Clay was up early the next morning, making breakfast and cleaning the house. He was about to go wake up his stepsisters when his stepmother stopped him.
"Let them sleep in, they had a late night last night." Clay just nodded his head not wanting to argue. "Is there anything you need me to do today miss?" His stepmother thought for a minute. "I want you to go into town and pick up the dresses I got for your sisters."
Clay nodded. "And make sure they don't get dirty, like last time or it's a whipping for you." Clay nodded again and made his way out the house. He then started to make his way towards town. Once there he noticed that there weren't many people around.
They were all probably sleeping in after last night. Clay made his way towards the seamstress's shop. The door was closed and there was a sign on the door saying that they wouldn't be opened for a about another hour.
Clay sighed, he would have to wait. Not knowing what to do Clay made his way to the statue in the center of the town and sat down at it's base. His thoughts immediately sent to his time at the ball, he still couldn't believe he had spent the night with the prince.
He wondered what would have happened if he had stayed. Would the prince have rejected him, told him he was ugly and left him.
Clay hadn't heard any news if the prince had found his mate at the ball, so that probably meant he hadn't or people would be celebrating not sleeping still. He wondered what would happen now.
As time passed more people started to make their way into town. People passed him without even giving a second glance. Soon enough Clay saw the seamstress's door open.
He quickly made his way over, so he could get there before anyone else as not to delay his time any further. "Hello dear, how are you this morning?" The seamstress said from behind the counter. Clay smiled. "Everything's fine ma'am, I'm here to pick up two dresses."
"what's the name dearie"
"Ursula" The woman nodded and headed into the back. A few moments later the woman came back and handed him the dresses.
"Thank you" He was about to leave when they heard a commotion coming from outside. Clay glanced confusingly at the seamstress. The both made their way to the door and outside. In the center of town where Clay just was, was the royal guard.
"........EVERY HOUSE WILL BE SEARCHED, IF ANYONE IS FOUND RESISTING THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY BE ARRESTED AND THROWN IN JAIL. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ASH."
Clay glanced at a woman beside him, "Excuse me, I don't understand what going on." The woman looked at him. "The prince has found his mate, however he swam from him at the ball and a search has gone out to find the boy.
Every house is to be searched." Clay thanked the woman and quickly left. They were looking for him. The prince was looking for him. What was he going to do. He couldn't just show up at the palace the prince would see he was a servant and reject him.
The prince would then find a new mate. Yes that's what he would do. But no, he couldn't they were mates he couldn't just hide from the prince forever, if the prince were to reject him he would take it like a man and not hide.
But how would he get out of the house, he couldn't risk it right now. He'd just have to do it later.
Once Clay made it back home his sisters were up and eating breakfast. "Stepmother I have brought the dresses." His stepmother didn't look at him, just told him to put them in his sister's room. Clay made his way upstairs and carefully put the dresses away.
As he made his way down stairs he heard his stepmother ask something. Not able to hear it he made his way closer. "I'm sorry stepmother I didn't hear you." Suddenly a hand made it's way across his face.
He didn't cry out, he knew better. "You know better than to make me repeat myself." Clay just nodded. "Now as I was saying, was there any news or gossip in town today, maybe about the ball last night." Clay wondered if he should tell her.
If he didn't she would probably find out some other way and then he would be punished for it. "There is talk that the prince found his mate at the ball, but he swam from him, now the prince is looking everywhere for him."
"WHAT" His stepmother yelled.
"That whore thinks he can steal the prince from us." Hannah screamed.
Taylor right behind her. "He was supposed to be ours." Clay didn't say anything, who could ever want them.
"Is that it or is there anything else." Clay looked at his stepmother. " They will be searching every house."
"YES" His stepmother yelled
"Girls we must get you ready, you can still sway the prince's heart. Clay was shocked, they couldn't do that. Before he knew what he was doing he yelled "You can't do that." His stepmother looked at him.
Clay new he was in trouble and slowly backed away. "Oh..and why can't I" Clay gulped nervously "Because the prince already found his mate, you can't change his mind." His step mother just laughed
"oh of course we can, he will marry one of my daughters. What are you going to do to stop me." Clay said nothing, fearing the wrath of his stepmother.
"That's what I thought, and for your out burst, extra chores and no food for three days." Clay just nodded his head at least he was not getting a beating.
His stepmother turned back to her daughters.
Clay left his stepmother and stepsisters to their scheming.
