A Rose Of Cinders

Chapter 1

Liza softly hummed along with the melody of the bird's songs while wiping the floor. It was early, and the sun had yet to rise. She loved to be awake at this hour of the day, to be able to finish her chores without Tess or Bertha bothering her. She'd sit down when the sun would come up, watching the sky turn purple and violet, red and pink, yellow and orange, and seeing the moon slowly dissolve and disappear.

The thing she loved most about the rising of the sun was how the world around her would come alive. Horsemen and coaches would ride on the main road close to their yard and everywhere around her windows would be opened and laughter could be heard. There wasn't any laughter in the Parker residence, though. When Tess and Bertha would awaken, they would be in a very bad mood, even in a worse one than the moods they usually had. That was why Liza dreaded yet loved the daybreak, the coming of dawn, and all of its consequences.

Lost in her musings, she softly patted a mouse on its back with her broom, silently challenging it, daring it to play with her. The mouse squeaked quasi indignant and tried to climb onto her leg but failed miserably. Liza's leg was too slippery and steep for the mouse and it kept sliding down when it reached her calf.

Liza quietly laughed, cautiously as to not awaken anyone, and bended forward. She picked the little fellow up and placed it upon her shoulder, allowing it to nibble at her earlobe for a little while, giggling at the tickling sensation it caused. When the mouse softly bit her she gave a little scream, but quickly berated herself for making such a noise.

She sat down and let the mouse descend her shoulder and leap into her lap. A few other mice joined them and together they sat and watched the sun beginning its lonesome slow climb across the horizon. They were silent, somehow revering the rainbow of colors, the wonder of the rising and the awakening of the world. It was one of Tess's screams that disturbed the peaceful silence.

"Liza!"

Liza quickly stood up, gathering her broom and bucket. She practically ran into the house, knowing it wasn't wise to keep Tess waiting too long. She nearly bumped into Alex, who just smiled at her apology and took the bucket and broom from her.

She arrived in Tess's first bedroom, completely out of breath, and noticed that the curtains were still drawn.

"Open the curtains, and then make me some breakfast," Tess commanded her. "Scrammed eggs and two rolls dressed with sugar."

Bertha entered the room, her hair tousled and tangled, full of little knots, and dressed in her flannel pyjama, that was hanging loosely around her large body.

"Now where are your manners, honey?" she asked in a mock chastising tone.

Tess smiled conspiratorially at her mother before directing Liza.

"Of course, I forgot…" she began in a sugary sweet voice, the syrup almost literally dripping off of it.

She gave Liza a fake sympathetic smile.

"Now!"

Liza sighed, and tried her best not to show how hurt she was inside.

She nodded, not trusting her own vocal cords to be as emotionless as her appearance, and went downstairs to prepare breakfast for both Tess and Bertha. She also made a few slices of bread for Alex and herself, putting his onto the kitchen table, covering it with a linen cloth to prevent flies from sitting on it.

She made her way upstairs again and served both women their breakfast. Tess ordered her to fill the bath with warm water and retrieve her red dress out of her closet. After dragging five buckets of warm water upstairs, silently wincing every time she spilled some water on the recently scrubbed floors, she had completely filled the large bath.

She was curling Tess's hair when Bertha – now fully dressed and made up, but still very unattractive – barged into Tess's bathroom. Both Liza and Tess looked up, alarmed, for they had never seen Bertha as flushed and excited as this. Her eyes were opened wide, an excitement mingling with the ever-present coldness, her cheeks rosy, mocking the rouge that now looked ridiculous, and her nostrils were flaring as rapid as a ventilator. Usually, Bertha was the role model of a boring, overly controlled person, but she was close to bouncing up and down at this moment.

She ran over to Tess, wildly waving with a letter with a broken seal in her hand.

"Look! Sweetie, this is your chance!" Bertha barely managed to say in between of her breaths for fresh air. "This is our chance! You're going to meet the Prince! The Prince! she stressed.

Tess gave a squeal of delight and started bouncing along with her mother.

Liza just kept quiet, standing in the background, her heart feeling oddly warm and tingly all of a sudden. Would the Prince come to their house? That would be great…

She involuntarily shivered. She had met the Prince once, a long time ago – her mum had still been alive – but it had been enough to get her falling in love with him. She hadn't realized it at the time that the feelings she had were the ones of love, but she did now.

She, Alex and Maria had sneaked out of their houses and had gone to the Great Plaza, where a carnival would be held. They'd never been to a carnival before, and were impressed and overwhelmed by all the new experiences and the diversity of people. They'd seen people spitting fire and there had been jugglers, dwarfs and women with beards.

She sighed happily. The memory of that day was seared into her brain, not just because of the funfair, but mostly because of the boy she'd met that day.

She'd lost Maria and Alex in the bustle, fuss and excitement and had been on the verge of a breakdown when a boy about her age had noticed her, his wonderful warm amber eyes worriedly examining her. He had asked her softly what was wrong and promised her – as genuine and sincere as promises of children are – that he would help her find them back.

He had taken her hand, causing a surge of a tingly sort of energy to flood through her body, artilleries and veins, and had led her to a man in his thirties, who had taken her up on a stage. Maria and Alex saw her and rejoined them in no time.

It wasn't until she, Alex and Maria had hugged in the joy of being together again that she noticed the small, yet very precious crown on top of the man's head, and realized that he had to be the King. The King put his arm around the shoulder of the boy – Prince, Liza silently corrected herself – and winked at her, twice, a smile gracing his handsome features. The King and the Prince turned around and walked away, and she lost sight of them in the crowd.

Maria, Alex and she just stood there, mouths agape, watching them leave, disperse into the fuss. Suddenly they appeared out of the crowd once more, and the Prince had looked back and smiled – a sort of a conspiratorially smile, meant for her – a smile that made his eyes light up and her heart beat a little faster.

That day had been the best day of her life, despite of the severe punishment that had followed after her mum and Amelia had found out about it. It had been worth it, they all agreed, and they hadn't regretted their little trip for a single second. Until the present day, Liza had been looking forward to meet the boy, the Prince, again, to thank him for helping her and her friends, to look and get lost into his eyes just once more.

Liza weakly smiled at the memory. She often thought back about that day, or to be really honest with herself, she often thought back about the Prince. How he would look nowadays, and whether or not he would recognize her, remember her. Maria had told her that the Prince was said to be really handsome. Soulful amber eyes, thick raven hair, a body to die for and full kissable lips... Liza remembered the eyes, but hadn't really paid attention to his other 'qualities' when they had met.

She was shaken out of her reveries by the sound of Tess's high squeals. By that time, Bertha had regained some of her sensibility and had calmed down a little. In vain she tried to silence her daughter, but soon she realized that the only way to do that was to read the letter to her.

She took a deep breath before starting her mission to quiet Tess, a very tough one, needless to say.

"It's directed to every young girl in the Kingdom of Antar and across the borders," she enthusiastically began, "the Prince is giving a ball to find himself a young bride. Every girl is welcome and can take one companion along with her: her mother, father, friend or brother." Bertha read.

Tess started another series of squeals and actually laughed out loud.

Liza felt her heart swell even more, almost flooding over with joy and hope. Every girl in the Kingdom was invited…

So, she was also allowed to come, right? She grinned and turned her full attention back to the rest of the letter.

"The ball is being held in two days, for three nights. The Prince promises to dance with as many girls as possible…" Bertha continued, looking significantly at Tess.

"He'll love you, sweetie," she told her. "You know what this means?" she excitedly asked her daughter. "He'll take you as his bride, and you and I are going to live at the palace!"

Tess nodded eagerly. "We'll finally be able to leave this place!" she happily sighed. "And you, of course," she added, looking at Liza with disgust.

Liza felt another pang of hurt, but in her heart she knew that Tess was just jealous… At least, that was what Alex asserted. She had no clue as to why Tess would be jealous at her, but Alex seemed pretty sure, and he was the one with the logic mind, right?

She listened quietly while Tess and Bertha were making plans about the right dress, make-up and hairstyle. How she wished that her mother could be here right now, planning the ball with her…

She sighed, and suddenly noticed that Tess and Bertha were silent now, and looking at her expectantly, as if they had just asked her something.

"I'm… I'm sorry… Wh-What?" Liza hesitantly asked them, berating herself for stammering.

"Get Tess's best dresses out of her closets," Bertha impatiently commanded her. "Now!"

Liza cringed and was about to leave, but stopped dead in her tracks and turned around.

Tess and Bertha were discussing the ball again, and she looked at them, envying Tess, and at the same time trying to be not so jealous.

"Bertha?" she quietly asked, a hesitant hint in her voice.

Bertha didn't hear her and just went on talking to Tess.

"Bertha?" Liza asked again, a little louder and more self-confident this time.

Bertha looked up, angry for being interrupted in her discussion and an impatient look disgracing on her face.

"Yes?" she asked, rather furious.

"Could I… could I" Liza stammered and she sighed, frustrated with her sudden inability to talk without stuttering. She took a good, long, deep breath before looking Bertha deeply in the eye.

"Could I go as well?" she breathed out, shivering at the cold glares she was receiving from both Tess and Bertha.

She expectantly looked at them.

"Please?" she added.