Mal watched as Ben devoured the various treats before them on a large gazebo overlooking the calm green pond surrounded by the tree-filled countryside. There were so many different dishes that it would have taken a single person hours, if not days, to make.

But thanks to a bit of magic, it only took a flick of a wrist.

For this date, the last of her time pretending to be an Auradon princess, Mal wore a pale blue frilly dress with her ice-blond hair in loose curls. The fairy couldn't wait to fix her hair back to normal, or as normal as her unnatural hair could get.

Picking up a piece of the delicious food, Mal held it out as she wondered, "Would you like a hot hors d'oeuvre?"

Cautiously taking a bite of the offered treat, Ben smiled delightfully. "This is the best thing I've ever eaten!" He complimented gleefully. "You've made every single dish Mrs. Potts made for my mother. How long did it take? Three days?"

Mal eyed the picnic basket beside them. The secret behind the meal was hidden inside since she had no time to hide it elsewhere. "Don't . . . ask."

"It means a lot that you did all this for me." Ben complimented sincerely. "I wish I could do more for you, but it seems like I spoil every surprise."

Mal smiled at recalling an earlier event. "You can say that again," she teased. "You practically spoiled Aziz's surprise for Jay. Jay is on the fence about it because Lonnie told him about Aziz not returning this school year."

Ben slumped in his chair. "That's just great. We are going to be the reason for their first fight."

"Don't be too upset about it," Mal requested, rolling her eyes sarcastically. "I was going to tell Jay earlier, but you showed up and spoiled the good surprise. You know, you are bad at keeping secrets."

Ben didn't bother suppressing his smirk at the accusation. "I'm better at it than you think."

Meanwhile, Mal busied herself with wiping sauce from the corner of the king's mouth. Ben's smirk turned into a smile as he joked, "Can't take me anywhere, right?"

Mal laughed, recalling their first date over a year ago. Ben took her to the Enchanted Lake, where she first tried a jelly doughnut. Although strawberries were delicious, hushpuppies were still her favorite. Mal opened up on that day, and her relationship with Ben blossomed into something . . . spectacular.

With that in mind, Mal relaxed a bit more, enjoying the time with her boyfriend.

But, of course, all good things must come to an end.

Sheepishly gazing at their surroundings, Ben wondered, "Did you bring napkins or something?"

"I did!" Mal answered instinctively, silently cursing herself when Ben reached for the basket. "I can grab it—"

It was too late.

Instead of napkins, Ben pulled out the secret spell book. Inspecting the cover, he scrunched up his nose in faint recognition. "What's this doing here?"

Eyes growing wide, Mal stuttered, "I—I threw it in last minute, just in case it rained or something bad happened."

The fairy grabbed for the book, but the king moved it out of her reach. Flipping through the pages, Ben read the ones marked with notes. "Blonde hair spell?" He paused a moment to gaze at the feast. "Cooking spell?"

Ben adverted his gaze, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "You created this meal from magic?"

Unsure of what to do, Mal waved her finger, chanting, "Take back this moment that has passed . . ." She trailed off, the following words slipping from stress. "Replace it . . . Reverse it . . . ?"

Ben's jaw dropped as realization struck him. "Are you trying to spell me?"

Like water breaking through a dam, Mal sobbed uncontrollably as her bottled emotions overcame her. "I'm so sorry, Ben," she apologized through some sniffling. "I-I lost track of time because I've been so nervous. There's something I want to tell you, but I can't—"

"Hey, hey, hey." Ben reached forward to gently wipe away a stray tear from his beloved's cheek, holding it so she would keep her gaze on him. "I'm not mad, okay? The Beast isn't going to come out on you when you are clearly distressed and upset. I want to know why—"

"I-I was raped."

The king froze. His entire body tensed as he finally heard the truth that he already knew. Biting his lip to control his temper, Ben barely gritted out, "You were . . . what?"

"It happened at a p-party," Mal revealed, everything spilling out. "My—he got me drunk against my will. I begged to go home, but he took me to his room instead. I—"

"Mal," Ben interrupted, a slight growl in his throat. "I love you, but please, give me a moment before he comes out."

After a few seconds, silent tears fell from the fairy's cheek while the king quietly wiped them away, taking deep breaths to calm his anger. Once calm enough to speak, Ben apologized, "I'm sorry for cutting you off. And I am so sorry you had to go through that . . . horror. Is that the real reason why you hate people in your personal space? Why you wanted to take this so slow?"

"Yes," Mal confessed quietly, barely masking the quiver in her tone. "Jay . . . he's the only one that knew . . . besides my parents."

Ben raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Your parents? You mean your mother and . . ."

"My father," Mal finished softly, "who is . . . Hades."

Eyes widening, the king couldn't believe nearly everything was being told to him. "He's your father?" Ben clarified. "And no one knows?"

"My mother asked me not to tell," she insisted, leaning back so her beloved would have to let go. "The morning after the . . . trauma, I told Jay, who insisted I tell Dad. During your coronation, when my mother borrowed the wand to freeze time, she said Dad told her everything and planned on getting revenge on my abuser. She realized I didn't care for revenge and fled. I'm sorry I lied—"

"No!" Ben shouted, though winced at his abrasive attitude. "Sorry, I mean, you don't need to apologize for lying about anything. What happened to you was traumatic, and you deserve to handle it the way you want. I'm glad you trusted me enough to tell."

Cautiously laying a comforting hand over hers, Ben wondered calmly, "How can I help you get through it?"

"Be patient with me, just like before," Mal requested faintly. "And please understand that I do have strong feelings with you. But after what happened . . ."

"You're afraid to have your trust broken again," Ben assumed gently. "I do understand. I love you, and that is never going to change. I am never going to betray you. So, what do you need from me right now?"

"Honestly? I need a walk," Mal joked, trying to make the atmosphere light despite still feeling tense. "I need to collect my thoughts, and process that I actually told you."

Chuckling softly, Ben smiled soothingly. "Go take your walk. I'll be waiting if there's anything more you want to tell me."

"Thank you."

Leaning to kiss his cheek, the fairy grabbed the spell book before hurrying away, leaving the king alone.

After watching his beloved leave, Ben stood by the gazebo railing to gaze over the pond. Across the calm green water, Ben could see the island in the far distance. After his queen's confession, he was more determined than ever to make that bastard pay—

And to get his princess off the island.