A vile bully- part 3
Jessa asked for a oneshot of a third and final instalment following on from Ch1204 "A vile bully- part 2" where…read and see.
Life was beginning to get back to normal for Emma, and for her parents. Snow and Charming had relaxed around Hannah and were letting her do her job. In fact, Emma grew quite close to her new handmaiden. She saw her more as a friend than someone who worked in the palace. Unfortunately for all of them, although Gwen had long since left the castle, she was not done making the princess' life a misery. For after being fired from the royal household, she found work at the Belleville family's house. They were a noble family, who loathed the Charmings and were bitterly jealous of how they had the royal status. Upon seeing how much the family hated her old employers, Gwen put her acid tongue to good use once more and told her new employers fresh lies about Emma. Lies that the family would spread across the kingdom via other families who disliked the royal family. Lies that would get back to Emma at the next ball hosted at the palace.
It started out at just whispers behind her back. Emma thought she was being paranoid. But when the young people who Emma already knew resented her so much started making little digs at her right to her face, Emma knew she wasn't being paranoid.
"So Princess, your old handmaiden has started working for my family." Felicity Belleville said so casually as she was backed up by her siblings and her equally as bitter friends. Emma felt her whole body tense up. She knew something was going on. If it had anything to do with Gwen, it wasn't going to be good.
"Interesting." Emma replied in a tone that indicated she couldn't be less interested. "Now if you'll excuse me, I just have to-"
"Yes, she told us all about how she was your personal handmaiden." Felicity continued, ignoring Emma's attempts to excuse herself. Emma could see smirks forming on many of the faces surrounded her. She bit the inside of her lip. What had Gwen told them. "Yes, she's full of stories is Gwen, isn't she? I hope you don't mind me saying, but surely not since we're all friends here." Felicity said, grinning wickedly at Emma. "Yes, Gwen told us all about your little insecurities, Princess. All the suitors you've worked so hard to impress in hopes of a dance. In fact, I think a few of them are here right now if you want one…"
"No, thank you." Emma responded through gritted teeth. She was fighting very hard not to cry. She had never once told Gwen about any suitors she had a crush on. These were all pure lies, not that Emma could defend herself here.
"Just as well really." Felicity said quietly, but with enough venom in her voice to make Emma feel like she'd just been bitten by a snake. Emma understood what Felicity was saying, what Gwen must have implied with all her little stories of Emma. What all the young people in a circle around her right now thought. She was ugly. Emma didn't have to stand for this. To Hell with politeness and manners. She shoved past Felicity and various other people in the circle and ran right out the ballroom. She could hear them all laughing at her as she ran, but she didn't care anymore, she had to get out of there. She was done with this stupid ball.
Emma didn't stop running until she reached her bedroom. She didn't even notice that, as she ran, Hannah had spied her and began chasing after her to find out why the princess was so upset. By the time Hannah caught up with her, Emma was already lying weeping into her pillow.
"Princess, what's wrong?" Hannah asked, concerned.
"Nothing." Emma lied, immediately sitting up and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm fine." Hannah smiled sadly, coming over and sitting down beside Emma on the bed.
"Well that's just not true, is it?" Hannah said gently. Emma remained silent. Hannah placed a comforting hand on Emma's shoulder. "What happened down there?" Emma wanted to restrain herself. She wanted to keep up her calm front and tell Hannah again that everything was fine and she was just being silly. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. She was hurt, badly. She had put everything with Gwen behind her. Knowing that she could still hurt her even when she didn't come anywhere near the palace anymore. So, despite herself, Emma let the whole story slip to Hannah.
"I see." Hannah said, troubled, once Emma had finished. She pressed her lips tightly together.
"Please don't tell anyone else." Emma pleaded with her. "I don't want a fuss." Hannah sighed as she got off the bed.
"Princess…"
"Hannah, please!" Emma begged. Hannah was torn. She didn't want to compromise her relationship with Emma, but she knew it was for the best if her parents knew what happened.
"I'm sorry." She said quietly as she left the room and went down to the ball. She made her way through the crowds (ignoring the disapproving whispers of some of the more uppity guests) until she found Emma's parents.
"Hannah." Snow greeted her kindly. Snow looked at her, confused. Snow and Charming always invited all their servants to the balls they hosted, so seeing Hannah wasn't a surprise. Seeing her in uniform was. "What's wrong?"
"It's Emma." Hannah answered her. "I found her running upstairs crying. She's been teased by some of the other young people here tonight. Her old handmaiden…she started working for the Belleville family, it would seem." Hannah explained. Snow and Charming understood immediately.
"Thank you, we appreciate this." Snow said, squeezing Hannah's hand as they both wove their way in and out of the crowds until they got out of the room. Then, they both headed up to Emma's room to try and sort things out. They found she had locked her door.
"Emma, it's just us." Charming called.
"Go away!" Emma cried back. She didn't want to talk to them.
"Emma, please." Snow said gently. "Hannah has told us everything…"
"Which is exactly why I don't want to talk to anyone!" Emma responded. Snow sighed.
"Emma, open up and talk to us properly, please." She asked calmly. "We're never going to get anywhere standing out here. But make no mistake, Emma, if you do not open that door and your father and I have to wait out here all night until you need food, then it's what we'll do." Snow warned her. Emma sighed dramatically. She stomped over to her door and unlocked it, allowing her parents in. She saw no point in having them camp outside her room all night. Charming's heart sank as he saw the red under Emma's eyes. Those little brats had made his baby girl cry. He gently took Emma's face in his hands.
"Now you listen to us." Charming said kindly. "Anything Gwen has told any of the Belleville family members is a downright lie. We know that, you know that, and anybody with half a braincell knows it too. Gwen is a nasty, bitter woman who is ugly on the inside. Something you've never had a problem with. You also happen to be beautiful on the outside too." Charming smiled at the way Emma blushed. Snow reached across and placed some loose hair behind Emma's ear.
"Your dad's right, baby." She added. "The Bellevilles are a perfect family for Gwen, they're just as bitter and, quite frankly, to be pitied. Let anything they've said to you tonight wash right on over you. It's a pile of nonsense." Snow gently wiped away a stray tear. "Now, your father and I have to go back down to entertain the guests. We think it would be a good idea for you to join us. Show them that they can't beat you. But equally, we understand if you want some space."
"No." Emma said. "I'll come down. Just let me wash my face." Emma knew that they were right. She had to show Felicity and the rest of her family that she was not so easily put down. She would dust herself off, and get back up again. Charming smiled proudly, bending down and kissing the top of her head.
"We'll be down there waiting for you, baby." He told her as he and Snow headed back down. By the time Emma joined them, the Belleville family would have mysteriously left the ball early, never to show up at a ball hosted by the family again.
