The Princess and the Witch
1
Winx Bloom
Hi there 👋🏻 I'm Bloom and I'm the narrator of this story ✨
Winx Bloom
This is going to be one hell of a work. Anyway, I hope you like bedtime stories 😌
The kingdom was in the middle of a civil war. Soldiers were fighting, politicians were arguing, and people were accusing each other of witchcraft.
Winx Bloom
In short, nobody was having a particularly pleasant time.
Now, this story takes place during the reign of King Charles I of the House of Stuart.
Winx Bloom
But before you start worrying about memorizing royal family trees, don't. This isn't his story👀
Winx Bloom
This is the story of Princess Eleanor Stuart and Alice Fletcher.
Winx Bloom
Let's start with Eleanor.
Everyone in England believed she was Princess Mary's twin sister. Technically speaking, she wasn't.
Winx Bloom
You see, Eleanor was adopted😅
Winx Bloom
Her birth parents were nobles loyal to the Crown. What happened to them is a story for another day😮💨
When Princess Mary was born weak and sickly, the royal family decided it would be wise to keep another child close. Just in case.
Winx Bloom
Fortunately, Princess Mary survived.
Unfortunately for the House of Stuart, they now had an extra daughter.
Not that anyone complained. Eleanor was clever, charming, and adored by nearly everyone she met.
Winx Bloom
Well... almost everyone👀
Winx Bloom
And here's the family tree of Princess Eleanor...
Father: Charles I
Mother: Henrietta Maria of France
Older Brother: Charles II
Sister: Mary, Princess Royal
Brother: James II
2
Winx Bloom
Welcome to the next episode where the plot started. I'm not going to explain anymore 😮💨
Winx Bloom
You my dear! Figure it out on ur own 😌
Inside the Royal Garden ~
Eleanor stared at her brother as though he had lost his senses.
Eleanor Stuart
I cannot marry you
Charles II
(folding his arms)
You can
Eleanor Stuart
I cannot! You're my brother
Charles II
Only in the eyes of the kingdom
Eleanor Stuart
(expression hardened)
That changes nothing
Charles II
It changes everything
Charles II
The Crown is hanging by a thread. Parliament seeks to strip us of everything. Father grows weaker by the day, and our enemies multiply. We must secure the House of Stuart
Eleanor Stuart
By marrying one another?
Charles II
By preserving our family
Eleanor let out a short, humourless laugh.
Eleanor Stuart
Would you ask the same of Mary?
The question struck him like a slap.
Charles II
No, I would not!
Charles II
Because Mary is my sister 😡
Silence fell between them.
The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them.
Charles II
I... I didn't mean…
Eleanor Stuart
(lower her gaze)
I see
Charles pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled heavily
Eleanor Stuart
(didn't look at him)
After a long pause, he stepped back
Charles II
Very well. I shall not press you further today
Charles II
(turn towards the exit)
Charles II
Think on what I have said
Then he left, leaving Eleanor alone with thoughts she wished had never been spoken aloud
The carriage rattled along the muddy road toward the royal palace.
Inside, Alice Fletcher sat with a small mirror balanced in one hand and a comb in the other.
Her hair was still slightly damp from her bath.
The comb snagged on a knot
Alice Fletcher
Oh, come on....💢
Alice Fletcher
Why is it tangled again? 😭
(combing her hair again)
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
I warned you yesterday 😂😌
Alice Fletcher
About what?🙄
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
About spending half the morning in the bath😮💨
Alice Fletcher
I did not spend half the morning in the bath😤
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
You did
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
You most certainly did
Alice huffed and returned to combing her hair.
Alice Fletcher
We are going to the palace. The palace, Uncle. Am I supposed to arrive looking like a scarecrow?
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
I fail to see how that would differ from your usual appearance.
Alice Fletcher
That was cruel
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
That was truthful
After several minutes of struggling, she finally untangled the last knot
She put the comb aside and quickly arranged her hair.
When she was satisfied, she reached into her satchel and produced a handful of red berries.
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
(narrow eyes)
What are you doing?
Alice Fletcher
Improving myself
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
That sentence rarely ends well
Ignoring him, Alice crushed the berries between her fingers and gently stained her lips with the juice
She examined herself in the mirror, pursed her lips, then nodded approvingly
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
You look as though you've recently eaten a wounded rabbit👀
Alice Fletcher
Must you ruin everything?😤
Alice Fletcher
(turn towards him)
How do I look?
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
Hmm...🤔
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
Horrible
Alice Fletcher
👁️👄👁️ Uncle!
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
🤣🤣🤣🤣
3
The carriage had scarcely come to a halt before two royal attendants appeared to escort Alice and Edmund through the palace.
To Alice's surprise, they were led down a narrow stone staircase rather than toward any grand hall.
The further they descended, the colder it became.
Alice Fletcher
Hmm... This place feels more like a dungeon than a palace 😕
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
We have not yet arrived
Alice Fletcher
I had thought I should at least glimpse a Prince or a princess before being buried beneath the earth 😞
The attendants opened a heavy door.
Inside stood a vast workshop filled with tools, weapons, sketches, and strange contraptions.
Before Alice could say another word, Edmund stopped and bowed
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
Your Highness (bowing)
Startled, Alice followed his gaze.
A young man stood near one of the worktables.
Alice remained perfectly upright.
Charles's eyes shifted to her.
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
Ahem...hemm!
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
Your Highness, may I present my niece, Alice Fletcher
Alice Fletcher
(offered an awkward smile)😅
Charles II
(raised an eyebrow)
Miss Fletcher
Another silence.
Charles waited.
Alice smiled again.
Charles waited longer.
At last he spoke.
Charles II
Have they neglected to teach you how to bow in your village?
Alice Fletcher
(blink)
Beg pardon?
Charles II
I should think a young lady would offer some courtesy upon meeting a prince
Alice folded her hands behind her back.
Alice Fletcher
I had not expected to meet one 💢
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Charles's mouth.
Charles II
That does not excuse the omission
Alice studied him for a moment.
Alice Fletcher
Truth to be told, Your Highness, I was uncertain whether such courtesies remain necessary
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
👁️👄👁️
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
Alice
Charles's expression sharpened
Alice Fletcher
(shrugged)
There are many who speak nowadays of doing away with princes altogether
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
ALICE (hissed)
Realising she may have gone too far, Alice quickly dipped into a bow.
A rather clumsy one.
Charles observed the attempt
Charles II
That is a dreadful bow
Charles II
(grin)
But I suppose it is an improvement
Alice straightened, cheeks burning
Alice Fletcher
I shall endeavour to do better next time 😤💢
Charles II
I pray that you do
Charles turned back toward Edmund.
Charles II
It is good to see you again, Sir Edmund. I trust your journey was uneventful
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
It was, Your Highness
Charles II
(nod)
I shall leave you to your work
With that, the prince departed
Only after the door closed did Alice release the breath she had been holding.
Edmund looked at her.
Alice looked back
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
You challenged the heir to the throne within a minute of meeting him.
Alice Fletcher
I was being honest
Edmund Fletcher (Alice's Uncle)
That is precisely the problem 😮💨
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
