Hi guys, thanks for all the comments! Here's part two of chapter 7.
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I stepped outside. Malcolm's accusatory eyes met mine, and Regina sneered as she walked away.
"Hi, Malcolm."
He said nothing.
"Just let me explain."
I closed the gap between us. I still couldn't look him in the eye.
"It's true, what Regina told you. I'm not Drizella and Anastacia's cousin. I'm their stepsister." I gestured to my clothes. "And I'm a maid... but I wasn't always."
I explained the whole story to him, leaving nothing out. My parent's death and the strange coincidences with Regina, how she took power and stole everything from me. How she made me her slave and allowed me no freedom. I even told him about my mother's spirit watching over me from beyond.
"And that's why I lied to you Malcolm. I couldn't bear to tell you the truth. I just wanted to escape from my life, for a little while at least. I never expected -" my voice trailed off.
"What?" he asked softly.
I sighed. "I never expected to fall in love with you."
I walked away from him, before he could say anything. It was better for him to move on and forget about me. He deserved better.
"Wait."
He pulled me into an embrace.
"I'm sorry you had to go through all that."
Drizella and Anastacia had come outside curiously to see what was going on. Drizella looked on enviously, while Anastacia just looked happy for me.
And then... Malcolm asked me to come and live with him! It was like a dream come true! I said yes, of course. Finally, my chance to escape had come!
Malcolm went inside. He said he had something to do. I left him to it, pulling Bruno into a hug.
"Did you hear that, boy? We're getting out of here!"
His tail wagged excitedly.
Meanwhile, inside...
"Cinderella told me everything. You're lucky I don't have you arrested."
"Oh, come now, Malcolm! Don't be ridiculous. The Landgrabbs and the Tremaines go back a long way! You wouldn't want to jeopardise that relationship now, would you?"
Malcolm ignored her.
"I'll leave you alone on one condition... you never speak to her, ever again."
Regina stared at him blankly. She wasn't used to not getting her way.
"Oh, and... she gets all of her belongings back. And she brings her parents and Bruno with her."
She nodded speechlessly.
"Glad you're in agreement. Goodbye, Regina."
I rushed inside, I couldn't stand the waiting.
"I'm finished. Get all the stuff you want to bring, we're going home."
I smiled, not believing this was happening.
"Okay. I just need to grab my parents graves. I don't need much else."
After I'd finished getting all the things I'd need (including some of my favourite old dresses which had mysteriously resurfaced on my bed), I met Malcolm outside. He was sitting on the floor. I joined him.
"Remember when we stargazed the night of the ball?"
"Well yeah, it was like a week ago." I grinned.
He chuckled. "For old times sake?"
We stared up into the sky happily. It felt like a completely different sky to the one I'd looked at the ball. This time, I didn't have to worry about being caught or punished ever again. This time, I was free.
He whispered in my ear. "See the famous spoon of Leviticus?"
I giggled. I would be so happy even I could just watch the stars with Malcolm every day for the rest of my life.
As we got up, Malcolm looked distracted.
"What's wrong?"
"Cindy, I haven't been completely honest with you either. There's something I have to tell you."
My heart sank. He looked so sad. I hoped he wasn't going to tell me he already had an illegitimate child or something.
"What is it?"
He leant towards me. "Landgrabbs aren't just famous for being wealthy you know. There's something else. You see... Sunset Valley is a principality. And it's technically ruled over by a monarch."
I hesitated. "Okay..." This was going in a totally different direction to what I had expected.
"So that means it's governed by my father. Which makes me..."
"...a prince." I finished for him, before taking a breath. "Wow."
"So... is that okay with you? I mean, I know it's a lot to take in."
I exhaled, letting out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, you could say that."
"And there's one more thing."
"What else could there possibly be?!" I exclaimed.
He suddenly looked really, really nervous. "Well, it, er... It wouldn't be right of me to bring back a girl to the 'palace', as it were, without... erm, making her... my wife."
And before I could react, he'd got down on one knee.
"So with that in mind, will you marry me?"
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Eee! Exciting chapter! Hope everyone liked it
