The Substitute Cinderella

Chapter 8 "Lost In The Thrill"

..Any move would quicken her death for she was right under the dagger.

She closed her eyes.

"Ella!!"

As soon as he heard the voice of the king, the men in dark vanished into thin air afraid of being seen by him.

He couldn't risk it for it could lead to fatal consequences. The lives of innocent many.

He regretted his momentary hesitation. The future that was never meant to happen passed through his eyes like a flashback.

He had to find a way to restore the balance.

***

Ella was no more in the arms of the dark creature who almost murdered her had it not been for Henry.

She moved her hands, touched the fallen leaves all around her and heard them sough. For a brief moment she truly believed that the mother nature could protect her from any kind of harm.

She then slowly opened her eyes too see she had fallen on the ground, the pain in her head had subsided, she tried to move.

Henry got off his horse, his loyal friend for a long time, and quickly ran to Ella who was trying to straighten up. Her face had went as white as a sheet. There were pieces of leaves on her once shining hair, the skirt of her  pink dress was damaged and worn out from running for God knows how long.

She seemed horrified and vulnerable but still she was holding on.

She didn't cry as he expected. She was determined to go.

However Ella had also been aware that she could walk no further, there was no way out.

Henry offered Ella his hand so that she could get back up on her feet. She hesitantly obliged.

Henry could feel Ella staring right into his soul, in a way nobody managed to, neither his closest friends nor his oldest enemies. Her brown eyes went darker with a mix of horror and desperation and...sadness.

"Why are you here?" Ella said quietly still not sure if she got over the shock of previous events.

"Why am I here? Ella... do you know how long have we been looking for you? I... We were so worried about you. And I came to find you here at the tip of a dagger on the edge of death." said Henry. He was angry in a way to cover his actual frightfulness of the idea of losing her. He still tried to act careful not to hurt her in any way.

"You have been looking...for me? Don't you have your love and your future queen waiting for you at your special place? The last time I checked you were too busy to come after me."

Ella let it out, now she sure felt alright, her  shock partially gone. But she immediately regretted because she had no right to question his actions. They were not a thing. And he was the king.

Henry was only grateful that she was finally alright.

"Wait, wait.. Are you jealous?" Henry had to admit he felt a little bit amused when Ella's cheeks slightly reddened with the sudden accusation.

"What are you talking about? Why would I be jealous of... you? Don't think so highly of yourself, your majesty." Ella said the last part in a way to mock him. This was her revenge. She knew he hated it.

Henry approached closer to Ella suddenly their faces were only little inches apart.  Their souls looking right at each other through their eyes. In war and in harmony at the same time.

He took both of her hand in his. Her face was pink but her hands were stone cold inside his warmer ones.

"Ella... There is nothing between me and Isabella like you think or in a way she tried to make you believe. She is someone I made the mistake of trusting years ago with a childish mind and foolish heart. I would never believe in a traitor like her for she brought my kingdom nothing but peril."

Ella saw actual fury in the king's blue eyes for the first time. The exact opposite of the look he had when they came together.

The objects of Henry's hatred need more than luck to survive, she thought.

She knew he was being honest with her.

"But... Then how come she can still get in your palace so easily and confidently like she is the ruler of this kingdom if she is such a traitor?" Ella's voice was softer and she asked out of curiosity rather than blaming him.

"Her attitude comes from actually being a royal member and because I'm the only one who knows of her actual personality. I didn't reveal her crime thinking she was only a pion in her father's hands, we were both children back then. But later I realized that treason and conspiracy runs in their blood. I forgave her and that's something I , do regret."

Henry also knew, just like Ella, deep within his soul that he could open up to her. With her everything was real. More real  than it had ever been.

Henry once again looked at the girl standing in front of his eyes, feeling glad  the misunderstanding had been solved. He slowly lifted his hand to take a piece of leaf that was stuck in her hair.

Ella could feel abruptly rising heat in her body with his unexpected move. Now that she no longer had a reason to be mad, the feelings she kept trying to ignore were all back.

Maybe he was going to finish what they started in the library.

Suddenly Ella felt the need to blink with the raindrop that fell on her eyelashes. Henry was going to ask what happened but one more drop fell on his cheek.

"I guess we had better go." They ran to Henry's horse waiting for them under a nearby tree, holding hands like it was the most natural thing in the world for them.

The rain poured down trying to wash their  worlds away from tragedy.

It all felt too story like to Ella, riding a horse under the warm rain with the king, she could almost hear his heartbeat, afraid he could hear hers too.

She knew she hated such stories because they were unrealistic and impossible. But yet, she was living it.

She was finally the main character in her own life story.

The most unrealistic scenario felt the most natural and real. She again, slowly closed her eyes.

The Sun was already rising again in a way it never should have.

She didn't realize.

In the joy of the moment memories flew away from her mind every passing moment.

She didn't belong there and she didn't have much time.

***

Note: Thank you so much for reading. In the banner you can see an aesthetic I made for this chapter. Please don't forget to comment of vote. I appreciate your support. Love you all!!