The night was young, and Ella felt more alive than she had in a long, long time. She held on to the back of the carriage, while also trying to keep the train of her sweeping dress from touching the ground. When the carriage stopped moving, she waited. The sounds of tittering nobles could be heard as the carriage doors opened, then slowly grew quieter as they moved away. Ella then stepped off, nervously tugging at her gloves. Her silvery blue dress trailed behind her, tufts of lace blooming from the ends and from her sleeves. She looked around, sighing with relief when no one she knew was around and no one looked suspicious of her.
Then, she looked up. The palace stood before her, an ivory mountain rising into the night sky. She could help but stare; she had never seen it up close, it was so beautiful. When she finally took her eyes away, she was behind all the other guests. The last dregs of them were just about to go through the doors. Ella fidgeted with her gloves again, making her way up the palace steps. She was well dressed. She could just walk right in. Right?
Then, she felt something was tugging on her. She looked down, seeing a small white mouse clinging onto the folds of her dress. Ella chuckled, and picked it up in her hand.
“You decided to accompany me?” She stroked its fur. “Well, it is always good to have a friend, especially for something like this. Just don’t let anyone see you.”
Feeling more assured, she made her way inside.
Gus' job, much to his dismay, was to stand just inside the front doors and introduce himself and make small talk. He would have rather been in his chambers, sleeping or doing anything else but talking with the nobles who thought they were so special.
Gus came to himself as a woman walked through the large open doors.
"Well hello," he said in a soft tone. "Welcome to our castle, I sincerely hope you enjoy your short visit."
He was not expecting a response, most people walked right by him, as if they did not know he was the prince, which he preferred. No one ever stopped long enough to recognize him, or to make conversation.
Ella was looking around and everything, everyone, trying to take in detail after beautiful detail. What luxuries these wealthy folk dwelled in! It both intimidated and awed her. Her steps were slow and wandering. While yes, she herself was born noble, her family made it so that she lived like a peasant. Bastard, wayward children like her didn’t deserve what they had.
Her head snapped toward the sound of a soft voice. She smiled, but upon recognizing the crown on the man’s head, she froze and bowed deeply. “Hello, Your Highness!” She tried to keep her voice light and soft, so it would sound more womanly. “I hope so too. It is wonderful to have you as a host.” She hoped she was acting right. Getting nervous again, she straightened and walked off, entering a large, ornate space that led into a hallway. Ella slowed her pace again, staring at the intricacies of the interior. She could here the sounds of a crowd up ahead, chatter and laughter, music too.
Gus stared after the woman, with the soft melodic voice. His mouth was gaping open slightly in awe.
After all, he had ceased to be recognized all night. She had been very respectful and polite as well, even bowing, which was the first sign of kindness that had been shown to Gus all night.
He hoped her would meet her again, all the other women at the ball had very high ego's, which caused most of them to think Gus would see them once and fall to his knees to ask for their hand in marriage.
He left his post, not caring that his father would be mad and kept a slow pace as he walked through the ballrooms doors.
"Would you like me to show you around?" He asked the woman from before gently, so as not to scare the woman, though he hoped she would not decline.
Something made Ella flinch slightly when she heard the prince’s voice behind her. She turned, holding some of her dress with her hand.
“Oh…” she wasn’t sure how to feel about this. She had also known little kindness, so being on the receiving end of it was rather unfamiliar. While it was nice, she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.
“You’re very kind, Your Highness, but I couldn’t possibly accept. I’m sure you have more important matters to attend to. I don’t want to keep you from them.”
It was better to stay alone and unnoticed for tonight, anyway. All she wanted was to enjoy herself. If one of her stepfamily recognized her, it would certainly ruin things. Best to avoid them entirely and stick to her own company.
Gus frowned slightly at her rejection of his offer.
"Not at all m'lady," he told her honestly, "My father told me to stay in the background for most of the night anyways, so if you wanted to go somewhere more quiet, I could show you the courtyard. Or I could show you the castle."
She blinked. “He did? But you are the host.” Ella put a hand to her chin, tapping it confusedly. “Well, I also plan to stay out of sight,” she admitted. “The courtyard sounds lovely, Your Highness. Again, you are most kind.” She bowed her head briefly.
"I do wish you would cease your courtesy," Gus said, taking her gently by the elbow and leading her through a practically empty hall, where people chatted loudly. He took her out into the night, down a short flight of steps to a small circular yard, with a stone fountain in the middle. Roses of all colors surrounded it and he led her to the fountain, then let go of her elbow and sat down. "I am just like you, a human being, it makes me feel very self conscious when people treat me like I am a god and they have to worship the very ground I walk on."
He smiled at her, sitting on the thick lip of the fountain, which made a great seat in his childhood.
"So please, M'lady, refer to me as Gus, I insist." He said, grinning.
She flinched slightly when he touched her elbow, but let him take the lead. “As you wish, then.” She looked all around her as they walked, still wanting to take everything in. The courtyard was so beautiful and grand, the fountain being the perfect centerpiece. Her eyes drifted from the fountain, to the flowers, then to Prince Augustus. She stayed standing, listening to him.
“Oh, I didn’t know…” Ella’s hand went to her chest. Then a small laugh escaped her. “Gus? Are you sure that isn’t too informal?”
Gus nodded curtly.
"If that is too informal for you, you could start by calling me Augustus, that's my full name." He suggested. "What about you M'lady? A beautiful name for a beautiful woman I would guess."
He picked a pink rose from the bush, careful to not prick himself. He then presented it to her, as a gift.
"For accompanying me and helping me escape the dread that is socializing with nobles." He said, smiling.
She smiled. “As you wish, Augustus.” She nodded back, then her heart fluttered. No one had ever called her beautiful before. “Oh… call me Ella. Please. Ella Maret.” She liked being called m’lady too. This felt so… right. It was so freeing too, in a way. Everything about this was starting to be exactly as she hoped.
Her hand went up to her mouth as Augustus presented the rose. A laugh escaped her again. “Why, thank you, Augustus. It is quite dreadful, isn’t it?” She took the rose and held it up to her nose, closing her eyes as she took in the flowery scent.
Gus nodded and smiled.
"Yes," he agreed. "It's quite dreadful. All this talk of endless land and money."
He sat on the lip of the fountain.
"It gets quite boring." He admitted. "And I have a strong loathing for it."
“Land and money sound awfully boring, indeed.” She shook her head. “If you would like, I would be happy to discuss something with you that not that,” she chuckled.
She looked down at the flower again. Ella carefully snapped the stem so it would be shorter, then gingerly removed the thorns. She then put the rose into her hair.
Gus smiled.
"Yes," he said happily. "Anything but that, honestly."
He then looked at the rose in her hair and noticed it's dark hues and felt his eyes automatically drawn to the deep red against it's color.
(Kinda confused bc her hair is dark…)
“Hmm, let’s see…” she mused. “Where to start?” Ella looked back at the prince. “What do you like to do? What do you do when you are not attending to your princely duties?”
She was always keeping her voice light and higher pitched, and eventually she had to clear her throat. She held her fist over her mouth as she did so.
(Oh, my bad, sorry my brain doesn't work, I stopped taking my adderall)
(I'll fix it right now.)
Gus smiled at her.
"I like to read, and write, something I understand not everyone has the comfort of doing. I like to sneak to the village school on Mondays and Thursdays to tell the children stories, and encourage them to learn to write, or if they can already, write their own." He explained. "Mostly, when not faced with the challenges of being a prince I spend my time writing, reading or looking at the stars. I also tend to draw sometimes."
(No worries ^^)
Ella gasped, perhaps a bit too excitedly. “I like reading as well! How wonderful too, that you go see the village children. I would have never thought you would be one to sneak out.” She stepped a bit closer to him. “What do you like to read?”
Gus looked down at his feet.
"I like to read about the past, or worlds of great fantasy." He admitted, blushing slightly. "Books where the world is different, move magical."
She gasped again. “I’m drawn to them as well! I also have a fondness for love stories and tragedies. Do you have a favorite?”
Ella looked at him with wide eyes and a hand gripping her dress in excitement. She never got to talk to others about her interests.
Gus shook his head.
"No, no favorites, you?" He asked interestedly. "I can tell your excited, so go ahead, if you want."
(Sorry for my absence)
“Oh, well, actually I don’t have a favorite either, but I adore the works of Madeleine de Scudéry.” She went to sit next to him on the fountain, a smile playing on her lips. “Her novels are quite long, but I personally don’t mind it.”
(no worries :P)
Gus nodded.
"Long novels get me even more interested than the typical length ones." He admitted. "Because there's more story to become interested in."
“Indeed.” Ella wanted to swing her legs back and forth, but thought that wasn’t proper or lady-like. She tried to keep still. “That’s why I like to them as well. It helps with soaking all the details in.”
Gus nodded in agreement.
"I too, think the same." he said softly. "Tell me, what do you like to do besides emerge yourself in literature?"
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