Charles smiled sheepishly, "Is it working?", and Aloysius nodded, "Alright, I'll get started on the secret trip...Maybe after a couple of hours upon midnight, we'll leave the castle...".
"Thanks, Dad..", Charles nodded in relief and hugged his father with a smile, and Aloysius whispered, "I'll see you soon, Charles.", before vanishing from their tree bench.
Charles chuckled, about to leave as well when he heard an echoing giggle, and he looked around in confusion and surprise before he saw a wisp of an indescribable child skipping around, and he stared at the solid spirit, "Wha-", before a little innocent smile was seen with the glint of familiarity in its dimples, and the giggle echoed again.
He then exhaled, finding himself in his and Ella's bed, blinking around in surprise and confusion as Ella murmured sleepily in his arms, a content sigh, and he then realized that he was greeted by the child of his and Ella, the smile familiar like its mother and father.
The child soon vanished once more as if Charles was still stuck between dreaming and waking. "Could we...", Charles whispered to himself. No way that was their child, unless she was already indeed pregnant. But wasn't it too soon? If he recalled, it still would take like a day or so at least for an egg to be impregnated...
Then again, their first time was only but two nights ago, to tonight. Charles exhaled softly as he kissed Ella's forehead ever so gently as he held her, his hand stroking ever so lightly on her belly as she was deep asleep yet contently snuggled into his body.
He whispered to himself, "I promise you'll be safe...", determined to make sure that his family, all his family is together forever, and he knew that getting his father and his group to the ship will be quite the toughest and scariest mission of his life...
He cannot, wouldn't lose his father, his love of his life, and their child to the revolutionaries if they catch wind of the fleeing group from the castle.
His only hope was that maybe any sort of revolution would still take a few more days before they'd march on the castle. If that was the case, then it would be much easier to get things away...
He knew that there's a mile between the castle and the docks. With his father and the group by his side, an hour or two after midnight when people would be asleep, it would be less risky in a way, but if the revolutionaries is watching somehow, it would be equally risky as well...
Charles got up, just feeling like he needed to be outside for a little bit to calm his mind hopefully or at least think a bit clearer.
He glanced back to see Ella deep in dreamland, and he gave a little smile as he imagined her down the road with a hearty baby bump...She'd be even more beautiful.
He then left the room, using the elevator to head to the deck as there's no balcony this far down of the enchanted ship, only portholes for sunlight and moonlight to filter through.
He took a deep breath of fresh air, seeing the familiar hills of Southern France as the ship chugged along through the bay, resting his elbows on the railing. "I'd thought you could take every second of time to be with my niece, eh?", a voice coming up.
Charles looked back to see Adam approaching, and smiled, "Hey, Adam. Who's at the helm?", and Adam hummed, "Chip. Apparently, he was looking for my blessing, so he'd marry Azure in the New World, as of a new start for them in a way, you know?".
"Oh, wow. Chip's a lucky guy. They had been courting for two years already, hadn't they?", Charles chuckled, and Adam nodded, "Yep. Back to my original question...", with a raised eyebrow.
Charles sighed deeply, "I'd be literally in bed with Ella right now, you know me, but I'm...just needing a way to think easier since we're coming up on Silla tomorrow...I and Father talked a bit ago, and he finally gave in, thankfully, and now he's working to get his group and himself together to travel tomorrow night, probably best by an hour after midnight or so while most people are asleep including the revolutionaries, I hope.".
"It's not too far of a distance from the coast to the castle, if my memory serves...", Adam said as Charles nodded, "Until we're out on the water, any distance is not short enough in my mind.".
Adam replied, "I do not blame you, Charles...What have you thought so far?", and Charles sighed, "My loyalists will keep a relay along the way while I receive them. I know this land far more than you do, no offense, Adam.".
"None taken. Which part of the docks is the best and fastest way for the path?", Adam asked, and Charles replied, "On the third paddock of the docks, but we'd have to put up a flag of neutralism, we can't put up a flag of France in case the revolutionaries are watching.".
Adam nodded, "That's fair.", and Charles then took a deep breath, looking at Adam, "Ella will be upset, but she will understand soon in time why I am asking this. If there's trouble, and the revolutionaries are getting dangerously close to the ship, take up anchor and leave without me quickly, after my father and the others are safely abroad on the ship. I'll find a way somehow to get to the ship or to Canada, no matter what. Just stop Ella from jumping in after me...I love her too much for her and our future.". He knew the revolutionaries, if dangerous, could cause problems, and he knew the family would always help keep Ella be safe and healthy.
"Please, Charles... don't think that. It'll be alright... We'll make sure to stay behind and let some of those who obviously aren't royals go... having Chip with you and a few others would work well.", Adam told him as Charles nodded, "Good call... still, hopefully no one really recognizes me, my portrait isn't as famous as my father's, obviously.".
Adam nodded, "True, but you are still a prince in Silla's eyes for the time being until your father anonymously passes the news about him and you dethroning from Silla.", and Charles nodded softly.
"Let's just hope everything goes well.", Charles sighed deeply, and Adam replied, "Agreed...Now don't you think it's long enough for you to be up here? Ella must be wondering of the empty spot in bed.", with a soft smile.
Charles nodded, "Yes. I need all the rest I can get for this risky retrieval.", before smiling at Adam softly, "Thank you, Adam. Good night.", as Adam nodded, "Good night, Charles.", before the young soon-ex prince headed to the elevator and to his and Ella's bedroom.
As Charles gently climbed into the bed, Ella murmured sleepily, "Charming?", and Charles softly kissed her on the lips, "I'm here, my love. Just was out for some fresh air and had a small conversation with Adam.".
"Okay...I love you...", Ella murmured as dreamland came over her, snuggling into Charles' chest, and Charles whispered, "I love you too...", and then under his breath, "And you as well, little one.", as he enveloped Ella in his arms, stroking ever so gently on her belly, and so, he went to sleep.
Tomorrow night will be quite nerve wracking for him and his loyalists, and the ones Adam will let go to help. "Any movement?", Chip asked Adam as their ship laid in wait not too far off from the shores of the kingdom. It was quiet since it was so late at night while Adam viewed the shore through a spyglass.
Adam replied, "The third paddock of the docks is clear, and there's a few patrons at that bar, looking passed out, and the village looks pretty dark with the lampposts on. I can't tell well with the distant hills, but the castle is definitely dark, with the palace gates patrolling with guards for their nightly routine.".
Chip then nodded, "Right. I'll tell Charles.", starting to leave as Adam is going to direct the wheel of the helm to the third paddock of the docks to land the ramp, and Adam replied, "Chip, you better watch everybody's back, and you best take care of yourself, and get back here intact. I'd not want my eldest daughter to go through heartbreak, is that clear?".
"It's not me that I'm worried about...", Chip said. He sighed, "I think it would be smarter if Charles stayed back himself, I could easily lead the way to the castle and back easy enough.".
Adam looked at Chip, "You haven't been in Silla, young man, and Charles knows this land more than any of us, even his loyalists. Best to follow his instructions, as he's still the prince of this kingdom, and let me not be wrong, understand?".
Chip exhaled, "Yes, sir...Sorry, sir...", and Adam sighed, "Chip, I know you are striving to show that you can be a mature, great man, but you still have a lot to learn. And if I know Azure, she'd want you back completely intact without risking yourself foolishly. You are to marry her, and I gave you my blessing to take my eldest daughter's hand in holy matrimony. Do not waste it.".
"Yes, I understand. And I'll watch over everyone including Charles. Ella is one of my dearest friends, and Azure sees her as a beloved cousin.", Chip nodded sharply and Adam nodded, "Good. Now, go. We must be careful and swift.".
"Right.", Chip took his leave as Adam sighed. Hopefully, things would go off without much of a hitch, especially considering the time of day with everyone pretty much retiring for the night. If anything was going to happen, it would've already started by now.
Soon, the ship quietly and swiftly came to the side of the paddock at the end of the docks, the ramp coming down quickly yet carefully, and so, Charles, Chip, the loyalists, and a few able-bodied servant men slunk through the docks, stealing the few horses at the bar where the few drunks are passed out, using the grass to muffle the horses' hooves as they rode and ran over a shortcut of the fields that Charles knew about as the carriage path or even the gravel path is more obvious than the shortcut.
Charles nodded to his loyalists who went to relay across the fields as he then led the way for Chip and the servant men, heading for the servant's entrance of the castle, with a guard patrolling.
"Who goes there?", the guard replied, and Charles narrowed his eyes, "Inform Prudence that Charming is here.".
The guard widened his eyes as he heard the codename, not knowing that it is Ella's nickname for Charles, and nodded as he ran to the stables, signaling the guard at the servant's door, and the guard nodded, opening the door, hissing quietly, and then Prudence looked out, followed by Anastasia and her baker fiancée, Francois, and then Aloysius, with a couple of guards covering his back, with satchels and such on everyone's person.
Charles knew of the flu through the village five years ago, and Drizella was one of them, leaving Anastasia alone, yet finding comfort and true love soon in the royal baker's former apprentice.
Francois looked so relieved to see Charles, "Sire! Thank goodness you're safe!", and Charles replied, "Yes, and I apologize for keeping you mostly in the dark about this, but safety precedes this, Francois.".
Francois nodded in understanding, and Aloysius smiled at Charles, "Right, we're all taking the horses from the stables. We're riding some of them to follow you, son, while the rest of them will flee, hopefully, to confuse any watching revolutionaries.".
"Brilliant idea, Dad.", Charles smiled as the trusted few guards brought the few saddled and reined horses, and the group came into the saddles, and Charles then nodded somberly, "Right, don't go into the gravel or the carriage path, just follow me across the fields, and do not make noise even if it's really cumbersome on the saddle.".
"How far must we go?", Francois asked as Charles took a deep breath. "Just a short ride across the field to the shore, only a few minutes...", he said.
"Good idea doing it now; seems like the whole kingdom is mostly asleep at this hour now.", Aloysius explained. "More than likely, they're not even bothering to watch us... they still think we might be completely unaware of any sort of whispers of revolution.".
Charles replied, "Perhaps, but we must be alert all the same. Are you ready?", and everyone else nodded sharply, and then he nodded, urging his horse on as he turned around, and the others followed him, into the fields from the servant's entrance, as the other horses were released.
The loyalists at each relay joined in, as they rode hard and fast when a roar of yelling pierced the air from a distant hill, and Aloysius widened his eyes, "By Jove!".
"Faster!", Charles cried out, and the horses ran under their hasty urging of their jabbing boots, fleeing across the last edges of the fields, past the docking stores, bars, and a couple of inns, "Guards, loyalists, keep up your swords!".
The ramp of the ship opened again, and Chip urged, "Follow me!", urging his horse up as the group hastily followed, as gunshots rang out, and the few remaining horses panicked, neighing and rearing their legs up, jostling each other as Charles shouted, grunting in frustration as he was thrown off.
Charles heard his remaining loyalist shout, "Run, sir!", as Charles got up, avoiding the panicking horses as the seaside port was waking up, and Charles looked, seeing the last member of the group coming abroad, seeing Aloysius safe.
"GO!", Charles shouted as he grabbed his sword, hearing Ella's heartbreaking cry, "Charming, no!", as Adam closed his eyes in angst, punching the button for the ramp to recede, and turn into the bay.
He then heard the other horses neighing in pain from the gunshots inflicted on them, seeing his loyalists shot, and Charles ran, and then saw a familiar face, "Bruno!", as the dog barked, with a horse neighing in the distance, and Charles recognized the horse as his own horse from the stables, whistling to him.
Charles ran to a barrel, jumping from the barrel as his horse came and he smiled, "Missed you, Thunder.", as the horse snorted, and he then urged him, "Come on, Thunder, we gotta go!", knowing that there's a way to get high and board the ship, glancing at the millhouse on the cliff by the strait to the ocean beyond the bay, hearing the sounds of the revolutionaries shouting and chasing him.
Bruno barked as he ran next to Charles and the horse, and Charles then clicked his tongue, and Thunder snorted as they ran alongside the boulder side on the trail, with Bruno running up the steps of the boulder side, and then jumped into Charles's lap, "Good boy, Bruno! I knew that trick would come handy!", seeing the ship coming close to the cliff and the millhouse.
Ella is going to either kill him or lay into him with a whole lecture for this stunt he is going to do, but well, he rubbed off her for being a daredevil, and prayed that this is going to work before the revolutionaries catch him.
"This is probably gonna hurt, buddy...", Charles told Thunder as the horse knew exactly what the plan was when he saw the cliff. The ship was sailing towards them, so the idea was obviously do make a leap and hopefully have enough speed and distance to make it onto the deck. If not... there might not be another chance to make it to the ship without running the risk of the revolutionaries boarding it.
Ella cried out, "Let me go, Papa!", wrestling her arms around as Jules held her, and he shouted, "I ain't going to lose you, Ella!", as she had been fighting for the past few minutes, crying and sobbing.
Ella sobbed, collapsing down to her legs, upset and angry at her father and Charles, as everybody else grieved as the horses settled down under the hands of the servants as Aloysius, Francois, Prudence, Anastasia and her baker fiancée got off, and Aloysius, shocked and hurt yet bittersweetly realizing that Charles was truly a prince, sacrificing a few minutes to save him and the group.
Aloysius went to Ella, stroking her shoulder, "I know this isn't the best night to reunite again, but I never imagined having a wonderful woman be part of my son's heart...I'm glad it's you, Ella.", and Ella gave a sob with a small smile as she went into his arms, and the ship was silent for a few moments, before Chip shouted, "Look! There's people on horses with torches, they look like they're chasing something, I can't see!", pointing a hand at the cliff near them, with the faint outline of a millhouse under the moonlight.
"Is that...", Adam whispered as everyone's attention was focused on seeing the chase as best as they could. "Come on, Thunder, almost there... almost there... just a bit faster...", Charles bit his lip as he could see the cliff and the ship about to be under it in just a few moments.
Thunder snorted determinedly, realizing that his master is in danger as he ran like heck, running into the millhouse as the cliffside was too narrow between the millhouse and the edge, and into the back arched door, with the revolutionaries being confused, bewildered yet thinking that they are trapping him, as he wouldn't be that suicidal, that stupid to jump, could he?