By Natalie Mo<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When the prince finally tracked down the owner of the mysterious glass slipper, the whole kingdom rejoiced.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All except the king and queen, of course. They\u2019d condoned the silly search, but never actually expected anything to come out of it. After all, what were the odds the shoe could just fit one single maiden?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019d be the laughingstock of the land!\u201d the king deplored, yanking anxiously at his beard. The prince had brought his soon-to-be bride to the castle yesterday. Though her skin was the smoothest cream, her hair the gold of freshly harvested corn, her clothes were tattered and soot-stained, nothing like the wondrous gown she\u2019d worn at the ball. When asked where she\u2019d obtained the dress, the maiden blushed and stammered it had been a hand-me-down from her long deceased mother.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Her dowry consisted of a lone vegetable patch.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cA girl like her can\u2019t rule a kingdom,\u201d concurred the queen whose own dowry twenty years ago had equaled the size and weight of a small navy. \u201cWe must rebuff her\u2014gently, as to keep the peace. Charming will understand. We\u2019ll buy him a new horse. Thoroughbred, twenty hands high. He can enter it in the races next year.\u201d Both the king and queen unanimously decided there would be no more balls as long as they lived.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The next day, they summoned Cinder to the ballroom where she\u2019d danced with the prince. \u201cA good queen meets with foreign dignitaries to improve the standing of her country,\u201d the king said, \u201cFill this ballroom with individually decorated tables by sunset and you will wed the prince on the morrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cinder, used to manual labor from her time with her stepsisters, rolled up her sleeves and got to work. But the ballroom was as wide as ten wheat fields and the tables heavy as hearses. Cinder walked back and forth from the entrance until the skin on her delicate feet grew rough and callused. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0One hour from sunset, only ten tables were ready and the emptiness of the ballroom stretched before her like a parched desert.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Suddenly there came a musical trill from the window. A bird large as her forearm sat there. It was bright scarlet from head to toe, all except for its tail which gleamed silver as though the bird had flown too close to the moon and brushed its surface.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPretty maiden, why do you cry?\u201d it asked.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI must fill this ballroom with individually decorated tables by sunset or the prince will not marry me,\u201d Cinder answered honestly.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The bird looked at the yards of barren space and replied, \u201cI will do it for you on one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhich is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAsk your prince if he loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The king and queen pushed open the doors at sunset, expecting several shoddily decorated tables, but found rows and rows of artful designs, each unique and utterly matchless to its neighbor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The king hung his head. The queen called for scented candles.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That night, remembering her promise, Cinder asked the prince, \u201cDo you love me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The prince laughed and patted her head. \u201cOf course I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tomorrow arrived and Cinder asked if she could marry the prince now.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNot yet,\u201d said the queen, who had been up all night hatching a new plan. \u201cA good queen manages the state coffers and nurtures pennies into wealth. Spin this barn of hay into gold by sunset and you will wed the prince on the morrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cinder, used to fickle minds from her time with her stepsisters, rolled up her sleeves and got to work. But try as she may, she could not transform the brownish gold hay into a more pleasing color. She wound it through the spinning wheel again and again until her thumb bled wet red droplets upon the wooden floor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0One hour from sunset, the bird appeared again.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPretty maiden, why do you cry?\u201d it asked.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI must spin this barn of hay into gold by sunset or the prince will not marry me,\u201d Cinder answered honestly.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The bird looked at the mounds of hay and replied, \u201cI will do it for you on one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhich is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAsk your prince if he loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The king and queen pushed open the barn doors at sunset, certain they\u2019d managed to drive her away this time, but found piles and piles of neatly wound silk that glimmered as gold as Cinder\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The king gnashed his teeth. The queen poured herself an extra large glass of wine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That night, remembering her promise, Cinder again asked the prince, \u201cDo you love me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The prince cocked his head, confused, but smiled anyway and patted her head. \u201cOf course I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Blood stained the bandage wrapped around Cinder\u2019s thumb. \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Had she always been this talkative?<\/em> the prince wondered. He hadn\u2019t remembered her talking this much during the ball.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nonetheless, he kissed the top of her head. \u201cReally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tomorrow crept up the horizon and Cinder once more asked if she could marry the prince now.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNot yet,\u201d said the king and queen at the same time. They\u2019d spent the night and the better part of the morning concocting a new task. \u201cA good queen, above all, is devoted to her husband. Go up to the mountains far north and bring back a ring made of pure ice that will never melt as proof of your love. The wedding will be held on your return.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cinder had no comparison for this request. Bundled in a thick coat borrowed from a servant and carrying a sack heavy with provisions, Cinder trekked through forests and towns to the jagged scar of mountains that bordered their country. Her hands broke open on the sharp rocks while climbing, then again from cold the higher she got. Wind snatched at her hair until it whitened to match her icy surroundings.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0After she reached the top, she brought out the tiny hammer and chisel she had tucked in her coat and chipped at a shard of ice fished from a nearby frozen lake.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It shattered instantly. Cinder cut out a new piece and tapped more gently this time. She managed to wear it down to a minute circle that would fit the prince\u2019s finger, but it splintered when she hammered its heart.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It might have been sunset when the bird appeared a third time.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPretty maiden, why do you cry?\u201d it asked.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI must bring back a ring made of pure ice that will never melt or the prince will not marry me,\u201d Cinder answered honestly.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The bird looked at the slivers of ice and replied, \u201cI will do it for you on one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cinder knew what the bird would request, but nevertheless asked, \u201cWhich is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To her surprise, the bird answered, \u201cAsk yourself if you love your prince.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In all honesty, the king and queen were not that surprised when Cinder trooped back into the castle, hair white as age, clothes even more bedraggled than the day they formally met her. The ring bit into the wearer\u2019s skin with a knife-like chill, but did not melt even when a careless maid dropped it in a pot of boiling soup. They scheduled the wedding at sunrise the next day, thinking a maiden who could accomplish such astounding feats clearly had witchery running through her veins. It never hurt to have a little magic on your side in times of war or famine.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIsn\u2019t it exciting?\u201d the prince said the night before the ceremony. \u201cWe\u2019re finally going to be married!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cinder remembered the promise she\u2019d made. The bird had taught her to use her glass slipper, the one that had led the prince to her door all those weeks ago. She tapped it once and it broke cleanly into a perfect translucent ring.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cDo you love me?\u201d she asked a third time.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The prince laughed. \u201cWhy do you keep asking me that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBecause you watched me suffer through three impossible tasks and did nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI couldn\u2019t!\u201d the prince protested. \u201cIt would have been cheating.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCheating to help me prove I\u2019m worthy of you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The prince stammered a reply. He looked much less handsome than the night they\u2019d danced together.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cinder stood and walked out. The prince called after her, but she did not look back. Her bare feet took her through gleaming hallways, the marble foyer, past the curious guards posted at the entrance, to the bird waiting outside. Only she no longer looked like a bird. The woman at the foot of the stairs wore robes of the brightest scarlet, her hair gleaming silver as though she had climbed too close to the moon and brushed its surface.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The maiden who would have been queen padded down the castle steps she had once fled across. Cinder slipped the ring on the bird\u2019s slender finger and hooked her arm through hers. Both fit perfectly.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHow did you know?\u201d Cinder asked.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI was engaged to a prince once. Very demanding creatures.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They started forth, towards a world beyond princes and castles.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n By Natalie Mo \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When the prince finally tracked down the owner of the mysterious glass slipper, the whole kingdom rejoiced. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All except the king and queen, of course. They\u2019d condoned the silly search, but never actually expected anything to come out of it. After all, what were the odds the shoe could just fitContinue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19173"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19173"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19781,"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19173\/revisions\/19781"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.hku.hk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Published on:\u00a0February 15, 2018 < Back<\/a> ><\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"