Once Upon A Royal Christmas (Chaennie)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Ella couldn't keep still in class the next day. Her leg bounced underneath her desk through the entirety of the morning math lesson while her eyes darted to check the time every other minute. She gave answers that were short and unfocused as her pen continually banged against the side of her desk. If Rosie hadn't known better, she would have thought Lisa had slipped a few extra shots of espresso into the teen's coffee that morning, but Rosie knew differently: Ella had lunch plans with her favorite aunt.

"Are you sure I can't just let you go early for lunch?" Rosie asked after the third time Ella didn't hear the question Rosie read aloud from the textbook.

"Nah, she's got a schedule to keep and I don't want to interrupt it," Ella said as she bounced in her seat. "Gosh, I'm so excited though."

"Really?" Rosie said with mock shock. "I couldn't tell."

"You don't understand. This past year, with everything going on with my father, I haven't gotten a chance to speak with her one-on-one in months. And we used to do it all the time. She'd take me to lunches and museums and parks. We had so much fun, and I'd tell her everything." Ella frowned. "I really miss that." A smile quickly took over her brief frown. "But now she's back and it can be like old times! Just in time for the holidays too!"

Krystal's words from the night before floated through Rosie's head as she pulled the open textbook tighter to her chest.

"Ella," Rosie hesitated. "I hate to say it, but things will probably never be like the old times."

"No." Ella shook her head. "I know my aunt. You'll see."

With a small nod, Rosie held out her textbook and did her best to resume the chapter, ignoring the sour feeling stirring in her chest. However, just fifteen minutes later, there was a knock at the door and Ms. Song entered with a short curtsy towards the teen.

"Vic!" Ella jumped to her feet. "Did Aunt Jennie finish up early? Can I go meet her now?"

"I'm sorry, Lady Ella," Ms. Song said solemnly. "But plans have changed and her Majesty will be unable to attend lunch today and sends her deepest apologies."

"But..." the spirit deflated from Ella's chest, leaving her body limp as her mind scrambled. "She promised."

"Unfortunately the Prime Minister of Bulgaria had no compassion for those plans," Ms. Song explained matter of factly even though her throat bobbed. "I do hope you understand."

"I guess," Ella mumbled as she sagged back into her seat like a deflated ballon.

"Now if you excuse me, I must be getting back to her," Ms. Song spun on her heel before hesitating at the door. "I really am sorry, Lady Ella. She was really looking forward to lunch today."

"Yeah, whatever," Ella mumbled in a voice weaker than before as she hunched over her desk, turning her head away from the door and to the snowy window outside.

Rosie's eyes met Ms. Song and they exchanged a brief nod before Ms. Song went on her way, shutting the door behind her. Placing her textbook to the side, Rosie squatted down next to Ella's desk, not quite in her line of sight but eye level. She wasn't entirely sure what to do, but this always seemed to help when Rachel would do it for her when she was acting like Ella so hopefully this translated.

"I'm sorry, Ella," Rosie started gently.

"It's whatever," Ella mumbled, still not taking her focus off the window.

"We can always get lunch together," Rosie suggested, rocking forward on the balls of her feet.

"It's not the same," Ella grumbled.