A Different Cinderella

The night of the ball had finally arrived. Tonight, plans made would come to a head, one way or another. Final preparations were being made in the ballroom and the line of guests outside the grand doors was growing by the minute. But that was of no concern to the group that waited in a darkened corridor far away from the bustling of hurried servants. Only a few torches had been lit in this area. There was just enough light for someone to make their way through without bumping into anything, but not enough to completely chase away the shadows.

Thea, Elliot, Freda, and a collection of guards were spread across the walls, shielded in the shadows and watching for movement at the end of the corridor. Their information said everything would be happening soon enough, but Elliot was still nervous. What if it didn’t work? What if things just got worse? He just wanted this all to be over. Thea took his hand in hers and squeezed. Could she feel his tension? Why couldn’t he be strong for her? He’d brought trouble with him into this relationship, just as he predicted.

“Everything will be fine,” she whispered in his ear. Any other time he felt her breath against his skin, he would have been thrilled. Now, he was just scared. He didn’t want anything to happen to her.

“Elliot, we just need to stick to the plan and we’ll be fine,” Freda whispered on his other side. He nodded, forgetting that she couldn’t see him in the dark. He looked up at the sound of echoing footsteps.

A man slid into the corridor, scanning the area as he straightened his serving gloves. He was dressed just like the other servers for that night. Nothing about him stood out. He could slip in and out of the ball without anyone having realized he was there. Elliot realized that they might have never caught him if he had escaped after his job was done. He could too easily blend into the crowd.

More footsteps reached their ears and two more figures came into view. It was Stepmother and Marigold. Though they both wore cloaks, Marigold wasn’t trying to hide the fact that her gown looked as if it might have been painted on. She seemed to be all set for ‘comforting’ the prince later on.

“You know the plan?” Stepmother asked, raising her nose slightly.

“I got it,” the man said. “You got the poison?”

She pulled a vial out of her cloak pocket and set it into his hands, keeping her fingers as far away from him as possible. “Make sure it goes into the cup for the Mystery Woman when she arrives. Then leave and never show your face to me again.”

“As long as you pay me now, I’ll make sure your little rival is as dead as a doornail.”

Stepmother huffed. “See that you do.” She dropped a small coin purse into his hand.

He weighed it and grinned. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

“Not as much pleasure as I will have seeing you hanged.”

Elliot stared as Caelen stepped out from the shadows behind the conspirators, blocking their exit. The light glinted off his golden buttons and enhanced the shadows on his face, adding a measure of intimidation to his glare. How had he known about all of this? Had the Spymaster told him, too?

“Your Highness,” Stepmother said, dropping into a slightly panicked curtsy. Marigold was too stunned to move. “I-I don’t know what you think is happening here, but-”

“I think you and your daughter are planning on killing the Mystery Woman when she arrives by having this man give her a poisoned drink. I think this is the pay off.” His steely gaze traveled over the three. “Consider yourselves under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, impersonation of a member of the royal staff, attempted disruption of the peace, and, because I really don’t care for you or your daughter, possession of a poisonous substance without a license. It will be easier on all of you if you surrender quietly.”

The strange man turned and ran. Elliot had to admit that the sudden appearance of royal guards stepping out from the shadows with swords drawn would have scared anyone. He didn’t know how Caelen could hold his imposing stance so well. He couldn’t have known about the guards, could he? The guards grabbed the assassin, slapping him in manacles and dragging him back to the prince.

Marigold’s chest was heaving, threatening to spill over the top of her dress. “Please, Your Highness,” she pleaded, on the verge of tears. “Have mercy. I was only doing what my mother told me to do. I’m just an innocent pawn in all of this.”

“You lying chit,” Stepmother growled, glaring at her daughter as she drew herself up. “You’re just as guilty as me.”

“I swear, Your Highness.” Marigold fell to her knees. “I’m innocent.”

Thea took Elliot’s hand and they walked out from their place in the shadows “We all know that’s a lie, Miss Platt.”

Marigold whirled around and gritted her teeth. “Elliot.”

Stepmother glared at Elliot with pursed lips, any show of innocence gone from her face. “Aren’t you going to do anything, boy? Would you actually stand by and watch this family be destroyed?”

He straightened his shoulders, drawing as much courage as he could from Thea’s hand in his as he faced the same look that would have cowed the old him. “We’ve never been a family. I’ve taken your abuse and manipulation for years because I was supposed to look after my family like my father wanted. But he would never have wanted the family as you have made it. I no longer recognize you as family and hereby disown you and Marigold. You will see no help from me, Mrs. Platt.”

Marigold’s mouth fell open but snapped shut with a snap. “Why do you care about some stupid woman? Is the Mystery Woman your mistress or something?” A desperate smirk spread across Marigold’s lips. “I bet you were just using the princess to further yourself. You’re just like me!”

“Wrong.” Everyone turned to watch Freda step from the shadows. She wore her starry dress but had forgone the mask. Instead, she faced the Steps as only herself. “Elliot is nothing like you.”

Marigold could only stare. “The stitching girl is the Mystery Woman?”

“My name is Freda Gail. I am the woman you were trying to kill.”

Mrs. Platt frowned. “You would hardly be missed.”

Freda slowly turned her head to meet the woman’s gaze. “Goodbye, Mrs. Platt.” The woman scowled as the guards led the prisoners away, Marigold’s shrill voice spitting insults at all of them until it could not longer be heard.

“Are you all right?” Caelen asked, turning his attention to his family.

Thea smiled to her brother. “Perfectly well.”

“How did you know they would be here?” Elliot asked.

“I didn’t. I followed that man down here. He doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the staff. I didn’t know I would find all of this. But it was all very dramatic.” He turned to Freda, holding her gaze. “A lot of things were uncovered tonight.”

Elliot looked between the two. He took Thea’s hand, slipping it into the crook of his arm. “We’ll just leave you two to talk things out.” He quickly led Thea out of the corridor and toward the ballroom. It was best if the two of them left and let things work themselves out.

§∞§

Freda waited until she and Caelen were alone. “You’re taking this pretty well.”

He smiled softly, the corner of his eyes crinkling slightly. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I assume you weren’t expecting me to be your Mystery Woman.”

“I honestly wasn’t. But now that I know, it seems it could only be you. I feel very stupid for not having noticed it before.” He chuckled slightly. “A simple piece of cloth and I couldn’t tell that the love of my life was right in front of me this whole time.”

Freda stared. “Did…did you say…”

Caelen smiled. “Love of my life.”

She shook her head. “You can’t mean that. You didn’t even know who I was until just now.”

“And?” He stepped closer and took her hands in his. “I was caught by your humor and wit, but I fell in love with your beautiful heart and soul. That is something you can’t hide or fake.”

Freda’s lips twitched slightly. “You make it sound so easy.”

“Isn’t it? I love you.”

“You didn’t even know it was me until just now.”

Caelen gripped her elbows and pulled her close, trapping her against his chest. She looked up, caught by the serious and passionate look in his eyes. “There are many sides to a person. This mask of yours is only one and, for a while, I thought I knew who you were and I came to love the mysterious woman in a starry dress. But then Elliot told me to figure out if I loved the image of this woman more than the woman herself. It wasn’t until I was faced with the truth that I knew nothing about you that I started learning who you were. We had danced and talked the night away but all I could remember was your wit and eyes? I replayed everything we ever said to one another and do you know what I found?” Freda could only shake her head at the prince’s sudden openness. “Even if I learn everything there is to know about you, there will always be something new for me to learn and love. Give me a chance to love all of you. Please, Freda.”

Everything was there in his eyes and he didn’t seem to care. Freda didn’t think Caelen could ever really lie about something so serious. He was too much of a romantic for that. She reached up and pulled his head down so she could press her lips to his. A thrill ran down her spine, sending shivers through the rest of her body, but she didn’t let up. She leaned into his tightening embrace and smiled into his returned kiss.

Eventually, they parted and Caelen rested his forehead against hers. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to take that as a sign that you’re going to stay with me.”

“I’ll do you one better.” Freda tipped her head back to properly look at him. “Marry me?”

He grinned. “Absolutely.” He lowered his head and stole her breath once more.

§∞§

Behind the ballroom doors the royals used for their official entrance, Elliot waited as Lottie processed everything he’d told her. Neil Clain gently held her against his side, watching her with concern. She might have been under her mother’s thumb like Elliot and might be happy to be free of their influence, but they were her blood family. It was hard to hear they’d been arrested. Her grip on Mr. Clain’s hand tightened as she looked to Elliot.

“I’m sorry,” he said gently. “I would spare you the pain if I could. If you wish, I would understand if you wanted to distance yourself from me.”

Her face was pale, but she shook her head. “Mother…was always manipulative. She wasn’t too hard on me…but I…I would rather distance myself from her. You have been a good brother, though I was not always a good sister. I didn’t do anything to stop her or Marigold from treating you so poorly. I couldn’t do anything for you.”

“You were a good sister, in your way. You were just as much under her control as I was. I do not blame you for anything in the past. Now, we can move forward into the future.” He smiled at Thea beside him and turned back to Lottie. “I know it may be bittersweet because of the timing, but I approve of your match to Neil Clain. If you wish to still claim me as family.”

Lottie smiled, a little shaky from the suddenness of everything, but nodded. Mr. Clain grinned. “Thank you.”

Elliot held out a hand to him, shaking it once he took it. “Welcome to the family, Neil.”

“Another addition to the family?” The group turned to watch Queen Serena join them, her smile welcoming and warm. “We just seem to be growing so quickly.”

“You can add another one, Mother,” Caelen said. He and Freda joined them, her hand resting in the crook of his arm. Elliot couldn’t help but feel pleased at seeing his friend so happy. She deserved to be.

The queen sighed wistfully. “I’ve always wanted a large family. And now I get to announce all of you to the kingdom. How wonderful.” A voice on the other side of the doors announced the queen’s entrance. She grinned. “That’s my cue.” In an instant, the caring mother turned into a regal monarch as she glided through the doors. Elliot could see where Thea had learned the ability.

He looked around at his new family. He had never imagined his life to change so much. He was going to marry the love of his life, his best friend and sister were marrying their loves, and he was gaining a family that truly cared about one another. He knew that the road ahead of all of them was going to be challenging as they adapted to their new roles, but he looked forward to it. Once again, he had a family he could love. This was the best happily ever after he could ever imagine.