Clay woke up on a Tuesday afternoon at 10 AM exact, like usual. He brushed his straight black hair, got dressed, and brushed his teeth then waited in the huge dining room of the Hickory Hill mansion.
Adira: the maid, Oliver: the chef, Esma: the other maid, Charlotte: Clay's tailor, and Darby: the butler all rushed over to the dining room.
"You are all awfully late.", Clay scoffed in disappointment.
"We're sorry, Master. It won't happen again.", they all insisted at the same time.
"It better not. Or else you fools will be put in a bottomless pit of despair... No pay for a week. You show up late again, I mark my words.", he threatened. Everyone groaned.
Clay adjusted his tie then cleared his throat. "Darby.". Darby perked his head up. "Yes, Master?", he responded. "Go get Adira and Esma some new rags and cleaning utilities. Girls, you two follow alongside my butler. Charlotte. You better have my new suit tailored by tomorrow or I'll sew your eyelids shut with your own needles. Oliver. Go fix breakfast or your face will be in that boiling hot water instead of the eggs you shall cook. Now go!", Clay ordered.
Everyone scampered out of the room and went to go do their orders.
There was a horse neighing outside of the estate. Clay peered out the gigantic stained glass window to see young Anastasia walking out of her horse drawn carriage.
"Clay-",
"Gah! You scared me to peril, you mongrel! You know not to creep up on me like that, Darby! Would you like no career?!", he threatened.
"I'm terribly sorry, Master. But I've showed Adira and Esma to some new supplies and it looks like the princess of Cotton Forest has arrived at your doorstep.", Darby said.
"No shit-",
"Watch your tongue, sir.".
"I'm 13. I'll do as I chose. And did you invite her here?! You know I don't fancy a platinum blonde haired girl in a bubblegum pink and baby blue dress, Darby. She is of the utmost annoyance, you know I don't like her.", Clay complained.
"Nor do I fancy a 22 year old butler with jet black hair and blue eyes and a stupid butler outfit, yet I have to deal with him in the mirror everyday! And a red, not ginger, haired girl with a maid outfit that's in love with me... Esma-",
Anastasia knocked on the front door, with a loud bang, over and over again. Clay and Darby made their way downstairs. Everybody gathered at the door as Darby slowly opened it.
She burst in and squeezed Clay nearly to death. "I haven't seen you in the longest time, I've missed you so much.", Anastasia grinded through her perfectly white teeth.
"Lady White, do be more careful. You don't want to hug him to death.", Darby chuckled.
"Oh, but I do! I just want to hold him in my arms forever! He's the cutest little prince this land has ever conquered!", she exclaimed.
"Argh. Too... Tight...", Clay groaned. Anastasia finally let go of him and she squealed excitedly. "I can't believe we're getting married-",
"Married?! No one told me about getting married?!", he shouted. "Master, it has been arranged with the country Cotton Forest-",
"I never agreed! And I never will!", he yelled then stormed off to his room. Darby shortly followed after.
Adira, Esma, Charlotte, and Oliver all groaned. Anastasia started to sniffle as a tear trailed down her cheek.
"Oh, don't cry, baby. You'll be fine. It's alright. He'll soften up to you once he gets used to ya'! You just gotta give him some time!", Esma reassured with her cunning British accent.
"You-you really th-think so? Agh... Don't look at me. I'm such a mess. Do-do you have any tissues? I need to wipe these tears. "Crying isn't good for a young lady like me", my mother would say. And it's true!", Anastasia claimed.
Meanwhile, upstairs:
"Leave me alone!", Clay demanded. "Clay, I was just trying to bring you more joy-",
"Joy?! You think that Powerpuff Girl reboot that looks like a unicorn spit up on her will bring me joy?! Absolutely not, Darby! She looks like she was dancing on rainbows with all her unicorn friends just a couple seconds ago...", he muttered to himself.
"That's quite rude of you, don't you think? Now go get back down there! You hurt the poor girls feelings.".
"Fine.".
Darby and Clay made it back downstairs. "I'm sorry.", Clay grunted out. Esma slowly clapped. "I'm with you on that one, toots.", Oliver said then clicked his tongue, exposing his gleaming white canines as he slicked back his light brown hair and winked with his dark brown eyes. Esma dramatically sighed, while blushing, with her hands folded next to her cheekbones.
"I take back what I said. I, Clay Adams; king and prince of Twisted Hollows, will take Anastasia White, princess and queen of Cotton Forest's, hand in marriage.", he declared.
Everyone started to clap and cheer as Anastasia hugged Clay.
"We will dance! Right here! And right now! We shall have a traditional slow dance in honor of my daddy!", Anastasia announced.
"Yes. We shall. I just have to go upstairs first and get prepared. Come along now, Darby.".
Once again, Anastasia squealed in excitement.
Upstairs:
"I don't know how to slow dance and I hate dancing.".
"Oh, come on! You have to dance for the poor immerse little damsel or else she'll be shivering in her $1,000,000,000 dress, crying, because the prince of Twisted Hollows won't even touch her.", Darby teased.
"Stop making me feel bad, you fool! I don't care for dancing! If I step on her feet, she won't want to dance anymore.".
"Clay that isn't a way to get your feet moving. Come on. You shall dance with me. For practice.".
Darby put his hands around Clay and they started to slow dance. "This is ridiculous. There's no point in fishing if you won't get a bite...", Clay muttered.
"Ah! You're doing perfect, Master! I don't even think you need to practice, anymore. You go down there and show Anastasia the way your feet do, and not your lips.", Darby laughed then gave him a cunning grin.
Clay groaned then went to get changed into more formal wear.
This is it. Clay of Twisted Hollows and Anastasia of Cotton Forest are having their first dance.