Royal Aide (3.18)

The Royal Aide is a young woman who acted as a servant for Princess Eva during her younger years.

Before the Curse
Cora, dressed in royal attire and with a golden ring on her hand, is sat underneath a gazebo, admiring her jewellery. Suddenly, a hand aggressively grabs her hand and the person looks at the ring on her finger; it's Jonathan. "Well lo and behold, it turned into gold after all" he tells her patronisingly. Cora snatches her hand away, "How dare you?!" she snaps, telling him he must have a brain the size of a pixie to show his face in this kingdom. Jonathan states that he had to see for himself if the commoner that said yes to Prince Leopold's proposal was the same one that said it to him, "...several times in one night, it's quite impressive" he mocks her. Cora points out that in two days she'll be princess and he will bow down and count himself lucky to pull the weeds at her feet. Jonathan feigns a laugh, asking if she practised that in front of a mirror. He then tells Cora she's as much of a fraud as he ever was. Cora smiles that her love for Prince Leopold is true, as is his for her. Jonathan sits beside Cora, wondering if Leopold knows how much of her there is to love or if she was planning on keeping their baby a secret. Cora asks what it is Jonathan wants, gold or jewels, so he joyfully tells her to get him anything she can get, enough for him to live happily for the rest of his days. He tells her to bring them to him tomorrow night and her secret will remain just that. A bitter Cora looks away for a moment before saying it will be done, "Now leave before someone sees you" she hisses. Jonathan gets up and walks away, leaving Cora alone. However, she's not as alone as she had thought to be...as Princess Eva is standing beside the gazebo, having heard everything that was just said. A royal aide comes up to the princess and says her carriage awaits. Eva whispers that she's coming, signally the aide to leave. Once alone, Eva begins to take in everything she just heard.