enviroment tidy. I never knew the peasants and everyone else has to be clean also."
"I figured so. Are you done yet? The carriages are ready. Let's get going before they leave without us."
"Alright, Uncle Jesse. Oh, and take your sons with you they're giving me a migrane."
"Boys, leave Stephanie alone. You're sixteen I would expect better of you than giving someone a headache."
"But Stephanie's so boring now!" Alex whined.
"She's fun to chat with." Nicky pointed out.
The father and his sons left Stephanie's room.
"So Steph, is Madame Skeffington and Sir Mac coming with us to Aurelie Couture?" Mickey asked.
"Yes they are." Stephanie gathered some personal and important items, "And unfortunately, so is Lancaster."
The three and a couple others carried Stephanie's belongings out to the carriage.
"Will that witch ever leave us alone?" Gia said with dread.
"She only stays for money. Unlike like her sister, Countess Skeffington stays because of loyalty and wouldn't care if we run out of money." Stephanie whispered as if she's afraid Lancaster may hear her.
"She's your sister's Governess afterall so why are we so bothered by this?" Mickey asked.
"Because, Mickey, Princess Michelle is old enough to be free of an old hag nagging her about every move. Eventually Lancaster's going to get tired of watching Michelle like a hawk to watch out for mistakes she might report to the King and come bother Stephanie also!" Gia answered.
"Can't Madame Skeffington just shoo her sister out?" Mickey asked.
"Do you really think a shrew like Lancaster would listen to Skeffington? No! Of course not. She'd just come back again and again! There's rumors that Lancaster even steals money from estates she visits." Said Gia.
Stephanie looked worried.
"Do not fret, Steph. I'll make sure everything's safe and I'll even guard it. No way that witch is stealing anything!" Gia assured her.
"It's not that I don't trust you or anything. It's just that I never order you two or the other maids around and everyone's been careless."
Gia frowned, "Well I guess you really do give us a lot more freedom than other rulers...but we're friends, Steph! I would never betray you by being careless with your fortune. Besides, if you have no fortune I wouldn't get paid."
Stephanie chuckled, "Heh, so is this about friendship or money?"
"Let's blame Lancaster. Afterall she's the reason we're even discussing my trustworthiness."
"Be more polite, Gia. Or father won't grant me permission to bring you and Mickey with me when I am wed." Stephanie warned.
Gia face twisted into a scowl, "If that Prince were a spoiled rotten boy than there I wouldn't want to go."
"You can't leave Stephanie," Mickey said while the three climbed into the carriage. "We're all best friends. Who will Stephanie complain to if the Prince is being unrefined toward her? I'd help you write up a letter to King Daniel to send a ship for you home immediatly!"
"Then that country may start a war with the Tanner Kingdom." Gia reasoned as all the carriages began to move.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Someone yelled from behind.
The trio stopped their chatter and peaked their heads out the snow white carriage. What they saw was an out of breath Charles with a sack on his back.
"Stop!" Stephanie commanded. The horses seized their movement. Stephanie got out and ran to Charles.
"I was beginning to think you wouldn't come! What took you so long anyways?"
Charles scratched his head, "Um...I was busy helping Lady Denise and Lady Lisa haul an unconcious Derek into Princess Michelle's carriage."
"What do you mean by 'unconcious'?" Stephanie asked, raising her eyebrow.
The young scholar laughed nervously, "Aha, you're gonna laugh when you hear this."
The Princess crossed her arms, "Humor me."
"Trust me, it's humerous! So I was getting my stuff ready for the trip to Aurelie Couture when Lady Denise runs in telling me I have to help her. She made it looked urgent so I didn't bother questioning. When I arrived at Princess Michelle's chamber, there was Derek going hysterical! I didn't know why. Princess Michelle just sat by writing in her diary while Lady Lisa chased Derek around with a log from the fire place. Lady Denise explained that Lancaster has awarded Derek with enough silver coins he can buy a whole new house! Lady Denise doesn't know the exact amount. The only thing we know is that the money was paid in silver coins and enough for Derek to buy almost anything he desires."
Stephanie shook her head, "I'm not convinced. And definetly not all all humored."
"That's because you haven't heard the next part! Derek went crazy and I had to knock him out in a punch! So that is why I was late."
"Um...that was interesting indeed. But not at all humerous. If my father found out you'd be kicked out of court! As a scholar you shouldn't be going around punching out musicians. And a musician that is only content! Derek was not breaking the rules, but I guess for Lady Lisa to hit Derek on the head wasn't exceptable either."
Charles bowed while smiling proudly, "Thank you for agreeing with me!"
Gia laughed, "Steph isn't agreeing with you! She's just making an exception seeing as you're so polite to her and all!"
Charles turned to Stephanie, "'Steph'?" He asked.
Stephanie nodded, "Yes, it's what Gia and Mickey call me since they are my best friends afterall."
The brunette smiled warmly, "You, dear Princess, have said it yourself before that we consider each other friends. So may I address you as 'Steph' from now on?" Charles asked hopefully.
Charles helped Stephanie up the carriage. When Stephanie sat down she pretended to think.
"Hmmmm, well Gia and Mickey are my 'best friends'."
"Then I shall become your best friend." Charles replied simply.
"What!" Gia shrieked.
"You can't just become a Princess' best friend. Besides, a simple scholar can't possibly be granted access to a Princess' chamber anytime he wanted." Mickey added.
"How about this," Charles said patiently, "I will earn my place as someone important enough for that privilage."
Gia scoffed, "That will take a while."
"Yes, do you know how many years of court I had to serve before becoming a dark guardian? Only a few is selected!" Sir Mac said, riding on a horse.
"You see?" Gia asked pointing out the window, "Even a noble man such as Sir Mac Skeffington has got little chance of a great position. What makes you think you can earn privilage?"
Charles shrugged, "Sir Mac got his position as dark quardian did he not?
"Ah! You obviously don't get it at all!" Gia screamed frustrated, "You must be hard-working, honest, brave and not to mention intelligent! If a rich, true and a man with all those qualities got the position only barely, what makes you, a poor scholar, think you can earn that position and privilage? If you had not been our Princess' savior I doubt King Daniel would even acknowledge your existence!"
Stephanie sighed, "Gia, sit down. Don't be so rude to Charles. And over something as pathetic as being able to call me by my nickname and being my friend. Charles, we'll start out as great friends. Over time I'm sure you will fit in just like Gia and Mickey do right now."
"Yes. Gia! Stop overeacting over little things like this. I'm getting the feeling you don't like Charles all that much at all do you?" Mickey asked.
"All I'm doing is making sure our Kingdom's Princess is safe and happy from lower scum!" Gia put her hands on her hips, looking like she wants to beat up someone.
"I am not scum!" Charles countered, "I may come from a poor family and have only a bit more statis than most peasants but I can assure you what makes a scum is a self-centered woman like you!"
As the feud between Maid and Scholar continued on, The sun slowly set upon them, stars soon covered the sky. The owls from nearby forests fly about the night. Their wings flapping ever so silently. A wolf howled causing some superstitious maids to quickly hold onto each other or went inside the carriages with the approval of Lords and even Monarchs. Other's kept screaming something about the howling being a bad sign. King Daniel thinks it is because the forests are too dirty for animals to live in so he jumped out and ran to the deeper parts of the forest where he began dusting with his cloth. Lady Vicky sent some guards to retrieve their King.
Finally after a couple days' journey, the Palace of Aurelie Couture came into view. The gate was let down for the Royal Family to enter.
"Welcome, Your Majesty and Your Highnesses!" A plump old man announced, "To Aurelie Couture!"
A/N: Somethings and terms may be different from what we use today. So I'm here to help if you've never heard of a certain term before.
(1) Peaple back then don't say things like "It's twelve o'clock!" so instead they say it's this hours of the clock instead.
(2) Cinnabars are a red compound that is made of mercury and sulfer. It's used for red colored make-up like how Stephanie applied color to her lips.
That's it for today! Hope you liked it! No flames! I know I may be losing my touch! R&R!
