Chapter 8

For the next several days, no one came to my manor, and I was glad of that. I didn't want to see anyone, since it would only remind me of the night I saw Char. Though Char thought I was a girl named Marie, I knew he wasn't so foolish as to think that forever.

I thought next of Daniel. I had enjoyed the time with him at his manor, and he had been sincerely kind to me. I sighed. He was no longer so arrogant or haughty to me, and I respected him for it. Yet, the only one I knew I could love was Char, even if Char could not marry me.

I spent the next several days alone, reading my fairy book or stitching mindlessly on pieces of cloth. I had no appetite, and no one but Mandy even cared.

One day, I sat alone at home. Mum Olga and her daughters had gone out to buy clothes, and they had brought Mandy with them to carry all of their purchases. All of the other servants had gone out for a break. Suddenly, someone rang the doorbell. I had no mood to go and greet whoever was at the door, so I remained on my bed. There was a silence after the first ring. I guessed that the person had left.

"I wonder who that was," I thought carelessly. I continued stitching the cloth. However, the doorbell started ringing again.

"Who is it?" I thought, with slight annoyance. I did not want to go downstairs and open the door. After a minute the doorbell stopped ringing, but I could still hear someone shuffling around outside the door.

I went downstairs cautiously and peered through the peephole. I was not dressed up, and I would not open the door. However, I could not see clearly. The peephole had been too fogged up by the morning mists. Then the doorbell rang again. I felt annoyed now.

I opened the door and gasped: Char was standing right in front of me. I saw his eyebrows go up with a look of surprise.

"Ella!.." he proclaimed. Then he stopped.

"Oh, I am extremely sorry, miss," he apologized. "You looked exactly like my friend, Ella. But I know your name is Marie." He was too polite.

"Is there anything you need?" I asked, lowering my voice a little. My heart thumped loudly. I couldn't let him find out that I was Ella.

"Yes," he answered. "Can I come in?"

"Please sit down," I said, gesturing to our living room. Char nodded, stepping in the manor.

"Please excuse me one moment," I said, as I rushed back to my room. Upstairs, I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked hardly like I had used to, before I had become a servant to Dame Olga. I felt a little safer. Maybe Char would not recognize me.

I went back downstairs. My heart beat loudly when I saw him, and blood rushed to my head. I realized how much I loved him and how much I wanted him to know that I, Ella, had not eloped. However, for now, for his safety, I would have to continue pretending to be Marie, and I would have to pretend I was a servant at the manor.

"I'm back, Your Majesty," I said, smiling falsely. "Please excuse me for rushing off so suddenly. I needed to make myself presentable to the Prince."

He smiled at me.

"It's fine," he said. He came and sat down next to me. I stiffened. He could see my face even more closely now. Surely he would recognize me.

"I came to see you," he said.

"Yes?" I asked hesitantly.

He continued. "You look strangely like the maiden, Ella of Frell, who lives in this house."

I faked a laugh.

"Oh yes, I thought it was quite eerie that we looked so alike, too, when I first came to work here. Even Miss Ella thought it was quite amusing." Char kept his eyes on me.

"Do you know where she is now? Maybe I could find her and talk to her."

I shrugged.

"Miss Ella ran off quite a while ago with a rich old man. Quite a handsome dowry her father received too. She's going to live a prosperous life, I tell you. I quite envy her."

Char looked slightly hurt.

"Is that all you know, then?" he pleaded.

"Yes, I'm sorry, Your Majesty. But I had only come here a few days before Miss Ella ran off. I apologize that I don't have very much help to give." Char stood up.

"I'm sorry for bothering you, then." he said. "Thank you for telling me what you know."

"My pleasure," I answered. Together we walked to the door. I opened the door and saw Apple, my centaur, standing outside, feeding on some grass. I wished I could ride him like I used to. Suddenly, his ears perked up, and he looked around. Then he stared straight at me. He had smelled my scent. Quickly, he galloped toward me.

"Apple!" Char exclaimed, trying to catch him. However, Char lost his hold, and Apple ran to me, neighing loudly. He placed his head softly on my chest and prompted me to pet his mane.

"I'm so sorry, Madame," Char said, walking toward Apple. "Apple has never acted this way with strangers; he's usually very tame. In the past, he only acted like this with Ella, who-" He paused and stopped to look at me again. I looked at the floor, but he continued to stare intently at me. He had seen how happy Apple was to be next to me.

"You're Ella," he finally said. I could tell from his voice that he no longer believed I was Marie. He began walking toward me hesitantly, and when he saw that I did not move, he ran towards me. When he reached me, he grabbed me into a tight hug. Apple whinnied, wanting to be closer to me, but Char held me tightly in his arms.

"Excuse me, Majesty," I attempted to say, but he spoke first.

"Ella, don't continue to try to fool me." I had no heart to pull away from him. After several minutes, he finally pulled away from me. I didn't want his warmth to leave me.

He reached forward and pushed my hair out of my face. He held my chin in his hand, looking at me.

"I haven't been able to see you for six months," he said. "I've longed for the day I could finally see you again after my time in Ayorthia." He continued to look at me. I pushed his hand away.

"Please stop," I said softly. Char looked surprised.

"Why were you like this?" he asked. "Why were you trying to be someone you're not?" I said nothing. I had nothing to say.

"Do you know how painful it was, every single day, for six months, for me to believe that you had eloped with another man? Do you know how extremely helpless I felt?"

I said nothing. How could I explain anything to him? He looked at me in silence. Finally, he spoke again.

"I'm just glad to see you again," he said, " I had dreaded that I would never see you again."

He pulled me back into a hug. "Please don't ever leave me again," he whispered.

However, this time I pulled away from him. He looked at me strangely.

"Ella, what's wrong? "

I could see him hesitate.

"Ella, I love you," he finally said, "and not just as a friend." I stared at him blankly.

"Please, could you just say something to me? What are you thinking right now?"

I finally found my voice.

"Char," I finally said. I could see him smile.

"Char, I saw your marriage proposal." He looked joyful.

"But, " I said. " I will not marry you."

Char looked stunned.

"Wha-" he said. Then he looked embarrassed.

"If you didn't want to marry me, why didn't you just say so?" he pleaded. "Why did you have to pretend that you had eloped with an older man?"

"And if I had directly rejected your marriage proposal, you would be in less pain?" I challenged. Char said nothing.

"Ella, I'm sorry," he said finally. "I'm sorry that I kept pushing you with a marriage proposal. I should've known that it was too early for marriage."

I wanted to cry out. I wanted so dearly to marry him, but my wretched curse forbade me from doing so.

Suddenly, I heard voices from faraway. I could hear Mum Olga's shrill voice and Mandy's lower, calmer voice.

"Char, go," I said. "Mum Olga and Hattie are coming."

"And? Why shouldn't I say?" he queried.

"Please, go!" I pushed him.

He finally gave in. "OK. Then come ot my castle tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you." This was a command that I would have to follow.