Chapter 5

Celina helped Penelope into her dress, but the task of tightening her corset was a chore that alone took about thirty minutes. While her stepmother demanded it be made tighter, Penelope demanded that she loosen it.

After she was dressed, Celina quickly cleaned the main areas of the house, preparing for the Princes arrival.

After an hour when she was done, she quickly reported to her parents. All of them were dressed in their finest clothes while Celina was covered with dirt and a ragged old dress.

"All the chores are done Father."

"Good." Her stepmother snapped instead. "Now go hide yourself somewhere! We don't need the prince seeing a servant looking like you do!"

Celina bowed her head and left the room.

….

Dominic fought to keep himself awake. He had been searching all night with no luck and he refused to stop, even during the day during his weakest time.

He was jolted awake when the carriage finally stopped moving.

The door opened and he got hit with a blast of sunlight. He hissed.

"Sorry sire, but were at the last home that's this close to the castle."

He grunted and got out of the carriage. He still carried the small blue shoe with him as a small test for the women.

Dominic knew immediately when he saw the ladies that they weren't the one he was looking for. Sadly, he couldn't simply turn them away the moment he saw them, and that's where the shoe came in. It helped greatly because so far, no one could fit in properly.

He yawned as his servant knocked on the door.

The door opened and the lady of the house quickly smiled and allowed them inside.

"Come in, your majesty! We have been expecting you!"

He nodded and stepped inside. The house did not impress him as they were led to the living room.

"Your majesty, I present my daughter Penelope."

Dominic held back him snort when he saw her. Her dress had enough frills to choke a walrus and her hair had enough curls to overflow her head.

He knew this was not his bride.

"Let us do this quickly." He yawned and held out the shoe to the servant.

Penelope looked confused as the servant approached her.

"The woman I am looking for dropped this shoe at the ball. If it fits, then you are the woman I am looking for. "

The look on the girls face brightened up.

"Of course! I remember! Mother, I did loose my shoe last night!"

Dominic raised an eyebrow and kept his eyes from rolling.

I should have kept a tally of how many girls have said that too me.

Penelope sat in the chair and peeled of her large high-heeled shoe.

Dominic held his laughter at bay as he looked at her large foot. There was simply no way for it to fit.

The servant knelt down and tried to slip in on, but is wouldn't even fit passed her large toes.

"Is that the right foot?" Her mother interjected.

"It is but my foot might be a bit swollen. You know, from all that dancing!"

Dominic held his laughter in while the servant tried to wrestle the shoe on her.

….

Celina rocked gently in her chair and stared out the window. It was a beautiful day outside and Celina would love to go bask in the sunlight.

She smiled. I can go out the back way.

She quietly got out of her chair and snuck downstairs. Her room led to the kitchen where she easily snuck out to the backyard.

As soon as the sun hit her face, Celina was in heaven. She walked around to the front yard to see a very large carriage in the road.

Is the prince still here?

Curious, Celina walked to get a closer look at the carriage. It was very large and elegant. It was black with gold trimming on it.

Celina sighed. I guess the rich get these special privileges.

Celina turned to go back inside but stopped and gasped.

The man she danced with was standing right in front of her.

…

After about ten minutes of girl trying to force the shoe on, Dominic had enough.

"That's enough! You are clearly not the woman I am looking for."

Penelope quickly jumped out of her seat as the servant grabbed the shoe back from her and walked towards the door.

"But your majesty-"

Dominic ignored the pleas and walked out to the carriage.

He immediately stopped at the sight in front of him.

A young woman stood in front of his carriage clearly admiring it. He couldn't see her face but immediately felt drawn to her.

Her dress was ragged and her skin looked dirty from even the back of her.

She turned and saw her face.

As she gasped he lost his breath. If it wasn't her beautiful face that got him, it was those eyes.

I know those eyes…

He smiled and walked towards her

"Do you live here?"

She came out of her trance and bowed quickly. "Yes, your majesty. I am a servant of this house."

He tilted his head.

She did say she wasn't a princess…

"Do you know why I'm here?"

The girl shook her head and continued to bow.

He sighed, walked over to her, and gently raised her head up to meet his eyes.

"I lost a bride the other night. I was hoping to find her here."

Celina flushed.

He was the prince!

Celina continued shaking, not knowing what to do.

Dominic snapped his fingers, and the small blue shoe appeared in his hand from the servant.

"Will you try this on for me?"

Celina nodded, still red.

As Dominic kneeled in front of Celina, the front doors burst open and Celina's family filed outside.

"Your majesty!" Her stepmother cried, "She is just a servant! A nobody!"

Dominic ignored her and continued to remove Celina's tattered slipper.

"Celina! Her father snapped. "Go to your room this instant!"

For the first time, Celina ignored all of them.

This was finally her moment to find happiness.

As Dominic slipped her mothers shoe on her foot, Celina smiled and let the tears fall.

And, naturally, it was a perfect fit.

Dominic looked up at her and smiled.

"You led me on quite a chase."

Celina continued to smile and cry while her family gasped in horror.

"But she wasn't even at the ball!" Her stepmother cried.

They both ignored her as he stood and moved Celina's collar aside.

He smiled as he saw his mark low on her collar.

"What is your name?"

Celina looked into his eyes. "Celina."

He smiled. "Will you marry me and be my bride for the rest of eternity?"

Celina smiled and jumped into his arms. "YES!"

The couple kissed passionately, knowing only happy days were ahead.

….

…2 weeks later…

Celina smiled as she made her way down the aisle. As much as she may have forgiven her father, she refused to allow him to walk her down to her future husband.

Today was about them, not her family. She wanted this moment to be memorable, not a chance for her family to try and take the spotlight.

Celina looked beautiful wearing her mothers wedding dress. The only thing new to the outfit was the veil that covered her face as the walked to Dominic.

Dominic looked positively regal in his outfit. His hair was sleeked back and the smile never left his face.

As Celina reached Dominic at the end of the aisle, and the couple smiled at each other and held each other's hand.

As the priest began the opening blessings, King Leon sat in his throne, happy and content

One down… three more to go!

Author's moral of the story:

Don't depend on a fairy godmother. They may be nice and help you out, but YOU will be the one who makes your dreams come true.

The End

….

Sorry about the last updates, but I'm kind of going thru hell right now. My great-grandmother is in the hospital so things are very stressful right now.

Btw, I'm looking for more story ideas based on fairy tales. I have 3 more short stories to write and I need some fairytale ideas. All credit for the idea will go to the person who suggests it. I will only take the credit for writing it.

Thanks for the support and more will come hopefully soon! ^_^

-Kurby