Chapter 20

The duchess was planning a costume party to celebrate harvest season. Really, she wanted an excuse to invite a bunch of nobles over so she could also send an invitation to the Prince. Cinderella was excited because she was allowed to invite her friends as well. She carried the invitations with her with a smile. This was much more exciting than the last time she delivered invitations.

Once she'd caught everyone in town, she took one to Alex. "The Prince is getting his own, but I wanted to make sure you knew you were invited as well. And could you also please give one to Charles?" she asked.

"Of course." Alex smiled and thanked her. She headed home with a happy skip in her step, excited to see Charles again.

She spent the next two days working hard on Catherine and Jeanne's costumes. Jeanne was going to be an angel and Catherine was dressing as a pirate. They both looked lovely. In the early mornings and just before bed, Cinderella managed to sneak in some work on her own costume. She was sewing herself a palace guard costume. She had also promised a Princely outfit for Marcel.

The day of the party was sunny and warm, but with a refreshing breeze. It was perfect for an outdoor party. Cinderella spent the morning baking and cooking. Catherine and Jeanne helped her set up a large table outside along with plenty of chairs for all the guests.

Once the arrangements were taken care of, Cinderella helped her stepsisters change into their costumes. She helped with their hair and jewelry until they were both satisfied. With only a few minutes left, she quickly changed into her own costume. It was much easier, as it was a simple purple tunic and white breeches and stockings. She wore an old pair of boots and pulled her hair back in a braid. For the final touch, she buckled on Papa's sword.

Marcel and Yan were the first to arrive. Marcel looked so much like the Prince that Catherine and Jeanne began falling all over him. He enjoyed the attention and played up to the part well. Yan was dressed as a jester.

Soon they had a good crowd. Cinderella had kept careful watch for Charles but he was nowhere to be found. Alex also hadn't come. Neither had Prince Charles, though she didn't expect him to show up. She smiled when Paulette arrived dressed as a witch. She was sad that Charles wasn't there, but she tried to forget about that and enjoy the time with her other friends.

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Charles and Alex had left early for the costume party with plans to change on their way. Unfortunately, shortly after they left the castle, they noticed some men on horseback following them and they didn't look friendly.

Before Charles and Alex could give them the slip, the bridge they were crossing exploded beneath them. They managed to get to the other side unharmed, as did their horses, but now they took off at full speed. They soon ran into a group waiting for them. Finding themselves surrounded, the boys broke off the road into the forest. They galloped madly along until they had distanced themselves from their pursuers.

"We need to change," Charles suggested. He had a palace guard costume. Wanting to move quickly, he slipped it on over his other clothes. Alex slipped on his scarecrow costume.

"I think we should split up," Alex suggested. "I'll circle back around towards the castle, then take the country roads to Cinderella's. You go the more direct route on foot, and be careful."

"That's a good idea. Thanks Alex. We need to get back to the castle."

"I know. But I think we should regroup at Cinderella's first. We need a plan. If they're openly attacking us, the castle may also be under attack."

"True. Thank you, my friend."

They put Alex's plan into action. Charles stayed on his horse until he heard his pursuers, then jumped into a tree, letting his horse run free. The men chased his horse, giving Charles safe passage to Cinderella's. He stayed in the forest as much as possible so he wouldn't be spotted.

When he arrived at Cinderella's, he was alarmed to see two of the men who had been chasing him already there. He watched as they grabbed one of the screaming guests. People began running away. Charles rushed out to stand up to the men. He found Cinderella, dressed almost exactly like he was, and Pierre both already fighting. When the men saw Charles coming, they tossed their victim on one of the horses, mounted, and took off.

"Who did they take?" Charles asked.

"Marcel! He was dressed as the Prince. I don't think they realized that he wasn't!"

"We need to go after them. Pierre, can you get the carriage ready please? Alex should be here shortly. We'll go immediately to the castle."

"What's going on?" Cinderella asked as Pierre ran off to see to the carriage.

"I think someone has moved against the royal family," Charles answered. "Alex and I were chased from the castle and nearly killed. Now they have Marcel, and I'll wager they've already taken control of the castle."

"We'll need more manpower if we're going to break through, then," Cinderella said.

"We? You're not coming!" He was not going to take her right into the danger.

"If you don't take me with you, I'll find my own way. You're not leaving me behind! I've been as involved in this as you have."

He shook his head. She was stubborn, but perhaps, once she saw the danger, she would stay in the carriage. He wanted her where he could protect her.

Alex arrived just as Pierre drove the carriage out. "Hop on. They've taken Marcel, thinking he's the Prince," Charles said. Alex jumped up with Pierre while Charles and Cinderella climbed inside. Yan ran out and joined them.

"I can't fight much, but I'll do what I can," he promised.

The ride went quickly, but it seemed to take an eternity to Charles. He was so worried about his parents. He was pretty sure he would find Zaral at the head of this rebellion. He hoped his parents hadn't been harmed.

When they arrived, Charles was relieved to find a large group of trusted soldiers outside the castle walls.

"Men, what's happening?" he asked. They told him that Zaral, with some of the royal guard and some outside soldiers, had taken the king and queen hostage. They were being held in the dungeon, along with any of the royal guard who hadn't escaped or joined Zaral. Now the castle was locked down and they weren't sure what to do.

"Here's what we'll do." Charles told the men of a small secret passage he had often used to sneak out of the castle. It was known only to him and Alex, so it wouldn't be guarded. They would go through in two groups.

The first group, led by Alex, would go free the soldiers and king and queen from the dungeon. The second, led by Charles, would confront Zaral in the throne room.

"Where do you want us?" Cinderella asked. She and Yan were standing to the side, listening.

"Yan, do you have any skills besides throwing things?"

"I'm an excellent lock-pick."

"Then go with the first group. You can help unlock the cells if they can't find keys. Cinderella, you come with me." He didn't give a reason, but he really wanted to make sure he could keep an eye on her.

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Cinderella was starting to wonder who Charles was. All of the soldiers looked to him as a figure of authority. And no one had mentioned the Prince being captured. She had once thought he might be the Prince, but had long since discarded it as a foolish thought. Now she wondered if she had been right. Was he truly the Prince?

She blushed as she remembered everything she and her family had put him through. It was embarrassing for a commoner, but for the Prince? It was mortifying!

Charles led them all around to the secret passage. It was small and cramped, designed as a drain. They had to crouch and run through a stream of water to get to the inner courtyard. The passage came out near the kitchen. True to his prediction, there were no guards in sight.

Alex led his men quickly towards the dungeons while Charles took his group through the kitchens. As they passed through the servants' wing, many servants recognized Charles and joined him. They grabbed kitchen knives, pots, pans, and anything else that might work as a weapon. Cinderella worried for their safety and hoped that they wouldn't run into any major fighting.

Her hopes were dashed as they approached the throne room. A large band of men stood guard at the door. When they saw the group of castle guards and servants, they were taken aback, but quickly gathered their wits and attacked.

Cinderella drew her sword and set in. She had been practicing often since Charles first taught her and she was much improved since the bandits attacked her home.

She was so focused on her own fighting that she didn't realize the battle was ending. Her quarry finally went down and she turned to find another, only to see the rest of the thugs down as well. Charles smiled at her, then turned and strode to the throne room. He threw open the doors and the band stormed in.

"What is the meaning of this?" Zaral called. He sat on the King's throne, wearing the crown. Marcel was being held by two thugs in front of him. Cinderella recognized quite a few of the men in the room from her run-ins with them.

"Zaral, stand down. We're here to reclaim the throne in the name of the true King!" Charles called.

"Stop, or the Prince's life is forfeit," Zaral said. One of the thugs held a knife to Marcel's throat.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not the Prince! I'm just Marcel, the actor!" he cried.

"Quiet! What's it to be? Will you accept your new King? Or will you force my hand against the Prince?" Zaral asked.

"He's not the Prince, Zaral! You think a true Prince begs and pleads? A true Prince stands for his kingdom!" With a sweeping move, Charles tore the royal guard uniform off to reveal an outfit much like Marcel's. "I am Prince Charles!"

Zaral gasped. He ordered his men to attack and the fighting began again. Cinderella rushed to Marcel's captors and attacked. These men were better fighters than she had yet faced. The fight was long and bloody. She sustained a few minor cuts, but finally managed to subdue the men, with help from Marcel. He kicked, bit, and scratched like a cat.

When the second man collapsed, she turned. There were only a few people left fighting. Charles was fighting Zaral, but Zaral's large henchman had just finished off a castle guard and was headed their way.

Cinderella and Marcel ran at the big man. While Marcel jumped on his back and began hitting, Cinderella engaged him with her sword. At last, under their combined onslaught, he collapsed.

Charles was running out of the room when Cinderella turned. She chased after him and saw Zaral and a couple of his men running away. They chased them to the front gates, where they hopped on some of the horses milling about and galloped away.

Alex met them there, the King and Queen close behind him.

"Son!" the Queen cried, pulling him into her arms.

"Are you alright, Mother?" he asked.

"Yes. Are you? You're bleeding!"

"Just a scratch. Father, are you okay as well?"

"Yes, Son. I'm sorry we didn't listen to you. You were quite right. Thank you for saving us!"

Cinderella wasn't sure what to do. She hadn't been dismissed, but she didn't belong here. She was just a servant. When she saw Pierre opening the carriage door for Yan and Marcel, she hurried to join them.

"Cinderella!" Charles called, running after her.

She paused and turned. He caught her in his arms and swung her around. "Don't go," he said. "I want you to stay. Meet my parents. Celebrate with us!"

"I have to go, Charles. Mother and the girls must be terribly worried. I have chores to do and responsibilities and-" Her voice broke. She turned and ran to the carriage before he could see the tears running down her face. She loved him, but she did not belong in his world.

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Charles felt empty. He should feel excited. They had bested Zaral and the kingdom was safe. His parents were no longer questioning his readiness to be King. And they had lost very few men.

But all he could think about was the look on Cinderella's face as she ran away from him. He was pretty sure there had been tears in her eyes. He felt as though something had changed between them. He worried that would happen when she found out his true identity, but he never imagined things would change so quickly.

He thought about her in battle. She must have practiced a lot since he taught her, because she was quite proficient with her blade. She had bested four men, with a little help from Marcel, and saved Charles' life according to some of the soldiers.

His thoughts turned to her as she left again, her clothes torn and her hair a mess. He thought about the small blood spots and wished he were the one to tend to her wounds.

Partway through the celebration feast, Alex sat next to Charles and interrupted his thoughts. "Charles, you look like we just lost. What's wrong?"

"I think I have lost," he said. "I don't think Cinderella loves me anymore." Voicing his fear made it more real.

"You're a loon. Of course she still loves you!"

"Did you see the way she ran from me?"

"She just found out you're the Prince, took part in a battle, and bested three men in sword fights. Don't you think she might have been just a little overwhelmed? On top of that, you invited her to meet the King and Queen looking like a battered castle guard."

Charles paused for a moment. He hadn't even considered that. Perhaps she was just embarrassed to meet the King and Queen. He had kind of sprung it on her.

"Charles, dear," the Queen interrupted.

"Yes Mother?"

"We're going to hold a ball. A masked ball. We'll invite all of the nobility. It will be a perfect celebration for your birthday!"

Charles had forgotten that his birthday was only a week away. He would be nineteen. It seemed so old.

"When?" he asked.

"We'll plan it for the night of your birthday. And, perhaps, you might have a special announcement?"

"What's that?"

"We would love for you to announce your engagement to a lovely young lady. You've put off the decision for so long. It would mean a lot if you did it that night."

"If not," the King added in a light, but not to be taken lightly, tone, "We may just have to do it for you."

Well, there it was. He had one week to convince Cinderella to marry him. Whatever it took, he'd do it.