A/N: I apologize for the wait :( I hadn't planned to release this chapter so late, but I kept getting caught up in altering the chapter and making sure it was what I had in mind. I got a bit carried away and made this chapter ridiculously long, yet I couldn't help myself. Nonetheless, I hope this was well worth the wait and that you enjoy reading it :)

Cass' POV

Chapter 3

2 weeks later

"It's too tight!" Rapunzel complained, reaching behind her head in an attempt to loosen the meticulous updo. Her hand was promptly slapped away, which elicited a gasp from the young girl.

"Leave it alone, Raps. You'll be fine."

"Oh c'mon!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air. "How am I supposed to concentrate on my manners when my scalp is prickling in constant pain?"

Cass rolled her eyes, secretly amused at Rapunzel's antics. The handmaiden had long since grown accustomed to Rapunzel's gripes about wearing expensive clothing, enduring tight hairdos, and all the obligations that came with being the daughter of a duchess. It was no secret that the free-spirited teen would much rather frolic in the grass and relax under a tree with her chameleon Pascal perched on her shoulder than be in a crowded room of strangers. When it came to social events, Rapunzel put forth her best effort into masking her awkward tendencies. It wasn't that she did not enjoy a good conversation; the trouble was maintaining the topic and properly reading social cues, which Rapunzel often struggled with. It would be a miracle if she survived the ball without any sort of trouble.

Cass was pulled out of her thoughts by Rapunzel's attempt to pull out the pearl studded pins from her hair. She caught her wrist mid-air, meeting her eyes in the mirror. "Would you leave your hair alone, Raps? Just deal with it for one night."

"But―"

"No buts! I cannot allow your hair to be loose; it's far too long."

Rapunzel brought both hands to the sides of her face, squeezing her cheeks together. "I know, but I don't think I can stand this pain any longer! For the sake of my sanity, please do something different."

After a beat, Cass begrudgingly conceded to Rapunzel's pleading eyes. "Fine, you win. Are you happy now?"

"Really?" Rapunzel grinned, bouncing on her toes. "You're the best, Cass!"

Cass merely gave a small smile in response, her deft fingers releasing Rapunzel's hair from the bun. Her golden locks cascaded down her back in soft waves, reflecting the vibrant orange hues of the setting sun. The sight was something magnificent to behold; nonetheless, Cass continued her work on rearranging Rapunzel's tresses. After enduring another hour of tedious labor, Cass had settled on a hairdo which resulted in tight curls framing Rapunzel's face, while a smaller bun rested on the back of her head with the remaining locks of hair bouncing just barely above her shins.

It didn't take long for a bright smile to grace Rapunzel's lips as she studied her hairstyle in the bedroom mirror. "This is beautiful, Cass. Thank you!" She spun around and gave her handmaiden a quick squeeze, who responded to it with a small chuckle.

"I'm glad you like it." Cass pulled away with a determined brow. "Now, you must be on your way. The ball starts in less than an hour!"

Rapunzel's expression morphed into one of surprise. "It's that time already? I apologize for being so picky. It's just that I hoped he―"

She stopped herself mid sentence, much to Cass' confusion. To her knowledge, Rapunzel had not ever mentioned taking a fancy to someone. It would be a foolish notion, particularly if Gothel did not approve of the unknown gentleman in question. The only way the man would be accepted is if he owned a sizable inheritance and had been hand-picked by Gothel herself. A woman of Rapunzel's station was meant to court those within her high ranking; to do otherwise would incur the wrath of one overly protective mother, and in turn, cause her chances of ever finding a husband to vanish entirely. If such a fiasco were to happen, Gothel's iron grip on Rapunzel would tighten even more so; Cass inwardly shuddered at the thought.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Nobody! Don't mind me." Rapunzel's reply had sounded unusually panicked, an emotion Cass didn't often see on the young girl.

Cass raised a skeptical brow. "I'm fairly certain this "he" is not a nobody. You know you can trust me, Raps."

"That's not the problem." Rapunzel curled a ringlet around her finger, trying to quell her anxiety. "I know this man is not the type of person I should be associated with, and yet…"

"You like him, don't you?"

Rapunzel's downcast gaze couldn't hide the light blush that spread across her cheeks. "Yes, but it's childish of me to hope for something I cannot have. Mother would never approve, and her approval is everything to me."

"That doesn't mean much, Raps. Your mother has always been strict about who she allows you to court."

When Rapunzel did not reply, Cass began to wonder if her suspicions were not ill placed after all. Was it possible this man was below her social class? And if so, when and where did she make his acquaintance?

"Raps?" Cass questioned, concern laced in her voice. "Have you taken a liking to a man with no title to his name? The scandal itself would ruin your reputation. Please tell me―"

"I'm afraid I have," Rapunzel whispered softly. "I do fancy a man below my station, though I know I should not."

"How did this happen?" Cass' incredulous tone indicated that this was the last thing she expected from the young teen. Rapunzel was a girl who followed the rules all in the name of pleasing her mother, and seemed unlikely to disobey her. Though she was by no means the ideal for a perfect woman of society, what with her pet chameleon and obsession with painting the walls, Cass had hoped Rapunzel would at least court someone in her same class. Regardless, she had to cling onto her own certainty that Rapunzel's infatuation would surely pass, and she'd find someone better suited to her lifestyle.

"...Two weeks ago today."

There was a tense moment of silence in which Cass mulled over this information, having a sneaking idea about who this mystery man was. Seeking a distraction, Rapunzel scooped up her reptilian friend from the side of the mirror and cupped him within the palms of her hands.

Cass fought to keep an air of indifference to her voice. "This man...is he the thief who nearly got away with stealing your ring?"

Judging by the wide eyed guilt in Rapunzel's gaze, coupled with her lack of a response, gave Cass the answer she feared. Unbeknownst to the handmaiden, the teen had not been able to stop her thoughts from straying to her encounter with the rogue Flynn Rider. Although she was well aware of the danger he posed, she couldn't help but paint his portrait within the pages of her art journal the very day they met.

"You cannot be serious." Cass furrowed her brow in disappointment, a frown settling on her pink lips. "Does your mother know about this?"

Rapunzel lifted her eyes to the ceiling, the ringlets surrounding her cheeks bouncing slightly from the movement. "No, and you must not tell her. I cannot risk breaking her heart."

Before Cass could protest or ask any further questions, however, Rapunzel turned to face her friend with a resolute gaze. "Do you promise to keep this a secret?"

Cass sighed, locking eyes with the young girl. "You have to promise, in turn, to be careful. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Thank you, Cass. You always have my back, and for that, I am forever grateful." Rapunzel smiled as she placed the chameleon on her shoulder and wrapped her arms around Cass' slim frame, nestling her head in the curve of the girl's neck. Closing her eyes, Cass prayed she would not come to regret her decision of keeping such a tremendous secret from the ever imposing Mother Gothel.

Rapunzel's POV

From her perch in the carriage, she could already hear the peals of laughter ringing inside the tall marble mansion. Thick, polished pillars supported the second story while a spacious balcony with an ebony black railing overlooked the entire property. The mahogany doors were wide open, allowing elegantly dressed couples to freely enter or leave the party to roam the lush gardens. Instrumental music flowed effortlessly from the inside, filling the outdoors with its beautiful melodies.

Mindlessly, Rapunzel began twirling loose chunks of hair around her fingers as the familiar knot of social anxiety settled in her stomach. Oh, how she wished she didn't feel so out of place at these events. She'd practically begged her mother to allow her to attend the ball, just for the opportunity to leave the confines of her stuffy home. And yet, now that she was here, Rapunzel remembered how inelegant she often appeared compared to other guests. From her nervous mumbling habit to the way she grew much too excited if she found something in common with a fellow young woman, she'd likely draw unwanted mocking smirks and whispered conversations, all undoubtedly about her.

"Rapunzel dear, leave your hair alone. You want to look like a presentable young woman, don't you?"

Gothel's biting tone temporarily distracted Rapunzel from the worries swirling about in her mind.

"I'm sorry, Mother." Her hands promptly dropped to her lap at Gothel's request. "I'm just a little nervous, that's all."

"Ah, you silly girl!" Gothel laughed merrily as she climbed down from the carriage Sometimes, it amazed the young girl how swiftly her mother's mood could change; in one moment, she would be chastising her daughter, then in the next, she'd have a bright smile plastered on her ageless features. It was all quite puzzling. "You'll be fine, Rapunzel. Now, come down from there, and don't forget your mask!"

Rapunzel nodded, her fingers grasping the rim of her deep purple mask to match her dress, the cool ribbon strands gracing her skin. The ball they were attending was a masquerade event, in which the guests donned masks with bright colors and lavish feathers to compliment their outfits. The striking accessory enabled the wearer to conceal their identity, and allowed for an air of mystery when it came to dancing partners.

This was the first ball Rapunzel had ever attended, and though she felt considerably anxious, she found some comfort in the anonymity her mask would provide. Her fingertips lightly traced the yellow suns she'd painted on the outer corners of the eyes, and over the delicately drawn stargazer lilies accentuating the edges of the mask. With a deep sigh, Rapunzel clasped the ribbons and securely fastened them behind her head, not wanting to keep her impatient mother waiting any longer.

Her feet shifted in her salmon ankle boots as she became acutely aware of the blisters forming on her heels. Rapunzel had been dancing in the ballroom for the past two hours with various gentlemen, all of whom were dressed according to the occasion. Her mother had then proceeded to drag her about the grand space, taking her down hallways lined with detailed portraits and smoothly carved stone busts. She'd insisted on introducing Rapunzel to every son from the wealthy families in their neighborhood, claiming that her daughter ought to choose one of the many eligible bachelors in England. The young girl had gone along with her mother's wishes, despite the discomfort she felt trying to become acquainted with strangers. Truth be told, the only things she knew about these men were their distinguished family names, and that they were solely interested in a woman who would gladly listen to them drone on endlessly about business.

It had been nearly fifteen minutes since Gothel introduced Rapunzel to a man by the name of Sir Emberwood, leaving her daughter's side with an excitable smile as she went to converse with his father. Now and then, Rapunzel would nod her head and smile kindly to appear as if she was listening to him speak. In reality, she desperately wanted someone to intervene, for her mother to realize that the man before her was not one she wanted to court. Regrettably, Gothel seemed none the wiser and sent a knowing glance across the room, mistaking Rapunzel's politeness for taking a liking to him. She couldn't blame her mother, for there was no doubt about Sir Emberwood's handsome looks; in fact, she found him rather attractive. He had side swept blonde hair and tastefully trimmed sideburns, with a strong jawline and piercing blue eyes showing through his inky mask.. He wore a smart black tuxedo with a clean white cravat and freshly polished shoes, indicating his good hygiene and an eye for men's fashion. If his fascination with finances did not bore Rapunzel half to death, she likely would have gotten along fine with him.

Just as Rapunzel found she could bear the conversation no longer and began racking her brain for how to excuse herself, she felt a hand place itself on her shoulder followed by an oddly familiar voice.

"Ah, there you are, my darling. I've been searching everywhere for you."

She knit her brow in a moment of confusion; after all, she was not courting anyone in the present time. Who was this man addressing her by such an intimate name?

Sir Emberwood glanced at the mystery man behind Rapunzel, eyes widening slightly before he cleared his throat. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of making your acquaintance, mister…?"

"My name is Sir Francis. Pleased to meet you," the man replied, finally stepping forward into Rapunzel's line of sight. It took everything in her willpower not to gasp loudly with astonishment. The so-called Sir Francis held an uncanny resemblance to the criminal Flynn Rider; in particular, his smile sent a wave of déjà vu over her.

Although she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd met this man before, Rapunzel reasoned to herself that it wouldn't be possible for Flynn Rider to come to a ball unnoticed. His face had been drawn onto countless wanted posters, and plastered around the city of London. It would be far too risky to make such a public appearance. Nonetheless, his physical similarities to the thief only served to increase Rapunzel's heart rate tenfold, and not out of fear. His slimming dusky slacks paired with the buttoned cobalt vest drew attention to his strapping body, as well as the neatly tucked cream colored cravat, and his midnight blue masquerade mask decorated with complex silver swirls and sharp edges. His dark locks had been styled to keep any unruly strands from falling into his face, and yet, one had managed to settle perfectly by his left eye. She became forcibly reminded of another pair of sparkling brown eyes, and tried not to see the related features. A part of her was afraid to give her hopes up, to believe it was him and be disappointed once she discovered she'd been mistaken.

Sir Emberwood bowed politely, offering Rapunzel a nod of farewell. "Then I shall take my leave." And just like that, he slipped around a nearby corner and disappeared into the throng of dancing couples. She didn't have time to process what had happened, let alone reply to the man, before Sir Francis spoke once more.

"That man may fly to the time of day, but I think he's rather tedious. Wouldn't you agree, Sunshine?"

Now that was a nickname only one man could have uttered; all at once, Rapunzel's suspicions were confirmed. A mixture of emotions swarmed in her chest, and she was not certain if she should feel immensely relieved or distraught. On the one hand, he'd rescued her from an awfully dreadful conversation. Nevertheless, he was not the most sought after offender for nothing. His name alone struck a sort of awe and fear in her, for the widespread rumors told her that he could swindle haughty rich folk as easily as he could seduce women with his charmingly good looks. She had witnessed his talent at work herself just a mere two weeks ago, and could hardly believe the tenacity he exercised by coming to the party. It was difficult to decide whether or not he was a genius or an idiot for daring to fool the guards―and apparently―succeeding, if his presence was any indicator.

Immediately, Rapunzel rounded on him, her voice rising with each word. "What are you doing here, Rider? You'll be arrested if they catch you!"

Flynn brought a hand to the back of his neck, rubbing it nervously as he looked about the room. "Hey, would you mind keeping your voice down? I'm trying to maintain a low profile here."

"No, I will not! It's my duty as a citizen to report criminals like you; in fact, I should go tell the guards right now."

However, as Rapunzel made to walk away, his hand snatched around her wrist and forced her to face him. Though she hated to admit it, his touch caused a row of gooseflesh to rise on her arm, and she hoped he hadn't noticed.

"Listen, Blondie―"

Her eyes narrowed. "My name is Rapunzel."

"Gesundheit," Flynn waved his free hand nonchalantly. "As I was saying, I don't understand why you're so eager to cut our time short. I thought you'd be thankful after I saved you from that boring man and spare me from a jail cell."

Rapunzel bristled at the way he'd addressed Sir Emberwood. "He is a man of great intelligence and presented himself quite well, thank you very much." Of course, she didn't wish to admit his presence was not enjoyable in the least, but she felt the need to defend the poor man. It wasn't necessarily his fault he was raised to be such a bore.

As if Flynn could read her mind, he flicked his gaze towards her with a cocky smirk. "From the glazed look in your eyes, he was boring you to death. Tell me I'm wrong."

Her mouth opened for a split second, before closing at a loss for words. There would be no point in lying when it was so painfully clear to everybody but Sir Emberwood that his conversation skills were sorely lacking. Despite this, she chose to ignore his statement and change the topic.

"You're one to judge," Rapunzel replied sarcastically, crossing her arms. "Whose suit is that, anyway? It certainly cannot be yours."

Flynn cracked a small grin. "I stole it from some drunken bloke. He's probably wandering the gardens somewhere in his underwear."

"No surprise there," Rapunzel muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes and making her way towards the exit. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to alert the guards of your presence, because I couldn't possibly care less about what happens to you."

She had started walking quite far, just a few feet from the open door, when she heard his voice once more from behind her.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Blondie."

She stopped in her tracks, startled by his tone of voice. To any passerby, he would have sounded casual; to Rapunzel, however, she detected the underlying threat.

"And why not?" She questioned, attempting to mask her uneasiness.

"Because," he began, his breath fanning her ear. "Once they arrest me, I'll tell the police you allowed me, an infamous criminal, to slip from their grasp that day in the alleyway. They'll believe you were an accomplice in my crimes."

Her pupils dilated in fear, and when she answered, her voice was that of a whisper. "You would never get away with it."

"Perhaps, but I don't think you're willing to take that risk...are you?"

Rapunzel despised his cleverness, but knew she could not allow him to publicly tarnish her pristine reputation. Sure, the people in her circle thought she was peculiar at times, but at least she could rely on her clean record. If he confessed to what she'd done, her life could be over. Her mother's protection and love, the things she held dear, would be gone in an instant. Rapunzel would never earn back her mother's trust, and that was something she was not willing to compromise in the slightest.

I can't believe I'm about to say this.

Releasing a deep sigh, she turned around and reluctantly met his gaze "Fine. I shall keep quiet for you, but only on one condition."

Flynn's guarded state remained unchanging. "What is it?"

In spite of Rapunzel's enduring faithfulness to her mother, her willingness to follow her rules, she sensed the dangerous seed of rebellion growing in her chest. Oftentimes, she quelled her desires for the sake of obeying her mother. It was in her best interests, or so Gothel claimed. As long as Rapunzel could remember, she'd deeply craved for the chance to explore the city, to see new sights and experience different aromas from foods that had never touched her tongue. It was only in her daydreams where she imagined befriending unusual people and setting foot into foreign towns. This man―the very same kind that Gothel had gravely cautioned her against from connecting with―had likely witnessed places Rapunzel had only seen from paintings shown in outdoor galleries. If she were able to strike another agreement with him, she may convince him to take her to these destinations.

"My condition is this: I want to travel, and I believe you can help me." She was taken aback by her own audacity, but speaking her innermost desire aloud felt strangely freeing.

Flynn merely observed her for a moment, as though trying to figure her out. "So, if I do agree, you promise not to turn me in?"

"I promise," Rapunzel nodded, her voice firm with conviction. "You have my word."

"Alright, then. We have a deal."

The two clasped hands shortly thereafter, sealing the deal and with it, their fates.

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