Ella managed to return home just as her stepfamily’s carriage arrived, quickly running towards her room in the attic before the front door opened. With a groan, she threw the remaining shoe to the side of the room and flopped face down on the bed, falling asleep in seconds.
Breakfast started late the next day, and both Camilla and Karina gushed out talking about the handsome young men they’d danced with.
“It was so beautiful,” Camilla sighed dreamily while holding her spoon to her chest dramatically. “The lights, the extravagances, the dance floor... Oh, I wish I’d receive a wedding proposal soon!”
“You really want to marry someone you just met?” Ella asked as she poured juice.
Camilla smirked at Ella. “You’re just jealous ‘cause you can’t come with us and missed it,” she said as she stuck her tongue at her.
‘ Oh, but I did, albeit unwillingly ,’ Ella thought as she put the pitcher at the center of the table, managing to keep it steady despite the slight shake of her hands. Gurgling up two cups of black coffee in one sitting before breakfast really isn’t advisable. And her eyes still felt heavy.
Ella’s stepmother was watching her closely. “Is there something you might want to tell us, my dear?”
Ella felt her body stiffen. Crap, did she actually find out?! “P-pardon?” she blurted, trying to control the squeak in her voice.
“You look... a little wobbly this morning,” the stepmother hummed as she sipped her coffee, eyes on her over the cup’s rim. “Did you sleep late last night?”
Ella forced her body and her fingers to relax. Titania said that she was enchanted to prevent her from being recognized that night, so she should be fine. “I’m just. . . logging everything I need to do for the day so I won’t miss anything,” she answered, hoping they won’t catch the lie.
Her stepmother looked unconvinced, but Camilla snorted loudly, “Yeah, make sure you clean the chimney, too, before you get covered in more soot.”
Ella looked down and, sure enough, saw black soot clinging on her clothes and apron. She also had some on the back of her hand.
“You know, you actually looked good like this. Maybe we should start calling you Cinderella, since you like putting them on you,” Camilla laughed. Karina furrowed her eyebrows while looking at her sister. Ella only rolled her eyes at that as she went back to the kitchen.
Puck peered at a column as he watched the young Montague walking around the town. He didn’t seem to be acting weird, nor has he started spouting nonsensical love declarations in the street. Maybe the potion didn’t take effect? He really hoped so. He really doesn’t want another fiasco like what happened in Athens. Titania would turn his head into a bottom for sure.
He sat on a bench just behind where Romeo was standing. Just then, both Benvolio and Mercutio practically tackled the young man to the ground.
“Romeo, where the heck have you been?! We were worried about you!” Benvolio shouted. “You’re not hurt, are you? The guards didn’t captured you? You didn’t bump into Tybalt, were you?”
“Please, Benvolio, give your cousin some credits! Do you really think he can’t beat that arrogant Tybalt in a fight?” Mercutio said with a scoff. He turned to Romeo, “You didn’t get defeated by that babyface gremlin Tybalt, right?”
“Oh dear Lord, you didn’t kill Tybalt, did you?!” Benvolio asked, his eyes wide in worry.
“I’m so sorry Ben, but as you can see I’m fine,” Romeo said in a calmer manner after managing to push their arms away. “I was just lost along the way. And while I thank you for your high regard of my fighting skills, Mercutio, no, I did not meet Tybalt. I just had to let the guards slip past me before I made my exit.”
... Well, that much was true. After he snuck out of Juliet’s mansion, he went to the convent to look for Friar Lawrence.
Friar Lawrence opened the door to the convent’s back garden. The sun was only beginning to rise and dews still clung to the leaves and flowers. The rising temperature from the night’s cold would raise the potency of the medicinal plants to their highest peak.
“And the light of the new day chases the night away,” the friar said as he sighed deeply. He nodded in satisfaction, “Hum, hum, the scent of the flowers mingles in the cold air. Perfect time to collect some medicinal plants to sell—I mean, for the people of Verona.”
“Friar!”
...
... Friar Lawrence was not surprised when Romeo suddenly peeked at the convent walls, and he did NOT give a shrill shout upon hearing his voice. No, nope .
“Praise God, son, what bids you here in this place at such a time?” The friar asked, pulling his robes straighter.
Romeo grunted as he gingerly swung one of his legs over the wall. The friar watched him as he held on to the wall in such difficulty.
“You know, you could just enter through the door at the front, which will be way easier than what you’re doing now,” the friar pointed out.
As if to prove his words, Romeo’s grip slipped and he ended up falling inside the garden. “Ow,” Romeo groaned as he clutched his head.
“Are you drunk, Romeo?” Friar Lawrence asked as he peered at his disciple’s face. “Did you go to some bar for the whole night and lose your way?”
“Wha? No! You know I don’t drink, Friar.”
“Well, yes, but sober people never use the wall to pay a visit, either.” He looked at Romeo with narrowed eyes, “You’re not taking any funny medicines, are you? Most young men today are quite adventurous when it comes to such stuffs.”
“No! No, I swear I am perfectly sane and clear-headed.” The friar continued to look at him suspiciously for a few more seconds before nodding, which made Romeo sigh in relief.
“Then what seems to be the matter, son, for you to come here at such an early time? You looked like you never went home last night.” He eyed the young man’s dishevelled formal clothes. There were still some leaves sticking to them.
“Ah, your last guess is right, Friar. I didn’t go home last night, but I am far from troubled, for my heart had much better rest than sleep could ever give me!”
Friar Lawrence shook his head slightly at the flowery words. This pupil of his tends to be poetic whenever he felt elated, angry or sad. It took him a moment before the exact meaning of his words sank in.
“Good Lord, were you with Rosaline last night?!” the friar exclaimed. He would never thought that Romeo, a gentleman among others, could pursue a woman in such insistence that he would force himself onto her.
“Rosaline? No, I had already forgotten that girl who gave me only sorrows.”
The friar raised his eyebrow at that. Only yesterday Romeo was still moping and calling Rosaline’s name, and now he has gotten over her in a night? Though personally, he thought this development is good. He’s not really sure if he could still take it with listening to Romeo crying that much. It’s really tiring.
“Okay. In that case, I am happy for you. Then where have you been last night?”
Romeo was not really sure how he should tell it and decided to the shortest version. “Well, Ben, Mercutio and I snuck in my family’s enemy to attend some party and fell in love with their daughter and she too, fell in love with me, and now I want you to marry us. Today if possible.”
Friar Lawrence blinked. And blinked several more. “Okay. I would need for you to start at the beginning again and tell me everything, not the abbreviated version. I do not understand what you’re saying.”
Romeo took a deep breath, trying to calm his erratic beating heart. “I fell in love with Capulet’s only daughter, Juliet. And Juliet loves me, too! It was as if we belonged together! I’ll tell you the rest of the details later, but right now I need you to marry us later tonight, please, please, please.”
Friar Lawrence was silent for a few more moments. Then he took a deep sigh. “Okay, this is not what I meant when I told you to try to get over Rosaline yesterday. Also, weren’t you in love with Rosaline just yesterday? And yet in such a night, those feelings of yours disappeared and were replaced by someone else? I never thought you feelings to be so shallow, my boy.”
“But didn’t you usually scold me for loving Rosaline?” Romeo tilted his head, eyebrows furrowed.
“You’re obsessing on her, so I scolded you for it.”
“And you’ve been telling me to move on from her.”
“I didn’t expect you to find another one in a single night!” Friar Lawrence threw his hands up.
“Please, dear Friar, help me with this,” Romeo begged. “This girl returns my feelings! Would you prefer me to return for being so depressed again?”
Friar Lawrence heaved a sigh. “You are my pupil, and I care about you, Romeo. That is why I want you to think more about this. You’ve only met each other for a night, and yet you want to be wedded together already. Marriage is not something you should take lightly, son. It is a lifetime commitment. You’re still young, you don’t have to hurry yourself like this.”
“It is not something that is easy, Friar. From what I had heard last night, Juliet’s father wanted her to be engaged to another man. I would never be able to live in my life if she would be married to someone else.”
“Shouldn’t you try talking to her parents at least?” Friar Lawrence was sounding more desperate now.
“I’m a Montague. They’ll probably shoot me in the head the moment they see me.” Romeo paused. “Wait, scratch that, they will certainly shoot me in the head.”
“I’m beginning to think that you’re either a masochist or suicidal, son.”
“Well, Tybalt seems quite hateful towards me.”
“That’s not really convincing, Romeo.” Friar Lawrence started walking back.
“I’ll double my offerings!” Romeo practically shouted. The friar slowly turned his head to look at him. “I’m a friar, son. Such an offer is not enough to sway me from my decision,” he said after a pause.
“How about if I double my entire family’s offering every Sunday?”
“Add the Capulet’s and you got a deal.”
Romeo couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “Fine. I think Juliet can easily convince her family.”
Friar Lawrence nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Now come inside and tell me the rest of the details. How old was this Juliet of yours, and how beautiful was she?”
Back in the town square...
“Are you sure you’re alright, though?” Benvolio asked Romeo worriedly with large eye bags under his eyes. His mind can’t stop coming up with different bad-worse-worst scenarios if his cousin was captured by the family enemy.”
“Nah, this is not a face of suffering, Ben,” Mercutio said with a smirk. “Something good happened to you last night, didn’t it?”
Romeo chuckled, “And what makes you say that?”
Mercutio swung an arm over his shoulder, “Your face, my friend, is the epitome of someone who had such blissful night. Did you manage to score last night?” He wagged his eyebrows suggestively.
“Mercutio!” Benvolio hissed, scandalized. Romeo just laughed.
“Excuse me?”
The three of them looked at the woman in a common folk’s dress and her black hair tied in a bun.
“To whom do we owe this pleasure, dear lady?” Mercutio said with a bow. The transformation was almost impressive. “Ah, such a flower as yourself could no doubt capture the heart of any man you ever wished to, but would you grace me with your attention and keep me company for the day?” He took her hand and kissed its back with a wink.
“Mercutio!” Benvolio’s definitely shouted now. “Would it kill you to act like a normal gentleman?!”
The woman quickly pulled her hand away and looked like she would be anywhere but here. “I am looking for a Lord Romeo. I would like to have a word with him.”
“So you did have a blissful night, Romeo, my man!” Mercutio exclaimed as he threw his arm back to Romeo. Benvolio groaned and put his face in his hands. Romeo merely chuckled at his friend’s antic and nodded to the woman. “I am Romeo. What is it that you wanted to say, dear woman?”
The woman looked around and quickly grabbed him by the arm— coincidentally, to where Puck was hiding.
“My name’s Madelene, Lady Juliet’s personal nurse.” Romeo beamed at the mention of Juliet’s name. “I was sent here by my lady in her place. She was currently with Lady Capulet and couldn’t find a time to see you here.”
“In that case, please send my regards to your beloved mistress.”
She looked at the young man in front of her. “I’m sorry if I may sound like I’m overstepping my boundaries, but I would advise you to think clearly, sir.” When Romeo tilted his head, Madelene sighed. “Look, you seem like a nice lad, so I want you to be careful in your actions. Lady Juliet has... a very interesting childhood, quite different from what most have. Just make sure to think things through and don’t let your emotions sway you.”
“Good nurse, I promise you this: I would always treasure your mistress till the moment I held my last breath. Of that, you should never worry.”
“I’m more worried about you than her, though,” Madelene murmured to herself before she shook herself. “Look, I don’t really pry into other people’s business, but you people are still too young, and while it is thrilling to try and walk your own path, some things aren't worth rushing into, no matter how passionate you feel.” She was probably pushing her luck with someone who’s socially superior to her, but dang these kids seemed to refuse to think straight!
Romeo nodded. “I... understand.” Madelene looked skeptical, but she didn’t want to meddle more than she already did.
“Oh, and can you send a message to your lady for me?” Romeo stepped closer and whispered, “Tell her to devise some plan to get out and go to the convent this afternoon for a confession at Friar Lawrence’s cell.”
Madelene’s eyes narrowed, but she nodded, “I would tell her.”
As Madelene walked away, Romeo then went back to his friends, and the three of them left. When the coast was clear, Puck went out from his hiding place, scratching his head. This mess seemed to be getting messier.
Ella walked towards the convent with a basket in hand. The sun was scorching today, and she could feel her damp clothes on her back.
“Hello, Friar Lawrence,” she greeted.
“Oh, Ella! I was wondering if you’ll come today.” Friar Lawrence tutted as she looked at the young woman. “Come, let’s go inside my office to cool you down a bit.”
“That’ll be great,” she huffed as the two of them entered the convent and went to the familiar small corridors that led to the friar’s office. Her late father and Friar Lawrence were close friends back in the days, and she and her family used to visit him after mass for a cup of tea.
When her parents died—her mother from an illness when she was ten and her father from an accident a few years later—Friar Lawrence was the one who helped her get over her grief. God knows she could never find it from her stepmother.
“I tried baking some cookies earlier in the house when my stepfamily went out. It was Mom’s recipes. I think it went well, so I brought you some,” Ella said as she handed him a small bag of said freshly-baked cookies.
“Ah, your mother was such a good cook, so I’m sure it’ll be delicious. Thank you dear,” Friar Lawrence said to her as he received the bag. “How are you, Ella? I haven’t seen you for almost a month now.”
“Chores,” Ella said. “And there really wasn’t much change. My stepmom’s still a snob, so is Camilla. Karina still can’t play the flute well, no matter how many times I teach her, and my pet mice Jack and Gus are still terrorising the family cat.”
The friar laughed. “Glad to hear they’re energetic. No matter how many years passed, you never change, dear; still thinking that the animals could understand you.” The girl looked embarrassed at that. “It’s not a judgment,” he quickly added. “I think it’s great that you show such attention and compassion to all kinds of life. In gardening, everyone knows that talking to your plants helps in their growth.”
Ella chuckled. “Well, it’s not like I have anyone else to talk to. Karina would, from time to time, but Stepmother would usually scold me if I ever slack off.”
Friar Lawrence furrowed his eyebrows. “Are you still doing all the work in the house?” When Ella didn’t give him an answer, he sighed, “Why do you keep doing these difficult things? You are their family. It’s not your job to keep everything working.” He sighed. “Just leave and move here to the convent. We could all use an extra hand here, and I could keep an eye on you much easily.”
Ella smiled. “Thank you, Friar, but you know I can’t leave. It’s my father’s house. He built it as a home for me and my late mother. I don’t want to just hand it to anyone; it’s a memento.” Ella would not give her stepmother the satisfaction of making her pack her bags and leave.”
“But is it really worth slaving yourself to them?” Friar Lawrence asked softly. “Your father wanted you to have a good future, not work yourself to death like this.”
Ella shook her head, lips set in a determined line. “It’s my home. I have as much right to it as her. And besides, I’m almost of age. I could fight for my inheritance rights legally soon.”
“Stubborn as your father,” Friar Lawrence commented with a shake of his head. “You youngsters these days are quite passionate at many things. I don’t even know if it’s a good thing or a bad one.”
Ella tilted her head, confused. “That sounds like a heavy comment.”
The friar sighs, “Just a young lad hurrying himself to bind his love into a secret matrimony.”
“That sounds scandalous. Why a secret wedding?”
Friar Lawrence shook his head dismissively, “Family drama. It was almost as if they were characters from a tragic play with how much they try to hush this.”
“Then shouldn’t you keep this a secret from me, too?”
“I trust you, dear. Plus it’s giving me a headache. It’s much better to talk to someone about your problems than to keep them to yourself, after all.”
Ella scrunched her nose in thought, “If it’s such a headache for you, why did you agree to help them?” When the old man shifted his eyes to look somewhere, Ella narrowed her eyes, “You’re getting something out of this, aren’t you?”
“Well, I need to do something to keep this convent going! Prices kept going up every year, and Lord knows that the donations could barely support us. I had to make a living, too.”
“You work in a church.”
“I stand corrected.”
Meanwhile, at the Capulet Manor.
“How dare those Montagues enter the Capulet’s mansion last night. Do they really think they’re so arrogant that could just waltz into any house they wanted?” Tybalt prowled back and forth, each turn sharp with barely contained rage.
“How can you be sure that they were Montagues? Maybe you just mistook them for someone?” Petruchio mumbled nervously. He flinched slightly when Tybalt glared at him.
“Oh, I’ll never mistake a Montague’s face even in a large crowd, Petruchio. That man was Romeo Montague, I am sure. And yet when I tried to deal with those gate-crashing scums, Uncle called and bid me to let them go. A Montague! Right under our noses! And yet he let them get away!”
“Well, maybe he had a reason. Wouldn’t it be bad for our family if we started a fight in the middle of a feast?”
Petruchio thought that it was probably the wrong thing to say as Tybalt started to go redder.
In a soft, careful tone that sounded anything but calm, Tybalt said, “They were the ones who came to the feast without any invitation, they were the ones who answered me like they were above me, and they were the ones who were arrogant enough to think that they could just enter the Capulet House. I was just trying to do some crowd control, and we will be judged as a bad host because of it? Does that make any sense to you?!” At every word, Tybalt’s voice rose in volume until he was shouting at the last sentence. Petruchio swallowed hard, his eyes darting for possible spaces he could dart for safety.
Tybalt continued his growling and pacing. Petruchio watched him warily until the man suddenly stopped, a slow, menacing smile growing on his face. “I may not be allowed to start anything in the house, but no one could judge me if they started a fight in the middle of the street, right?”
Petruchio furrowed his brows, “Tybalt, what are you talking about?” But instead of answering, Tybalt quickly marched towards the door.
“Come, Petruchio. Let’s go hunt some Montagues in town.”
Back in her own home, Ella’s mind went blank. “What did you just say?”
Ella’s stepmother’s smirk only grew, and something cold slowly wrapped Ella’s chest, making it hard to breath. “I said, pack our bags by the end of the week. I’m selling this house.”