Chapter Text
“Lenny, do you believe in fairytales?”
No, is his initial response but he never wants Lisa to give up hope that she could have a fairytale ending of her own and get out of their shitty situation, even when he probably wouldn’t. “Of course.” He tells her instead. “And one day, your Prince Charming is going to come and whisk you away from here; take you somewhere that’s so much better.”
Lisa turns to looks at him, a few loose strands falling into her face. “And what about you? Don’t you think your prince is coming?”
Len huffs at that. Lisa’s the only one who knows he’s gay because his father would beat him senseless, blaming him and claiming that he choose to be gay while his step-mother and step-siblings would just mock him and make him, even more, their punching bag. “I’m not sure Lise.”
“Why not?” Lisa rings out the towel she’s using to clean. “Don’t tell me you don’t think you don’t deserve a Prince Charming.”
Len sets his brush down, looking over at his sister. “To be honest yes- I don’t think I deserve a Prince Charming.”
“But why not?” Lisa comes to stand next to him. “You’re the kindest, most caring brother anyone could ask for and you deserve to be happy as well.”
“All I care about is seeing you be happy.” Len raises his hand, gently caressing her cheek.
Lisa takes Len’s hand in hers. “But you deserve to be happy too.”
“Lisa-”
The door leading down into the kitchen opens and Lisa pulls away from Len, both of them returning to their cleaning. Heavy boots pound down the stairs as Lewis’ large form comes into view. “Lisa! Your mother needs you. Now!” Lewis snaps when Lisa doesn’t move fast enough. Lewis turns his attention to Len. “Leonard, what were you two talking about?”
“Nothing.” Len says.
“Don’t lie to me, boy.” Lewis snarls, grabbing a handful of Len’s hair to drag him close. Len gasps and hisses in pain, regretting the decision to let his hair grow out even just the tiniest bit. “I heard you two talking and I demand you tell me. Now .”
“W-we were just talking about what to make for dinner tonight since Theodore’s coming home.”
“Oh really? Is that so?”
“Yes.”Len grits his teeth when his father tightens his grip. “That’s all.”
Lewis narrows his eyes, shoving his son towards the door. “Well then, if you know what you are going to make, then go, you stupid boy!”
Leonard stumbles, managing to catch himself but not before he slams into the wall, the side of his face connecting hard against the stone. He holds the side of his face, scrambling to leave the house as quickly as possible. He makes his way to the town, ducking into the local butcher shop to fully examine his face.
“What’d he do this time?”
Len turns to see the butcher looking at him, holding out a wet rag. “Nothing as bad as what he usually does.” He takes the rag and presses it to his blackening eye and bruised cheek. The butcher raises a brow. “This time, he didn’t actually hit me.”
“Still.” The butcher moves around behind the counter. “So, what can I do for you today?”
“I’m going to need the best roast you got- apparently I am going to be cooking a marvelous meal for Theodore .”
The butcher nods, wrapping up two types of meat, one the roast and the other a tenderloin, and hands them to Len. “Save the top one for yourself and your sister.”
“I will try.” Len places the rag on the counter, pulling out his wallet. He frowns when he finds that he doesn’t have enough money for both pieces of meat. “It seems like I’ll only be able to afford the one piece.” He grabs the roast and slips it into the bag he managed to grab before leaving.
“Don’t worry about it.” The butcher shoves the tenderloin into Len’s bag.
“I couldn’t.” Len tries to argue.
“I insist.” The butcher holds Len’s hands to keep him from removing the meat.
Len looks up at him, sighing before giving him a small smile. “You are too kind.”
“Someone’s gotta look after you.”
Len smiles, exiting the shop to get the rest of his supplies. He doesn’t miss the worried looks people give him but he ignores them, trying to make his money go as far as possible. He’s given very little to buy things every two weeks and Lewis doesn’t compensate for the price increases that occur.Len rubs a hand over his face, finding he’s down to one gold coin and a couple silver pieces. With a heavy sigh, he puts the necklace back. It’s quite elegant- a gold chain attached to a gold pendant with a ruby setting. Lisa would love it, but of course, he doesn’t have the four gold coins for it and he does too much stealing for Lewis that he doesn’t even want to think about doing such a thing.
“See something you like?” The vendor asks.
“For Lisa but I don’t have the coin for it,” Len says, gripping his bag strap in his hands. “Even though I know you would give me some kind of discount, I still don’t have the three gold and four silver you’d ask for.”
“Six silver.” The vendor corrects. “How much you short?”
“Try two gold pieces short.”
“Ah. Yeah. I couldn’t give it to you that cheap.”
“And I wouldn’t expect you to.” Len turns and leaves, deciding it’d be best not to even tempt himself, no matter how much Lisa would love it. Some things will just have to wait. Len stretches his money as far as he can, grateful that the local vendors are nice and help Len out when they can. Len is just glad that he got everything he needs with one silver and two bronze coins to spare.
Len makes his way back home, silently groaning when he hears his father and step-mother calling for him. “Coming!” He hollers, ducking into the kitchen to deposit his purchases.
Lisa looks up from where she’s helping Baez prepare lunch. “How much?” She asks.
“Just one silver and two bronze.” Len takes the coins out and adds them to their small coin bag.
“Is that enough?” Baez looks up at him.
Len shakes his head. “No. Not yet.”
Lisa hands him several trays. “We only have a week left.”
“I know Lisa.” Len looks over to see Baez fidget. “We’re going to get him back Shawna; we’re family and I will not let that man tear us apart.”
Baez gives a small nod. Len lets out a sigh when he hears his name being called again, heading up the stairs. He doesn’t miss the way his father and step-mother are watching him like a hawk. “About time.” Stacy grumbles, tossing her long blond hair over her shoulder.
“Where were you?” Ingrid, his step-mother, demands.
“I went to the market to get a few things for dinner tonight.” Len tells her as he sets each of their trays down in front of them.
“Hope you weren’t getting into any fights.” Stacy says, eyeing his face. “Last thing we need is you tarnishing our family name.”
Len bites his tongue to keep from snapping that she was not part of his family nor did he consider her or her mother to be family. “Of course not.” He grits his teeth.
“Then where did you get the black eye?” Laurel asks.
Len looks over at her, finding her to be more bearable than her sister and mother. “I...tripped down the stairs and hit my face against the wall.” He doesn’t miss the way Lewis’ eyes burn into the back of his head.
“You clumsy oaf. You better not have broken anything.” Ingrid snarls.
“Of course not.” Len steps back from the table, waiting over in the corner. He watches them eat, though his eyes rarely leave Lewis. He watches his father take several bites of his food before dropping his fork and clutches his chest. “Father?” Len steps over to him as he falls out of the chair. “Father!”
Everyone leaps up and over to Lewis. Len rolls him over, noticing that he’s no longer breathing. “Lewis!” Ingrid cries. “Lewis no!”
“Hello?” Theodore's voice filters in from downstairs. He emerges from the stairwell, pausing when he sees everyone kneeling on the ground. “What is-”He makes his way over to them, freezing as he stares down at Lewis’ unmoving body. ”Father?” Theodore watches Len stand and back away, his expression neutral. “You.” Theodore snarls, shoving Len. “You did this!”
Len stumbles back into the table, glaring at Theodore. “I did nothing.”
“Lies! Everyone know that you despised our father!”
“Maybe I did but I’d never kill him!”
“Who also would stand to gain something from his death?” Theodore raises a brow as Lisa and Baez come running up from the kitchen and Hartley comes from upstairs. “No one but you and your whore sister.”
Len curls his hands into fists. “Don’t you dare call her that.”
“Why not? All the men swoon over her and they’d only do that if they knew how good she is in bed.”
Len pushes away from the table, taking a step towards Theodore. “Say another word and so help me.”
Theodore’s lips curl into a smirk. “Maybe you didn’t kill your father, but she did.Or you put her up to it and she willingly went along. So, maybe instead of punishing you,” He takes a step closer to Len, his smirk widening. “I’ll punish her instead and it won’t be the normal kind of punishment.”
Len punches Theodore square in the face, sending the other stumbling back before punching him again in the gut. “You even think about laying a hand on her and I’ll gut you, you bastard!”
Hartley rushes over, holding Len back before he could do any more damage. Theodore straightens up,glaring at Len. “How dare you, you pathetic peasant?” He strikes Len hard across the face. ”I shall have you whipped for your insolence! Take him outside!” He commands Hartley.
The younger servant hesitates, looking down at Len whose head is turned to the side and is glaring down at the ground before leading him outside. Len doesn’t say anything as Hartley removes his shirt and ties him to the post. He doesn’t look up when he hears Theodore come outside. He just grits his teeth and clutches the wood he’s bound to as Theodore brings the whip down hard against his back. Len wishes he could focus on something else, anything else, but his fault for having to count everything and be meticulous in that regard makes it impossible for him to focus on anything but the whip and the pain it leaves in it’s wake. A few tears roll down his cheeks but he doesn’t cry out, silently counting the lashes. Twelve. Fifteen. Eighteen. Twenty-one. Relief comes after the twenty-fifth lash, when Len can hear Theodore’s light panting. Len’s surprised Theodore made it past ten with how heavy the whip is.
Len can hear footsteps in the loose gravel approach him before a hand tightly grabs him by his hair, yanking his head back. Len hisses, looking up at Ingrid’s hardened face. “You are not to leave the house under any circumstance. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” Len hisses when Ingrid’s nails bite into his scalp.
“I said,” She tugs harder, pulling him back and puts more strain on his arms. “Do you understand?”
“Yes ma’am. He says through gritted teeth.
“Good.” She shoves him away. “Now get out of my sight.” She spins on her heels and disappears back into the house, ordering Lisa and Baez to follow her.
Hartley moves over to Len, quickly untying him and takes him up to their shared attic room. He gently lays Len down on the bed, quickly grabbing a bowl and fills it with water. He moves back over to the bed, sitting down next to Len as Len grabs a pillow, pressing his face into in and silently cries. “You really shouldn’t have done that.” Hartley says as he begins to clean Len’s back. ”I know what he said was horrible, but you were stupid to punch him. Twice, no less.”
Len turns his head to the side, his eyes a little red as a few tears roll down his cheeks. “That was my sister he was talking about.”
“I know but there were better ways you could have handled that.” Hartley dips the rag into the bowl, ringing it out before continuing to clean Len’s back. Len slightly hisses, looking away. “One of these days I fear you’re going to get yourself killed because you’re protecting your sister.”
“That’s fine by me. I’d rather it be me than her.”
Hartley shakes his head, disagreeing with Len but doesn’t say anything more as he finishes patching Len up.
Over the next couple days, while Len’s back is still healing, Theodore likes to come up behind Len and press against his back to remind Len of his place. Sometimes Stacy will join in and terrorize Len even more. Laurel feels bad for him and Lisa and helps them out when she can and when the others won’t see her. Two days later, a letter from the king arrives, Lisa thanks the courier, turning it over in her hands. Baez and Laurel look up as Lisa makes her way over to them. “What’s that?” Baez asks.
“It’s a letter from the king.” Lisa tells them.
“The king?” Baez gasps.
“You should take that to my mother.” Laurel says.
Lisa nods in agreement, leaning her broom up against a wall and hurries up the stairs to the dining room. “Ma’am?”
Ingrid glances over at her. “What is it child?”
“There’s a letter here for you.”
“Just leave it with the others.” Ingrid says dismissively.
“Yeah stupid.” Stacy says. “Don’t you know not to interrupt our meal?”
Lisa slightly glares at her. “But it’s from the king.”
“The king?!” Stacy jumps up, tearing the letter from Lisa’s hands. “Let me see that!” She rips off the seal, skimming over the words. “Mother! Look!” She thrusts the letter into her mother’s hand.
Ingrid takes the slightly crumpled paper, reading over it. “It says that there is to be a ball tonight in honor of the Princess’s return and by royal decree, every eligible man and woman is to attend.”
Lisa looks over as Len comes to stand next to her. “Lenny, did you hear that?” She asks.
“I did.” Len looks at her. “And I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself.”
“Her? Go to the ball?” Stacy cackles.
Len turns to look at her. “And why not?” Stacy stops, looking at him. “The letter does say ‘every eligible man and woman’.”
“That may be so.” Theodore slowly rises from his seat. “But you are not permitted to leave this house and that include this.”
“Good thing I don’t plan on going.” Len looks at him. ”Just because I can’t go doesn’t mean she can’t.” He turns to look at Ingrid. “It is the royal decree.”
Ingrid looks Lisa over, glancing back down at the letter. “Well,I suppose you can go.” Lisa beams at that while Stacy protests. “Provided you complete all your chores.”
“Of course.” Lisa nods, ecstatically.
“That includes sweeping all the rooms, mopping the floors, dusting, clean all the drapes and tapestries, wash all the windows upstairs and downstairs, tending to the garden, clean all the chimneys as well as sweep and clean the terrace.”
Lisa’s smile fades a little. “Of course.”
“And you find something suitable to wear.”
“I will.” Lisa turns and leaves with Len. Once they’re down in the kitchen, Lisa looks at Len. “I don’t think I’ll have a dress ready in time.”
Len puts his hand on his sister’s shoulder. “You just worry about finishing your chores.” Lisa looks at her brother, slowly nodding. “Good.” He looks over at Hartley and Baez. “You two help her out.” He tells them before making his way up to his room.
“And where are you going?” Hartley calls after him.
“To get everything ready.” Len shuts himself away in his room the rest of the day, finishing a dress he’s been making for Lisa.
After dinner, Lisa, Hartley, and Baez head up to check up on Len. “Lenny,” Lisa calls. “What are-” She gasps as Len stands up, holding up the completed dress. “Len, is that…”
“Yes.” He smiles as she takes it and holds it against herself. “Looks like you’ll be going to the ball after all.”
Lisa throws her arms around Len’s neck and hugs him. “Thank you.” She and Baez hurry off to get changed. Hartley looks at Len. “That’s what you’ve been doing all day?”
“More like finishing it up.” Len packs away his sewing supplies. “I only wish to give my sister the best.”
Once Lisa’s dressed, she hurries downstairs to meet up with Stacy, Theodore and Laurel. Stacy stares as Lisa joins them. “Where did you get that?” She asks.
“I made it.” Lisa tells her, not wanting to tell them the truth that Len made it.
“You don’t expect us to take you in that, do you?” Theodore asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“This is acceptable.” Lisa looks down at herself. The dress Len’s made is very modest, the corset shows off her curves and the skirt has underwiring that makes the dress drape away from her; the bodice covers majority of her chest and the long sleeves cover her arms.
Stacy makes her way over to Lisa, eyeing her. “You’re right but I think there are some improvements that can be made.” Before Lisa can say anything, Stacy lashes out and begins ripping and tearing at the fabric.
Laurel and Lisa both gasp as Theodore joins Stacy. “You’re right sister.” He helps pulls and tear the dress apart. “This is definitely an improvement.”
Laurel watches with slight horror as Lisa’s dress is left in tatters. Ingrid makes her way over to them. “That’s enough.” She looks over at Lisa. “Since it seems you don’t have a suitable dress, it looks like you’ll have to stay put.”
Lisa slightly glares at them, her eyes tearing up. She runs off through the back and outside to her favorite oak tree. Baez, Hartley and Len all rush outside and over to her. “Lisa!” Len kneels down next to her. “What happened?”
“They ruined it Lenny.” Lisa looks up at him, her eyes red from crying. “They ruined it on purpose. Now I can’t go to the ball.”
Len takes in Lisa’s shredded dress, feeling slightly peeved that he spent months making it only to have it ruined in seconds. Then, a thought comes to his mind. “Come with me.” He grabs her arm and drags her back inside and up to her room. He begins rummaging through her closet.
Lisa slightly frowns, wiping away her tears. “Len, I don’t have any dresses in there suitable for a ball.”
“Actually, you do.” He pulls out a wrapped item, setting it on the bed and unwraps it. Lisa gasps as Len pulls out a literal princess dress similar to the one he made but this one doesn’t have any sleeves and has more of an A-line bodice. The gems and beads of the intricate beadwork glitter in the light, making the gold fabric glitter even more. “I was actually hoping to save it for your wedding.” He leads Lisa over to the mirror, holding it in front of her. “It was our mother’s.”
Lisa looks at him in surprise. “It was?”
“Yes. Now, hurry and get changed- we have a ball to get you to.”