“Enough,” commanded Charles. “The only danger to the kingdom is you.”
“Come to your senses, Your Highness. She’s cast a spell on you. Y-y-you aren’t yourself.”
The prince wasn’t listening anymore. He turned to Cinderella, relief flooding his eyes as he took her hands in his own. “I knew that letter wasn’t you. But when I saw the ring inside...”
“I wouldn’t leave you,” she said, her fingers tracing along his palm. “I thought you were at the council to announce your betrothal—”
“I couldn’t go through with it. Then Aunt Genevieve found me and explained everything.” Charles broke his gaze from Cinderella to glare at the duke. “After what you’ve done to Cinderella, you’re a brave man to dare remain in the palace, Ferdinand.”
To the duke’s credit, he maintained his composure. “Magic is forbidden. You know the law, andIknow the girl used magic to attend the first ball.”
“Then it’s time the law changed,” replied the prince.
“Unfortunately, that is not your decision to make.” The Grand Duke waved a familiar scroll, tied with a green ribbon. “Your father made me Grand Overseer of Aurelais.”
“I would check that decree again if I were you,” said the duchess. “You’ll find that it hasn’t been properly signed.”
Ferdinand frowned as he fumbled at the scroll. “H-h-he signed the declaration. I saw it with my own eyes!”
“Look again.Iconvinced George to go along with the plan to bring out your true colors. It wasn’t easy, given how much he trusts you. Luckily, even after all these years, he still trustsmemore.”
The duke’s eyes bulged, and he looked like he was about to faint. “Why you... you conniving old witch!”
“I learned from the best, Ferdinand,” said Genevieve cheerily. “I couldn’t very well counsel my brother to entrust the kingdom toyou, now could I?”
Cinderella caught the scroll as it slipped from his fingers. “ ‘By royal decree, I hereby declare Ferdinand, the Grand Duke of Malloy, Grand Overseer and Councilor Regent of the kingdom of Aurelais, until he should see fit to grant full power to my son and heir, Prince Charles.’ Signed—” Cinderella laughed softly. “Signed, Grinning Ginny.”
Ferdinand made a choking sound.
“I hereby strip you of your lands and title,” said Charles coldly. “Ferdinand, you are banished from Aurelais, never to return.”
“B-b-but, Your Highness, YourMajesty—you simply don’t understand. I was just—”
“Trying to protect the kingdom?” Charles finished for him. “By going behind my father’s back to seize more power for yourself?”
Spinning for the door, the duke tried to flee, but the guards grabbed him by the arms so forcefully that his monocle fell out of his pocket, swinging back and forth.
“You were about to make a mistake,” Ferdinand said pleadingly. “By marrying a servant, you invite war to Aurelais. The people will never understand. They will never accept her.”
“Cinderella may be a commoner,” spoke up the duchess, “but I have no doubt she will make a queen far more worthy and beloved than any you might have chosen.”
Cinderella stepped forward. “I know not everyone will accept me,” she said quietly, “but I’ve learned that life isn’t perfect. You can’t be happy all the time, and I can’t expect everyone to love me. But the people are our future. If we don’t realize that, if we keep clinging to the past, then Aurelaiswillcrumble.”
The doors behind her burst open, and in stormed the king, still in his pajamas.
“Where is the traitor?” he rasped. Shadows hooded King George’s eyes, and his voice was barely louder than a whisper. In spite of it all, his energy had not dimmed, and as he shook his fists at the Grand Duke, two attendants scurried after him.
“Father, what are you doing here? You should rest.”
“Bah, rest? When my sister tells me that thisscoundrelhas been poisoning me?” King George ignored his son’s entreaties and set his gaze on the duke. “How could you, Ferdinand? Poison, really?”
The Grand Duke cringed. “Your Majesty, there, there—allow me to explain.”
“What is there to explain?” Charles seethed, clenching his fists. “You tried to kill the king. There had better be an antidote.”
The king’s guards began to search the duke, but he twisted in their grasp.
“I-I-I can obtain the antidote for you,” he stuttered. “But perhaps an act of clemency might be in order first, sire—a-a-after all, it was all in good measure, and n-n-o one was harmed—”
