TWISTED

28: Engagement

"Feels good to be back home again right?" Prince Eric appeared beside Ella on the balcony from where the Royal Gardens could be seen. It was quite empty save the creatures, flying, hopping and crawling.

Ella glanced into the Prince's healthy face. "It sure is."

They returned from the Blood Witch's fortress a long time ago. Not really a long time, it's been a month and Ella ought to be glad that she was home again, but she wasn't.

Her friends in the Palace were all dead, Mabel, Grace, Theresa, Emerald and Star. Mrs Myra was too. They all died under Brian's evil reign.

Brian was executed just last week after he was declared guilty for crimes against the kingdom. That news alone was the only thing that have her a form of satisfaction.

But what Ella didn't really understand was why King George would execute Benjamin too.

Benjamin was dead.

The Black Bandits disbanded and rejoined the Kingdom. Becca and Wendy had disappeared into thin air. Pascal and Einat had gone back to their families and Ella had visited them twice in the past weeks.

Her mom was healthy at home managing the her late husband's mansion.

Almost everything had been normalized except Ella's emotional state.

She was losing her sanity.

"What's on your mind?"

"A lot, but they don't matter. I'm going out to visit my friends. I will not be back till dinner."

Eric gently held onto her right arm as she walked past him but she shrugged his hand off and made her way to her room in the palace first and tucked a dagger into the boot she was wearing.

Trisa met her on her way past the guards stationed at the entrance to the palace.

"Going somewhere?" Trisa asked, carefully scrutinizing Ella's face.

Ella didn't look her in the eye. "Yes."

And she kept on walking. Trisa sighed, wondering why Ella's drastical change in character happened.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and met Prince Eric's gaze.

"Your Majesty." She bowed her head solemnly.

"Keep an eye on her." Eric instructed, his eyes still fixed on Ella.

Trisa nodded and touched her sword, going after Ella. She wasn't in her armour as a Palace guard making it easier to blend in with the citizens.

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Ella knocked on a familiar door and smiled when Pascal opened it wearing a pleasant grin.

"Ellie." Before he had stretched his arms out to hug her, Einat pushed him aside and embraced Ella firmly.

Pascal pretended to be offended. "How rude." But he smiled when Ella included him for a group hug.

"That's much better." He murmured, shooting Einat a glare. She ignored him and faced Ella.

"Kids, who are you at the door with?" Pascal's mother yelled from inside.

"We're not kids." He mumbled.

Einat laughed. "It's Ella, ma!" She yelled back.

"Bring her right in then. You kids don't know anything about manners. You know, when I was your age..."

Ella smiled when her friends comically sighed together. "Here we go again." Pascal facepalmed.

Ella was compelled to eat lunch with the family. Pascal's mother, Esmeralda, his younger sister Amy and Einat. His dad was out at work.