Elarian Oriel, orphaned and left without anyone to truly care for her, is little more than a servant to her cheating fiance, stepmother, and step-siblings. Plagued by the same nightmare at night and forced to cater to Harland and the Step-Demons, she longs to find freedom.Theon Cerefas, crowned prince of Nuria, has spent years searching for his childhood friend and fated mate after she disappeared all those years ago. Doing what he can to purge the kingdom of the filth his father has allowed to fester, he takes every chance to look for Ella.When Theon's next task puts him in Elarian's small village, he quickly realizes there's more to the servant girl than meets the eye. Is she the childhood friend, the same girl prophesied to rule with him and bring their kingdom into a new era? Or is she just someone he's supposed to help?Once Upon an Ella is book one of the Happily Ella After Duet. It is set in the Anthean Universe, and there will be familiar names from other books within this multi-series universe.Perfect for lovers of fairytale retellings, The Princess Bride, Cinderella, fated mates, and he falls first, and stories where the damsel isn't in the one in distress. Due to the mature content, this book is intended for an audience of 18+.