𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢

𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷

"My name is actually Charles but, whatever works for you m'lady" the village boy corrected.
"What are you doing here??" Charlotte eagerly asked. The people weren't supposed to know about her mother's death. He couldn't see her here, she just hoped he wouldn't ask questions.
"After the ball, i just couldn't live with myself without properly getting to know you your majesty" Charles answered.
"And how do you suppose you do that sir?-" Charlotte was cut off.
"Hey, where did Charlotte go?" Elizabeth asked from the distance finally noticing her sister was gone.
"I'm sorry I have to go-" She was cut off again by Charles grabbing her hand.
"Wait- meet me at the palace gates when the sun goes down?" he asked. She simply nodded and raced back to her sisters.
"Where were you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Sorry I um- got distracted by the roses over there" Charlotte answered, walking back into the palace, already anticipating tonight's adventure.
                                            ~~
As the sunlight faded and everyone in the palace fell asleep, Charlotte tip toed her way past the guards, out to the palace gates. She'd never really gone outside the palace other than short times for parades and royal events and such.
"Y-you actually came!" Charles said shocked.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I? I'm a woman who keeps her word...even when she is quite frightened" she admitted.
"No need to be frightened your majesty! I suppose we shall take a night out on the town together. All in good fun" He explained. It actually did help Charlotte calm down a bit. She was finally doing it. She was finally living her life. Just like Josephine told her to. Charlotte and Charles locked arms and began walking into the night.
"So where do you suppose we go this evening?" she asked.
"Oh I have a surprise destination in mind I have a feeling you're going to love" he responded with a smirk. She wasn't sure whether to be afraid or not but, she didn't hesitate. Tonight was her night to live. Not to care about anything else happening in her life. They shortly arrived to a place she'd never seen, the town garden.
"This place is stunning" she said starstruck. How could she have been missing out on something this amazing for her whole life!!
"I had a feeling you would love it" he said taking her hand and leading her through the garden. They spent hours looking at flowers, telling each other stories and laughing together. Charles couldn't help but fall in love with her crystal blue eyes.
"Charlotte?" he asked her while gazing into her eyes, while sitting on a bench in the garden.
"Yes Charles?" she laughed.
"Why did you meet me at the palace gates. You're a real princess. You could be falling in love with a man who has a thousand riches but, you're here with me. Why?" he asked. Charlotte's smile fell.
"My whole life has been spent being quiet and afraid. I've been held back from really living. Now, things are changing in my life and I have to change with them. I'm not going to be afraid anymore. Life is too short" She responded. Her head fell on his shoulder. Both of them smiling.  She was at peace...until she saw the sun rising in the distance.
"I have to get back!! No one can know I was out!" She gasped jumping up from bench and beginning to run back to the palace before stopping her self and turning to Charles.
"Promise you'll remember me?" Charlotte asked quickly.
"How could I forget" Charles smiled. She smiled back before running back to the palace, making it in without a trace left behind. What a wonderful life to live, and she couldn't believe she hadn't been living it.

authors note: special thanks to aj670274 who is our wonderful Charlotte and came up with this part of the story!! I simply just added dialogue to the AMAZING videos she made!! make sure to check her out on tiktok @ joyful_aj