In Gabrielle's room, Gabrielle stood, standing in front of her vanity mirror. She stared at her reflection, marveling at her satin, floor-length, spring green colored dress, with a sheer sparkling floral cape.
She looked down at her vanity desk, picking up tiny diamond butterfly clips. She strategically clipped them throughout her curled hair.
Knock, knock
"Come in," She called out, looking towards the door, seeing Cobsworth enter the room.
"Good morning Milady," Cobsworth greeted, bowing to her.
"Good morning Cobsworth," She responded, a smile glowing on her face, "How do I look?"
"You look beautiful Milady, very stunning," Cobsworth complimented.
She looked back into the mirror, staring at her reflection.
"But you think His Majesty will think so," She questioned, touching her face.
"I think His Majesty will not be able to take his eyes off of you," Cobsworth assured.
She stared deeply at her reflection, taking in the rainbows that reflected off the mirror from the sparkles on her cape.
"Cobsworth, do you think you can send Josephine in, I really want her opinion on this outfit."
"I'm sorry Milady but Josephine is not in the castle as of the moment," Cobsworth responded.
"Really, where did she go," Gabrielle inquired, turning her head to look at Cobsworth.
"To the Training Grounds Milady. She tends to go there to watch sparring on her days off," Cobsworth informed.
"I see… I know she isn't my personal maid but I feel completely lost without her… She's my best friend…" Gabrielle sighed, looking back at her reflection.
"Well Milady since you feel so strongly about her, why not ask her to be your Lady in Waiting," He advised.
"Cobsworth that's a great idea," Gabrielle beamed, "I'll go to the Training Grounds and ask her right away."
She left the room heading for the Training Grounds.
40 minutes later
Gabrielle made her way to the Training Grounds, taking in the scenery around her.
The Training Grounds sat on 4 acres of land and had a homing building for guards to rest, a sparring area, a track for riding horses, and an archery area that had targets for shooting practice.
Around the sparring area, in a safe distance stood noblewomen, watching as the recruits sparred against one another.
The sounds of cheering women, men yelling, and swords clanging against each other filled the air.
Gabrielle looked around, seeing Josephine standing behind a tree, watching a sparring match.
She smiled gently, walking over to Josephine.
"Hello, Josephine," She greeted, watching as Josephine jumped in her skin.
She turned around, looking at Gabrielle, "Milady, what are you doing here," She gasped, bowing to her.
"I was looking for you," Gabrielle chirped, "I see you're deeply distracted by a sparring match that's taking place, any reason why?"
"No, no, no reason, I-I just like w-watching sparring matches i-is all," Josephine spluttered, her cheeks turning rosy red.
Gabrielle looked over, seeing Ansel, sparring with Christopher.
"Ah ha," Gabrielle exclaimed, "You're not just watching a sparring match, you're swooning over a man you're smitten with."
"No way," Josephine denied, crossing her arms, "I just like watching sparring."
"You're in love with him," Gabrielle teased, "Completely smittened."
"I am not," Josephine protested, "I don't like him."
"That's because you love him," Gabrielle teased, grabbing on to her (Josephine's) hands, "So tell me all about your deep love with the mysterious man."
"I'm not in deep love with him," She pushed back, "I-I mean w-we've barely even said 2 words to each other other than the simple greetings. I avoid speaking to him as much as I can."
"Clearly you have feelings for him. I can hear it in your voice." Gabrielle smiled, sighing softly, "Tell me about him."
"H-His name is Christopher and he's the Crowned Prince of Kingdom Charbs, first in line for the throne, he also happens to be His Majesty's closest childhood friend. I met him my first month working at the castle during a Banquet Ball that His Majesty was hosting… I was serving appetizers when I bumped into His Highness dumping the food I was serving all over him and me… I thought he'd be so angry… His clothing was worth more than what I make in a year and I just ruined them… I apologized to him profusely. I was sure he was going to be so angry at me but he just laughed… His laughter it was… Contagious… He helped me clean up my mess… I was so grateful to him for his kindness… Some of his guards came over to us and he just made jokes about how he needed new clothes… I was about to leave but before I could he looked at me… He must've noticed the food on my dress because he order his guards to not only go out and buy him some clothes but to buy me an expensive dress… I was in shock, trying to protest but he insisted… He told me to make it up to him, that he wanted me to attend the ball with him… I was so shocked but I couldn't deny his request… He even talked to His Majesty telling him he wanted me to attend with him… My mind couldn't wrap around why he was so insistant… Before this night I had only ever seen him a couple of times, hanging around the castle with His Majesty… I had never even spoken to him… When the guards came back they brought me back the most beautiful sparkly fuschia colored ballroom gown… I felt like a princess when I put it on, I had never worn anything so beautiful in my life… And for the rest of the night… I was no longer serving… I was attending with him… We danced the night away as if I were Cinderella… I never wanted that night to end but it did… Ever since then.. Though it was years ago… I have never forgotten that night… He comes to Florian from time to time and when he does… I try to at least catch a glimpse of him… He loves to spar with His Majesty so when he does, I come just to watch him for a moment… Silly I know but I can't help myself…" Josephine spilled, turning her gaze to the ground.
"That is so romantic, you two are clearly meant to be," Gabrielle gushed, "Why don't you talk to him?"
"Because I know the laws of Charbs…" She sighed, meeting Gabrielle's eyes, "The Crowned Prince can not court anyone without a noble title… His father, the king of Charbs is strictly against it. He's so against it, he's put Charbs Council in charge of all His Highness' decisions, until he becomes king and I know that the council won't allow it… And if His Highness goes against Charbs Council… He'll lose the throne… So instead of making it hard on the both of us, whenever he's here I try to avoid talking to him as much as possible and I avoid eye contact. I try, I try very hard not to like him, to avoid him but… He has my heart…"
"I see so you need a high title… What if your title is Lady in Waiting," Gabrielle inquired, giving a gentle smile.
"Lady in Waiting," Josephine repeated, "But that's still a maid… The Council would still reject me."
"Not if you were my Lady," Gabrielle responded, grabbing onto Josephine's hands, "Because of my status with His Majesty, having the title of Lady in Waiting would be a high ranking title. Your title would be higher than a regular noblewoman."
"Oh Milady, you would do that for me," Josephine exclaimed, tears welling in her eyes.
"Of course, I've already talked to Cobsworth about it and he agrees that you should be my lady and I'm truly lost without you anyways. It would be an honor to have you as my lady. So what do you say," Gabrielle beamed, "Will you be my Lady in Waiting."
"Yes of course," She squealed, jumping into Gabrielle's arms, "I would be honored Milady."
"Then it's settled," Gabrielle smiled, grabbing onto Jospehine's shoulders, taking a step back, "We'll inform His Majesty and have your title changed immediately."
Off in the distance, on the Sparring Grounds Ansel and Christopher continued to spar.
Clang, clang, clash
The sounds of the swords hitting against each other bounced around in the air around them.
"You've gotten a lot better," Ansel praised, swinging his sword at Christopher.
"Had to," Christopher responded, blocking Ansel's attack, "I can't keep allowing you to win."
Ansel pushed his sword against Christopher, giving a half smile.
"Allowing me to win is a weird way of saying you can't keep up," He joshed.
"You only win because I take it easy on you," Christopher smirked, pushing back against Ansel's sword.
"Oh I didn't realize we were going easy on each other. I'll be sure to use my full strength now," He chuckled, holding his ground.
"I've felt you're full strength and I'm still better," Christopher bantered, pushing back against Ansel's sword, feeling his (Christopher's) feet start to slide from the pressure.
"Oh really my dear friend, let's just see," Ansel challenged, pushing himself back.
He swung his sword at Christopher once more, watching him barely avoid the attack.
Christopher charged at Ansel, being met with a quick dodge.
Clang, clang, clang
Christopher continued to charge at Ansel swinging his sword. All attempts of attacks being met with strategic blocks by Ansel.
Christopher stood his ground, catching his breath and he met Ansel's challenging gaze.
"Face it you're just too slow for me," Ansel joshed, giving a slight chuckle.
"Alright so I still need some more work… But could you hold back a little while my lady's watching," Christopher sighed.
"You're lady? That's bold of you to say when you won't even talk to her," Ansel teased.
"I would if she would give me the time of day, but she won't even look at me…" Christopher stated, swinging his sword at Ansel.
"You think she knows about Charbs' law," Ansel inquired, dodging Christopher's attack.
"I'm sure of it…" Christopher answered, swinging his sword at Ansel once more, being met with another strategic block.
Cling, clang, clang
"My offer still stands, I will grant her a noble title so you two can freely be together without issue from your Council," Ansel stated.
"It isn't that simple… The whole reason Charbs Council was granted control over my decisions now is because word got back to my father about the night I spent with an, 'Unidentified servant girl,' at the Banquet Ball. They investigate everything, every decision I make. If I announce that I'm courting a noblewoman they're going to look into her title and once they find that her title was given to her without weight, out of nowhere, they're going to realize that she was the woman I was with that night, which will only cause problems for her and for my crown… But when I become king I will replace everyone on Charbs Council, I'll do away with that law and then… I'm going to ask for her hand," Christopher declared, stopping in his tracks.
"Well Christopher, if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know… The way you two act towards each other even without words spoken… You two were meant to be…" Ansel affirmed, putting his sword away.
Christopher put his sword away, looking towards Josephine and Gabrielle, watching as they laughed among themselves.
"Well it looks like she's not alone today… Your love is here beside her," Christopher chuckled, continuing to look at them.
Ansel glanced over, his eyes caught by Gabrielle. His mind went blank, as a loving daze filled his eyes.
"Beautiful," He quietly uttered, his eyes fixated on her.
"Man she has you bad," Christopher joshed, patting him on the back.
"What can I say, she's my weakness," Ansel professed, giving a slight grin,"Let's go see what they're up too."
Ansel walked over to them as Christopher followed behind him.
Off in the distance by the other noblewomen stood Hattie dressed in a dark purple, floor-length, aline, dress and Nylah dressed in a dark yellow, floor-length, short sleeved dress.
"It's been two months, Lady Hattie, why must we continue to show up here," Nylah inquired.
"I already told you, I have to find a way back into the castle and the only way I can do that is if I save His Majesty's life and The Training Grounds is the only place I can get close to His Majesty without getting in trouble, so all I have to do is find a weak minded recruit to attack His Majesty and then I can swoop in a be a hero. Then His Majesty will have to let me back into the castle," Hattie plotted, giving a sly grin.
"Well it looks like it won't be happening today, just look at where His Majesty is going," Nylah informed, pointing at Gabrielle.
Hattie glanced over to Gabrielle, gritting her teeth.
"That floozy," She huffed, grabbing onto Nylah's arm, "Come on, I need to hear everything they say to each other."
Hattie walked Nylah over in earshot of Gabrielle and Jospehine, staying hidden from them as they listened in.
"I can't believe it, I'll be a noblewoman," Jospehine cheered, jumping up and down.
"If anyone deserves a title it's definitely you," Gabrielle smiled.
"Oh Milady, do you know what this means to me? I finally have a chance to be with His Highness," Josephine beamed, holding on to Gabrielle's hands.
"I'm happy for you Josephine, you needed your own happily ever after," Gabrielle grinned.
She let go of Gabrielle's hands placing her hands on her chest. She took a step back.
"Oh Milady, I don't know to say to him, we haven't had a full conversation since that night. What if I say the wrong thing to him," She worriedly remarked.
"Why not just start off by greeting him, and then go from there," Gabrielle suggested.
"Yes," She breathed, "I can start off with a simple greeting, I just hope I don't lose my train of focus."
Crunch, step, crunch, step
Christopher walked behind her, being unnoticed by her (Josephine).
"Um Josephine," Gabrielle muttered, her eyes widened from seeing Christopher.
"Oh Milady, His Highness will have me completely mesmerized. I have not the slightest idea of what to say past the greeting," Josephine swooned, swaying back and forth, "He's so handsome and so sweet, I could die. What should I say to him? I don't want him to know I have feelings for him right off the bat."
"I think he already knows," Gabrielle hinted, glancing at Christopher.
"Why do you think that it's not like I've told him already," Josephine inquired, tilting her head.
Gabrielle glanced over at Christopher once more.
"Your Highness," She greeted, curtsying to him.
Josephine's eyes widened as she turned around, seeing Christopher standing behind her, she quickly bowed to him.
"Your Highness," She uttered softly, daring not to look up.
He grabbed her hand, raising it up to his lips. "Josephine," He greeted, kissing the back of her hand.
She slowly looked up, meeting his eyes. Her cheeks turned red.
They stared into each other's eyes, unable to break eye contact.
"I'll just leave you two alone," Gabrielle chirped.
She turned around, bumping into Ansel.
She grabbed his upper arms, feeling him wrap his arms around her, she slowly looked up, meeting his eyes.
"Ansel," She uttered softly, feeling his arms tighten around her.
"I wasn't expecting to see my beautiful queen show up at the Training Grounds today," Ansel hummed nuzzling his nose on her's, "What brings you out here?"
"Well I came out here looking for Josephine, to ask her to be my Lady in Waiting and she has agreed," Gabrielle disclosed.
"Really," Christopher gasped, intertwining his fingers with Jospehine's, "That's wonderful."
"That's great, Josephine I'll have a title bestowed on you at once," Ansel stated, turning his gaze towards Christopher, "And if I'm not mistaken that should be enough reason and weight to remove any problems. Am I right?"
"Yes," Christopher nodded, lost in a marvelous gaze towards Josephine, "There won't be any push back."
Josephine looked down, covering her red face with the back of her hand.
"I thought to celebrate the four of us could have a picnic in the forest," Gabrielle suggested, "I'll even make the food."
"I think that's a great idea, that is if Lady Josephine doesn't mind being there with me," Christopher smiled, hoping for a response.
"I don't," Josephine blurted, hastily meeting his eyes, "I mean, I-I want to go with you."
"Then it's settled," Gabrielle chirped, "We'll go tonight."
Off in the distance Hattie and Nylah left undetected, plans filling Hattie's mind.
"What are we going to do," Nylah worriedly questioned, "Not only has that floozy gotten His Majesty but now the scum of the planet has gotten her disgusting hands on His Highness. That should've been me."
"It will be," Hattie comforted, grabbing onto Nylah's shoulders, "I have just found out a ticket to getting back into the castle and getting that floozy along with her maid kicked out permanently."
"How," Nylah inquired.
"We'll poison the picnic food. You see we've already been banned from the castle, so it won't be traced back to us and I still have all my connections and money that I acquired over the years. I'll pay some servant off to poison the food, and then we'll go to the forest and tell His Majesty that the food is poisoned, preventing him from eating it and when he confirms that the food is poisoned he'll have no choice but to allow us back into the castle and kick that floozy along with her maid out. Then we'll never have to worry about them again," Hattie devised.
"You're a genius," Nylah praised, "A true genius."
Back over by Gabrielle, Ansel, Josephine, and Christopher.
Ansel tenderly grabbed Gabrielle's chin, directing her face to look at him. He stared into her eyes.
"Don't worry about cooking. I'll have my finest chef take care of the picnic food," Ansel hummed.
"Are you sure? I don't mind cooking for us," Gabrielle stated.
He rubbed his nose on her's , holding her tightly.
"We're courting now. You are to be treated as an extension of myself which means you are not permitted to work around the castle," Ansel informed.
"Well since you insist, I'll let your chef take care of it this time," Gabrielle chuckled, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck.
"Then it's settled, we'll have a lovely picnic in the forest," Ansel announced.