[ EU ] Prince Charming 's infatuation with Cinderella fades once he realizes she has no idea how to behave in high society . Write about the awkward conversations that follow .

`` I was n't doing anything wrong! I do n't understand why you're yelling at me. I ca n't very well ignore the only friends I had in my old life just because I now have this new one.'' 
 
 She kicked off her heels and sat down on the side of their bed to take off her stockings. 
 
 He pinched the bridge of his nose and used that voice she had grown to hate, the voice that meant he was barely containing his annoyance with her. 
 
 `` Elle. Honey. I know that you were lonely when you were living with your stepmother, but they are not your friends, okay? Please, you have to stop doing this.'' 
 
 `` Do n't take that tone with me! And do n't you *dare* insult my friends. How can you even stand there and say that to me?!'' 
 
 `` They're fucking *mice, * Elle. They carry disease and they leave droppings all over the castle floors and they jump up on the dining room table and scare my parents' friends half to death. And then on top of that, you pick the thing up in your hand and start *singing* to it.'' 
 
 Her face reddened and she felt that feeling in the pit of her stomach, the one she had n't felt since she was a small child. 
 
 `` So that's what this is about. I embarrass you in front of your fancy friends. Is that it?'' 
 
 `` No, that's not it.'' 
 
 `` Jesus Christ, Charming, just nut up and admit that your hick wife humiliates you in front of people who actually count.'' 
 
 `` You know what? Yes. Okay? Are you happy? You embarrass me. You speak out of turn, you insist on making your own clothing, and I swear to god if I have to ask you one more time to stop hanging out with the servants at official functions, I am going to lose it. I wish....'' 
 
 She'd been waiting for it. Ever since they'd returned from their honeymoon and been forced to face the practical realities of their lives, she'd been waiting for him to realize that he could n't keep up this charade anymore. 
 
 He'd turned his back to her and gone out on the balcony. She saw that he was smoking and smothered her annoyance. They'd promised to quit together. 
 
 She grabbed her coat and joined him outside. `` You should just say it. You'll feel better and we can start actually facing this.'' 
 
 He could n't bring himself to look at her. `` Face what?'' 
 
 `` Come on. Do you really think I do n't understand how you feel? I'm not an idiot. I know I do n't fit in here. This is what happens when you marry a maid who's been kept locked up for the better part of her adolescence.'' She grabbed his cigarette and took a drag. 
 
 He sighed. `` Elle, I do n't know what I'm doing, okay? All I know is that I love you.'' He finally turned to face her. `` But... I do n't know. Maybe - - maybe that's not enough. If I was just some average guy... but I'm not. 
 And this is n't your fault, you know? You did n't do anything wrong. I just did n't prepare you. I was born into this; I've lived it since the moment I took my first breath.'' 
 
 He stepped toward her and wrapped her in his arms. She rested her cheek on the scratchy wool of his jacket and draped her arms around his waist. 
 
 `` I love you too, darling. Please do n't give up on me. I promise, I'll be better. I'll take classes, I'll stop talking to Gus-Gus in public, I'll do whatever it takes, okay? Please.'' 
 
 She felt him sigh again and knew it would n't be enough. She hardened her heart and her resolve. 
 
 He stroked her hair and said, just barely above a whisper, `` I just do n't know if it'll be enough.'' 
 
 She stiffened in his arms and stepped back enough so that he could see her eyes. What he saw there made him jerk out of her grasp and back away. He felt the cold, hard marble of the railing through his coat. 
 
 `` I need you to pay attention, okay, my love? Because I will only say this once. I will do everything I can to become the princess you need me to be. And in return, you will never bring this up again. Do you understand me?'' 
 
 `` Elle, I do n't - -'' 
 
 `` Shut up. You are not really in a position to speak back to me right now. Because whether you live or die, I'm still better off than I was in that shit-hole with those bitches running my life.'' 
 
 He stared at her as if he'd never seen her before, his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide. 
 
 She smiled and then reached up to stroke his cheek with her hand. `` Do n't worry, dear. I do n't *want* to make anything bad happen to you. I rather like you, to be honest. But I wo n't go back there. I've earned this. And I know a dozen poisons that make death look natural. Just be good and it wo n't come to that. I'll stick to my word and get started on those princess lessons tomorrow, okay?'' 
 
 She kissed him softly on the cheek, since his mouth was still open wide, and turned to go back inside. `` It's getting chilly, love. Come to bed soon.'' 
 
 `` I do n't believe you.'' It sounded more like a croak than a human voice. 
 
 She turned back to him and smiled. `` That's fine. You do n't need to take my word for it. Just ask my father.'' 
 
 
 
... and they lived ~~happily~~ ever after.
