The prince's epilogue

The fireplace was making little noises as the afternoon ended and the evening began. The prince sat restlessly on his chair reading. It had been a while since he had read a book. Something about ethics and politics. Usually, something he could enjoy, but not tonight when he was waiting on a report.

And the report was late. The letters should have reached the outer corners of the country by now, but still no response. Or rather, not the response, the prince was so eagerly waiting for. Many men had already applied for the recruitment. Often the biggest and bulkiest men the prince had ever seen. He would be safe with them, but he would never trust them.

When he proposed the idea to his father, he immediately agreed. Of course, keeping his son safe was the only thing he wanted. Especially, after the little trip, he had. His father was furious when he finally returned home. So when the prince asked whether it would be a good idea to hire a bodyguard to protect him and keep him safe, the king agreed.

The prince sighed and turned another page of the book he wasn't paying attention to. It was already getting dark. If he didn't anything back soon, he would have to choose a person he wouldn't even trust. That would be a waste of time. Just when he was contemplating whether he should cancel it all, a tiny knock was heard.

The prince closed his book, startled but alert at once. 'Yes?'

One of his trusted men came into the room. 'Someone is coming at the gates, your highness. It appears to be... the person you've been looking for.' His advisor was the only person he had told the real reason for sending out the applications. He had refused at first, but he accepted the truth later on. His advisor hesitated to speak further.

The prince stood up from his chair, put the book down, and walked past his advisor into the hallway. 'Please don't hold back on your words now. But tell me on the way down, we have to hurry.'

'Sir.' He began. 'Are you sure you want this girl to be your... guard?'

'Definitely. I trust her with my life.'

'Is this the same girl who almost kicked you out after she put you in danger? She must have protected you or at least sent you away before you met the dangerous witch.'

He didn't stop or even hesitated a second when he answered: 'She is good. She is smart, agile, and can hold a punch. If she wanted to, she could beat you in a hand-to-hand fight. Oh, and the witch you all talk about? She was the one who trained this "girl." If the witch is so dangerous, the girl must be a one of kind to survive so long with her.'

They were at the bottom of the stairs. 'I don't want to hear another word from you on this matter, understood?' His voice became demanding, but it had its effect. His advisor lowered his head. 'Good. Please let the chambermaid know to make her room in order.'

His advisor left him, and the prince was alone at last. He walked towards the doors and opened them...

She hadn't said a word but just stood there. Her back straight, her hands behind it, and her gaze was down. The prince brought her to his room after he had dealt with the guards. The fact that she acted so cold towards him surprised him a bit. They hadn't seen each other for over a month, but Cinderella acted like they were strangers.

'So, how are you?' He started and broke the deafening silence.

'I've been well, thank you.' There was no sign of warmth or any empathy in her voice. Almost like she was reading a message.

'"I've been well"? Why are you talking like that? I've never heard you talk like that.'

'I'm sorry to disappoint, your highness.'

Ah. The prince finally started to get it. 'Are you uncomfortable?' This got some sort of reaction out of her. She finally looked at him, and it made him realize that he had missed her eyes. Still breathtaking.

'Of course not! I just don't know how to act... I mean, you are the crown prince and all, and I'm just a normal person...'

He smiled internally. So cute. 'You know my name, right?'

Cinderella nodded and lowered her head again.

'The people who know my name are the people who are the closest to me or who I think are special.' He hoped the message got through...

'So, I'm...special?'

The prince nodded. Did she get his hint?

'I don't know if that's a compliment...' Cinderella didn't look very happy. If he were to describe what the emotion was that he saw, it would be apologetic.

'What are you talking about?'

'Well, I guess it makes sense. I am the one who tricked you into a deal that made me steal the crown and in you sharing your name.'

He thought about what she said for a minute and couldn't grasp her thinking. What the hell was she talking about? When did that- Oh. He got it. It felt like such a long time ago that happened.

'That's... ugh. That is not the reason you're special. Goodness, sometimes...' He walked to the other end of the room and walked to a little box. He picked it up and walked back to Cinderella, who was patiently waiting.

'Here. Open it.' He handed her the box.

'What is it?' Cinderella eyed the box suspiciously.

'Open it and find out why you are special.'

For a second, their eyes met. The prince could feel his heartbeat speed up, and he had to look away. 'Open it...' His throat was dry, but he covered it up. Normally, he had no nerves when talking to the whole country. But talking to Cinderella made him feel like a little boy.

She opened the box. Carefully at first, and then confused. 'It's... my shoe...?'

Inside it was indeed her shoe. He even got it cleaned the other day, and cherished it since the moment he found it at the stairs.

'That's right. You remember you lost it, right?'

'Yeah, I know. But why do you have it?' She still didn't take it out of the box.

'Because I hoped that I could return it to you one day.'

'Why would you want that?'

It could be so easy. This would be a good opportunity, but he had her future in mind. What he felt was still so new, even to him. Also, even if he could just say what he felt, the responsibility that came with it, he didn't know if Cinderella wanted to carry it.

'It's a secret.'

'Pff, you're so weird.' But she smiled, and she finally took it out to inspect it.

The prince smiled as well. 'So, what are you going to do with it?'

'What can I do with one glass shoe? I can either smash it to pieces or show it off.' She looked at it again. 'But this one is too beautiful to let it go to waste. Seems like you cleaned it as well, so I guess I'll have to show it off whenever I can.

The prince smiled again. 'Just one more thing.'

'What?'

'Don't call me "your highness" anymore. You know my name, so use it.'

She was quiet for a short minute. Then, she scoffed and smiled. 'Fine. Thank you for bringing back my shoe, Aiden.'

His heart fluttered, and he looked forward to the times where he would "accidentally" bump into Cinderella.