Julia and Emma nodded. Anne and Sarah stood. Ella (Rosabella) looked away as they curtsied, knowing they would try to get into her bedchamber. As they walked to theirs, they looked over their shoulders and saw guards standing next to the bedchamber door that Ella (Rosabella) was using.
Julia and Emma took Ella (Rosabella)'s stepsisters into their bedchambers. They helped them change as Sarah and Anne pretended to go to sleep. After Sarah and Anne went to bed, Emperor Carl looked at Luke and called, "Lucy." Lucy walked into the room and curtsied.
Lucy stood, and Emperor Carl said, "Take Paige to the bedchamber she and her husband use. If she is about to do the same thing her daughters did last night, she plans to do the same today. Just shake your head and tell her she has one more night until she goes home. If she forces you to take her there, point to the guards and say that her husband is coming to stop her."
Lucy nodded as Paige was in shock, and she (Paige) stood. Paige curtsied and briskly walked to the bedchamber she and Luke were using. Paige did not see the guards and let Lucy help her get changed.
Luke was utterly surprised and remained seated. Ella (Rosabella) saw her stepmother leave the room, and Emperor Carl said. "Luke, can you sit next to me on my left because I want you to tell Rosabella what you said to her stepmother last night after she was thrown out of the bedchamber and not mention that she got brutally beaten up by her stepmother."
Luke nodded and stood up. He strode towards Emperor Carl, Ella (Rosabella), and sat beside him on his left. Ella (Rosabella) did not know what was happening and, as Luke described, looked at her papa after taking deep breaths.
"Ella, after you were beaten up by your stepmother and thrown out of the bedchamber that Emperor Carl had decided you would have by your stepsisters. Emperor Carl was about to speak with your stepmother when I had a go at my second wife, and I said to Paige, with Emperor Carl as my witness."
"I knew that you did not deserve to be thrown out of the bedchamber that you were using, and I quote.'I want my daughter to stay here and know that Rosabella must choose. But she deserves to stay here rather than be treated like a servant. If anyone deserves to stay here and be treated with the respect they have earned, that is Rosabella, and I meant every single word that I just said.'"
"You deserve to be here more than your stepsisters and truly earned the bedchamber you are using right now." Ella (Rosabella) stood and treaded around Emperor Carl. Ella (Rosabella) knelt next to Luke. She placed her hands on his right arm, and they looked at each other. Ella (Rosabella) spoke with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you, father. I know it was not easy for you, either. If anyone deserves a break from buying expensive clothes and jewels and getting no help after becoming ill, you, Father, and I know that much." Luke kissed Ella (Rosabella) on her forehead, and she stood up. Ella (Rosabella) moved around Emperor Carl and sat.
Emperor Carl knew that Ella (Rosabella) had seen her father struggle with the demands Paige, Sarah, and Anna had made of him. Emperor Carl knew he wanted to spend time with Ella (Rosabella) and called out. "Fred." Fred walked into the room and bowed low. Fred stood, and Emperor Carl demanded.
"Take Luke back to the bedroom he and Paige are using and help him get ready for bed." Fred nodded as Luke stood and bowed. Luke stood and slowly plodded back to the bedroom he and Paige were using, with Fred stepping behind him. Fred helped Luke to get changed, and Luke went straight to bed.
Back in the dining room, Ella (Rosabella) sighed with relief, and Emperor Carl knew that she had no idea that her father wanted to give her a break as he spoke softly to her. "You never knew that your father wanted to give you a break or a rest."
"Tomorrow, you and your family must stand near the carriage in the morning. I will ask you and your stepsisters if any of you three want to stay here with me and the servants and why. After I hear your replies, I will announce who deserves to stay here and who should go home. Now, it is your father, stepmother, and stepsisters to go home, and you stay here. But I need to know what you like and what your favourite things to do are."
Ella (Rosabella) knew he was telling the truth and slowly opened her mouth. "I must be honest here because my father remarried before my stepmother and her daughters arrived. I used to do archery, read a book, ride a horse, dance, and learn about the other kingdoms."
"My father had some time to spend and played games with me. I used to let the servants get on with their jobs without ordering them around and thanked them for doing a fantastic job. When it is Christmas and my birthday. I always asked my father to allow the servants to celebrate Christmas and my birthday with us."
"I was given a five-patch section of the garden to grow any flowers or vegetables I wanted. However, after my stepmother and her daughters arrived. I was not allowed to do anything I loved and was forced to do the housework. The servants and the head of the household never told me off. They had foreseen what I was like before my stepmother and her daughters arrived."
"I could not talk to my stepmother and stepsisters without their permission. I was not allowed to spend time with my dad or eat at the table with the rest of the family. Did you come to stay at my father's home with your late wife/Queen?"