In that very same kingdom was a palace, the very same palace Cindergrella had a lovely view of. In this palace lived the three servants to the king; Bard the cook, Maylene the maid and Finny the gardener, the King's sister who they addressed as Madame Red for she loved the color red and not a single spot of any other color was to be found, even her eyes were red and of course the king and queen themselves.
Queen Ranmao, a seductive, curvy, busty woman from china with golden eyes and long black hair usually sported in two long braids but as beautiful and sexy as she was she never spoke really and if she did it was one word. King Lau supported many drug smugglers and sellers and also many places made for man's personal pleasure. His eyes were always closed it was a condition he had but somehow he was able to function just fine, it was said Ranmao was something of a Seeing Eye person for him. Together they had the wealthiest empire in the entire kingdom and supported, and built many factories and held friendly bonds with every nation. They could ship from anywhere in the world without a single problem with Lau's quick wit and agile, calm, laid back nature and ability to pursue coped with the distracting beauty that could bring any decent, straight man to his knees they held a great deal of power and fortune.
At first they were young and Lau could only share the fortune with his sister but soon Ranmao wanted a child, a boy child to carry on their family name. Many trials and many errors later they found out the distressing news that Ranmao could not bear children. Ranmao had taken it hard and was visibly distraught. It broke her heart that she could not have a child after already fixing up a room for the bouncing baby boy. She would stay in that room all day wearing long black dresses and crying next to the crib. She prayed and prayed silently for a child and after so many days and months of prayer it seemed fate stepped in and allowed her prayers to be answered.
Madame Red felt horrible watching her beloved sister-in-law cry and to ease her suffering she found herself adopting a baby boy at the local orphanage; this also helped the royal family's image in many, many ways. She presented the baby boy to her brother and sister-in law and they couldn't be more thrilled. The baby boy had white hair and stitches on his face, the orphanage runner said he was the youngest survivor of a disastrous fire but his eyes were very special a beautiful steel and blue color that were so beautiful the nurses found themselves staring into them for hours and finding themselves submitting to the baby.
The child came with no name but his real father was an Undertaker so the boy was so aptly named, Prince Undertaker. Though a strange name for a child it seemed suiting as time passed. He became obsessed with the deceased, dead and the beyond. Ghosts, demons, graveyards, haunted houses, vampires, tombstones, skeletons, corpses…these were his favorites. He had fashioned a coffin as a bed when he turned 12 and always slept in it. He liked to keep lit candles in his room, autopsy photos, an actual human skeleton that he called Morticia, a human head with a dagger in the skull that was actually a functioning fountain pen and various other odds and ends that made his room a gothic dream.
Heavy black drapes tied with maroon sashes with golden tassels, wine colored rugs with black swirls, a few candelabra's, a chandelier, stuffed crows, and lots of roses in vases and all around, some red petals were scattered on the floor and bed. He also had a small library containing some of his favorite books and almost all of them pertained to death. He didn't squirm at blood or find the rotting corpse of the living dead to be disgusting; it was all fascinating and the bloodier and grosser a body was the better, but Prince Undertaker was a crazy guy that acted spontaneous and random but he was also very funny and kind and friendly.
It would soon be his birthday and he was turning 25 and Ranmao couldn't be any prouder of her beloved son though she never told him because she hardly ever spoke she would show it. There was only one problem…
"Son, you're going to be twenty-five tomorrow and you still haven't found a suitable wife."
"I don't want a Queen, father. I don't want to marry someone for money and prosperity but for love."
"Love hardly exists in this rolling world we live in. Having a queen by your side would look good on you and besides it's high time you settle down so we're going to have a huge ball for all the eligible maidens in the kingdom."
"Your ideas suck, I'm not going to be interested in any of them."
"We shall see. They will all be beautiful and from high respected and noble families, oh and of course, with respect to your sexuality, all eligible lords and men will be allowed to attend as well."
Prince Undertaker was fiddling with the skull in his lap then looked at his mother who smiled a rare smile. His father was always smiling but his mother usually had a serious face but this enhanced her beauty.
"Don't look so solemn, son. You will have fun! Isn't that right, Ranmao?"
"Fun," She whispered softly in her fairy-like voice.
If his hair wasn't covering his eyes you could tell he was rolling them. He went into his room and plopped down in his coffin.
"Ah Morticia, they just don't understand. I don't want to go to the stupid ball! I'll have to wear a fancy shirt and dress pants…EW! Not to mention my crown this means…no hat! How can I live without my hatty? I suppose if I am to go to this I must learn how to dance. Not fun at all. I just hope to see a little bloodshed tonight. Come Morticia, be my dance partner."
He grabbed the skeleton and started dancing merrily with it.
"So much fun dancing with the dead! Your bones look so pretty, and your sunken eyes draw me in. How can anyone compare with the perfection of the deceased?"
King Lau kissed his Queen's chin then sighed.
"He has to find a Queen tomorrow or all the kingdom will fall in ruin. I just know it will happen! Besides we're getting old and need somebody to carry on that legacy and besides, we want grandchildren, don't we my love?"
Queen Ranmao blinked then accepted a loving stroke upon her neck and cheek. She sat there on her King's lap, this was her only throne and she was often found here upon his lap in her scandalous attire unbefitting of a queen. King Lau called forth his three faithful servants, Bard, Finny, and Maylene. Finny was a young boy with almost superhuman strength, golden hair and a sunny disposition, Bard was a cigarette addict and couldn't be found without his cig, he had dirty blonde hair and a laid back nature but even though he was a cook he always ended up exploding the kitchen, Maylene was a pretty, mousy girl who hid behind huge, fogged up glasses, her hair was a reddish color but she was so very clumsy and accident prone.
"Bard, Maylene, Finias you are my trusted servants. See to it that a letter goes out to every household with available and eligible maidens and lords."
"YES BELOVED KING!" They said and unison and then were off in a stumbling flash.
"He will find a Queen by tonight."
"I don't think so. I wager that by the end of the night he will be as single as he is now. I love my nephew but I know him well. There will not be a single lady or lord that will catch his eye. No beautiful woman will waltz by magically and he will be struck by cupid."
"Hmm, you think so, Madame Red? Alright we'll play your little game, dear sister. I bet my son will find that lady or man of his dreams and provide us with an heir. Of course if it's a man he will have to adopt but none the less he will have a spouse by the end of tomorrow night."
"Very well, it's a bet. May the best person win."
"I tend to, dear sister. I always get what I so desire, isn't that right Ranmao?"
He lovingly caressed her curves and she looked at him in the eyes. She said nothing but he got the message loud and clear. She loved him and he loved her back. He kissed her cheek tenderly and allowed her to situate herself on his lap.
"We shall see who is right. I know there is no such thing as love at first sight."
"Your life must really suck, but I believe he will find his one as I have found my one, dear sister."
"It will take a miracle for this to happen."
But a miracle would happen and the impossible would become possible with a little bit of…magic.