-The Queen-
"Our son has been more active than usual."
"What has he done this time?" Her husband was bent over a desk pouring over foreign trade deals.
"He went and visited some prominent families in the city."
"And while he visited them, he-" The Kind ushered, trying to get to the bottom of his wife's complaint.
"Nothing. They were welfare checks. Social callings. He said he wanted to meet his people."
"That's good dear." He said, turning back to his puzzling paperwork.
"I have been telling him to take more responsibility for years and he started now? Why?"
"Is it not enough that he's finally listened to you?"
The Queen scowled at nothing. If her husband did not see the problem then she couldn't very well explain it. If her son was showing a sudden devotion to his role in life then it meant he was maturing, and if his father was any indication, that usually only happened once a woman was involved.
"You need to keep a closer eye on your son." She decided that was the only solution. If they weren't careful, the future Queen could very well be the one maiden who left her shoe behind as a token of love.
"Our son is fine Lettie. You are being too protective." The King sighed and leaned away from his paperwork. The candle was burning low, and he was tired. These papers would hold till tomorrow.
"Our son is the future of this Kingdom. I don't tell you, 'just ignore those scout reports, you're being too protective.' No. It is our job to ensure the safety and prosperity of this kingdom, and whether you like it or not, that means keeping a closer eye on your son."
The King crossed his hands over his chest. On one hand he could relate to being a young Prince and needing the freedom to be yourself before the Kingdom consumed every inch of your life. On the other hand, if he disagreed with his wife now it would make his life considerably harder.
"You're right dear."
She let out a long breath, "Of course I'm right."
The King slipped into bed next to his wife, hoping that his surrender would be the end of it, but he wasn't that lucky. "Now we just need to think of a way to keep him occupied and safe."
-The Prince-
A week of torturous waiting had finally passed, and he was ready. He had visited the kitchen to find a suitable basket and he had them fill it with one of everything they could think of. He had changed his clothes three times now, and he had already saddled his horse.
When early afternoon finally crawled around, Charles gathered everything he had prepared and was ready to leave when his mother caught him in the foyer.
"Charles, there you are! I've been looking for you everywhere."
He quickly pulled his mother into a hug, "I'm glad you found me. I was just going out.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
He held up the basket, "I decided to ride into the country to have lunch."
"Good, you have no plans then. I need to speak with you for a moment."
The prince looked from his mother to the door and sighed. She always had the worst timing.
"We can speak when I return from my ride." He tried, but his mother was already ushering him into the drawing room. His father was sitting at the corresponding desk, hunched over paperwork.
"I found him dear."
The King looked up and met his son's eyes. Charles felt his heart drop. His father had two ways that he looked at the children. Most of the time he looked at them as a father looked at his children, but now he was using the second look. He was a king looking at a future king.
His father lowered his quill.
"Sit down son."
Charles ignored his orders and instead stood next to his father's desk. The sooner they were finished speaking, the sooner he could leave.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
"No. Your mother has brought it to my attention that you are the future of this kingdom."
Charles remained silent. This was not news to him, but the more he let his father talk, the faster he would be done speaking.
"I have realized that I have not been training you properly to replace me."
"We have plenty of time yet for that father."
"Regardless, I have decided to take your education more seriously. Starting this afternoon, you will be accompanying me into my meetings as an observer."
He looked to his mother, and she was just smiling encouragingly. The walls started to close in around him. Why did it have to be today of all days?
"This afternoon? Surely it can wait another day?" He asked.
His father looked to his mother and then back to him.
"There are some very important meetings taking place today. It would benefit you to take a part of it, unless you have made prior commitments."
"He isn't doing anything at all Henry." The Queen added helpfully from behind them.
The prince felt trapped. There was not going to be an easy way out of this.
"I am busy this afternoon."
His mother walked in front of him to stand next to his father.
"Busy riding in the country? I think our international affairs are more important than a picnic." She said, her voice raising to a dangerous level.
"Not to me they aren't." The words were lead in his mouth. They were the wrong words in every way, but he was desperately trying to find a way out, even if it was just for this afternoon.
His future had loomed over his head like a threat his entire life. His life was spent in training for the Kingship. His every word and behavior acted as a reflection on his future kingship. Every person he met only saw him as the future king, and here it was again, trying to take something else from him.
His mothers mouth fell into a thin grim line.
"I had expected more from you Charles." she started. "I don't think you realize the importance of your responsibilities. I think perhaps we need to reevaluate how much freedom you have."
Everything was falling apart. If he tried to storm out, they would stop him. If he told them the truth, his mother would have a heart attack and forbid him from leaving with her dying breath. There was only one option.
He took a deep breath and shook his head. "You're right mother."
Those words did nothing to calm her. "Of course I'm right." She snapped. "You are the future leader of this kingdom whether you like it or not and it's time for you to finally fill your role."
He ceremoniously placed his basket full of food on the table and turned towards the door.
"And where are you going now?"
"To prepare for all these responsibilities. We wouldn't want the future of this kingdom to look slovenly at his first council meeting, would we?"
His mother narrowed her eyes and closed the distance between them. He stood a head taller than her, but when she wanted to, she had a way of making him feel small. Her hand reached out and rested on his chest.
"Your heart will make you a good king, but your passions will get you lost. We are doing this for your own good and that will be the end of it."
She stepped back and his father stood next to her towering over the both of them.
"Leave it be for now Lettie. We're late as it is."
His father grabbed his shoulder and turned him towards the door, leading him deeper into the heart of the castle. Charles felt his chest constrict. His father's hand was like an iron band around his shoulder dragging him away from all hope that he could talk himself free this afternoon.
His father directed him straight into the council chambers where there were nearly a dozen men sitting at one long table.
The King led them both all the way to the head of the table and Charles took a seat to his right.
"Alright. Let's begin."
-Cinderella-
She watched through the window as Joe drove the carriage out of sight. The last rumbling sounds were out of ear shot at the cloud of dust settled leaving Ella blessedly alone.
She cleaned the house obsessively, trying to keep her shaking hands busy. Trepidation filled her heart as the afternoon grew closer and closer. Finally, it was nearly afternoon, Bellview was gleaming from all the extra work, and Ella could finally obsess over getting ready instead of cleaning.
She had to wear a dress that Anastasia and Drisella had thrown out long ago and then she had to go to their room to use a mirror. She brushed through her hair with a borrowed hair brush and then tried in vain to style it before she just tucked it into a familiar bun.
Hidden in her chest underneath her clothes she had her singular glass slipper and a gold locket. The locket was the only thing she managed to hide from Lady Tremaine when she was stripped of everything. This was the first time it had seen the light of day since she had hidden it years ago. She fastened it around her neck and felt even more vulnerable than ever.
She slinked through the door to stop Lucifer from following her and then she got to their tree where they had shared a moment a week prior and she waited.
-The Prince-
This meeting was not ending anytime soon. Every moment was pure agony as the men droned on and on and on about foreign trade. Some trade negotiator had been kidnapped and murdered last month and now all the imports and exports were in a state of complete chaos that would not be solved any time soon.
"Let's take a short break and come back in five minutes." His father said, sounding tight. There had been a battle of wills in the council room that was becoming tedious.
The prince stood suddenly from his chair. The meeting had already gone on for two hours without break and if he didn't leave now, he wouldn't get another chance.
"Charles, will you go to the kitchen and have something brought to the council room?" The King asked, looking back to his paperwork.
"Of course." Charles said, but he wasn't listening. He pushed past the old men filing out and measured his options. The front gates had guards posted at them and everything that happened in the castle was always reported on.
The best option would be to go the long way through the service entrance and then through a sewer grate at the east wall, but that would also take time and time was something that he had already wasted so much of. He sighed and went towards the front entrance. His mother would reign down hell the moment she realized he was gone, but he had made a promise and he was going to fulfill it.
-Lady Tremaine-
She came into Lyman's office, and he seemed even more skittish than usual. He fidgeted as they waited for his maid to bring tea. He checked his watch every other minute and avoided eye-contact with Lady Tremaine as much as possible.
"Stop that." Lady Tremaine said sharply, and Lyman stopped shaking his leg impulsively.
"I'm sorry my Lady." He said.
"Don't be sorry, just calm down! I think I've figured out a solution to our financial problems."
He stopped fidgeting completely and focused his full attention on her.
"What did you figure out?"
She waited for the maid to bring in the tea, but the second the maid shut the door leaving them alone, she cradled the cup of tea in her hands and continued.
"It's Ellanore. It's been staring me straight in the face for years. She's not the problem in our situation, she's the solution."
Lyman stilled and looked genuinely confused. Ellanore was the only one who could destroy all their plans. She was the true technical Lady of Bellview Manor. It was the simple fact of her ignorance that Lady Tremaine could parade around with wealth in the first place.
"How exactly are you thinking of using her?"
"Lawrence Seaver. We're going to marry her to the richest merchant in Harron City."
"Why would Lawrence Seaver want to marry Ellanore?" He asked, confused.
"He approached me last week about my daughters. I think he's after the title, and if that is really true then we should be able to give him the title and Ellanore and then we'll use his money to repair the estate."
"Do you think you can convince him to let you keep Bellview?"
"Of course, I'll talk to him today before I pick up the girls and then all of our problems will be over."
Lyman smiled and raised his glass. "I suggest a toast to Ellanore then."
He raised his glass and Lady Tremaine mirrored his actions.
"To Ellanore." They echoed and drank.