Buttercup's POV

I wanted to disappear...right now...I'm not afriad of her...not if I was back at the Manor, but I was in a dress, pretending to be a noble. She could turn me in or...or use...she could black mail me. Oh no...this was bad. I covered myself with half of the fan, I needed to open it wider.

"Remember, not a word." I reminded myself as Duchess looked at me closer, I backed away.

This was all kinds of bad. Duchess was different from Princess. She was colder, calm but cold hearted.

Flashback

Yesterday, I was in her room, cleaning up her chimney when she came in. She glared at me as I bowed my head. I was just about to be done and leave the room, when...

"Hold it, you're Buttercup right, the new girl?" She looked at me from her mirror, those purple eyes glaring at me, but she just sighed.

"Yeah."

"Yeah?"

"I mean, yes M'Lady."

"Buttercup...as in the flower I'm guessing...*scoffs* not much of a flower right now. Look at you, all covered in soot from head to toe, maybe I should call you Cinderella, much better than Smelly girl or Cinder Girl."

I looked at her, and gave her an evil glare, I had to stay calm or my magic will go out of control.

"Such lovely eyes...your mother had such eyes...green as the emerald, it was like looking into a dark forest...you could've been a lovely noble. If only your mommy wasn't so weak."

"I'm warning you...don't you dare talk about my mother."

She was brushing her hair, "Or what? You'll hit me, do that and mommy will give you a good lashing. Your mother was weak...she fell in love and disown her own title for a peasant...a farmer...It's just sad and funny too, don't you think? A farmer, who wears a mask...how pathetic, honestly."

"You shut it! My mom was happy."

"Trading Noblility and Wealth for Poverty and Happiness...my..my...I'll never get it...Ya know The Prince wanted to see you badly. He wanted to see the girl who creamed him with an apple and talk so forcibly with him...but he was saving that excuse to see me, after all. It would be improper if he said so...plainly. But he did just love my brooch...but it was in front of my chest."

In your dreams

"We are the same after all...very much the same...I'll be queen...just wait...and you'll be poor Cinderella, cleaning those chimneys...all because of your mother's happiness."

I stormed out, and walked right out of the Manor, and broke several logs in half, until I was calm again.

End of Flashback

I narrowed my eyes, and bowed...and tried to walk away but she stepped in front of me.

"Excuse me...but..have we met before?" She asked, giving me that glare, I shook my head and tried to get past her again but she stood in my way again. Fang looking like a pedigree, jumped down to the ground and hiss at Duchess and swatting his paw at her, causing her to back away.

Suddenly Bree, just popped out of no where, "Oh Duchess, M'Lady, hi. How have you been?"

I sighed in relief, I know I'm going have to pay for Bree being nice to Duchess when she couldn't stand her.

"You are interrupting."Duchess glared at Brianna who was about ready to beat her but she just smiled.

"Well, I guess I'll just have to eat this last Cutie Pie." Bree held the pie high in her face and started to walk off. Oh man, if that couldn't make her go after it, I would. Just the smell of it, reminded me of how hungry I was. The cinnamon apple was enough to drive anyone mad.

"You don't need that, I order you to give it to me." Duchess cleared her throat as Brianna gave her the pie, she forgotten all about me, grabbed the pie, and walked off.

"You own me a pie. Do you know I broke a man's front teeth for that. I'm so hungry...get that stupid necklace and let's- Oh no," Brianna sighed in agony as not only Danny was coming our way but so was that white hair guy.

Brianna sighed, it was either Danny or that guy, and she walked towards white guy, while I ducked into a tent.

"There you are." I heard a voice and felt a pat on my shoulder, I just grabbed the hand and flipped the person, "Ow! What the hell!"

I sighed in relief as it was him...

"Oh you scared me, your...highness." I wasn't use to using addresses and stuff, so it was hard for me to do that, except it was always easy with Mr. Cooper. And now I just flipped the future Heir of Asheia. He got up and laughed though.

"My...my...you're strong Countess. I didn't mean to startle you. I've just been chasing you forever, and I was hiding in here...from Duchess."

I chuckled, remembering how Duchess was so sure that the Prince wanted to see her...but he's hiding from her.

"Why hide from your equal, huh? I heard the two of you deserve each other." I said, and he took a step back, I had my hand out, "I heard that you had something of mine."

"Yes, but I don't know if I want to give it to you after that insult, "He was looking striaght into my eyes, he seemed different, like mad or something, well...I can be mad too, "I've had enough of these games of yours...do you honestly think I'm amused...playing this little trick with me. Pretending you're not interested in me...making me chase you...trying to find out who you are...everytime we meet, you've run away from me..."

I stood back, Fang climbed up my shoulder, I was ready to punch him, "Excuse me...interested in you...don't make me laugh...I've been running away from you because I don't have time for this shit! This is no game! I don't play with people's emotions! Life is already messed up as it is! And I didn't want some manic chasing me...I told you to leave me alone...and I gave you every sign that I wasn't interested ok."

"Exactly, a man can't resist a challenge...especially one who runs off with every chance, making me go crazy with chasing you...and this was all some trick to get me, huh? Admit it, I could have you arrested for the trouble you put me through. Look at you, dolled yourself up...like that."

"Then Your...'Highness' You've learned nothing, and here I thought you improved...letting those men go and giving them a job...a chance to go back to their families and a life...I even heard how you gave them a choice. But forget it, you arrogant Asshole!" I slapped him...I couldn't believe what I did...I slapped the Crown Prince. I covered my mouth again and turned around, taking a deep breath. My heart just ached, it felt like someone just closed their fist around it.

"Is there something wrong with me? I feel so sick. He thinks I'm like those fake noble women...I was just trying to save a friend...not trying to capture his attention...but why did my heart ache so much. I feel like crying...I want to cry...but why?"

"I'm sorry...I didn't come here...for you...except...that I was impressed and..." I turned back around, and had my hand out, "My necklace...please...I beg you."

Butch's POV

I sighed, touching my cheek, it stung...I expected her to cry, not smack the shit out of me. One last test...

"Why, you're a Noble, the Quell Family is filled with Wealth, I'm sure you could buy several of these."

"No, I can't. It was my mother's...it means more to me...then the Kingdom's wealth...any wealth. I've been looking for it...for a week...I was so scared that I would never see it again...that...I cried every night. I thought I let her down...but when Brianna told me...you had it...You couldn't believe the joy. I'm sorry if you think I was trying to trap you but...I just want that necklace back." She had her hand still out, but she looked up at me, with tears forming. I thought I was gonna cry as well, "I can't face my father, telling him I lost something so important."

"Ya know...I never knew my mother...my dad said, she died three days after we were born, " I confessed, she wiped her tears away, "My Dad told us...that we were her greatest treasures and that we were his too. That he looked at us, and was grateful that she left him something. Dad can be harsh but he means well. Of course, I wouldn't wanna keep such a treasure from you. But I'm sure, your dad would be upset, but I bet you are the treasure...not the necklace." I put it around her neck and she looked up at me.

"Thank you! Thank you!" She hugged me, but she quickly backed away and bowed, clearing her throat, "Thank you...'Highness'. You're not an Asshole...most of the time...But I must be going." She was about to walk away, but I stopped her, she sighed, giving me that 'this again' look, "I'm not afriad of kicking you, Your Grace."

She was beauitful...and now...I know she's real...no one could cry like that, it wasn't fake. It had to be her, I was above her, and she talked to me like I was her equal...I had to know more about her. Such a woman...a real woman...it was strange and stupid but I could see myself...with her...my heart couldn't stop thumping and now, I had her...I had to know as much as I could.

"Now hold on, I returned your greatest treasure to you...the least you could do is tell me your name. Or this Cousin's name?"

"Your Highness-"

"Please Butch, I never liked that highness shit and I see you feel uncomfortable with it. I also see you don't like tests either." I rubbed my cheek again as her eyes slowly widened.

"Bastard! You were testing me...I could kill you!"

I just laughed, "Now, now, I could definitely get you arrested for that...a threat against the crown and all... But I'll overlook it...on one condition."

She gave me the cutest but deadliest glare, she was fascinating...finally a real noble woman...it just keeps repeating to my head because it just was so unreal to me.

"My name huh?"

"And don't lie. I did a little investigating, all the Quell women are named after flowers...I'm betting your mother's name was Magnolia...or a flower perhaps...now come on...Enchantress..."

"I don't wanna! You can't make me, Crown Prince!"

"Ya know, I found out, that I like challenges...if the reward is good enough," I gave her a devious grin as a new idea popped into my head, "Fine then enchantress, you don't wanna tell me your name. Just a simple name and I would have let you go-"

"Let...me...go?"

"Yes, but I'm determined to know your name...I'll over look your threat, if you watch the Tournament with me."

"What!" She yelled.