by Shea, K. M.
“And he’s barely fourteen,” Cinderella said.
Julien made a pained face. “I hope we won’t have to visit them often. They will be titled terrors with no sense of etiquette.”
“Come now; it won’t be that bad.”
“Yes, it will. My sister has taken to tree-climbing—heaven help her if Father finds out.”
“And your mother?”
“Turns a blind eye. Secretly I think she wants to encourage her,” Julien sighed.
“Think of it this way: they will be a matched pair.”
“Wild hoodlums, the both of them,” Julien said.
Cinderella laughed, aware Lady Feautre watched her with great anger.
The following day, Cinderella still boiled with anger at some of her fellow Trieux nobles. She went to the market with Vitore, but her sour mood scared off three customers before Vitore sent her out back behind the tent to restock baskets with produce.
When potatoes persisted in rolling out of a misshaped basket—one she had made—Cinderella lost her temper and threw the empty basket.
It rolled a few paces before falling at a pair of Erlauf army boots. “Why is it that the past few times I have seen you, you are in the process of an emotional outburst?”
Cinderella sighed. “Hello, Friedrich.”
Friedrich snatched the basket up before joining Cinderella with her produce. “It is too hot for such anger. What is wrong?” He asked as he briefly removed his hat from his head to wave it in front of his face.
Cinderella’s shoulders slumped. “It is nothing.”
Friedrich replaced his hat. “I doubt that.”
“It is only…It’s just…”
“Yes?”
“Last night I dined with the remaining Trieux nobles, and…they talked about us.”
Friedrich handed the basket back to Cinderella. “So you want me to stop hanging about you, I take it?”
“What? No! I’m just so angry at what they implied,” Cinderella said, the basket creaking ominously in her hands as she clenched it.
“What did they imply?”
“That you are a dishonorable knave who hangs about me and salivates like an animal.”
“Did they say nothing of you?”
“Oh, well, they said my conduct was reprehensible. But what makes me so angry is that they would say such judgmental, ill-mannered things when they don’t even know you!”
Friedrich slid out of his Erlauf burgundy army jacket. “I’m from Erlauf. They don’t have to know me to judge me. Or so they would think.”
“But how could they dare to say such, such foolish lies about you and imply that I am morally ruined for speaking to you?” Cinderella spat.
Friedrich did not respond and looked out at the bustling back street.
“…Have your friends said the same sort of things about me to you?” Cinderella asked.
“Hm? Not quite. They know I wouldn’t madly throw myself at just any girl,” he said, brushing the fringe of Cinderella’s bangs.
“They don’t think less of you for befriending a Trieux lady?”
“I don’t think so. They tease me a bit, mostly because they haven’t seen you yet,” he said.
“Why would there be such a stark difference between our treatment? One would think you would have it worse.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re from Erlauf! You took over Trieux. Wouldn’t they look down on you for this?”
“Now that’s prejudice if I ever heard it,” Friedrich said.
“What do you mean?” Cinderella asked.
“It hasn’t escaped me that in spite of our close relationship,” Friedrich said, attempting to lean forward and kiss Cinderella on the forehead. She nudged him away before he could get too close. “You seem rather intent on making Erlauf the villain of the story.”
“That’s because you are,” Cinderella said.
“Pet.”
“It is true! Erlauf invaded Trieux. Erlauf slaughtered the noble class. Those of us from Trieux are stuck in a quagmire of taxes imposed by your Erlauf Queen!”
“But, Darling, you’re overlooking one thing.”
“What?”
“Why did Erlauf invade in the first place?”
Cinderella looked away, but Friedrich was not about to let the subject drop.
“I know you know the reason, Cinderella. Everyone does. Please tell me: why did evil Erlauf invade?”
Cinderella muttered under her breath.
“I didn’t hear that.”
“Why do I have to say it?”
Friedrich’s piercing eye settled on Cinderella with an unusual amount of weight. “Because it is very important to me that we have an understanding on this matter. Why did Erlauf invade?”
Cinderella sighed. “Because Trieux first attacked Erlauf.”
“And why did your family and the other five remaining Trieux families of nobility survive?”
“Must we have this conversation? We both know why.”
“I said this was important.”
Cinderella rubbed the back of her neck. “Because we are the only six families that voted against invading Erlauf in a meeting of the House of Lords. Because of the landslide positive vote, our King approved the petition, and the attack went forward.”
“In the which you were slaughtered against our military might. We turned the tables and instead invaded and conquered Trieux. Poetic justice, one might say.”
“You don’t need to sound so gleeful about it,” Cinderella said, dusting off her dress.
“We aren’t done yet.”
Cinderella placed her hands on her hips. “What more do you want me to say? That Trieux is responsible for the slaughter of your soldiers and the draining of your coffers?”
“Why are you so loyal to your servants? Most Trieux families treat servants like pieces of furniture. No one else is so blasted stubborn in holding on to them. Before the war, you likely saw them as pieces of baggage as well. Why will you not let them go?”
“Because it was the Aveyron servants who risked their lives to speak up for my father and me in an Erlauf court of justice. They were the ones who told that ice-cold queen of yours that Father voted against the war. There, are you satisfied?” Cinderella said, turning her back to the Colonel.
Friedrich placed his hands on Cinderella’s shoulders as she transferred onions from a crate to a basket. “It does not give me joy to make you say this. I just want you to admit Trieux is not the wounded lamb you want it to be.”
Cinderella’s motions slowed. “I know we were wrong. Father said we were fools for thinking we could take Erlauf on, and our government and nobles were too greedy to see that. But…” Cinderella turned around. “Haven’t we been punished enough? Haven’t we paid enough, sweated enough, to make up for that? Must my children and my children’s children mortgage their futures for the sake of one foolish generation?”
“You have, and soon, I hope, your trials will end. The Crown Prince knows the country he will inherit is not united, but terribly divided. He will have to reckon Trieux to Erlauf for it to be a solid kingdom. Our children will not have to go through what you have gone through. The Erlauf Royal Family will see to it.”
“I have no confidence in your royalty. And our children? We are not married,” Cinderella said, ducking out from under Friedrich’s hands.
Friedrich ignored the nay-say. “You will have to forgive them, you know.”
“Who?”
“The Erlauf Royal Family. They are not doing this to be cruel.”
“I will admit Trieux marched to their doom, but you forget: I am the daughter of a man who was forced to marry an Erlauf widow against his will, a woman I still house and feed. I have sold almost every personal possession I own and almost every decorative piece in Aveyron to pay your Erlauf Royal Family’s taxes. I very much doubt they are doing this as a kindness.”
Friedrich sighed. “I suppose your recognition of Trieux’s actions is the most I coul
d hope for today.”
“Wait a moment,” Cinderella said, turning around to face him again. “You have some admitting to do.”
“What more is there to admit? I agree the taxes are heavy and that the Crown Prince will have to do something about that,” Friedrich said.
“Yes, but that isn’t all. Trieux was wrong and terribly foolish, but the grip Queen Freja has over the country isn’t healthy,” Cinderella said.
“What do you mean?”
“Queen Freja acts more like a tyrant than a monarch, and for once I am not referring to the taxes.”
Friedrich frowned.
“Hear me out. She has absolute control, and no one holds her accountable. In Trieux, each noble family had a vote in the House of Lords. The King still had the ultimate power, but he often leaned on the House to make decisions.”
“You mean to say Queen Freja should add a group of law-makers to our government?”
“No,” Cinderella said. “The side-effect of having the House of Lords is everyone knew the government’s business. Nothing was hidden—it’s how Aveyron’s servants knew of Father’s vote.”
“And what has that to do with Queen Freja?” Friedrich asked.
“The reason Trieux citizens treat her with suspicion is because we cannot trust her. If she explained why the random searches and increased patrols are necessary, or if she had a reason for taxing us to poverty, we could better accept it. We would still hate her, but I do not think the tensions between our countries would be quite so…overwhelming,” Cinderella said.
Friedrich blinked. “You want her to explain herself?”
“Yes. The Erlauf government is shrouded in secrecy. We are expected to accept the actions of the royal family blindly and without question. That is most assuredly not the way of Trieux.”
Friedrich shifted. “In the Army, I give orders and expect my men to follow them…but usually an explanation accompanies the orders. It would be dangerous to send ignorant soldiers into combat.”
“Exactly!” Cinderella triumphantly said.
“Perhaps you are right,” Friedrich said, looking uncomfortable. “From a logical standpoint, I can see why it would assure you of Trieux to hear of the queen’s doings. As an Erlauf citizen, though, I do not think it would be easy to change that aspect of the Erlauf monarchy. It is ingrained in our culture that we must trust our monarch implicitly.”
“Then our best hope is the Crown Prince,” Cinderella said. “If he is as aware of the strife as you say he is, he might be more accepting of change.”
Friedrich cleared his throat. “I think a great deal of it will also rest in whomever he marries.”
“Perhaps…,” Cinderella said, considering the thought.
Friedrich was quiet for a few moments. “Did you plant the flowers?” he asked changing the subject.
“The day after you gave me the seeds. They have already begun sprouting,” Cinderella said.
“Already? It has been barely two weeks.”
“The book you gave me mentioned they have a short growing period.”
“Good. I expect you will be able to turn a profit more swiftly than originally estimated?” Friedrich said.
“Indeed. Thank you again for the seeds.”
“Your desires are my goals, Pet.”
“Must you call me that?” Cinderella asked.
“Of course; it is endearing.”
“It is not. It is, ugh. How would you feel if I called you…Scamp?”
“I would be touched.”
“Rogue?”
“Honored.”
“…Fred?”
Friedrich pulled back, as if Cinderella had backhanded him. “You wouldn’t,” he said.
Cinderella smiled and rubbed her hands in delight. “Why not? Fred is a respectable name.”
Friedrich winced. “Words cannot describe how much I dislike that particular shortening of my name.”
“Then at least you will know how I feel.”
“Cinderella,” Friedrich said.
“Yes?”
Friedrich sighed. “You’re no fun.”
“Really? I think I’m hysterical.”
“Killjoy.”
“Whatever you say, Fred.”
“It seems General Hardbutt intends to keep the Second Regiment at Werra,” Merrich said, sipping his pint of ale.
“I believe it is in preparation of Queen Freja’s departure at the end of the year,” Diederick, a friend of Friedrich’s and a government official, said. “The country is stable, but if she intends to tour the lands, the Third Regiment will accompany her,” he said, swirling his mug.
“And the Commander,” Merrich added.
Diederick nodded. “And the Commander,” he echoed. “Their absence will make things… interesting.”
“I don’t think a rebellion is very likely,” Merrich said. “The taxes are stiff, yes, but the commoners don’t seem to mind them too much, and there’s hardly anyone left to lead them.”
“The remaining Trieux nobles are too aware of the precarious situation they are in. No, my friend, Trieux is definitely a part of Erlauf. At least on paper. The peoples’ hearts and loyalties don’t belong to Erlauf, but that is not something I am not responsible for,” Diederick said.
Merrich laughed and leaned back in his chair. “Do you hear that, Friedrich? Friedrich.”
“She called me Fred,” Friedrich said, scowling into his pint.
Merrich laughed again and pounded his hand on the table at which they sat.
“Who?” Diederick asked, adjusting his wire-rimmed eyeglasses.
“His Trieux misses,” Merrich grinned. “Lady Lacreux. She has the looks of the troll, but she sounds like barrels of fun.”
“Lady Lacreux? She does not look—,” Diederick started. He quieted when Friedrich kicked him under the table. “So that is whom you have chosen? She has a fiery temper, I’ve been told. Are you certain you have not bitten off more than you can chew?”
“She’s the one for me,” Friedrich said, lazily balancing his chair on the back two legs.
He and his friends were seated outdoors in front of a tavern where they could watch commoners—Trieux and Erlauf alike—hurry on their way, call out their wares, and gossip and laugh in the open.
Diederick shrugged. “Personally speaking, it makes very little difference to me whom you marry. You will be the one to live with her. You think she is a good choice in every way?”
“Her servants would die for her—although I doubt she knows. They handle her with kid gloves.”
“How do you know?”
“A footman popped one of my soldiers in the head when I sent him to check in on her. The footman thought he was spying on her. The butler nearly busted my man before I could send word,” Friedrich said.
“She is a good choice. Her blood and heritage will bring legitimacy to your position—but do you think she’ll actually say yes?” Diederick asked.
“I’m working on her,” Friedrich said. “She’s softening to Erlauf. Some.”
“When do we get to meet her?” Merrich asked.
“Not for a long while,” Friedrich said. “I don’t want you scaring her off.”
“I’m hurt,” Merrich said before taking a swig of his drink. “I can’t believe you brought her by the camp when I wasn’t there,”
“You took her to the First Regiment’s camp?” Diederick asked.
Friedrich nodded. “Yes.”
“Part of his plan to soften her,” Merrich said.
“I see,” Diederick said.
“I think he’s just acting like a besotted fool,” Merrich said.
“I am not besotted.”
“Then why are you pouting over being called Fred?”
“…”
“And that is my point,” Merrich said with an irritating amount of superiority.
Friedrich rolled his eyes. “You’re just…,” he trailed off when he saw a head of shockingly brilliant red hair.
�
�This is the historic district of Alzette. The Great Erlauf architect Filibert Frejem designed it over a hundred years ago with the purpose of stimulating commerce. He made revolutionary changes that allowed for shops to be placed close together, with limited fire hazards.”
There was no mistaking that mop of red hair. And even though she was mostly blocked by a group of Erlauf soldiers, Friedrich could never forget the white flag she waggled above her head.
It was Cinderella.
All the soldiers with her were from the First Regiment. Friedrich thought he saw Ivo and Kurt among the crowd, perhaps even Gustav.
“I’m just?” Merrich prompted.
“Uhhh,” Friedrich said.
Diederick turned in his chair to see what Friedrich stared at. “Oh, is that—,”
“If you will excuse me, gentlemen, I must leave for a moment. I will return for more drinks, you can be sure,” Friedrich said, standing up so quickly his chair was thrown to the ground. “Keep him here,” Friedrich said to Diederick as Merrich righted the chair.
“As you wish,” Diederick said.
“You’re a good man,” Friedrich said, slapping him on the back before he hurried after Cinderella and his men.
He caught up with them when they made a turn, heading towards the Trieux Royal Library.
“Down this road we have—,” Cinderella said.
“Isn’t this a sight,” Friedrich said, darting in front of them. “My Lady Love and my underlings,” he said, glowering at his men.
They sheepishly scuffed their boots on the ground but said nothing.
“Good afternoon, Friedrich. Do you ever work? I’m starting to suspect you don’t,” Cinderella said.
Friedrich nonchalantly adjusted his eye patch. “I thought we agreed you were finished with historical tours.”
“Yes, perhaps. But these fine gentlemen are soldiers. Your soldiers. I couldn’t be safer anywhere else than I am with them. And besides, they asked so sweetly. Marie said they saw the sign in one of Armel’s stores and asked for a tour with all due niceties and polish.”
Friedrich looked from Cinderella to his men. “And the lot of you were filled with the sudden thirst for history lessons, I suppose?”
Gustav nodded passionately. “Yes, sir,” he said. “We wanted to experience what you so deeply enjoyed on your tours with Lady Lacreux.”