The prince gripped my shoulders tightly, his deep eyes gazing at me meaningfully.
“Don’t worry, as my princess, you won’t have to fear anyone.”
“Pr–princess?”
I widened my eyes in surprise.
What did he mean? Did he believe me just like that? He wasn’t going to kill me, but marry me instead? Or was this just an
excuse to keep me trapped in the palace?
“Rest well. We’ll hold the wedding in a month.”
The prince patted my shoulder and left with the black cat. As the door closed, I let out a sigh of relief and flopped onto the bed.
Suddenly, I felt something sticky on my back, as if I had touched some unknown substance.
I turned my head to look. On the bedsheet and the luxurious Persian carpet were several bright red cat paw prints. The viscous
liquid looked like freshly spilled jam. I had no idea where the cat had stepped to get such stains.
I tossed and turned all night, barely sleeping. The next day, several maids acted as if nothing had happened, helping me wash up and get dressed, then taking me to the garden for breakfast.
Queen Eleanor was waiting for me under a dense wisteria arbor.
“Your name is Cinderella, isn’t it? I heard Henry’s proposal was successful last night. Congratulations to you both.”
The queen winked playfully and started planning the details of the wedding–what flowers to use, what color ribbons to decorate the banquet hall with, what main course to serve, which guests to invite.
“Oh, these trivial matters are such a headache. I’m not good at these things; let’s leave it to the Chancellor to arrange.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Isn’t the Chancellor dead?”
The queen’s hand holding the teacup paused, and a confused, bewildered expression crossed her face.
“Dead? How could the Chancellor be dead?
“It feels like people die, and new people are constantly being born. The sun rises and sets, life goes on unchanging!
“It’s so boring, so boring!”
The queen suddenly went into a frenzy, first laughing maniacally, then covering her head and screaming hysterically. The maids nearby seemed used to this, coming over to drag the queen away.
The queen struggled fiercely, her hands tightly gripping the table as she shouted at me: “Run! Run away quickly-”
The white lace tablecloth was pulled to the ground, tea and desserts spilling everywhere. The queen laughed and cried: “It’s all fake, it’s all fake-”
་་་་་་་་་་་
D
9:08 AM
<
The white lace tablecloth was pulled to the ground, tea and desserts spilling everywhere. The queen laughed and cried: “It’s all
fake, it’s all fake—”
“Mother, it’s time for your medicine.”
Prince Henry ran over quickly from the distance, one hand gripping the sword at his waist, his gaze cold. The queen immediately stopped struggling.
“Oh yes, it’s time for my medicine.”
The maids on both sides also let go, and the queen followed behind the maids quietly, leaving without another glance at me.
“Are you scared? What did she say to you?”
The prince affectionately held my hand. I forced a smile.
“The queen was discussing wedding details with me.”
“Mm, choose whatever you like. Come, let me take you horseback riding.”
