The second day of the shoe search was already a mess by sunrise.
Rowan rode in front, holding the shoe like it was some priceless treasure that might explode. Prince Adrien rode beside him dressed casually enough to pass as a noble's cousin rather than the crown prince—though his posture still screamed "royalty and trouble."
Behind them came guards, attendants, record-keepers, and at least two people who were only there to gossip.
The forest route was less elegant than the main town route. A carriage wheel got stuck in mud. A guard lost his hat to a branch. A squirrel stole bread from a noble assistant and ran straight up a tree, causing three men to chase it and nearly die.
Rowan shouted over the chaos, "Focus! We are not at war with woodland creatures!"
Adrien pretended to read his notes. "Maybe the mysterious girl is a squirrel," he offered with a straight face.
Rowan ignored him and knocked on doors. Some families fainted when they opened them and saw a prince. One mother demanded her entire household try the shoe — including two sons, a grandmother, and the family dog. The dog was highly cooperative.
They found three girls who could wear the slipper, though none were even remotely similar to Cinderella. One girl was very loud and insisted she and Adrien were "destined" because a fortune teller once said she'd meet a tall man.
Rowan whispered, "We need fewer fortune tellers in this kingdom."
Adrien only smiled.
The search was slow, chaotic, and noisy. Birds made more progress than the royal staff.
By noon, Rowan sighed, "We should've started here yesterday."
Adrien didn't answer, but his smirk suggested he had been waiting for Rowan to say exactly that.
* * *
They did not come yesterday. We waited like fools—hair done, dresses on, fake noble smiles ready. And nothing.
This morning Drizella woke up furious.
"If the prince is serious about love, he should at least be punctual!" she complained while brushing her hair aggressively.
Mother agreed, muttering something about "lack of royal discipline."
I just ate jam and watched the drama.
By afternoon, we kept running to windows every time a horse sound happened.
It was never the prince. It was always someone delivering mail or bread.
"Why didn't he come yesterday?" Drizella groaned. "Maybe we got skipped. Maybe they got lost. Maybe a horse ate the shoe."
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised.
Then I started thinking—very important, strategic thinking—because clearly someone in this house needs brain cells.
If I wanted the prince to find Cinderella, I needed to drop hints. Subtle hints. Because she'd kill me if I just shouted "SURPRISE THAT GIRL IN THE SHED IS YOUR DREAM WOMAN."
But hints like…
"Oh yes, she likes gardens," casually.
"Her voice is very soft," lightly.
"Maybe check near our shed?" accidentally.
But how do I make the royal people realize without Mother realizing? Or without Cinderella tackling me to silence?
I tapped my chin. I need to guide them like a genius spy.
Ohh, what about the other part of the shoe. If they have one then another one must be with Cinderella.
I need to find that.
Drizella kept pacing. "What if they never come? What if they already found someone? What if the shoe fit some rich girl with fancy teeth?"
Cinderella just smiled politely and continued sewing like she wasn't the reason the entire kingdom was running around knocking on doors and fighting squirrels.
I stared at her and thought, This story makes more sense when there's magic. Without magic it's just logistics and footwear.
So we waited. And waited. And prepared to wait more.
Time is passing, we are pacing around the sitting room like cats waiting for dinner. Mother kept checking the window every ten seconds. It was exhausting just watching her.
I finally looked at Drizella and asked,
"Why are you so excited, anyway?"
She straightened her back like she'd been waiting for that question.
"Because," she said, very grandly, "I think it would be nice to be a princess for once. Just once. Imagine my prince coming to find me, his true love. Just like in the books. Being seen more than just an ugly face"
Felt her, she just wanted to be treated like a girl based on as human and not on appearance.
Fair enough.
Then I turned to Cinderella, who was calmly folding napkins like none of this affected her.
"What about you? Don't you want to leave all this? The chores, the… Mother… the torture?"
Mother pretended not to hear.
Cinderella paused. Not sad, just thoughtful.
"I don't think running away always solves things," she said softly. "Besides, who says becoming a princess guarantees happiness? I'd rather have a peaceful life with people I care about."
Drizella blinked. "Peaceful? With us?"
Cinderella smiled — the patient kind. "Am I wrong?"
I didn't really know what to say to that. Because she wasn't wrong, but she also wasn't entirely right.
Still, it surprised me she didn't dream about escape or dresses or palaces.
She just wanted… normal.
Before I could ask anything about the other piece of the shoe, Mother yelled,
"They're coming! Fix your hair!"
And just like that, the room exploded into chaos.
By late afternoon, prince's search parade reached the last curve of the forest road — and there, tucked between trees and garden beds, was the Ashbourne household.
Rowan checked his notes. "Last house on the forest route. Please let this be simple."
Adrien adjusted his posture like someone preparing for either disaster or destiny.
"Simple is not a word I would use for anything involving fate, Rowan."
Rowan snorted. "Or royalty."
They knocked.
Inside, chaos instantly bloomed.
Drizella shrieked, "They're here! They're here! Act normal!"
No one acted normal.
Mother ran around like a chicken, shouting instructions we ignored.
Cinderella quietly tried to tidy up a vase that no one would notice anyway.
I tried to breathe. And failed a little.
We opened the door and there they were — Rowan, looking exhausted but professional, and Prince Adrien beside him, looking way too handsome for someone who'd been outside since sunrise.
Rowan bowed. "Lady Ashbourne, we are here for—"
Mother cut him off. "Yes, yes, we know, the shoe, the romance, the glory. Come in."
He blinked. "Thank you… I suppose."
We all know each other from somewhere but today's show stopper is THE SHOE. So we kept playing strangers.
Adrien glanced around curiously, but not like a snob. More like someone trying to solve a puzzle.
Rowan explained the rules: try the shoe, record measurements, thank you for your cooperation, goodbye. Very official.
Drizella sat first.
Rowan looked at Adrien. Adrien looked at Rowan. Even after knowing the obvious result they handed the slipper to try.
Slipper didn't fit. She handed the slipper back with disappointment. "I'm sorry prince, but maybe you're not my destiny. Don't be sad."
"Don't worry, he is emotionally strong as a horse," I said with a smile.
Then it was my turn. The shoe didn't fit me too.
Rowan stared at the shoe. "Not her."
Adrien's expression said, I told you so.
Mother looked like she expected wedding bells.
Then Rowan cleared his throat. "Is there… another young lady in the home?"
Mother hesitated. "A servant girl."
Rowan sighed. "Everyone must try. Those are the instructions."
Cinderella stepped forward, gentle as always.
My heart beat too loud. She sat. Rowan held the shoe out.
She tried and the shoe fit. Obviously.
Adrien blinked at her. Rowan blinked at her. Mother blinked at her.
Suddenly I remembered my plan: subtle hints. Genius spy hints.
So I leaned closer to Rowan and whispered, "She likes gardens."
He looked at me. "I—what?"
"And horses," I said. "And singing softly in the woods."
Rowan stared at me like I'd just spoken in riddles.
Adrien's eyes flicked to Cinderella for a split second. His expression changed. Softened. Sparked.
He didn't say anything, but I knew he heard me.
"I think I know you." Prince stated.
The house went silent.
------------------------------------------
SIDE NOTE: If you like my story then give it a star and share it with your friends, this will help me to keep motivated and write new stories.