Chapter 10: The Princess:
Cinduri's POV:
I peeked through the girls circled around the Prince. One after another they tried to squeeze their feet into the anklet.
"Well, it seems that's it," says Thakur Raghu, "we might as well move on."
Stepmother pulled Lata forward for her turn. The Prince knelt before her. Lata made terrible faces, trying to twist her foot through the anklet, but it was no use.
"Perhaps you're right," says the King, "I hope my son will find the woman he loves in the next town."
"And then get them to try on this leather jacket," says Strange Shreya.
"That's just you, Shreya," says the Prince.
"What's your point," asks Strange Shreya.
I tried to get in, but... Thakur Raghu kept trying to stop me for some reason.
"Does anyone else hear something," asks Captain Chettur.
"Probably just someone's cat," says Thakur Raghu.
"Ow, my arm," I said.
"So, the cat's arm hurts," asks Captain Chettur.
The Prince then saw me. "One more," says the Prince as he reaches out to me.
I then shyly walked forward.
"What are you doing here, Cinduri," asks Stepmother, "are you sure you finished all your work? You will get a beating if you have left anything undone?"
"Quiet," says the Prince, "let her try the anklet!"
He slipped my foot in a jeweled circle.
There was a gasp from the crowd as I pulled from my pocket the matching anklet I had kept hidden away. This proved that I was the same girl who had danced for the Prince and won his heart.
I then made a twirling motion, as my snake Godfather has taught me.
"This can't be..."
"I'm afraid it can, Raghu," says my Godfather, hiding, "and you are leader of a group of thieves, trying to get the Prince to marry your daughter so you may rule and Shreya, give me back my leather jacket!"
"This beautiful Princess must be my bride," says the Prince.
To Be Continued
In the next chapter, the wedding begins.