Cinderella had never been a double-timer. Always pure and innocent, she would get her way with that. Charming was changing. Spending little time with her and the children. All he would do was work. Cinderella was lacking a large portion of her life. She knew it, and all of her servants knew it. Everything seemed to crash down onto her as she dreamed of something better.

The garden roses filled Cinderella's eyes, along with the wild growing lilies. The gardener was bent over a flower bed pulled weeds. Cinderella took a second glance at the gardener. It wasn't the old widow, Mrs. Jackelle anymore. The gardener was new. Cinderella eyed him. A young man, perhaps 20. Only a few years younger than herself. She was used to her staff being older. She wanted to get a look at the young man.

"Ahem," Cinderella cleared her throat. The young gardener turned around. His face was sweaty and full of dirt, but all the same, he had a dominant chin and cheekbones. As he looked into the Queen's eyes, his own hazel beauties twinkled with delight. He gave a broad smile, from his heart, not through force of his face muscles. Their eyes were caught for a moment in time, until the young staff member remembered to bow, and all Cinderella could see was the top of head, a furry black head of hair.

Cinderella continued to smile as she continued her stroll through her castle garden. She thought about the gardener and his smile. A bright smile. An eye-lighting smile. A true smile. Charming hadn't smiled like that in years. Charming hardly smiled anymore. All he did was work, to keep up with his 'kingly duties'. Sometimes, it made Cinderella sick. Leaving her alone all the time with their kids. Leaving her without a stable man. She was still young, and all of the romance in her life had run out, and worst of all, all the midnight love.

Sighing, Cinderella reached the edge of the garden, where the growing buds reached her stable castle. She was thinking of the gardener. Of his truthful smile and beautiful face. Without her permission, her mind began to dream and dance within the red scarfs of summer love. Cinderella saw herself dancing in the half-moon light. The children were asleep. The gardener, his strong muscles and cheerful smile, held Cinderella's hands, leading her to the steps of the ballroom dance. The dance slowed down as he leaned into Cinderella. His soft lips pressed against her own.

Cinderella stood, an in-love smile pulled on her lips. Her eyes were closed as she envisioned the scene. She was caught up in her gardener's smile. She remembered the children and woke herself from her girlish day-dream. Thinking of her children reminded her of Charming. Charming. King Charming. Her husband. Her heart dropped down to the tips of her polished toes. How could she think of the gardener in such a way? Kissing a staff member though she's happily married to Charming? Her Charming. Her Charming that was never around. He didn't care about his children, only his job.

Furious with her husband Cinderella shot upstairs. She continued to think of Charming, anger building up. She thought of a way to end it, a way to change. Her mind was a day at the races. Horses shooting back and forth, making their rounds. Loud noises. Hot sun. Suddenly, it ended. Everything was bear. A single flower sprouted in the midst of everything, in the midst of nothing. More flowers began to sprout, until weeds came. Then, the gardener, a bright smile on his face, love in his eyes. Cinderella's mind felt at ease.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" Matie, a maid was looking at Cinderella, a platter of half-eaten food in her hand.

"Quite," Cinderella smiled, thinking of the new staff.

"Thinking of Charming are you?" Matie noted her in-love gaze.

"Yeah," Cinderella lied, still angry at Charming, "Say, do we have a new gardener? I was just out there, and there was a young man there."

"Oh yes, he's been here for a couple months. His name is Kenny Liamth," Matie grinned, "Is there anything I can get you your majesty?"

"Nothing at all."

"Very well, you're children are just finishing up there lessons," Matie bowed slightly and continued on her way, holding the platter about her greying head.

Cinderella flattered the name, "Kenny Liamth."