Once Upon Cinderella's Explanation
This chappie is dedicated to Netiri Vi Britannia, whose review forced me to sit down and finish this chappie. I hope you guys enjoy reading this as much as I do writing it.
You see now? I'm back and this time, I have good news! There will be no animal killing, not yet, at least. I was hoping to have some terrifying story to tell you but nothing came to mind, so hopefully as I progress through my story I will have some gross mutilation happening but I'm sorry. The only thing I have now is some interesting bonding between me and a special someone. I hope to speak with you again but until then, enjoy my story.
I changed the water pail and grabbed the last brush before petting the pony named Raven. She neighed and nudged my face. I laughed. "I love you too, Raven."
I wiped the stray bits of sweat from my forehead and sighed. I was free for the rest of the day since the only thing I had to do on Saturdays were clean, feed, and water the twelve horses in the stables and then I would be done for the day.
I kissed her good-bye and left the stables, hoping to get a shower before dinner. I opened the door and bumped into Jack, quite literally, and prevented a tragic fall down the stairs.
I blinked and looked up at his tall figure. "Were you watching me?"
He scoffed, "I wouldn't watch you! I just came to inform you that father wishes your presence!"
I rolled my eyes, "sure, and you're not blushing. Well, can I shower before I go see him? I know nothing I do would make you father dislike me but I really rather not talk to him so stale. Can I get 15 minutes?"
"Sure. I'll let him know."
I walked past him and headed to my room. Jack's father seemed to have taken a great liking to me and was ecstatic to see me everyday. He pulled me aside one day and explained to me that Jack was becoming jealous because he had taken a liking to me as well but rarely got to see me and it made him upset. He claimed that I would be the perfect match for his son if I could only provide an heir. He winked and left after that, leaving me to extinguish the flames burning on my cheeks. The man had to have only been in his thirties, but still, I never would have expected being talked to like that, especially by the king of a kingdom that ranked number one in power amongst the four kingdoms in the world. I was a lowly servant and yet, all the other servants around the castle resented me for being so close and casual with the king and the prince, but I ignored them. It's not like they could harm me within these walls and I wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon. At least, not until stepmother found me.
I entered my fair sized room and began stripping my clothes, diverting my thoughts to the said prince. He seemed to have a lingering feeling toward me. He's always watching me it seems, like he couldn't stay away from me for too long. He seemed indifferent to me, but the way he acted, as if he were always asking if I were okay, if I had everything I needed, and always seemed to be as if he didn't want me to work for anything. It confused me and it always made me think he was playing me, stringing me along so I could tell him where I used to live so that he could send me back because he was disgusted with me for the bruises all over my person. I stepped in the shower and washed the dirt and grime off my body preparing myself for another visit to the King to talk about my family. I toweled my hair and put a fresh set of clothes on before departing my room toward the King's study.
Jack was waiting for me in front of my room and I stared at him in confusion. "What is it?"
"Something came up," he replied, "Father will not be attending this meeting today. He gives his deepest apologies and wishes for. . ."
"Wishes for. . .what?"
"He has set up a pallet for us to have lunch and to, as he explained, bond."
"Bond?" I asked. "He wants us to bond?"
"Apparently."
I raised an eyebrow in question but inside I was jumping for joy. I couldn't figure out why but it made me feel happy to be alone with him now. "Are you not happy about this?"
"I don't mind, I just feel like father is plotting something suspicious. Well, nevermind that. Come, I'll show you." He grabbed my hand and began pulling me somewhere. I snickered inside. The king was obviously plotting something.
We ended up in the castle's private garden and he sat me on a pallet full of different foods I'd never seen before. We sat in silence for awhile, just eating until Jack broke the silence asking me to tell him everything about me.
"Well my name is Yuusei, I am 16 years old, my stepmother is an awful woman, my step-sisters are absolutely terrible, spoiled little brats, let's see, my father died 8 years ago, my mother died 16 years ago, I have no siblings, I have no other known family, I have no friends, I love horses, dogs, and cats -except the one stepmother named after some pagan god or something, she called him Lucifer- I've been serving her since I can remember, she said that it was her house, that she had more power over me and I had to do what she said."
"And what about these bruises and scars?"
I looked down and touched the icing flower topping the cake in front of me. "When I don't finish my chores on time, I get punished."
"Punished? Punished how?"
"Stepmother, she makes her guards beat me black and blue and they beat me until I pass out because I'm a bad child, because I can't do a simple task. I suppose that's why I work efficiently and finish my chores here so quickly."
"You know father would never-"
"Yes, I know but it's just something imprinted in my head, you know?"
He nodded and took a chunk out of his cake. Something popped into my mind then. I reached over and palmed him in the forehead and he shrank back.
"What the hell was that for?"
"That, my kind prince, was for ripping my shirt off. Remember when I first arrived here?"
"That? That was weeks ago and you're just now remembering?"
"I wait when I take vengeance, just remember that."
The rest of lunch was spent over silence. I smiled happily and as he glared at me, I only felt happier.
"So did you have a good lunch with my son?"
I was having my daily conversation with the king that evening after supper. He apologized for not being able to attend earlier for some important business had come up. I merely brushed it off saying he had no business apologizing to someone like me and we laughed about it. "Yes sir, we conversed over trivial things."
The king chuckled, "he informs me that you decked him, as your vengeance."
"Oh no, I only gave him a small tap to the forehead, he is exaggerating the truth."
"I see, I see." The king chuckled once more. "Well besides that, how have you been? Jack has been telling me a few things."
So that's how the conversation went. We went on into the near late hours of night, speaking about my previous life, about my new life, and what I planned to do in the future. It was always the same answers, I hated my life before, I love my life now, and whatever happens in the future happens. I just hope it's good.
I left the king's study around eleven and Jack was there waiting. That's the fifth time today he's done that!
"Can I help you?" I asked.
"Father wishes me to escort you from his study to your rooms from now on."
We began walking and I questioned him. "Why's that?"
"He has been receiving messages from the other nobles living in this castle that you are a piece of work and he believes they may try to assault you if you are alone."
"So I'm not safe?"
"You are very safe, as safe as you can be, but you won't ever be left alone either. Your room is close to mine anyways so you are always safe."
I moved just a little bit closer to him and smiled. "You'll protect me huh?"
"Always. You can't protect yourself, that's for sure, you're too fragile."
I punched his arm and snickered. "Glad to know you think of me as a piece of glass."
"Of course. What would you rather me think of you?"
"A teddy bear. Soft and cuddly, you know?"
He patted my head and laughed. "Whatever you say, princess, whatever you say."
Yay! It's short! Well, maybe that's not an incredibly good thing but it's good I guess. I don't have lots to say but I do have a question. How do you feel about MPreg...?
