Fairytale chosen

by Maya Shepherd

  Feeling insecured she sat on the last table next to Erina and gave her a shy smile. As Heera’s uncertainty endured no longer she bent to her and whispered, "Do you know what I have done?"

  Erina made an apologetic face and muttered "You had a visit from the Prince right?"

  Heera felt her cheeks began to glow. She had hoped that no one had seen him, but it seemed there were spies everywhere that were watching everything in the castle. Everything that happened in the castle was known to everyone the next day.

  "I wanted to give up voluntarily and he just wanted to know why?" Heera said blankly. As she was the last one on the list, why these girls were seeing her as their competitor? She wondered. Really there was no need to be envied of.

  "I believe you," said Erina empathetically. "But others think that you are playing tricks to make you more interesting."

  Heera snapped indignantly for breath and looked at her sister's face. But Medea turned her back, as if Heera was not there. Did she believe that too? After all they should know that Heera had no interest in Lean yet.

  Erina noticed how upset and hurt Heera was and responded and smiled shyly. "I think you're the only one who does not play to the prince something. The others pretend it all, just to please him. "

  "Pretending you're well?"

  She shook her head sadly. "No, but I'm so shy that if I say a word in his presence, he will never fall in love with me.”

  As the day began entered the prince as a complete surprise to the hall and bowed in greeting "Good morning, ladies."

  "Good morning, Prince Lean" all responded back in a choir. As he walked without hesitation to the end of the table, Heera’s heart began to knock. Will he send them home now? But instead , he held out his hand to Erina inviting.

  "Erina, I keep my promises, so I would be glad if you would do me the honor to spend this day with me."

  Erina blushed so much that her face took on almost the same color as her hair. She quickly nodded and put her little hand in the Prince’s. From her throat came only a faint beeping that was not interpretable. But the radiance in her eyes showed a thousand words. When she left the room with him and the abuses were heard from Heera who was not shaken and thought that perhaps the prince thought that Erina was a better bride than her sister. She seemed nice, honest and selfless. Medea, however, was cocky with each passing day in the castle. Heera pushed back her chair and left the room as she could not endure the presence of the others any longer. The castle is no place in which they could retreat. At the same time she was not allowed to leave the castle. She felt like being in a prison. She almost envied Erina and was looking for an opportunity to do something else.

  Lean was waiting in a horse-drawn carriage for Erina. He had to admit himself that he was really nervous. It was not only the first day, he would spend time with one of the candidates alone, but also the first day ever to be spent with any girl. If he could choose, he would probably have chosen someone other than Erina. She was secretive and shy, so that it would be difficult to have a conversation with her, but she was still a preference for him better than Agnes, whose presence he almost feared. It was still a mystery how she could just find the strawberries.

  Startled, he looked up when a person left the castle, but it was not Erina, but his mother, who came running up the steps to the coach. Indignantly she opened the door and got inside. She was out of breath and apparently in custody, but Lean could not explain what might be the reason itself.

  "Did you want to accompany us about?" He pulled his mother on insolent as ever. But she was in no mood for jokes and glared at him. "Did you think I would not find out?" She snapped angrily.

  "What are you talking?"

  "You were last night with this horrible girl. Alone! "She cried out reproachfully.

  "Heera?" Lean asked with a laugh. He was in a mystery, where she was going. "So what? What might have happened already8

  As Heera entered the breakfast room next morning, the other girls responded in a more hostile manner to her than the previous day. She quickly glanced at the wall on which the ranking of the candidates had been displayed previously, but so far there was no new list published.

  Feeling insecured she sat on the last table next to Erina and gave her a shy smile. As Heera’s uncertainty endured no longer she bent to her and whispered, "Do you know what I have done?"

  Erina made an apologetic face and muttered "You had a visit from the Prince right?"

  Heera felt her cheeks began to glow. She had hoped that no one had seen him, but it seemed there were spies everywhere that were watching everything in the castle. Everything that happened was known to everyone the next day.

  "I wanted to give up voluntarily and he just wanted to know why?" Heera said blankly. As she was the last one on the list, why these girls were seeing her as their competitor? She wondered. Really there was no need to be envied of.

  "I believe you," said Erina empathetically. "But others think that you are playing tricks to make you more interesting."

  Heera snapped indignantly for breath and looked at her sister's face. But Medea turned her back, as if Heera was not there. Did she believe that too? After all they should know that Heera had no interest in Lean yet.

  Erina noticed how upset and hurt Heera was and responded and smiled shyly. "I think you're the only one who does not play to the prince something. The others pretend it all, just to please him. "

  "Pretending you're well?"

  She shook her head sadly. "No, but I'm so shy that if I say a word in his presence, he will never fall in love with me.”

  As the day began entered the prince as a complete surprise to the hall and bowed in greeting "Good morning, ladies."

  "Good morning, Prince Lean" all responded back in a choir. As he walked without hesitation to the end of the table, Heera’s heart began to knock. Will he send them home now? But instead , he held out his hand to Erina inviting.

  "Erina, I keep my promises, so I would be glad if you would do me the honor to spend this day with me."

  Erina blushed so much that her face took on almost the same color as her hair. She quickly nodded and put her little hand in the Prince’s. From her throat came only a faint beeping that was not interpretable. But the radiance in her eyes showed a thousand words. When she left the room with him and the abuses were heard from Heera who was no shaken and thought that perhaps the prince thought that Erina was a better bride than her sister. She seemed nice, honest and selfless. Medea, however, was cocky with each passing day in the castle. Heera pushed back her chair and left the room as she could not endure the presence of the others any longer. The castle is no place in which they could retreat. At the same time she was not allowed to leave the castle. She felt like being in a prison. She almost envied Erina and was looking for an opportunity to do something else.

  Lean was waiting in a horse-drawn carriage for Erina. He had to admit himself that he was really nervous. It was not only the first day, he would spend time with one of the candidates alone, but also the first day ever to be spent with a girl. If he could choose, he would probably have chosen someone other than Erina. She was secretive and shy, so that it would be difficult to have a conversation with her, but she was still a preference for him better than Agnes, whose presence he almost feared. It was still a mystery how she could just find the strawberries.

  Startled, he looked up when a person left the castle, but it was not Erina, but his mother, who came running up the steps to the coach. Indignantly she opened the door and got inside. She was out of breath and apparently in custody, but Lean could not explain what might be the reason itself.

  "Did you want to accompany us about?" He pulled his mother on insolent as ever. But she was in no mood for jokes and glared at him. "Did you think I would not find out?" She snapped angrily.

  "What are you talking?"

  "You were last night with this horrible girl. Alone! "She cried out reproachfully.

  "Heera?" Lean asked with a laugh. He was in a
mystery, where she was going. "So what? What might have happened already? "

  "Have you forgotten the curse of the black witch about? A kiss will condemn you! "

  Lean could no longer contain himself and held his stomach with laughter. There were tears in his eyes, so absurd seemed in his mother's care. "Heera would never kiss me! She would rather kiss a frog. "

  The more he laughed, the angrier was Niobe, glaring at her son, filled with rage. "And what about you? I know you like her fearless manners! "

  "Heera would rather like to kiss Silas or Yanis" claimed Lean and made a disgusted face. In truth was this thought never occurred to him previously.

  Niobe's worried face smoothed out a bit and she looked at her son compassionately. "I know it is certainly not easy to be still be left un kissed at this age twenty years ago. Your friends and you are well ahead and are certainly not tired, you raise it, but you gotta stand it. Not long from now and you'll have all their experience to share, but only with the right. The girl ... "

  Lean interrupted, annoyed. He was embarrassed and uncomfortable to talk to his mother about love matters. "Yes, I know, Mother," he groaned. In truth, he was not the only one of his friends, who was still not been kissed. There was Amphion no other way. That was one of the reasons why Lean and his friend guessed so. They shared their suffering with each other, even though Amphion had other reasons himself.

  Niobe stroked him lovingly on the cheek. "I'm just worried about you. Promise me you'll be careful! It is still too early to know which girl would be honest with you. "

  "I promise," Lean said conciliatoryly.

  "Stay with Erina always when you are among the other people. Only when you are alone, it could lead to a kiss. "

  "There will be no kiss!" He assured her and believed now why his mother liked Erina seemingly most. The girl was so shy that she would never dare to kiss him. The queen said goodbye and climbed out of the carriage. Short time later Erina came out of the castle and the wind tugged at her wavy hair. She wore a dress made of red silk, and around her neck a white fur coat. He handed her his helpful hand to help her into the carriage. She gave him a shy smile. Almost from the moment the door closed behind them, the coachman clucked his tongue and the horses ran off.

  As Erina said nothing, Lean began: "We would spend the whole day today outside the castle with a friend's noble family. They have a wonderful property in the countryside and are all already incredibly excited to meet you. "

  Erina nodded hastily, but Lean could see how the color drained from her flushed cheeks. Perhaps he would prefer her to not say that all eyes would be based only on them. He was no different from normal calling but for each of the chosen girl it had to be something totally new. They all came from ordinary to poor families? "

  "Have you forgotten the curse of the black witch about? A kiss will condemn you! "

  Lean could no longer contain himself and held his stomach with laughter. There were tears in his eyes, so absurd seemed in his mother's care. "Heera would never kiss me! She would rather kiss a frog. "

  The more he laughed, the angrier was Niobe, glaring at her son, filled with rage. "And what about you? I know you like her fearless manners! "

  "Heera would rather like to kiss Silas or Yanis" claimed Lean and made a disgusted face. In truth was this thought never occurred to him previously.

  Niobe's worried face smoothed out a bit and she looked at her son compassionately. "I know it is certainly not easy to be still be left un kissed at this age twenty years ago. Your friends and you are well ahead and are certainly not tired, you raise it, but you gotta stand it. Not long from now and you'll have all their experience to share, but only with the right. The girl ... "

  Lean interrupted, annoyed. He was embarrassed and uncomfortable to talk to his mother about love matters. "Yes, I know, Mother," he groaned. In truth, he was not the only one of his friends, who was still not been kissed. There was Amphion no other way. That was one of the reasons why Lean and his friend guessed so. They shared their suffering with each other, even though Amphion had other reasons himself.

  Niobe stroked him lovingly on the cheek. "I'm just worried about you. Promise me you'll be careful! It is still too early to know which girl would be honest with you. "

  "I promise," Lean said conciliatoryly.

  "Stay with Erina always when you are among the other people. Only when you are alone, it could lead to a kiss. "

  "There will be no kiss!" He assured her and believed now why his mother liked Erina seemingly most. The girl was so shy that she would never dare to kiss him. The queen said goodbye and climbed out of the carriage. Short time later Erina came out of the castle and the wind tugged at her wavy hair. She wore a dress made of red silk, and around her neck a white fur coat. He handed her his helpful hand to help her into the carriage. She gave him a shy smile. Almost from the moment the door closed behind them, the coachman clucked his tongue and the horses ran off.

  As Erina said nothing, Lean began: "We would spend the whole day today outside the castle with a friend's noble family. They have a wonderful property in the countryside and are all already incredibly excited to meet you. "

  Erina nodded hastily, but Lean could see how the color drained from her flushed cheeks. Perhaps he would prefer her to not say that all eyes would be based only on them. He was no different from normal calling but for each of the chosen girl it had to be something totally new. They all came from ordinary to poor families.

  "How do you usually spend your day?" He asked curiously.

  Erina stared at him shocked when she answered him, she looked out the window. "I am selling off matches," she said quietly with, high-pitched voice.

  Lean doubted that it had enough money left to live on. "And your parents?"

  She turned her bright green eyes on him that every time he saw made him speechless. "Both dead."

  A wave of compassion came over him. "I'm sorry." Presumably, they put all their hopes in the selection.

  "Have you brothers?" He asked, and she shook her head. She was completely alone in the world. He could hardly imagine that one of the other girls might have it more difficult than it.

  "Where do you live?"

  She looked embarrassed at her hands. "When I've earned enough, I can afford a room in the poorhouse."

  Lean dared hardly to ask, but his curiosity was greater yet: "And if not?"

  She shrugged. That was answer enough. If not, she slept on the street and the middle of winter. He did not know how long her parents were dead, because it seemed impossible for him to survive more than a winter without a roof over their heads. Your choice to wish for a day with him, he no longer seemed dreamy, but almost stupid. You could not have wished so much more meaningful, but she had elected him. "Why did not you desired of me a house?"

  She looked up. Her lips trembled. "I have set my hopes on you, my lord."

  Lean it was a heavy heart. He had not even been contemplated marrying Erina. She was pretty, but they were all girls. He realized that it was for many of them not only for the title of Queen, but mere survival. He wanted a bride who was interested in him and not for his status or his wealth, but he did not blame Erina that they had seized their chance for a better life. Even if he does not marry her, it would as a candidate of choice have good chances on the marriage market. There were many men who would prefer a silent woman.

  The rest of the trip they both looked out the window. The white winter landscape moved past them. When they arrived at the property, fell thick flakes of snow. The nobles had placed before the building of Europe in order to take delivery and to catch the first glimpse of Erina. Lean rose first and gotout of the coach and helped the girl out. In her eyes was fear. They made such a pitiful impression that Lean it regretted having not otherwise considered for them. He had thought , a day among men would lure them from the reserve. Instead of letting go of her hand, he pressed it reassuringly and pulled her with him to the accommodation owners. In addition to the noble family more
guests were still present. There were fifteen of them, who now bowed down before him.

  Lean greeted by clapping their hands, whereupon they all straightened. "Prince Lean, it is a great honor," announced the master of the house.

  "Baron Loradios, may I introduce you to my lovely companion? This is Erina. "He released her hand and pushed it slightly forward.

  The Baron gave her a polite smile. "A true beauty!" He announced and kissed her hand, after which the girl blushes eyelashes reflected. In Erinas red hair was covered with snowflakes and her skin was almost as white as the snow. She had never looked more beautiful.

  "And so modest!", The wife of Baron exclaimed enthusiastically. It sounded approving murmurs of the guests. Lean, knew that they would have reacted the same way if he had brought a sow and they imagined them as a candidate. He often enjoyed the company of the simple people over the nobles, the day in and day out honey smeared around the mouth.

  They were led into the house. In the dining room there was a festively decorated dining table. A fire burned in the fireplace and they left large windows overlook the surrounding white country. The Prince took the head of the table. Erina sat on his left and on his right Loradios. The maids distributed steaming mulled wine to the guests. Erina sipped timidly at her cup and did not seem to dare to see someone there.

  When the appetizer was served, the Baron drew again the conversation to the present candidate. "Prince, enlight me why you've chosen Erina?"

  All present looked instantly and expected an exciting answer. Including Erina.

  Lean smiled. "Erina has the most beautiful eyes of all," he announced, after which the guests nod hurry and made known their approval did, although so far certainly none of them had even looked her in her the eyes. Erina smiled and lowered her eyes for the first time not to look.

  For the main course the Baron had spared no expense or effort and let dish oysters next to a pheasant. The maids invited each guest directly three on the plate. Only when all began to eat, Lean noticed how Erina incredulously looked down at her food. She looked at the oysters, as if they were insects crawling.