Author's Note: alrighty, here's the second chapter. Sorry Debs, you missed out on this one too. Just for your information, Kri is pronunced 'CREE', not 'CRY'.

Nat: huzzah! Thanks! Keep reviewing!

Lollipop: this is all set up. As the title says, a story that POSSIBLY resembles Cinderella. Give it a few more chapters. Thanks for the review!

Finding Who You're Looking For(Or Not)

Tol trudged down the main boulevard through the capital city. The search had so far been very unproductive. According to the locals, this princess was rarely allowed out of the castle and never without her personal maidservant, so he had assumed that she would be easy to find, as the fine clothing worn by royals tended to stand out. Such had not been the case. Sighing, he turned and walked through the Public Gardens, the look in his eyes daring any of the passersby to wish him a good day. Fortunately for them, most of the citizens weren't of a betting nature. At last he sat down on a bench set off the main cobblestone path, staring blankly ahead.

At that moment, Kri was walking, no, strutting through the gardens, her maidservant Synsy in two. They were both garbed in manner of peasants, as the princess liked to do so she wouldn't attract any attention. In fact, out of the rich clothing she was of such plain feature(not ugly, just not easily noticed) that she might have been treated with a lack of respect entirely unbearable to her, had Synys not held her with the same awe here that she did in the castle. Since the maidservant had a strong, dependable air about her, the fact that she would do this produced a higher degree of deference to her charge that eliminated the aforementioned disrespect.

The two paused in front of the bench occupied by Tol, so completely intent on their conversation that they failed to notice him.

"So then I stepped right in his face and told him 'I don't care if it makes the story a better read, princesses don't act like that! This tripe is demeaning and annoying. I don't write stories about cobblers, because I have no idea what they do, so why should a cobbler feel like he can write about princesses?!'"

Synsy shook her head, the greying hair flipping in her face.

"You certainly know what to say," she commented wryly.

"And then I-excuse me sir, should I speak louder so you can hear us better?" Kri asked Tol, who had been leaning forward as the conversation went on.

He smiled sheepishly and leaned back, stretching out.

"Sorry miss, couldn't help it," he replied dryly. "Maybe if you spoke softer the birds I was listening to wouldn't have flown away, forcing me to hear you."

Kri's eyes flashed, and she was about to reply when Tol hastily continued.

"Excuse me, but could you tell me where to find the maidervant of the Princess Kriella?"

Synys and Kri glanced at each other for a moment.

"Why would you want to know that?" the latter asked warily.

"Oh, just curious," he said lightly.

Synys began, "Well, I happen to be-"

"A baker," Kri interrupted, jabbing her maidservant in the ribs. "She happens to be a baker. I'm, uh Kortny, I serve Princess Kriella. Who are you?"

She joined him on the bench in a similarly stretched out position.

"I'm T-Ryn, Ryn of Nylbryn."

"Nylbryn," Kri repeated thoughtfully, trying to find something to say. "That's a bit of a journey."

"Not really. Just a mile or two."

"Well, I have never been good at geography," she muttered.

Tol raised an eyebrow.

"You were taught geography?"

"Apparently not," she stated calmly, although inside she was squirming at her near-miss..

They stared at each other for a moment.

"Forgive me," Kri began. "But you look familiar somehow."

"So do you," Tol agreed. "Ever been to Nylbryn?"

"No. With my knowledge of geography, I'd set out and then probably end up going in the opposite direction."

Tol laughed, and Kri grinned, enjoying the way his blue eyes sparkled at her comment.

"So, what do you do?" she asked curiously.

"What?"

"Work. Where do you work?" Kri asked again. "Are you an apprentice to a craftsman?"

"Oh, no I'm a-," Tol desperately tried to think of something to say instead of 'prince of a country'. "I'm Prince Tolrin's manservant."

"Really," Kri said slowly, an idea forming in her mind. "Tell me, could you just answer a few questions?"

Tol was about to respond, when Kri saw Synys motioning impatiently to where King Lly and Queen Tas were coming.

"I'm sorry, I have to go. Could we meet here later? Say tomorrow?"

Tol barely had time to nod before she ran off into the park. He remained there for a few moments, a smile lingering on his face.