Cinderelo {A Queer Cinderella Retelling)

Chapter 10

Elo didn't turn up the next day.

They were all conflicted. He had mentioned leaving a few times on the day of the ball but it had come with such a sadness. It was difficult to say he had planned to run off - his things were all still left in his room - but no other theory made any particular sense. Where could he be if not with them?

Charles tried to hold onto the hope that Elo had chosen to abandon him because it was somehow still better than the alternative. One in which something had happened to the pretty boy - something awful - that was somehow keeping him from coming back home. This was his home. Didn't Elo know it? Had he not done enough to show him he was cared for?

"I must have chased him away," he whispered more to himself than anyone, speaking for the first time that day after hours of painstakingly searching the grounds. The servants had joined in as well on Lins' behest, yet, the sneaky creature couldn't be found. His companions gazed at him with varying cocktails of worry and frustration on their faces.

"Charlie old boy, you do understand that the man wore a dress to a ball in a kingdom as conservative as our own in order to dance with you?" Theo chuffed, rolling his eyes rather aggressively at his idiot cousin.

"I do. Yet, a part of me hopes he was only saying goodbye, hopes he's been planning this from the very start because otherwise... It means Elo could well be in danger. Miserable. Hurt. Lost. Dead. The list of possibilities is endless... So let us narrow this down straight away. The palace is not producing him so I suggest we search the forests and the kingdom itself. He couldn't have gotten far, no matter what the reason."

"I suppose he should be easy to spot, what with his particular look. Not too many foreigners live around here."

"When I met him, he was in a cloak, hiding himself away much like he did at the ball. Much like he does more often than he should," Gwendolyn thought aloud with a worried twinge to her voice. "The man is sneaky. I suppose we'll have to pull off any hoods and hats as well."

"Yes... I should like a proclamation made. We must find my beautiful bride and quickly. He could be in any manner of pain or terror as we speak. Joseph, Theodore, could you sort out the announcement? I trust you both with this... Now what on earth will it say?"

"You must slow down, little prince. Perhaps we should do some searching of our own before we alert the public. If Elo is discovered in that dress, I imagine what follows will not be good. We must do what is safest for the lad; not everyone in this kingdom is as capable of love, respect and kindness as the people in this room." Charles nodded slowly, terrified at the thought that Elo could be captured by someone who wished to punish him for his uniqueness. For his beauty and the simple act of putting on a dress. Lins quickly realised she had set him off when he collapsed into a seat, crumpling into himself like a ball of paper. "We will find your sweetheart, Charles, don't you think otherwise."

"What if... He doesn't want to be found, Lins?"

"Then you will respect his wish and let him go. The boy never did as he was accused of, remember? That woman's words were a load of balderdash by virtue of his character alone. That isn't the man he is and so we did not treat him that way, either. What you two share is a beautiful thing but you owe him the freedom to decide the path he takes and I know you will give it. You're a wonderful man, Charles; I know you will make the right choice."

"...thank you, Lins. And I suppose you should know - you did raise me, after all. More of a parent than our father ever was." Lins went bright red, covering her face as Gwendolyn hurriedly nodded in agreement. Charles smiled as she pulled him and his sibling in for a quick squeeze, suddenly pulling away from both women with wide eyes. "Wait... That woman! You've given me a brilliant idea- Theo, Joe, please carry on searching the surroundings of the castle in the mean time while we go down this path, alright? Come, Gwendolyn. I will not be able to do this without you."