“Myotherdaughter, Cinderella”, the merchant gabbled, bowing low to the Prince and his party. A haughty young blonde strode into the room, sat down in the armchair and crossed her booted legs. She stared with contempt at her father and step-sisters, huddled together against the back wall.
"Well?" she demanded. "Get on with your chores" and she watched them scurry from the room, stammering their apologies.
"Well?" she demanded. "Get on with your chores" and she watched them scurry from the room, stammering their apologies.
The Prince sank to his knees before her. “May I?” he murmured, reaching out with a trembling hand. Shenodded curtly and the Prince slowly unzipped her boot with his right hand, cradling the heel in his left. A moist, warm miasma emerged as the loosened boot was gently lifted free.
“Sorry about the smell. Been on my feet all day”, Cinderella explained.
“It’s,erm…it’s no problem at all.” gasped the Prince. “You know, Lord Chamberlain, I think we don’t even need to try the slipper. This is obviously the right pair of… pair of feet.” and he moved closer, his face hovering just above the damp, stockinged foot.
“Oh yes. Yes: these are the feet.”
“Areyou sure, your Majesty?” the Chamberlain replied. “They look a little on the large side to -”
“Well then the slipper must have shrunk!” snapped the prince, not taking his eyes from the foot he held so gently.
“Shrunk,Sire?”theChamberlain replied, one eyebrow raised. “The glassslipper?”
ThePrinceturnedonhiminfury. “How dare you question your Prince! Arrest this man! I shall decide what to do with him later.”
“Perhapsafewyearsinthesaltmines?”Cinderellasuggested.“Withhardlabour? I’ve heard that can be quite effective.”
ThePrincelookedupinto her blue eyes in shock. “That’s quite a harsh, erm... well, foramanin his ageandcondition… I think…” he tailed off, noting a distinct pout coming over the lovely features above him.
“Quiteright,my dear, of course.” he continued. “As you wish.”
Herrestored smileseemed to light up the room. “Andwewon’tbeneeding that silly thing” she added, indicating the glass slipper with an elegant finger. The finger pointed towards a spot on the floor, where the Prince placed it.
Stand back", she instructed. And down came Cinderella’s other, still-booted, foot shattering the slipper into ten thousand iridescent shards.
"Oh dear" she smiled. "So now I suppose whoever's foot fits into that gets to be Queen?", and the Prince raised the boot he was holding in shaking hands towards her gracefully-pointed toes.
And it was a perfect fit.