Ella's POV
Chapter 26
***
I panicked as Anastasia left the room. What would I do? What would I say?
I couldn't do this.
Phillip met my eyes. "Whoa," he said. "Okay, maybe I'm taking this a bit too far..." He took my hand and sat me down, settling down next to me. He inhaled and then exhaled slowly. "I'm really sorry for... well, basically declaring you my bride without permission. I... the thing is..." He sounded a little nervous.
I looked at him.
"There was a reason for that ball - other than my birthday," he said all in a rush. "It was held because my father - the king - decided I should get married. He told me I had all of that night to find a bride. So if I hadn't chosen you... I would have had to choose someone else."
I slowly digested the news. "Why didn't you?"
"What?"
"Choose someone else."
He sighed. "Ella, everyone else was there because they wanted to fraternize with royalty. They didn't care about who was behind the authority and fancy suit. They just wanted to meet the prince. But you... you didn't even look at me until I approached you. And then you didn't sugarcoat every word you said, like everyone else. The first thing you said to me was that I had a stain on my suit."
"Even though it wasn't actually a stain." I mumbled.
"Right," he grinned. "It was a button. But the point is, you were being frank. You thought it was a stain."
"Just shows how naive I am."
"No, it shows your honesty." Phillip replied. "Ella, I... I truthfully don't understand why I feel so... so strongly about someone I met last night. But I can't help it."
I groaned inwardly. Time to tell him everything. Enjoy this moment while it lasts, Ella, because he's gonna hate you after this.
"Wellllll," I began. "I should probably tell you..."
***
By the time I had finished telling Phillip about the spell, the fairy godmother thing, and the whole caboodle, his mouth was hanging open.
I looked away. "You hate me now, don't you? I'm sorry! I didn't know about the spell."
He remained silent, just looking at me. His head was tilted.
"Do you see now why I said I wouldn't marry you?" I asked, throwing my hands up. "I knew you'd feel differently after I told you!"
For a moment, Phillip just stared at me. Then he began to laugh.
I was confused. "Why are you laughing at me?"
"I don't hate you!" he said, hugging me. "This is wonderful news! It means I'm not crazy, and it also means these feelings are real."
I tried to process what he'd just said. "So... you're not angry?"
"No!" he chuckled. "Of course not!" Then he stopped short. "Wait. Did the spell work both ways?"
"Well..." I winced. "Sort of, but not exactly. It was mostly one-way, but a little bit of magic seeped the other way and I... I do at least like you more than I care to admit."
"Really?" he breathed.
I nodded slowly.
A heart-stopping grin crept onto his face, and I stood up quickly before I could be affected. "I'm going to take you to meet Eric."
Phillip stood, too, seeming reluctant. "Okay..."
He subtly grabbed my hand before I led him into the hallway.
YOU ARE READING
Cinderella: A Fractured Fairytale
FanfictionSure, you've seen the Disney movie. You know how cruel and evil her stepmother and sisters were. ...But what if there were another side to the story? What if there were secrets about this tale that couldn't be revealed just from Ella's perspective...