~Chapter 2

Angelique was going to Étoile du Pays for an enormous Christmas ball. She was travelling in her horse-drawn carriage, listening to the shuffle of hooves through the snow.

"I hate the snow," she sighed to herself. "It's too cold; it's too wet; and it makes too much noise when my horses walk through it!"

Angelique tugged at her fur coat, to make herself warmer. She wore it overtop of a spectacular gown, a gown of dark red silk, with many ribbons and white lace. She had a poinsettia in her long, dark, elegant hair and her eyes were like two blue stars.

She opened the window and called to the driver, "Hurry up! I'm going to be late for the ball if you continue to go so slowly!"

"Yes, Mademoiselle," said the driver.

Three minutes later, she ordered, "Go slower! This road is too bumpy!"

"Yes, Mademoiselle," replied the conductor.

But a minute later, she was commanding him again.

"Go faster, idiot! Do you want for me to be late? Faster; faster!"

"Yes, Mademoiselle," sighed the driver.

Unfortunately, Angelique was always like this. She was mean, egotistical and vain. But, she was Mademoiselle Angelique Helene Marguerite de Tremaine III; she was rich and powerful. Everything she wanted, she got, always.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped.

"Why have we stopped?" Angelique demanded. "We are not in Étoile du Pays!"

"Sorry, Mademoiselle," said the driver. "But, there is a little girl here; she wants to talk to you."

'No!" said Angelique. "Tell her to leave, now."

Angelique heard the driver repeat that to the girl; then she heard the voice of the girl, but she couldn't hear the words.

The driver relayed to Angelique, "She will not leave until she can talk to you, Mademoiselle."

Angelique sighed in a theatrical fashion.

"Very well. Bring her to the window."

He obeyed, then Angelique was looking at a girl with blonde hair and dirty, ripped clothes.

"What to you want, street-rat?"

The girl curtsied. "Mademoiselle, I am Michaelle. I was hoping you could give me some money, please? I would like to buy a coat for winter, and –"

"I'm not going to give you money!" replied Angelique. "You disgust me. Good-bye, pathetic –"

"Wait!" cried Michaelle. "Mademoiselle…please. It's going to be Christmas tomorrow…"

"So?" Angelique shrugged. "Now, go away!"

Michaelle started to cry. "Please…"

"Go away! Driver, drive!"

"Yes, Mademoisellle," said the driver, sadly.

"Travel through the forest," she commanded a bit later.

"What for, Mademoiselle?"

"Because that route is a shortcut, of course!"

So, the carriage was travelling through the forest, when Angelique felt an enormous jolt, and the carriage stopped. "What happened?" she demanded.

"There are too many bumps in the road," said the driver. "Now, the carriage wheel is broken."

"Oh, no!" said Angelique. "I will certainly be late!"

"But, I can take a horse and search for someone who can help us. Would you like to stay here, Mademoiselle?"

"Of course! It's too cold to ride a horse!

"As you wish," replied the driver. "Soon, I will return."

"Hurry!" she called, but he was already gone.

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A/N: Yes, I am aware that the characters are horribly developed; very flat/stock. Keep in mind this is a children's story. As well, this is directly translated from the French version, and my knowledge of French is limited.