courage and kindness

"It almost feels like a dream. The way they're soaring through the sky. Do you ever wonder what it's like to be so limitless?" she asked with a dreamy hum. Growing up an only child, Aurora had always wondered what it would have been like to have siblings. It wasn't until she married that she not only gained two wonderful brothers, but she also gained an incredible sister in Ella. The pair were two peas in a pod. Young women navigating life after happily ever after and all the twists and turns that came with fairytales. She was grateful to have had two sons, knowing that her boys would always have someone to lean on. Knowing they would not be alone. Knowing she would not be either. "Oh, heavens no! You certainly. You're entirely captivating even while standing. I fear I would get tangled in the ropes."

"all the time," she admitted. "they make everything down here seem so... simple. imagine waking up one morning and deciding to see the world from above or upside down." she smiled wistfully. "there's something beautiful about that."

the family - himself, kit, ella, and aurora - wasn't much to worry about these days. this was ella, though, so he bit back a comment about that which would probably hurt himself more than her anyway, and forced himself to soften and relax. realer smile, this time. “but i promise, it'll be our secret, so long as you help me find another drink and maybe take a break from the dance floor.”

ella let out a relieved laugh once she realized he wasn't upset, though she still winced as her eyes fell to the champagne soaking into his shirt. "i cannot believe i managed to make you wear your drink," she said, shaking her head.

she slipped her arm through his with an apologetic smile. "deal. i'll replace your drink, and i'll even agree to a very brief break from the dance floor." she emphasized very with a grin before nudging him toward the fountain. "consider it my official apology. after that, though, i fully expect you to forgive me enough to let me steal at least one dance. or are you to tell me your brother is the only one who enjoys a dance?"

taking a small sip of champagne. she'd lost count of how many she'd had now. she could imagine ella dancing all night with her king. sylvie nodded, eyeing the ballroom floor herself. "i think dance too, but i think having the right partner is an important part of it too." she had lots of friends that she could dance with and she wanted the chance to spend the night dancing with all of them.

ella's cheeks warmed beneath the compliment, a bright smile spreading across her face. "you're so very sweet," she said, giving a small shake of her head. "but i think fairytales have nothing on reality sometimes. at least in stories, you usually know how they're going to end." her gaze drifted around the glittering ballroom, the enchanted lights and elegant gowns making everything feel almost impossibly magical. "though… tonight comes pretty close."

she glanced toward the dance floor before looking back to sylvie with a knowing grin. "i think you're right. the right partner can make even the simplest dance unforgettable. that's how i met my kit." tilting her head, she held out a hand with an inviting smile. "lucky for us, i don't think a dance has to be romantic to be special. what do you say? shall we stop admiring everyone else having fun and join them?"

Ambrosius let out a quiet laugh, glancing from the wine to Ella before shaking his head. "You've made a very compelling argument." The corners of his mouth lifted into an easy smile. "I suppose I've been treating one glass of wine like it's a tactical decision instead of... well, a glass of wine."

He finally held his glass beneath the fountain, watching it fill before offering a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Ella. I think I needed someone to remind me that the city can survive without me worrying over it for one evening." He lifted his glass slightly toward hers. "I'd be happy to share that first drink with you."

ella laughed softly as she reached for an empty glass of her own, holding it beneath the fountain until the wine splashed inside. "see? that wasn't so difficult." lifting her glass, she clinked it gently against his with a grin. "and if the city somehow does fall apart in the next hour, i promise someone will come find you."

she took a small sip before looking back at him. "until then, you're off duty. no knightly duties, no crisis management, no pretending a glass of wine is a life-altering choice." her smile softened just a touch. "now just enjoy the ball with me for a little while." she smiled, "tell me. how have you and yours been, dear ambro?"

sylvie was used to big parties, balls, celebrations that required dressing up and dancing the night away. this was her realm and while she might not be that carefree girl standing on her father's toes as he whisked her around the ballroom while she giggled, sylvie was excited none the less for a party where she could shine. this night would be nice, she hoped, as she dressed up all fancy and hung out with her friends. she wouldn't be the center of attention because here she was sylvie the baker, not sylvie the princess—and that one identity was still a part of her, still who she was deep down, she did enjoy the freedom she was getting from being just a baker, someone unknown, unimportant.

some might call her outfit predictable for herself, the butterfly on her dress the sort of forest elf fairytale aesthetic that people knew her to be, but it fit her. it made her feel comfortable. and how could one celebrate the summer solstice without celebrating the best parts of summer? everyone looked absolutely stunning tonight, like they'd put far more effort and time into their outfit than she had. her eyes glanced around the space, watching people mingle and enjoy themselves. she could almost picture being home for a moment, maybe somewhere in the crowd her mom was around giggling with her friends, her dad talking the politics he promised to leave be for the night. in another lifetime that's how the night might go. sylvie wasn't that lucky.

her green eyes landed on someone standing alone. "you look stunning. what's your poison: drink or dance?"

ella's smile grew as she looked sylvie over, taking in the beautiful details of her dress and the delicate butterfly that adorned it. "sylvie, you look absolutely lovely," she said warmly. "the dress suits you perfectly. it feels like something that belongs in a fairytale, but in the best possible way." she gave a small laugh, adjusting the fabric of her own gown.

her eyes flickered toward the dance floor at sylvie's question, a familiar excitement lighting up her expression. "oh, definitely dance," ella answered without hesitation. "a good dance can make even the most ordinary night feel special." she offered her a playful smile. "and what about you, dear, what's your poison?"

The Summer Solstice Ball had transformed Elias into something out of a storybook. Golden lanterns hung from every tree surrounding the gardens, casting warm light over polished marble paths and the slow swirl of dancers moving beneath the stars. Laughter drifted through the evening air alongside music that seemed to find its way into every quiet corner of the celebration. It was beautiful.

Ambrosius wished he could stop looking for exits long enough to appreciate it. Old habits were difficult to break. Even dressed for a ball instead of standing in polished armor, his eyes instinctively swept the crowd every few moments. Nothing appeared out of place, yet his mind continued its quiet inventory of the room before finally allowing itself to settle. He found himself standing beside the enormous wine fountain near the edge of the ballroom, a crystal glass balanced lightly between his fingers while he regarded the flowing wine with far more concentration than it deserved. He looked down at the empty glass again before letting out a quiet laugh.

"I've spent more time debating this than it would take to actually drink it." Finally noticing someone nearby, Ambrosius smiled sheepishly and held up the untouched glass. "Settle something for me." His tone was warm, inviting rather than formal. "Does accepting one glass of wine count as enjoying the evening, or does it count as making poor professional decisions? I'm beginning to think I'm overthinking it, but I'd appreciate a second opinion."

ella approached with a soft smile, glancing between ambrosius and the untouched glass in his hand before letting out a quiet laugh. "i think you've spent more time worrying about the decision than you would have spent enjoying the drink," she teased gently. "but, for what it's worth, i don't think one glass of wine is a poor professional decision. i think it means you're allowing yourself to enjoy the evening."

she looked around at the glowing gardens and the people dancing beneath the lights, her expression warm. "you spend so much time looking out for everyone else, ambrosius. you're allowed to have a night where you simply get to be here." she nudged his arm lightly with a smile. "so yes, accept the glass. and if it helps, i'll join you."

The feeling of a ball was bittersweet for Aurora. The last time she was here, she was dancing in the arms of her beloved Philip. Now she remained on the dance floor, floating in space with no tether. She had gotten used to the feeling. The emptiness, the sadness. Moments like this opened old wounds, but tonight she would persevere as she always did. "I wonder where Minnie found all these acrobats. They're spectacular."

ella followed aurora's gaze to the performers, a warm smile settling across her face as another acrobat soared overhead. "they really are," she agreed softly. "it almost doesn't seem real, does it?" after a brief pause, she slipped her hand gently around aurora's arm. she wanted to say she thought philip would've loved this part most. he always seemed to enjoy seeing everyone else smile just as much as he enjoyed a show. but, she settled on not. she would save that for later when timing felt better. "i think we could get up there and put on a show, no?" she teased with a wink.

Ella Charmont ✦ Cinderella ✦ Simone Ashley ✦ Cinderella

KILL THE CHAOS, FIND THE BALANCE

CURRENT AGE: Thirty One

SPECIES: Human

OCCUPATION: Queen of Ulstead

AVAILABILITY: Open

AROUND WE GO, ELLA CHARMONT

For Ella Kaur, the phrase ‘Have courage and Be Kind’ was something her mother instilled in her from a young age. The world could be cruel, but even in the darkest of times, Ella refused to be. Her mother died when she was a young girl. After a while, Ella’s father believed his daughter deserved a mother figure. It led him to marry Lady Tremaine, a recent widow with two young daughters of her own. Ella’s father had hoped that the two of them could become a perfect blended family, but Araminta Tremaine was not as kind as she presented herself to be. She had married the Earl for money, not love. Another child is not what she wanted. When she was fourteen, Ella found herself in the reluctant care of her stepmother after her father passed away from illness. Lady Tremaine only kept Ella around because of the money the Earl left to her. Though Ella would never see that money until she was twenty, leaving her stepmother to bide her time. Lady Tremaine forced Ella to take on the work of all the household servants she had dismissed. They mockingly referred to her as Cinderella from that day on, seeing her face covered in cinders after sleeping by the fireplace. 

Ella did not find her life to be terrible. She found brightness even if she was quite often in discouraging situations. The Tremaines often mistreated Ella, but she endured - perhaps too well. Her silver lining came in the form of a ball. The King was hosting one in hopes of finding a wife for his eldest son. It wasn’t the potential of finding love that made Ella want to go to the ball. It was the chance of freedom that enticed her. Her wish never came true. The dress that once belonged to her mother, which she refashioned, was ripped by her sisters, leaving Ella with a torn dress and a broken heart. She believed her chance was gone until a Fairy Godmother appeared. She turned Ella’s ripped dress into a beautiful gown with glass slippers to match. She gave the girl until the stroke of midnight to live her wildest dreams.

Ella did not squander her chance. For the first time in a very long time, she felt the weight of the world lift from her shoulders. She even managed to dance with the prince himself. Although she would try to deny it, something bloomed that night. Her dazzling night came to an end when the clock bell rang, but it lived on in Ella’s heart from that day on. What she didn’t expect was for Kit to go on a kingdom-wide search for the mysterious maiden who left her slipper behind. Ella was ready to confess her identity when tragedy struck. An evil mistress by the name of Maleficent threatened the kingdom of Ulstead, forcing the Charmonts to leave. With a new threat looming, Ella was left to fend for herself as she woke to her stepmother and sisters fleeing their own home for protection, leaving Ella behind. Her faith would have been shattered had Fae Goodwoon, the fairy godmother who helped her get to the ball, also offered sanctuary in a city called Elias. Fae was well acquainted with the ruler, Michael Mouse, and promised dear Ella she could be safe there in her care. 

Elias was a blessing in disguise. Ella was finally free from her stepmother's clutches. A new life was on the horizon. Little did she know, love was also waiting for her. To her surprise, Elias was the city that Kit had fled to. Call it fate or fairy godmother conspiring, but Ella and Kit reunited. The two fell in love. Ella was able to confess that she was the mystery woman Kit had been searching for. But her fairytale ending was halted by the darkness Maleficent inflicted on Elias. Ella was caught in the crosshairs of the battle. She wasn’t a fighter by any means, but she aided citizens where she could and helped the city the best way she knew how: by leading with her heart. Courage and kindness. 

In the wake of tragedy, Ella and Kit were left to keep moving forward. There was a kingdom that needed a king, and Kit needed a queen. It wasn’t the circumstances he wanted to propose to Ella in, but he knew that she was the one for him. After all, he had vowed to marry the mysterious maiden who left her glass slipper. Ella loved Kit dearly. She would help him lead Ulstead and mend his aching heart. She knew the pain of losing loved ones. Ella wouldn’t let Kit carry that alone. Neither of them ever had to face the world alone again. 

It’s been five years since they left Elias. Five years since they became husband and wife, and five years since Ella became queen. In those five years, she never imagined her husband would announce his return to the city he could barely speak of. There was a new darkness that threatened Elias. With Florian and Aurora still there, Ella knew that Kit couldn’t leave them behind in good faith. Nor could she. It was a tough decision, but one Ella insisted needed to be done. After all these years, she finally had a family again. She refused to let it be broken apart any more than it already was. She agreed to return to Elias with Kit to help their family.

Little does Ella know that returning to Elias means learning she has unfinished business with her stepmother. A secret that was once kept from her will finally come to light.

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