Sanzorella

Chapter 6

"Hakkai-sama, excuse me for asking but what is so special about this woman?" Shien, Prince Hakkai's advisor, was asking

Prince Hakkai looked from his advisor to his personal bodyguard, who were both seated in front of him in the carriage. They had spent the entire morning and afternoon searching for a blond woman who could fit the glass slipper but she was nowhere to be found.

"I do not know, Shien. I just… I just find her different from the rest and that fact was what made her so special."

Shien and Zenon exchanged glances. Their prince was looking out at the passing scenery. Their hearts went out to him for they knew how it felt to lose a loved one. But they had searched high and low for a blond woman who could fit the glass slipper and now, they were on the verge of giving up. There were not many blond women around yet it felt like they were searching for a needle in a haystack.

"Hakkai-sama…" the man with closed eyes and bun up hair started to say.

"It's ok…I've exhausted my men enough. Let's just go back," Prince Hakkai dejectedly said. Maybe the mystery blond belle refused to be found. If so, Prince Hakkai could do nothing about it.

"But Hakkai-sama…." Zenon began to object but was stopped by Shien who raised his left hand slightly. Sighing, the man with an ugly scar stretching from the centre of his forehead to his covered eye looked out from the carriage and bellowed his orders. "We are going back to the palace. The search is over!"

As Zenon was about to retreat back into the carriage, he saw his good friend, Homura who was on his big, black stallion, sidling up by the side of the moving carriage. "Stop the carriage!" Zenon yelled to the carriage driver. "What is it, Homura?" Zenon asked. Shien, too, looked expectantly at his good friend.

Homura steadied his stallion and looked into the carriage. "Forgive me, Hakkai-sama. But why do you mean by the search is over?" His bi-colored eyes moved from the prince to his friends.

Zenon and Shien turned to their young prince who just looked at Homura lifelessly. "It's over, Homura. We have searched everywhere. There is no more blond woman left," Shien answered on the prince's behalf.

Homura let out a small laugh. "Homura, you dare mock the prince?" Zenon asked sternly. Homura may be his good friend but the prince was always his top priority.

"No, no…I wouldn't dare," Homura answered. But a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "But I have a piece of good news for the prince."

Zenon and Shien looked from Homura to Prince Hakkai. The latter cocked his head to one side and inquired, "What is it?"

"There is a private mansion at the outskirts of the Sai-An forest. It belonged to a wealthy free man[1]. I've been there twice; first to proclaim about the ball dance and the second time round was about this search. When I was there during the first time, a blond woman answered the door."

"A blond woman?" Zenon, Shien and Prince Hakkai exclaimed.

"Yes, it's true. And though she was in rags, her beauty was unmistakable."

Shien raised an eyebrow. "In rags? She is a servant, then? She couldn't have attended the ball."

Zenon nodded his head. "Yes, I agree with Shien. I'm sorry, Homura. I know you mean well but she does not fit into our wanted list. The search is…."

"No," Prince Hakkai suddenly interrupted. The three looked at him in surprise. "I want to meet this woman. I've given my word that every blond woman in our kingdom shall have a chance to try on the slipper. Guide the way, Homura."

Homura smiled. "As you wish, Hakkai-sama!"

"Oi, Sanzorella….get me an iced beer!"

I'm gonna make you suffer! Just you wait! Sanzorella thought as she dropped the feather duster she was using to clean the shelves and went to do her bidding.

Lady Gojyo laughed gaily. Having a personal servant was so much fun. And all she needed to do was just laze around on the sofa and smoked to her heart's content. Life was good indeed.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Lady Gojyo turned her head lazily to the door, then towards the kitchen. Sighing heavily, she stood up and walked towards the door. Upon opening the door, Lady Gojyo gasped. It was Prince Hakkai and with him were two unfamiliar faces. Masaka! Are they here for Sanzorella? But there was no way Sanzorella could have been at the ball in the first place!

"Prince Hakkai…what a pleasant surprise!" Lady Gojyo drawled. She deliberately leaned against the doorway so as to block the inside view. "Have you come to see me?" she flirted.

The young prince smiled slightly. "Sumimasen but I'm here to see a blond girl."

"Blond girl? There is no blond girl here. Whoever told you that?" Lady Gojyo knew that her lies were not going to work but she had to try anyway.

"Do you know the penalty for lying to the prince?" the man with closed eyes asked.

"Lady Gojyo…" Prince Hakkai's voice was dangerously low.

The crimson haired lady was cornered. She wished she could just shut the door in their faces. No such luck as the man with an ugly scar and eye patch stepped up to her. His other eye shone perilously as he spoke. "Move it, lady!"

Lady Gojyo had no choice but to step back inside the house. She saw Sanzorella standing rigidly in the middle of the room, a rather smug look on her face. She really thinks she has a chance? Baka!

Prince Hakkai, Zenon, Shien and Homura entered the house. "That is the woman I've been telling you about, Hakkai-sama," Homura said as he looked at Sanzorella with a slight smile.

Prince Hakkai fixed his eyes upon the blond woman who was in rags and dirt on her face. The woman had a familiar challenging look in her eyes. Her eyes…were they violet? "What is your name?" Prince Hakkai inquired.

There were a few moments of silence before a curt answer was given. "Sanzorella."

That voice! "Shien, bring in the glass slipper."

Shien walked up to the prince, carrying a red velvet cushion with elaborate gold embroidery at the sides in his hands. On the cushion was the glass slipper. Prince Hakkai took the slipper and approached Sanzorella. He then came down on one knee and offered the glass slipper in her direction, all the while his eyes never leaving her face.

"Chh…what is this?" Sanzorella's voice was dripping with iciness.

"Sanzorella!" Lady Gojyo gasped.

"Oi, oi…" Zenon said at the same time. Shien was smiling slightly while Homura had a neutral look on his face.

"Daijobu, Zenon. Sanzorella-san, please try on this slipper."

Sanzorella's expression remained unflustered. Her violet eyes swept to her stepmother, who had a murderous look in her ruby eyes. She smirked slightly and turned her attention to the prince, who was waiting patiently for her. In one quick motion, she extended her right foot and slipped it easily into the slipper.

"Nani?" Lady Gojyo shrieked. "It cannot be! This stinking girl is a fraud!"

"Who are you calling a fraud, you erokappa!" A voice suddenly screeched.

And a golden glow began to appear right beside Sanzorella.

~Continue~


[1]  Free man means someone who is not pledging allegiance to any king but pays an annual tribute as a sign of goodwill.