TWISTED

12: The Princess and Love

Ella emerged from a room and inhaled the pleasant smell of food. Her stomach rumbled in confirmation of the fact that she was really hungry.

A couple of questions showed her where Arthur, Prince Eric and Princess Charity were seating at a large table with a plain white table cloth and a simple flower vase in the center.

Their attention fell on Ella as she made an entrance. She was much conscious of the pretty peach gown she was wearing. A great change from her maid-outfit.

When we was seated, much aware of the eyes on her, she cleared her throat.

"So..."

Arthur chuckled. "Way to start a conversation."

"Can we just eat please." Princess Charity whined after shooting Ella a dry look at which Ella wondered why the princess was so touchy.

"Sure." Arthur clapped his hands thrice as a signal. At least five maids filed in bearing dishes in their hands. At their rear, Sam trailed with a straight face.

Ella recalled her own position at the palace and pursed her lips.

"I think we need to keep you hidden for just a few weeks until the heat is gone." Arthur suggested, unfolding his napkin.

Prince Eric stopped halfway into digging his spoon into the bowl of mashed potatoes, giving Ella a look. "What's going to happen to my parents, I can't let them stay tortured by that devil. I should leave tomorrow."

Ella's head whipped up. What was wrong with him? Why should he run out of danger and run back in again. In a way, Ella understood his pains. She too would do the same thing for her mother, but not without putting down a solid strategy.

"As much as I'd like to agree with you my dear friend, that would be suicidal. We can form a plan-"

Prince Eric dropped his spoon, obstinacy filling his eyes. "I leave tomorrow morning, my sister and Ella can remain here." With that he covered the distance leading out of the dining room.

Arthur muttered something under his breath. Princess Charity stared back at her brother until he was out.

"He's really determined." She said.

"He won't change his mind now." Arthur concurred staring at Ella fiddling with her fork.

She knew she had to intervene, there was no way she would let the thirst for foolish revenge cloud the Prince's thinking faculty. So Ella pushed back her chair. After excusing herself, she went after Eric.

A maid directed her to where Eric was seating in a pensive mood. His eyes briefly regarded her as she stood at the door.

"Can I come in?" She asked.

"Come in."

Ella strode in and sat in a leather chair. "I'm not here to change your mind but I want to say a few things to you."

Eric smiled. Seeing her at that door, he thought she was here to tell him off or something but here she was proving his intuition wrong.

"If I were in your shoes and I think I kind of am, I would be filled with the same emotional surge."

"What do you mean by being in my shoes?"

Ella glanced down at her laps. "My sick mom disappeared without a trace. I can't figure out up to this day where she is. But even if I eventually do, I will think about my actions first before running into the field."

The Prince was calm. So she had her own problems too? Besides dealing with a ruthless step-father, she was also aching with the loss of her mother.