The name I was born with was Ella. And, like many of these stories start, my father married a second time so that I could have a mother. I got a sister as well, though she looked down on me from the start.

We could have been such friends, Anna and I, if she had made an effort.

I grew up in a sea side kingdom, and before my father married the wealthy widow of a captain, we worked as fishmongers. I was used to hard work, but I thought I would have a reprieve when we married out of our class.

My father became a merchant and he would travel for weeks at a time, trading goods across the sea. While he was gone, my step family was cold. Not mean per se, just distant. But when we got word that my father was lost at sea, presumed drowned, my step mother became cruel.

While I believed that my father loved her, I soon learned that my stepmother didn't feel the same way about him or me… I had to work for board in my own house. And when my step mother realized she could save money by having me work twice as hard. She started letting go of the household staff and I found myself playing lady's maid, laundress, and housekeeper.

But I had no money of my own, and couldn't afford to leave. I had asked, once, if my father had left me any money. But my stepmother said it all went to her, as his widow. I never asked again. I put my head down and did what I had to. At least, if I was a servant I had a roof over my head.


One day, I was accompanying Anna to the market. She was looking through the jewelry booth, so I took a walk along the pier, knowing my sister would be awhile.

"Lovely day for a stroll," a voice said.

I looked up to see a tall man standing near me. He flashed a smile, but that was all I could see of his face because a hat was obscuring most of his features.

"It is a nice day, yes."

"I'm Eric," he said, doffing his hat and giving me a little bow. He was handsome with curling brown hair and green eyes. I felt as if I should had recognized him, but I couldn't place where I'd seen him before.

I curtsied in return. "Ella."

"I've seen you in the market multiple times," he said. "Walking this path, gazing out at the sea. Are you waiting for a young man to return?"

I blushed at the thought of this handsome man noticing me. "The man I miss is never coming back sir," I said. "And he was my father. Sometimes…"

Eric raised his eyebrow.

I shook my head. "It's nothing." I was not going to tell this stranger that there were days I wished to follow my father, take a step off the pier and…

"Don't do it," Eric said.

I looked up, jarred. "What?"

"I see the longing in your eyes, don't step into the dark. When you give into the dark there is no going back."

"Are you a fortune teller?" I asked. It unnerved me that my intentions had been that obvious.

"I'm just a nobleman with the ability to read people," he said. "And you are a beauty. Stay in the light, there's plenty to live for."

"I wasn't seriously thinking…" I felt the blush rise on my cheeks again. "And I'm not beautiful."

"But you are," he insisted. "In fact, I bet the mermaids would make you one of them. The sirens of the sea wouldn't allow you to drown if you…" He gestured at the sea. "You know."

"I… Please, you mustn't say such things. I'm no one special, just a merchant's daughter."

"Everyone is special," Eric said. "And beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

"I should go," I said.

"Will you meet me here tomorrow?" he asked.

"I cannot promise you that," I said.

He smiled. "I'll wait anyway."


Of course I found a way to meet him the next day. And the next. After that the meetings by chance. Eric was charming and a perfect gentleman. He would have a rose with him, just in case he ran into me in the market.

I found myself telling him more and more about my life, but I never spoke of my stepmother's cruelty. Instead I told him what jobs I did, however I never said I wasn't paid for them. But I never said I was either.

"There's a ball at the castle next month," Eric said as we walked. "Will you attend?"

It was hard to imagine only knowing him for two weeks; we had developed a close-knit friendship. He was kind and I wondered what it would be like to further our relationship But I never thought he would offer something like this, something that would put me at his side in the public eye.

"I don't know," I said after a moment of silence. "I'm not sure I can manage it."

"But you must come," he said.

Anna and my stepmother were the ones who attended the balls. I would dress them in their finery and watch as they rode off in the hired carriage. And I would have to listen to them talk about those magical nights when they returned home.

After the last ball, Anna had spent days talking about Prince Arryn, who had returned to the kingdom after three years abroad. He had been studying at a foreign school and, after that, was sent to promote peace with the kingdom across the sea, arranging a marriage for his older sister.

I looked down, ashamed. "I should tell you something, but I'm afraid of what you'll think."

"Ella, everyone has secrets," Eric told me. "I do as well. As a matter of fact, I was planning on telling you a secret of my own. A rather big one, as a matter of fact." He paused, studying her. "When was the last time you were at the castle?"

"It's been many years," I told him. "But I'm not a lady of standing."

"You're a merchant's daughter," he said. "A captain's daughter. Your family contributed to the commerce of this kingdom. I can get you an invitation."

"I'm a servant," I whispered. "I have no money. If I had an inheritance, I never saw it. My stepmother forces me to be my sister's maid. And if I don't work they'd put me out." I felt tears running down my cheeks.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Eric asked. He didn't sound angry, he sounded concerned.

"I didn't want you to think less of me," I whispered. "And I didn't want to speak ill of my family. I take great care to be presentable when I go out, but would you have even talked to me if you had known I spend my time warming my hands in the fireplace? My sister calls me Cinderella because of the ash she kicks on me." I felt a weight lift off me. It felt good to finally speak of these problems.

"Let me help you," Eric said. "There must be something I can do… if they have truly stolen your money you deserve to have your case heard."

"You really mean that?" I asked, bewildered.

"I'll see to it personally," he said. "I promise."

"You are too kind," I whispered.

"Ella! Ella, where are you?" I paled as Anna's shrill voice cut through the air.

"If you must." Eric sounded unsure. "Perhaps I'll see you…"

Anna pushed through the milling people. When she saw me a look of ire descended over her feautres. "Ella, why did you wander…" she trailed off as her mouth fell open.

"I'm sorry, Anna," I began.

"What are you doing?" she hissed. She fell into a curtsey. "My prince, please do not offended by my lack wit servant."

"Prince?" Stunned, I turned to my friend. "What is she talking about?"

"Show some deference you stupid…"

"That is enough," he interrupted. "Ella, and I are quite acquainted, and I allow her to treat me as a friend." He turned to me, eyes pleading. "I told you I had a secret, Ella. My name is Arryn, not Eric."

"The cloaks and hats," I whispered. "You preferred the less crowded promenades and turned your face from the crowds."

Anna took a breath. "I don't understand. Why would someone like you take interest in someone like her?"

The prince ignored her. "I told you I was a nobleman, Ella. And we were never alone, I was never in any danger."

He gestured over his shoulder.

Two men, dressed no different from other merchants, were flashing badges, holding back the crowd that had gathered when my stepsister outed Er… Prince Arryn. Castle guards, I realized.

He finally turned back to Anna. "I've been away for so long, many common people don't recognize me. Only those who frequent the same balls as I have would know my face. I like walking among my people incognito. It allows me to see them for who they are when they don't know a prince is in their midst, their true personalities. I can see how the shop keeps treat their customers and get to know my people. I see how servants are treated and how family is perceived."

Anna, to her credit, looked embarrassed.

"I've been lying to your stepsister," Arryn said, finally acknowledging Anna's presence. "I am the one who owes her an apology."

"I lied to you as well, Prince Arryn," I said.

He shook his head. "My deception was worse. Please, say you'll come to the ball and allow me to make it up to you."

Anna looked green and I knew my stepmother would hear a twisted version of today's events, but it was worth it.

"I accept your invitation," I told him.

"I'll send Lewis to accompany you home," Arryn said.

One of the guards turned to acknowledge the prince.

"He'll see to it you stepmother understands that you are to be my guest of honor at the ball," Arryn said, taking my hand. "And, just so there are no hard feelings, they will be my guests as well."

"You are to kind," Anna replied, dropping into a curtsey. "I just hope Ella hasn't been lying to you about us."

"I'm sure she hasn't," Arryn said. "Everything will work out in the end."


And everything did work out.

I found one of my mother's old dresses and tailored it to be suitable ball attire. During those few weeks nothing my step sister or Anna said affected my mood. They yelled and ranted, demanded to know what I told the prince, but I would tell them nothing but lies, insisting that I painted them in good light.

And when the gilded invitation came with all our names on it they breathed a sigh of relief. Of course their outfits were more beautiful than mine, and they gloated about it. But Prince Arryn sent me gifts that I kept hidden until the night of the ball.

I stepped into the prince's personal carriage in my mother's altered dress, wearing pearl jewelry loaned from the royal wardrobe and glass slippers that had been hand crafted to fit my feet alone. I had arranged my hair and spent an hour applying the right amount of cosmetics.

Everything was perfect. I was as beautiful on the outside as Arryn said I was on the inside.

I felt like a princess. And I became one at the stroke of midnight.

With the blessing of the king and queen, the prince was allowed to choose his own wife. He gave me a ring and documents ensuring that I would be paid my full inheritance. My stepmother and Anna were green with envy. At least until they were sent to the dungeons to await trial for theft.

But that declaration hadn't sunk in.

I was still reeling over the prince's proposal. I was to be styled a prince and married to this wonderful man. No more would I toil and slave for my own family, I was finally to get my due.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, making my makeup run. But I didn't care, I wasn't worthy of this honor.