"Papa... what's wrong? Please tell us now...", Ella said as Jules sighed. "We're... we're probably having to leave... like leave, leave within the next few hours.", he got right to the point.
Charles widened his eyes, "Wait, why?", and Jules sighed deeply, "Charles, the moment I and Ella acknowledged you, you and your group was then able to see the castle, because there was a spell hiding it from sight for the past 10 years and so. The village was an enemy to us because we were threatened by it once long ago, maybe twice over now, since there was another revolution as well that the few elder staff knew about. Today, the spell fell, and the village was able to see the turrets.".
Charles really couldn't believe what he was hearing, "You mean... like actual magic, that's what's going on here with things?"
Ella replied, "Yes, Charles.", showing that she's serious, and Charles exhaled, "So, your past, your family's past, magic was involved too?".
"That's right.", Jules admitted. "It is a very long story but to sum a lot of it up, there's magic that heavily surrounds this family and has been for a number of years.".
Ella then whispered, "I promise that everything I told you was true, I just switched reasonable white lies for magic...Please don't be mad...", and Charles gently cradled her cheek, "Hey, I would never be mad at you...I don't blame you for protecting this family, and you very much care for them, which I dare couldn't change as your kindness and devotion for all you love is part of you, and that's one of the reasons why I truly, deeply love you, Ella.".
"Charming...", Ella's eyes teared up in relief, joy, love, and awe, "I love you too...", covering his hand with hers as Jules proudly and happily observed his daughter, and perhaps, future son-in-law one day.
Charles then smiled, pecking Ella's lips tenderly, and replied, "Let's go inside, and I'll hear you out.", and Ella nodded, and so, the trio headed from the greenhouse to the castle, with them explaining the white lies, and then they got to the ballroom where Adam was announcing the situation, explaining the plan of the magical boat, and asking the staff clearly and calmly to decide to stay in France or go with them in a communal vote, as the family and Charles's group of loyalists is off to the side, watching Adam standing tall and regal as the former prince he was, and Perla was the most proud of them all, smiling in support for her husband.
"I understand if many of you don't wish to leave... almost all of you would be fine; it's not you who would face the wrath of a revolution turned violent...", Adam said.
The staff murmured amongst themselves, talking in hushed conversation for several minutes, and then Cogsworth listened, nodding to the one mostly voted to speak to the majordomo, and then he cleared his voice, "Master Adam, the staff has talked, and to show their vote, they decided to split themselves if that's okay.".
Adam replied, "I accept your idea. Show me.", and more than half including Chip, who is holding hands immediately with Azure, Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, Fifi has moved to the right of the ballroom, while the remaining staff moved to the left of the ballroom including Cogsworth.
Adam was stunned as Cogsworth announced, "The ones on your right voted to leave with you, sire, while the ones on your left voted to stay here in France.", and Adam whispered, "Cogsworth...".
Cogsworth smiled gently, "Master Adam, we may not be enough to quash the fires of revolution while we're here, but we can help the progress of peace for France if we could. We want you and the family to be safe, and yes, it hurts, but I have done so many years of service in this castle like those people behind me, and it's time to move on, and honestly, I dreamed so long to be retired on a beach somewhere in my homeland here.".
Adam smiled, and asked, "Are you absolutely certain you want to stay here in France and restore peace in your own ways?", and the people behind Cogsworth nodded, affirming their decision, and then a voice cleared, showing the leader of the loyalists, looking at Charles solemnly, "Prince Charles...Can we do the same thing?".
Charles looked at them. "You too want to stay?", he asked as the man sighed, "If you wish to leave the continent, then most of us will not follow... but we promise to at least keep where you're going a secret.".
Charles squeezed the man's shoulder with a smile, "That's all I want, and besides, once I get my father out, we won't be royal anymore, even if I have to repeat a thousand times to my father that he cannot order anyone anymore. And I love Ella with all my heart, and I want to go with her wherever she goes.", glancing at Ella tenderly with love as she smiled tearfully, proud of Charles.
The man replied with a nod, "Men, go and decide.", and the loyalists moved, with most of them coming into the circle of Cogsworth and the staying staff, and a few of them came into the circle of Lumiere and the going staff.
Decisions taken and confirmed, Adam nodded, "Thank you, all of you. The ones who decided to stay in France, be quick and pack up. If I understand correctly, the grounds are clear for you all to observe and figure out things amongst themselves while the castle will be taken out with all the foundations within to the river, changing into the boat to fit all of us who's going.".
"You might also want to be quick with things... last thing any of us want is for any of you to being believed royal collaborators or something.", Ray added.
The staff within Cogsworth and most of the loyalists nodded and left the ballroom quickly as they headed to their personal rooms to pack up their belongings and all, with Adam glancing at the others, "If you want to help them, you can, while you get your final goodbyes and all.".
The others who's staying with the family smiled, realizing that it would be quicker, but yet bittersweet, and went to help their friends and comrades.
It took a couple of hours before the final goodbyes were done, and with some food given to them, the staying people went to the grounds, and with wide eyes, they heard a low rumbling within the foundations as the sun set, and the first few stars appeared including the Evening Star.
Adam called out, "Hold on, everyone! This is going to be a snap if we know Jiminy and the ladies!", as he held his arm over Perla's shoulders, on the main floor of the large stairway.
"Oh, wait... I just remembered that I don't do too great with sailing...", Maurice groaned as he hung on tight with Belle giving a small chuckle. "It'll be alright, Papa...", she assured him.
Maurice nodded as Juliet held hands with Belle next to her, not caring of who's watching from the few loyalists around the grand stairway on the main floor as the entire family and close friends held on, with a few holding into the horses and mule, and the cats and dogs, as the foundations came free seamlessly without breaking a brick as it changed shape from the foundations to the tippy-top of the tallest turret of the castle, to the walled gates of the gardens and gazebos and greenhouses, pulling them into the castle as it became a beautiful, functional, and strong ship over the course of a minute, moving into the river as it landed flawlessly, leaving the grounds to be a unique meadow of sorts as the bridge became earth, disappearing.
The ship, to normal people if visible when needed, looks like it's a modest, fine fishing ship, but to the people on the meadow, who's keeping the secret of the last royal relations of France, saw a rustic, tough, if slightly futuristic ship, not knowing that it's somewhat copied from the cruise ships in the far future, with a flair of the steamships from today, through it's able to fit the river more or less as the river is just over 980 ft wide to just half a mile wide, depending on the erosion and bank differences of the river.
One of the retired staff members pointed, "Look!", and Cogsworth looked, seeing Adam and the others coming up into deck, waving goodbye as the ship began to rumble on with one of the turrets chugging out steam, slow yet steady.
Many had sorrow and pain in their hearts as they waved to each other after so many years of being together, only now for life to be uprooted for them all, thanks to the world around them growing more dangerous...
Cogsworth gave a small smile, "Godspeed, Adam.", as Adam gave the last and best payload of their lives for their retirements for Cogsworth and the others with him, from the secret treasure vault that few knew about.
He knew that Elisabeth would be proud of her son, and he inwardly was amused as Richard would be rolling in his grave for the takeover of the castle into a ship, if he knew of Adam's selfless plan.
Gianna looked at Juliet and Belle, "There's no law on the river, is there?", and Belle looked a bit confused before smiling as she took Juliet's shirt and then kissed her passionately.
Juliet blinked in shock, "Not complaining, but what about the few loyalists?", and Belle replied, "Charles will set them straight like he did about Ray and Naveen. And besides, the law of no intimacy between two women or two men in public was made on land, not water.", with a smirk as Juliet then realized the loophole.
"Oh, you naughty...", Juliet chuckled as she wrapped her arms around Belle. "You'd really think you'd learn after all these years that I can be wickedly clever when I need to be.", Belle smirked.
Gianna smiled wryly at her mothers as she glanced at Jolene who smiled back at her, knowing of Gianna's crush on her, but not telling yet, as Carlo and Naveen cheered, having overheard Belle's brilliant logic, went to kiss each other passionately.
Charles glared at his few loyalists, and one of them replied, "We knew them over the winter, and they never did anything wrong of harm on us, and besides, love is needed those days.", with a smile.
Maurice chuckled, "I guess the river is easier on this ship than normal steamships.", and Adam replied, "Magic is pretty handy.", with a smile, "Still, let's take note of everything, Maurice. I'd use your help.".
Maurice nodded, and so, the family went on their own ways, with couples enjoying the breeze, some exploring the newly changed ship, and several servants checking out the transformed greenhouses and kitchens.
Charles smiled softly at Ella, "I think this ship would be slightly faster than a normal steamship...Maybe a couple of weeks to the shoreline.", as he sat on a lounging couch on the deck, his arm wrapped around Ella.
"I bet it's only a week.", Ella said. "This thing's only issue is the width of the river at times as opposed if this was crossing the oceans...", with a nod. "It may have to...", Charles sighed. "If things back home don't... work out in a way we'd like...".
Ella reassured him with a kiss to his cheek, "Look, you heard Adam and my father...Getting your father and his most trusted people to the ship is the most important thing and crossing the oceans of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, it would be plenty of time for him to realize that he can be a normal man, a man of hobbies he wouldn't be too old to learn about, and of course, getting to know me again.".
Charles chuckled warmly, "Your logic is sound, Ella...I know Dad will love you, and since he never had a daughter, he'd probably see you as one.", with a smile, and Ella blushed, smiling, "Are you hinting about our future together?".
"Maybe...", Charles nodded, and Ella giggled softly before looking at him hesitantly, if determinedly, "Charming, is it okay if we put one more step into our pace of our courtship? Since we're literally fleeing, and that we're technically refugees, we don't have to follow protocols anymore about bedroom arrangements...".
"Well, that depends, what exactly do you mean by pace?", Charles asked as Ella chuckled and gently placed a hand on his cheek before she leaned forward to kiss him on the lips once more.
After the kiss, Ella whispered, "Sleeping and such in your arms, Charming.", and Charles widened his eyes, "Ella, I-", and Ella kept whispering, "Nightclothes together...I'm not ready yet for a physical union with you, but I'll tell you when that day comes...".
Charles nodded, "Alright, that can work with me... sorry, I just feel... some things might be too fast with us...". Ella nodded with a warm chuckle, "I know... I thought the same too, but we can't be so slow either...".
Charles smiles warmly, kissing her on the cheek, "I can't blame you there, Ella.", before squeezing her shoulder lovingly, "The servants must have figured out the kitchens by now. Shall we have a late dinner, and then bed?".
Ella smiled, "Sounds good to me.", before they went below deck, seeing the map of the ship on every floor, exploring, and chatted with the family in the newfound cafeteria/dining room combination.
Leila was told of the new arrangements, and smiled silently in approval, and so, after the late dinner, the couple went to their new cabin stateroom, where they changed privately in the cabin's bathroom in turns.
Ella, dressed in her nightgown and knickers, looked at Charles with a soft smile as she emerged out of the bathroom, "Are you alright if our kisses and intimate touches are romantic and slow, so not to tempt ourselves? And...do I look modest enough to be just a smidge alluring and all?", asking curiously and shyly as she knew that this is the first time he had ever saw her in her nightgown, with her hair unbound from being in a ponytail.
"You're fine...", Charles assured her. "It's perfect, right now.", he said as she smiled and walked up to him. "What about you? How exactly do you normally sleep?", Ella gave him a sly look.
Charles exhaled, blushing, "With winter ending, I still more than often wear my undershirt and trousers, but when summer swelters up, I get my undershirt off.", and Ella mischievously smiled, "Well, I'm warm like the summer...".
"Could we wait a bit longer for that?", Charles asked sheepishly with a smile, blushing still, and Ella chuckled, "You're so easy to tease when you're flustered. But yes, of course...", as she and Charles settled into their bed.
Charles smiled and then kissed her slowly and tenderly on the lips, and Ella sighed contentedly as she wrapped her arms around his neck, gently brushing her hands through his hair, with his arms lovingly caressing her as they intimately embraced each other, staying above each other's clothes with them kissing each other and nuzzling around their necks.
This lasted for nearly 40 minutes with them whispering sweet nothings and their names into each other's ears before they felt sleepy, tired from the long day. Ella smiled as she rested her head into his shoulder, the pillows calling them to dreamland, "Thank you for indulging part of this woman's dreams...I never imagined that I'd be held like this, Charles...".
"I'm sure there was another decent man for you out there if I never came around, I'm confident about that.", Charles told her. Really, any guy would be so lucky as to have her.
Ella shrugged, "I think my father and uncles and my brother would have given that man a harder time. But I'd rather have you...After all, I love you so much, Charming...", looking at him lovingly, and Charles smiled, "You're biased...But that's okay...I love you too, Ella...", kissing her deeply, in awe of this woman before him.
They then went to sleep, holding each other close and cuddling under the blankets, content with smiles on their faces.
"First time I'd ever saw that kind of smile on your face, my son...That kind of smile usually happens when you're simply sleeping contentedly with the woman of your life, like I used to have with your mother.", Aloysius's voice chuckled fondly as Charles opened his eyes in his and his father's dream place.
"If I recall correctly, at this moment, Ella is sleeping in my arms.", Charles admitted. "We're both still decent, she wanted to sleep in the same bed, but she still wanted to wait before we go further in that sort of direction.".
Aloysius smiled, "Jules and Leila has raised her well, and I'm very proud of you, son. Now, what has happened for you to be late tonight for our meeting here?".
Charles sighed deeply, "Father, I know this may sound strange, but do you believe in magic and all that is involved, like enchantresses and such?".
Aloysius gave him a look as Charles took another breath as he closed his eyes, really wondering how he was going to put it. "You haven't taken leave of your senses, have you?".