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It was around eight o’clock in the morning when Ella and Blake made it back to the castle. Ella wanted to walk in the woods, so Blake let her hold his hand instead of him carrying her while he flew to his room again.
After they saw Blake and Ella, the guards stood straight up and bowed, opening the front gates behind them.
Both of them walked into the castle, finding Queen Merra standing at the top of the grand staircase, smiling when she saw Blake holding Ella’s hand.
When she walked down to greet them, she sounded so happy that she wanted to bounce off the walls.
“You must be Isabella,” Merra said excitedly. “I’ve heard so much about you. Blake couldn’t stop talking about you ever since he first saw you.”
Ella turned to Blake, brows raised. She would’ve expected him to be looking away and blushing, but he had a full on grin splitting his face, and she couldn’t help but giggle.
“Mom,” Blake said. He stepped away from Ella for a brief moment, whispering something in Merra’s ear.
Her eyes grew, glistening in happiness. “Oh...” she sounded surprised. “Already?”
He looked at her and nodded.
“Well, I’ll get the arrangements done.” Ella could see that she was trying not to smile. “I’ll be right back.”
“Wait, mom,” Blake uttered.
She turned to see him, and Ella just watched them stare in each others eyes for a long time.
It only took seeing Merra’s eyes darken when Ella knew Blake was speaking to her mind. “I see,” the queen uttered. “Well, then. We’ll have to confront them, won’t we?”
“Confront who?” Ella questioned, looking from Merra to Blake then back to Merra again.
“Don’t worry, Sweetheart,” Blake breathed. “You’ve been through enough. Leave the rest to us.”
“I don’t understand,” Ella expressed. “What did you tell her?”
“There’s no need to worry,” Merra stated softly. “As my son said, leave the rest to us.”
“Blake...” Ella stared at him with concern glistening in her eyes, “I need to understand... What did you tell her?”
He only smiled softly, cupping her cheek. “There’s no need to worry, Princess. You’re not in trouble, I promise, baby.”
“But—”
He pressed his finger to her lips, silencing her. “Come on, my love.” Ella saw Merra smile when he called her that. “Let’s get you ready.”
“Wait... ready for what...?”
For the ball, Sweetheart, Blake thought to her.
Ella’s eyes grew. “It’s today?”
A nod.
“Oh...” she thought aloud. So that was what he whispered in Merra’s ear.
Blake slipped his arms under her armpits and lifted her so she could wrap her legs around his waist. It only took a moment for her to realize she was still only wearing the robe... Nothing under it...
Ella nuzzled her face in his neck, hiding her red cheeks. Hopefully, Merra didn’t notice her outfit...
“Blake,” the queen called as he made it up the stairs.
He turned for a moment, but Ella refused to see the queen’s expression.
“Take care of her,” Merra ordered.
“You don’t have to tell me,” he responded, continuing up the stone steps.