2 hours later…
Tap, tap, stomp, stomp
In Gabrielle's room Josephine paced being watched by Gabrielle.
"Can you believe him? After everything you two have gone through… After everything you, yourself have been through… How can he just blindly trust that good for nothing, horrible, woman," Josephine ranted, stopping in her tracks, "I mean I can't believe him. The ridiculousness being spewed by him and even Cobsworth, all of them even Christopher. I can't believe I actually liked that unkempt, ill mannered, want to be gentleman. No wonder he's not Crowned King yet. I wouldn't trust him with a dog… I wouldn't trust him to do something even if the instructions were written on paper, and handed straight to him… I can't believe this nonsense! I…"
"But Josephine… You love him," Gabrielle interrupted being met with Jospehine's thunderstruck eyes.
"Not after what he did to you," Josephine belated, walking over to Gabrielle, "I mean what kind of best friend and Lady in Waiting would I be if I stayed with some wanna to be king who has no issue allowing his best friend to disrespect people important to me. I mean he might as well just be doing it himself. I mean he didn't even stand up for me when I was being taken away like some criminal. He can consider any ounce of feeling I've ever had for him gone. It's as if I never liked him at all."
"I bet you by the end of this night you'll be waltzing away in his arms," Gabrielle teased, standing to her feet.
"I will not," Josephine protested, stomping her foot, "I could never be with someone like him and I'm really sad to see your lack of faith in my morals and your questioning of my loyalty for you."
"I'm not questioning your morals or your loyalty," Gabrielle responded softly, grabbing onto Josephine's hands, "You've proven yourself most loyal. I couldn't have asked for a better best friend and Lady in Waiting… I just think your decision is a little premature."
"Well I think my decision wasn't fast enough," Josephine huffed.
"Well I think we should get dressed in some of the finest dresses we can find," Gabrielle hummed, letting go of her hands.
"Get dressed? What for, Milady," Josephine inquired.
"Have you forgotten already? There's a ball tonight, and I wouldn't want to miss the show," Gabrielle responded with a soft chuckle in her voice.
"And I think confusion has struck your mind Milady. Have you forgotten the 20 guards outside your bedroom door? We are prisoners," Josephine stated.
Gaberille smiled, walking over to her closet, she looked back at Josephine.
"Everything's going to be okay. Now, let's get ready. I don't want to be late," Gabrielle assured.
2 hours later…
Gabrielle and Jospehine finished dressing themselves…
Gabrielle wore a lavender pink, floor length, draped sleeve, ballroom gown styled, dress. The dress had beaded, crystal flowers throughout the bodice of the dress, and the sleeves of the dress hung waist length, with crystal flowers strategically placed through out. The skirt of the dress was layered, ruching styled, and in her long curled hair she wore a white gold tiara.
Josephine wore a soft gray, floor-length, short sleeved, gown. Throughout the dress were shimmery details that caught the light perfectly. Her long hair was tied up in a high bun and had a ribbon clipped to the side of it.
"You look beautiful," Gabrielle praised.
"You look even more beautiful," Josephine complimented, "Too bad His Majesty isn't here, he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off of you."
"Oh he will see me tonight, and so will Hattie," Gabrielle smirked, "And when they do, the show will start."
"What do you…"
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM
The loud sound of knocking at the door, interrupting Jospehine.
"Right on time," Gabrielle smiled, walking over to the door.
She looked back at Josephine, giving a sly grin, "Keep your head down and follow my lead," She instructed, looking back at the door.
Errrrrrr
She opened the door, looking at the 5 Royal Guards standing before her, blocking the entrance.
"His Majesty demands to see you," A guard snarled.
She looked down with a gentle nod, she turned her head slightly towards Josephine.
"Come along now," She whispered, "We shouldn't keep His Majesty waiting.
Jospehine walked behind her, hanging her head, daring not to look up.
They followed the guards to the ballroom.
The sounds of people talking and live music delicately playing, danced around the air filling their ears as they walked.
The ballroom was filled with 30 different servants all attending as guests, dressed in their finest clothing and guards who blocked all the entrances.
Hattie stood beside Ansel and Christopher. Her arm tightly wrapped around Ansel's. Next to Christopher stood Nylah, her gobsmacked look, taking in the scenery around her.
Nylah wore a dark peach colored, long sleeved, floor length ballroom gown that had a brocade pattern throughout it. Her long hair was left down with slight curls throughout it.
Hattie wore a spring green, short sleeved floor-length, sparkly tulle, ballroom gown dress. That had a floor design throughout it. Her long hair was tied up into a bun and she wore a silver colored bow in her hair.
Both Ansel and Christopher wore black suits.
"You look so handsome," Hattie chirped softly in Ansel's ear.
He gritted his teeth, hiding the fire in his eyes behind a weak smile.
"You're an interesting sight, Lady Hattie," Ansel complimented, "So all these servants are your friends?"
"Yes," Hattie chuckled, placing her fingers on her lips, "And there's more… They all couldn't make it tonight but I assure you my informant is here tonight. He's excited about his reward."
"I hope that he is, he saved our lives," Christopher chimed in.
"Well he did some of the work but Lady Hattie with her bravery, truly is the one to thank," Ansel praised.
"Oh stop," Hattie blushed, turning her face towards the ground, "I only did what I had to do. I couldn't let anyone get hurt."
"Your Majesty," Cobsworth called out, walking towards them, bowing.
"The Royal Guards have brought Josephine and Gabrielle," Cobsworth informed.
"Bring them forth," Ansel commanded.
"Yes Your Majesty," Cobsworth nodded, signaling the guards to bring them.
The guards brought Gabrielle and Jospehine forward. A guard holding on to each arm. They stood them in front of Ansel and Hattie.
"Quiet in the room," Cobsworth announced, making the room go silent. All eyes facing Ansel, Hattie, Jospehine, and Gabrielle.
"How dare you put on a tiara after the betrayal you've done," Hattie lashed, her vicious eyes piercing Gabrielle, "You have no respect."
"I'm allowed to wear a tiara," Gabrielle responded softly.
"It's not fair," Hattie whined, stomping her foot.
She looked up at Ansel, pulling on his arm, "She's challenging me, after all I've done for you. Make her take the tiara off, make her kneel before me," She urged, pouting out her lips.
"Your Majesty no," Josphine begged, breaking out of the guard's grip, kneeling before him. "Please do not degrade Milady,"
"Will you still stand for her," Ansel questioned, "After everything?"
"Your Majesty please do not be hasty," Josephine protested, "I mean there are no witnesses, all you have is the word of a liar against the word of an honest woman. Will you just take Hattie's word?"
"She has witnesses," A servant man interjected, walking over to them.
"Ah yes, this is my informant Arnold and he saw the whole thing," Hattie snarked, "Tell them Arnold."
"So you saw the whole thing," Ansel inquired.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Arnold nodded, bowing to him.
"Tell me what you saw," Ansel prodded, his jaw clenched.
"Well while she was cooking I saw her putting a substance I didn't recognize in the food. When I questioned her about it, she said it was a, 'Special ingredient,' She said it was going to make the food taste good. I got scared so when she wasn't looking, I took a close look at the bottle and I realized it was labeled Sharp Flower, the deadliest flower in the kingdom," Arnold recounted, looking towards the ground, "She was trying to kill you."
"He's lying," Josephine protested.
"I have proof," Arnold sneered, sticking his hand in his pocket, taking out the vial, "This is the exact vile I found. She poisoned the food!"
Cobsworth walked over to Arnold, taking the vial from him, he inspected it.
"It's Sharp Flower alright," Cobsworth informed, shaking his head.
"See I told you," Hattie mocked, "She tried to kill you guys, and this is the thanks I get for saving you."
"How on Earth did anyone get their hands on Sharp Flowers? I thought all those flowers were destroyed when you first became king," Christopher remarked.
"From my understanding there is one last patch that grows up in the Eastern Mountains, towards the top. They say only crazy people attempt to go up there because of how dangerous it is for the average person but once you go up there to find it, you can't miss it," Arnold divulged.
"Thank you for all your help," Ansel grumbled, "You've made this a lot easier."
"Y-Your W-welcome Y-You Majesty," Arnold stuttered.
Tap, tap, tap,
Ansel pulled his arm out of Hattie's grip and walked up to Gabrielle signaling for the guards to let her go.
The guards let go of Gabrielle, the whole room, watching as Ansel stood before her.
"As for you I think there's only one thing to do," Ansel growled, placing her fingers underneath her chin.
He moved her face, tilting her head up to look at him and kissed her softly, rubbing his nose on her.
The room erupted in gasps as the Royal Guards, Cobsworth, and Christopher chuckled to themselves.
Guards helped Josephine off the floor, watching as her eyes widened.
"Milady's quite the actress isn't she," Christopher chuckled, standing beside Josephine.
"B-But, I-I thought," Josephine spluttered, unable to catch her words.
"Oh please, it's nothing compared to His Majesty," Gabrielle complimented, rubbing her nose on Ansel's, "I just played off of him and might I say as you all were very convincing."
Hattie's eyes widened, as she dropped to her knees, her body trembling in fear.
"B-But Y-Your M-Majesty I saw M-Milady," Ansel glared at Arnold, interrupting him with a chilled stare.
He walked over Arnold, each step he took freezing the flood around him.
He grabbed Arnold by the neck, picking him off the floor with a tightened grip.
"You saw nothing," He growled, "The chef prepared dinner for us, not Milady. You lied to your King and that alone is an offense punishable by death."
He threw Arnorld to the ground, ignoring his pleas for his life.
"Take all the 'Guests,' in the room, see what they know, and have them all killed and have Nylah and Hattie thrown in our dungeons until further notice," Ansel commanded.
The Royal Guards nodded, doing as Ansel commanded. The servants, Hattie, and Nylah's pleas all falling on deaf ears.
"I can't believe I fell for it," Josephine marveled, covering her red face.
"Do you still want nothing to do with me," Christopher teased, grabbing on to her hand.
"Did I say that? I don't think I said that," Josephine deflected.
"I think you did," Christopher chuckled.
"Well I think next time someone should fill me in," Josephine huffed.
"Alright, alright, next time we'll fill you in," Gabrielle laughed, holding on to Ansel's arm.
"Now there's only one thing we have to worry about," Cobsworth stated, "Hattie and Nylah... What are we to do with them..."