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Chapter Fourteen

Citizens of the Isle bustled around the princess and the four teenagers they all watched grow up as they walked towards one of the two newly built orphanages. Brielle smiled kindly at the people she passed, not noticing how the four VKs behind her glared at everyone. She walked into the building, smiling at the lined-up children inside as she made her way to the woman in charge of this orphanage, Drizella Tremaine. "Your Majesty," Drizella greeted with a curtsy as Brielle stopped before the older woman, "It's an honor to be in your presence." Brielle let out a breathy laugh at the woman's behavior.

Drizella and Brielle had been in contact for about six months, even before Brielle got the Royals on board because Bri knew she wanted Drizella to watch over the children in one of the orphanages. Cinderella vouched for her stepsister when they had been put on the Isle and therefore most Royals knew Drizella was given privileges other villains were not. Only Brielle knew that Drizella would secretly distribute some of the items to the less fortunate children of the Isle, even donating her husband's clothing after he had died. Brielle and Drizella often exchanged letters, which is why Brielle knew Drizella was just teasing her with the formalities as Brielle had stated how much she loathed people bowing to her when they were somewhat 'friends'.

Brielle spotted a young Dizzy standing, hiding behind her mother, holding tightly onto the older woman's dress. When Dizzy spotted Evie, the young girl ignored her mother calling her name as she ran towards the dark blue-haired girl and engulfed her in a hug. Evie laughed as she lifted the younger girl, holding her a few feet in the air as she hugged her. "Evie!" the young redhead yelled with a laugh as she began rambling about hair and clothes with her role model.

"This girl," Drizzella said as she watched her daughter with a loving gaze. Brielle gave a soft smile at Evie's obvious excitement upon seeing the young girl. 

"How are things here Drizella?" The youngest Beast asked as the woman dismissed the children who she had gathered as a formality to greet the princess.

"It's better. The kids are safer here thanks to the guards and they are properly taken care of when they get sick. They're happy for the influx of fresh food and fruit," Drizella said remembering when the children had first experienced fresh fruit. All the older villains knew what the outside world was like, fresh fruit, clean air, etc. but these kids knew nothing of that. It was why Drizella respected Brielle so much, just like a lot of villains on the Isle, the princess was trying her best to fix what her parents had done. Drizella just hoped nothing would happen to the princess while she was on the Isle that would make her change her mind about helping them. 

"I'm glad,"  Brielle said as she watched the children run around. The VKs were playing with some of the children, running around with small smiles on their faces. The main hall was a big area with a few benches against some walls but it was typically where the children would gather and play if they didn't go outside. The orphanage had about two hundred children. Some had no parents while others had unfit parents and were taken away. Brielle was glad the children seemed happier.

"It's all thanks to you, Your Majesty. If not for you, a lot of these kids would still be in unsafe homes or sleeping in the Market," Anastasia Tremaine said as she approached her sister and the smiling princess. Anastasia Tremaine had changed a lot since her time tormenting her stepsister. The once arrogant brunette was now a kind, humble English Teacher. She still had a cruel way with words but it was better than her torturing some poor children by making them her slaves. 

"I'm glad you feel that way. I just want to make the Isla a bit better," Brielle said as the three women smiled softly. They were quiet as the children ran around with the four VKs. It was a while until a child came up to the three women and tugged on Brielle's finger. Brielle looked down at the small girl with a raised brow.

"Hi sweetheart," Brielle greeted as she kneeled to the girl's height. The Chinese girl appeared no older than five as she stared up at Brielle with one eye. The girl was the daughter of a cruel man, Shan Yu. The abusive man had cut the girl's eye when she was three, punishing her for crying after a man had beat her for stealing even though she hadn't, rendering the girl blind in her right eye. Brielle watched as the girl leaned forward with a nervous face.

"Are you really a Princess?" the girl asked tilting her head.

"Yep," Brielle said with a soft laugh, not noticing how the VKs were staring at her endearingly.

"So does that mean you can talk to animals and make flowers bloom," she asked innocently making Brielle nod, not wanting to disappoint the girl.

"What's your name, Darling?" Brielle asked softly.

"Miss Drizzy calls me Mei," Mei said. Her father hadn't bothered to name the girl so when she was taken Drizella gave her one.

"Well Mei, I'll tell you a secret," Brielle said making the small girl nod excitedly, "When a princess comes to the Isle, she can still make flowers bloom but only for other princesses." Bri made a pink rose for the girl, making sure there were no thorns, before placing it in the girl's hair. Mei's eyes went wide as she stared at the colorful flower, never having seen something like it before. Brielle laughed when the five-year-old bounced off to show the flower to her friends.

One by one, little girls came up to Brielle asking her to make flowers for them. Even the somewhat shy Dizzy asked the girl for a flower, to which Brielle made a flower crown for the girl instead, dubbing her Princess Dizzy. The girl grinned so brightly as she ran back to Evie and tugged the blue-haired girl down. "I like your girlfriend," she whispered in Evie's ear excitedly.

Drizella nodded approvingly at the young princess as she talked animatedly with some of the children, sharing funny stories of burning cakes and cookies with her mother and fighting with her twin brother over the last piece of candy. The VKs felt a twinge of guilt knowing that those memories were made up by the spell on the girl but all their guilt disappeared as they watched the girl's bright smile. It was obvious how happy the princess was. The VKs wished she would be happy forever, but you don't always get what you wish for