Patreon LogoYour support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)

Where's My Happy Ending? ((butterfly0408/Kolath))

Aiden looked back at his mother sighing, â??Yes I doâ?¦and either I am in love with a common girl which will really make father happy. Or she is a noble and either hiding it or doesnâ??t know she is one.â? He sighed rubbing his hand over his face. â??Mom if you met her you would fall in love with her too she is so sweet and kind she is everything I have ever wanted in a bride. She would make a perfect queenâ?¦but from everything that I know to look at she is common.â? He sighed shaking his head slowly. â??Iâ??m doomed.â?
 
His mother wanted that to be true. She wanted her son to have a woman he could love and it seemed he had already found one, but.. what if... "Tell me what you know of her. If she isn't noble, the least we can do it take her from the terrible situation she seems to be in. But Aiden... if she isn't.... you know it could never happen."
 
He sighed nodding. â??I know momâ?¦but your right at least I could know she was safe if she in not noble.â? He started to describe her to his mother. His words held nothing but praise for her as he described her telling his mother everything he knew about her. he told of her love of gardens and that her mother had one that was highly respected. He told that both her parents were dead and had been for years, and continued with anything that he could think of telling her defining features of Crista and finally at the end mentioning her name.
 
The queen took in all he said about this girl. This Crista. But it was more about the family she worked for she was taking in. It would be easier to find. With a nod as he finished, she stood and bent over to kiss her son upon the forehead, "I will see what I can find my son. But in the meantime, it's best to grin and bare your father's orders. It will begin tomorrow night. Be well Aiden, and hold onto hope."

Departing him, she went right to work in the kingdom records. It would take time to find what she looked for and she trusted it to no one other then herself. She would work alone and pray. Pray that this girl was more then she appeared to be at a first glance.
 
Aiden nodded seeing his mother out. He sighed going back to his bed and did just what his mother was, prayed that she would find something if nothing else to help Crista.

======

Days passed and so did many girls. He did just what his father commanded and was civil to them all making no enemies but clearly not interested in any of them. Many tried to get him to spend the night in their rooms and though his father had made it clear that after they were back in their rooms there was no reason that Aiden shouldnâ??t join them as long as none bore his child. Aiden was having none of the lecherous ways of his father and left every night with a kiss on the hand.
 
What if he was in jail? What if they had beaten him? Crista was plagued by what ifs as she walked home once more. It had been over a week now and she had not seen Aiden a single time. That was what she had wanted, but she figured with the way he was so adamant about not letting her go, she had thought that he would have tried to pursue her once again, or even twice. Yet she had not seen him once. And the way they had parted... what if he has been put in jail. She couldn't live with herself if that was it! She would have been the reason! He could rot there and it would be her fault! Her life had been falling apart piece by piece and she wondered, as she returned home at last... if it was even worth living anymore.

After serving lunch, she went to her shabby bed. There was a little time before she would need to clean up, where she could sit and stew a bit. Pulling out the gift he had given her, the beautiful fan, she held it in her hands, holding it to her heart. How could she miss someone that was never hers so very much.

-----------

Meanwhile, the queen took the four pieces of paper and folded them, putting them into the pocket of her gown. She had found something alright, and the truth was worse then she thought. She did not even know this Crista, but she felt such horrible sympathy for the girl. She had a hard life, but she knew that once she told Aiden the truth, her life was going to change. He'd make sure of that.

Going to her son's quarters, she knocked, entered and smiled at him, "May we sit at the table Aiden?"
 
Aiden had been expecting that his next visitor would be the Chamberlin telling him that his nightly noble lady had arrived. Needless to say when it was his mother he was pleasantly surprised. â??Of course mother please come in.â? he went over to a table pulling out a chair for his mother then taking his own seat after she was seated. â??What is wrong?â?
 
"It took a while to piece all the clues you have about your together," she started, letting him know the tone of this conversation from the start. "We know she is the the home of a baron and that they have two daughters and no sons. Only a few names came up in the paper work. And..." she pulled the folded pieces of paper from her gown, "The name Crista only came up within one of their records, but... Aiden...... I don't know how you will take what these piece of the records reveal."

She placed the papers all out, slipping him one at a time as she spoke. "This is the marriage record for Baroness Juliet Blakesfield to Dilian Culwich, the current Baron and her third husband." She slipped him the next piece of paper, "This is the death record of her second husband, the late Baron Robert Blakesfield, who died a month before her marriage to Dilian Culwich."

With a sigh, she slipped him the third paper, "This is the death record of Baron Robert Blakesfield's first wife, Baroness Larissa Blakesfield 14 years ago. I recall, she kept a beautiful garden. Every woman at court wanted to her her secrets for growing roses. And.... this......" she slipped him the final and most important piece of paper, "Is the birth record of one Crista Blakesfield, daughter of the late Baron Robert and Baroness Larissa Blakesfield and by the law, the true blood heir to the title of Baroness to be granted upon her marriage or her 21st birthday, whatever comes first. You were right about her Aiden, she'd more then a common. From all these circumstances it seems she is a prisoner of her step family within her own home. But it also means.... she is an eligible girl of noble birth," her expression, which had been serious this whole while, curled into a smile, for she knew that soon her son would realize that he could have her after all. He could be happy and obey his father's rule at the same time.
 
Aiden took each piece of paper as his mother handed it too him. it wasnâ??t totally sinking in what she was trying to tell him. what was clear was that Crista needed his help. As his mother finished he stood up clearly angry, â??how could they do this too her I mean she is a human being and they have no right to treat her like aâ?¦â? it was in that moment that the rest of what his mother said sunk in. â??She what?â? he blinked looking at his mother looking for some sign that she was making sport of his pain but he saw nothing of it in her face just pure happiness for her son.

Smiling tears coming to his eyes he knelt down beside his motherâ??s chair taking her hand and kissing it softly looking up into her eyes. â??Thank you mother you have saved me from going mad because of not having the woman I love.â? He kissed her hand again, â??When can we get her night here at the castle? I want it as soon as possible so that I can choose to have her as my bride and this cursed nightly practice and end.â?
 
She smiled and was so thrilled to see her son so very happy like this. "Time is on our side Aiden. Tonight was meant to be her step sister Daniella's night with you. I have already changed the orders of the party sent to the Blakesfield home. Your Crista will be here with you tonight. They might already be on their way here now..."

--------

In truth, the travel party had just reached their destination. Having seen them coming up the drive, Juliet was in a twitter! "Girls! GIRLS! They are here! The kings guards are here for one of you! Hurry! HURRY! CRISTA! CRISTA GET THE GIRLS BAGS! NOWWW!!!! MOVE YOU LAZY BITCH!! MOVE!!!"

Everyone in the kingdom knew by now of the events going on, but no one knew when it would be their night with the prince. Kept every noble girl and her mother on their toes. This appeared to be one of her daughters time. So little did she know...

They were all standing in the front hall as the royal guards entered the house. Even Crista, who stood off to the side holding both girls overnight, travel bags, ready to hand the proper one for whichever girl was going tonight.

"Welcome to our home," Juliet said with a curtsy.

"We have come for one of the young ladies of this house..."

"Of course. Which of my daughters will spend this night with the prince? Daniella?" She gestured and she curtsied. "Or Susanna?" with another gesture, the second daughter.

"Neither," was the quick reply of the guard. Everyone in the hall froze, even Crista.

"...neither?" questioned Juliet, "But... they are the only two ladies of the house besides I and I am wed! Who are you here for?"

He pulled out his official paperwork and read from it, "By order of the queen, the daughter of Baron and Baroness Robert Blaksfield, shall spend this night with the prince of the land. Crista Blakesfield."

"CRISTA?!" came a chorus of replies.

The girl in question was left, standing their, totally and utterly shocked and confused, "Me?"
 
Dilian was having a hard time since he had heard about the nights with the prince. He knew that Daniella was wanting to get into the princeâ??s pants badly and would do almost anything to have it happen. He only prayed that it would take longer for the guards to come here or if they did it would not be Daniella.

As the guards came in he had been doing his best to seem as though he wanted this to happen but he could help but let a little bit of jealousy slip onto his face. A instant later it was replaced by pure shock. â??Crista!?â? he chorused with the rest of them. He froze stiff for a brief moment, something had just gone horribly wrong with the plan, and Juliet was not going to like it and with Crista seeming to be leaving it meant he was going to take the brunt of her anger. This was going to be a long night.
 
"Yes, you my dear," the guard ignored every other person in that room and went to Crista, talking right to her as he took the bags from her and set them each down. The queen had warned him ahead of time that this might happen and trusted him to handle the situation. He was her own personal guard, not one of the ones that usually did these runs to fetch the girls for the prince, "The records show that you are the daughter of the late Baron Robert Blakesfield and late Baroness Larissa Blakesfield. Is that correct?"

She could hardly even speak and so she only nodded slightly.

"And they were indeed the Baron and the Baroness at the time of your birth, yes?"

She nodded once more.

"Well then, that makes you a young lady of noble birth and the king has decreased that EVERY young lady of noble birth shall have her night with the prince. That includes you my dear. Now if you will come with me." He help out his hand to her.

Crista didn't know what to do. She looked to his hand, then to her family. Susanna was just as shocked as her, and the rest all had looks that could kill upon their faces. She knew warnings in their eyes when she saw them. She shook her head, "There is a misunderstanding. I can't-"

"None at all my dear. You have already confirmed who you are and that is all I need. I have strict order my dear that I am not to leave this house without you and arrest and who may stop you."

That was even more shocking! Why did they want her at the palace so very badly? She sighed, for their really didn't seem to be a choice. She took his hand and started to walk towards the door, trying her best not to look anyone in the eye. As she walked past Juliet, her stepmother reached out and grabbed her arm, tugging her towards her and hissing in her ear, "If you walk out that door, you had best never re-enter it again. For if you do, I will make that whipping you got look like I was showing pity upon you."

"Unhand her milady," the guard scolded. Juliet released her at once, but her glare still said it all as the guard took Crista out to the waiting carriage and whisked her away to the palace.

Upon arriving there, she was wisked off to a room where three maids waited for her. They claimed that it had been their order to help her clean herself and dress for the night. The thought though of her stepmother's face was in her mid the whole while. She refused. They insisted. She thought of them seeing the still healing scars upon her back. She refused again, "This is all some kind of misunderstanding. Your prince has the wrong girl. I don't belong here I am just a servant. He will see me as I am and understand right away."

They tried to insist one last time, and she refused one last time. With a sigh, they departed and a guard came for her again. He was shocked to see her still in her horrid rags, but did not question as he escorted her down the hall. The palace was beautiful. Like something from a story book. At least she got one thing from this mistake. "You will take tea with the prince in the sun room, dinner shall be served at half past 8. The prince shall escort you back to your room at the end of the evening." At last, they stood before a door. He opened it for her and urged her to enter.

Timidly, she walked inside, the door shut behind her. She got a short glimpse at the man within, his back towards her before she lowered her head in respect for the prince. The PRINCE! How had she got herself here?! "Your highness, I think there has been some misunderstanding..."
 
Aiden had taken every moment he could making sure that everything was just right for when she showed up. Finally he was dressed and everything was set. He was so happy about being able to see her again that he forgot that he had told her several lies about who he was and what he did.

He shivered lightly as he heard her voice and smiled even though she could not see him. he turned around to face her expecting a surprised look and happy gasp but instead looked down seeing her bowing in front of him. shaking his head slowly he walked over to her kneeling in front of her, â??There has been no misunderstanding Crista you are the one I wanted to spend this night with.â? He gently lifted her chin and face to look into her eyes smiling.
 
She knew even before seeing his face. It was his voice. A flood of questions hit her even before she laid eyes upon him. Was it him? What was he doing here? Had he not been put into jail after all? Why does he speak of sending the night with her?

It was that moment, that moment her eyes meet his and she knew for sure that that voice DID belong to her Aiden, that all the answers came. And it was just one answer.

HER Aiden was PRINCE Aiden.

He was not granted with the look of joy he had wanted to see on her face. It was quite the opposite in fact. Her face was frozen in a shocked, pained look. It blended with fear after a few moments. He... he had used her. He was the prince and knew the whole time that a prince and a slave girl could never really BE together. And yet he gave her words of love, gifts, kissed her, promised to take her from her horrid life at home. Lies.

Her mind went to places. Dark places. Like the many places her step family had planted in her head. She couldn't help it for it was how she had been trained by them. The way they had parted... the way she yelled and accused him of rape like that. He wanted her to pay for it. This was her punishment. To reveal himself and use the power had over her now. She would pay and she would suffer even more then she already was.

Without warning, she fell to her kneels so quickly, the sounds of her knees hitting off the stone floor sounded loud and sounded painful. Crista threw herself down to a position of total and utter groveling, bent all the way to the floor in her bow. "Forgive me your highness!!" she begged him, "If I had known who you were, I... I never would have..." she started crying. Every moment they had spent together came to her mind then. She looked back on every moment and cried for every second she thought now to have been a lie. "I never would have treated you as someone of a low station nor would I ever have DARED to yell out when you kissed me that last time! And I... I beg your mercy!! Beat me only please spare me!!"

She waited for it. That moment when he became just like everyone else in her life. Like Dilian, all laughing and vile and Juliet all cruel and mean. Had he been as she thought him to be from the first? She just waited for it to happen.
 
Aiden blinked looking at her as she begged for his mercy, he was at a loss as to why she was doing that. His hands came down to her shoulders. â??Crista, please donâ??t.â? his touch was gentle and caring as he gently encouraged her to look at him again. â??Crista I told you a lie when we first met on who I was how can I punish you for something that you not only did no know, but I fully deserved.â?

He sighed knowing what she was afraid of and he hoped he could help a little. â??I will never lay a hand on you except in love and no whip will ever touch your skin again Crista.â? He lifted her chin looking into her eyes again. â??If my father had not found out about me slipping out into the market to be with you, and had you agreed to come with me I would have just run away with you leaving my title and station because I donâ??t want them if I canâ??t have you.â?
 
She could hardly make him out from behind her teary eyes. She couldn't tell if he was being genuine or not with her. It seemed real. But many things had seemed real before only to be fake, leaving her disappointed. What to say to him. Call his bluff? Confess her heart to him? Perhaps just... something in between. For now. "You never could have done that. I never would have let you." She sniffled a bit, shivering, "You... you're going to be king. You can't EVER think about giving that up for me. I couldn't live with myself if you did. It's not right. You would be so good for this kingdom Aiden and I..." she gave a great noise of frustration, "I don't even know what I'm say! I don't know what's going on here! You! You're the Prince! The whole time you knew that THIS, you and I..." she sighed, "How did you even find me? Why am I even here? I don't belong here. And the baroness is SO mad at me for it. She's going to beat me something awful when I get home." His promises were not sinking in with her yet. She didn't realize yet that her life was officially changed now that Aiden had gotten into her life.
 
Aiden reached out his hands brushing over both of her cheeks. He firmly made he look into his eyes brushing her tears away with his thumbs. â??Crista listen very closely to me. I love you, and I am not letting you go back to the baron and baroness.â? Leaning in he kissed her forehead softly. â??You are here because I am going to marry you I made my choice of which girl I would marry when I fell in love with you.â? He kept his eyes on hers clearly completely honest with her. â??I would have given up my kingdom for you and lived a simple but happy life with you but that isnâ??t needed now. You are of noble birth the records confirm it you are I will marry you one way or another.â?
 
"Aiden..." she started, looking for a moment like she was about to say something really heartfelt and perhaps confess things in her heart to him. Her emotions bubbled to the surface, before they popped and sunk back inside. Her brainwashing was what rose to her lips instead, "You are not being realistic. If you marry me, that means that I... I would one day be queen. I'm not good enough to be a queen. Look at me, I'm nothing! No one would accept ME as their queen. And I mean... the things I have done Aiden..." her face grew sad and embarrassed, she lowered her eyes, unable to look into his as she talked about... that... "It doesn't matter what my birth record says, it's just paper. I'm a whore Aiden and you can't lower yourself to that kind of level. No matter..." she stopped herself again, not finishing her thought.
 
He stared at her having felt that moment where she almost took hold of the hope he was giving her, but almost as soon as he felt that it was gone. He felt her slipping back into the lies that her stepmother had told her. he leaned in as she stopped kissing her deeply pressing his lips to hers pouring his love into her. â??Crista, you are not a whore. A whore goes looking for what the baron forced you to do.â? He kissed her again his hand brushing over her shoulder softly. â??You are a noble lady and you are the one I love and the one that will be my next queen, no one will know about your past no one will care.â?
 
His lips tasted so sweet. Just as good as they had that first time he had captured her lips and her heart. He was such a good man and deep in her heart she knew that he would be good for her. Voices whispering in head to embrace him and all the love and protection he was offering her. The baroness's grip on her was slowly melting away. Little by little... "I would care..." she basically whimpered, feeling like she wanted to cry again. She was being torn in hundred directions.
 
Aiden looked down at her tears coming to his eyes as he leans in kissing her again. â??Crista please I care that it happened to you; but it doesnâ??t change the way I feel about you. â?? he gently stood up drawing her with him his hands slipping around her waist holding her against him as he kissed her again deeply. â??you are all that matters to me what happened to you doesnâ??t change anything. Let me show you how good things can be when there is love there.â? He leaned in to kiss her again stopping when a knock sounded at the door.
 
Crista was so torn up as she stood there with him. She just didn't know what to do. It was all happening for fast. He was an inn worker once moment then he was a prince. And he wanted to MARRY her? How could she, in all good conscious, say yes? Yet at the same time, it was all she wanted. She didn't know what to do! Just standing there, taking his kisses one after another, each throwing her thoughts about wildly.

After knocking, the door opened and the queen herself entered. Seeing her son with his arms around the young lady was a wonderful sight. She smiled, warmly, yet noticing that what the maids had relayed to her was true. She had not changed from her rags to the dress the queen herself have picked for her. "I do hope I am not intruding, but I wanted to see for myself the young lady who was to stubborn to give up her rags for some riches." The queen said it light hearted and in good spirits...

But Crista heard things different like always. She grew frozen and stiff for a moment when she heard the voice before turning in his grasp and confirming it was the queen herself. His mother. The QUEEN! "Your majesty!" Crista said with a pale face and wide eyes, moving to go into the same position of bowing she had with Aiden...
 
Aiden had let go of Crista when she turned to see his mother walk in. he smiled at his mother wanting to introduce Crista to her. however he instead had to slip his arms around her waist again and gently pull her back against his chest whispering in her ear. â??You are not a slave Crista nor a servant you are a noble woman please I need you to be in my life I want to help you get over this.â? He gently nuzzled into her neck crying softly his mother for the moment forgotten though probably not for long.
 
Crista blushed the way he continued to show affection for her in front of his mother. The queen. Dear God first the prince and now the QUEEN! All she needed now was for the king to walk in and she'd drop dead right there on the spot!

The queen cocked an eyebrow as she watched the girl fall down into a horrible common form of bowing only to be pulled back up by her son. She could see in the body language and their faces that the mood was tense, "Is there something the matter?"

Perhaps the queen could talk sense into his head... "Permission to speak your majesty..." she asked, trying to ignore that she was making him cry and making her feel awful for it.

"You didn't need to ask for it my dear. Of course my son's future bride has permission to speak to her future mother-in-law," she wore a great big smile on her face, not realizing the reaction she was about to get.

The queen was in on it to?! Oh God what was going on! Where they all mad! And why and no one yet even taken the time to ask her. It was her life after all. Everyone was always making choices for her life! First they were all vile, wicked choices, and now it was to another extreme! Being pulled in this direction so suddenly and without knowing it was coming, Crista just burst into tears. She quickly covered her face with her hands as she started to weep, legs just giving out under her.

The queen looked stunned and worried, "Was it something I said?"
 
Aiden held onto Crista as her legs collapsed under her and he slowly lowered her to the floor taking a moment to pull off his cloak and wrap it around her as she cried. He stroked her hair for a moment before standing and coming over to his mother. He leaned in close to her ear whispering, â??Mother sheâ?¦I am guessing since I know the baroness was using her for all manner of things, Iâ??m guessing that she also did her best to destroy Cristaâ??s very soul.â? He looked back at her sighing, â??I have been trying to make her understand why she is here and why I the prince love her so much but all she can see is the lies that she has been told for so many years.â? He sighed again looking into his motherâ??s eyes hoping she could help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom