Fire filled Ansel's eyes as anger darkened his gaze.
"And just how do you know that the food has been poisoned," He snarled, grinding his teeth.
Hattie glanced over at him, a soft deceit filling her eyes. She kneeled on the ground before him.
"Please Your Majesty I know I no longer have business in the castle but I worry about you. I worry about your safety. I know it wasn't right but these past couple of months, I've been watching you train at the Training Grounds and I heard your conversation with Milady…" She whined, her soft tone filled with pity.
"That still doesn't tell me how you know that the food was poisoned," He grumbled, "So tell me how did you come to find this?"
She turned her eyes to the ground, lowering her head…
"Your Majesty, I've lived in the castle for years and gained many friends there and I know it wasn't right but I have stayed connected with some of the servants there… I know you do not love me Your Majesty but… but I love you. I love you more than anything! So I've made sure that the servants monitored your safety and when I heard of Milady offering to cook you dinner I just… I just couldn't shake the feeling that she was going to do something to it," She lifted up her head, fire filling her eyes. She pointed at Gabrielle, "You may trust her but you do not know her. She does not care for you like I do and I wish you would see that. Had it not been for me checking on the food you and His Highness and even her very own Lady in Waiting would've died from unknown poisoning. Your Majesty you simply can not trust her! Please, please believe me," Hattie ranted, placing her hands on her lap, "Please believe me Your Majesty… I know that you will never love me but I just want to see you safe… Please believe that my love for you runs deep… Deeper than anything that you could ever imagine… Milady is trying to kill you."
Ansel glanced over at Gabrielle, looking into her widened eyes, he grinded his teeth.
Clap, clap, clap
"You have some nerve," Josephine scolded, clapping her hands, "Do you really honestly think we would believe anything you have to say?"
"Josephine, you're the biggest idiot on the planet. Even after I save you, you still are coming after me! Realize that you could've been murdered," Hattie scolded.
"Murdered I-"
"Enough," Ansel shouted, interrupting Josephine.
He glanced over to Hattie, walking over to her.
Step, crunch, step, crunch, step, crunch.
"When were you informed of this," Ansel questioned.
"An hour ago," Hattie muttered, turning her dewy-eye gaze up towards him, "Me and Nylah ran here as fast as we could… I had to save you."
He reached his hand out towards Hattie, watching as she grabbed his hand, he helped her off the ground.
"Do you believe me," She whispered.
He looked away, turning a sharp gaze towards Gabrielle.
He let go of Hattie's hand, slowly walking over to Gabrielle. Tension thickened the air.
"After everything I've done for you, this is how you treat me," Ansel growled.
"Y-Your M-Majesty I,"
"Answer me," Ansel shouted, grabbing Gabrielle's wrist, "After everything you choose to betray me in such a vile way."
"You can't be serious," Josephine protested, "You know Hattie is a known liar."
"Stay out of this," Ansel roared, his eyes still fixated on Gabrielle.
Josephine looked over at Christopher, her eyes filled with desperation.
"Do something," She begged, "He's your best friend."
Christopher hung his head, turning it away from Josephine.
"Your Majesty, you know I would never do such a thing," Gabrielle pleaded, "Please believe me."
"Stop with your pitiful tactics. I don't want to hear anything else from you. You tried to kill me, and you think you'll get away with it… No…," Ansel fumed, gripping his hand around her arm.
"Please Your Majesty, just listen," Gabrielle cried, "I would never try to hurt you. Hattie is lying."
"It's Lady Hattie to you and Lady Hattie would never lie about such a thing, not after that confession of love for me… You tried to kill me… I will not let you get away with this," He snarled.
"Your Majesty please, you know Milady would never do that," Josephine protested stepping towards him, "Milady would never try to-"
"So you'll stand by this woman," Ansel growled, interrupting Jospehine.
"Yes I will," Josephine proclaimed, standing her ground, "I believe her, I know she's telling the truth."
"Then die with her too," Ansel fumed, dragging Gabrielle to the carriage by her arm, Hattie and Nylah following behind them as Josephine and Christopher watched.
"I want nothing more to do with you, Your Highness," Josephine fumed, staring at Christopher, "You are not someone I will ever be with."
Josephine stormed off as Christopher followed closely behind her.
30 minutes later…
The carriage slowly pulled up to the front of the castle…
The door to the carriage swung open as Ansel got out of the carriage, dragging Gabrielle behind him.
They looked in front of them, being met by Cobsworth, a group of servants, and a group of guards, bowing to them.
"Welcome," Cobsworth greeted, "We weren't expecting you back so soon."
Hattie and Nylah exited the carriage, watching as Cobsworth's eyes widened.
Jospehine exited the carriage, watching as Ansel tossed Gabrielle into a guard's arms.
She rushed over to Gabrielle.
"Lady Hattie has risked her life to inform me that this traitor has poisoned the picnic food, in an attempt to kill me and His Highness. This is a great tragedy! I want Gabrielle thrown into her room for now and I want 20 guards, guarding her door at all times, until her trial starts," Ansel commanded, putting his hand out towards Hattie.
A soft smile came to Hattie's face and she rushed over to take Ansel's hand.
"Your Majesty, I can not believe that you-"
"Do not question His Majesty," Christopher scolded, rushing over to Josephine, "Your status is beneath him."
"Watch your tongue," Cobsworth warned, "His Majesty has made an order and we are to follow it."
"Your Majesty please," Josephine begged, "Milady,"
"Take Josephine away with Gabrielle… They both will stand trial," Ansel ordered.
Josephine glanced over at Christopher, watching as he turned away from her.
Tears filled her eyes as the guards dragged her and Gabrielle away.
Ansel turned his gaze towards Hattie, raising her hand up to his lips, he kissed it…
"As for our Lady Hattie, I want her and her maid adorned in beautiful dresses. For tonight we will have a celebration in her honor," He announced, pulling her in closely.
"And please bring all your friends in the castle. I want all to be celebrated tonight," Ansel whispered in her ear.
She nodded softly, covering her blushing face.