Once Upon a Happy Ending: An Anthology of Reimagined Fairy Tales

by Casey Lane

  He stifled a curse. “A save indeed! I won’t be eating or drinking another thing all night.” He shuddered.

  We danced for another minute in silence.

  “Have you heard the news?” He was keeping the tone of the conversation light and I appreciated it.

  “No, what news?”

  “We thought we were gathering to celebrate the coronation of Prince Konrad but we’ve just had word that Konrad is dead.”

  “What?” I gasped. Not that I was particularly sorry, he’d always been cruel, even when we were children.

  “Yes, it’s true apparently. The ambassador sent official word. We are now celebrating the coronation of Queen Ava.”

  “Ava!” I gasped again. My childhood friend – queen. It was a strange thought. Almost as strange as dancing through a ballroom in a beautiful gown with the man I loved. Who also happened to be a lord. I sighed.

  “You’ll notice that I’m carefully restraining my curiosity,” he said after the orchestra began a new song. “I’m hoping such excellent self-restraint will be rewarded.”

  I couldn’t help laughing but then quickly sobered.

  “It seems to me that you’ve got more explaining to do than I have,” I said, my voice quiet.

  He faltered for a moment before continuing the dance.

  “I’m sorry, Hanna, I really am. You were so kind and fun that first day we met and you just assumed I was a footman. I didn’t want to correct you in case it made you treat me differently. I figured you’d find out soon enough and we would laugh about it. Only you never did and the longer it went on, the harder it was to say anything. I was terrified I was going to lose you.” His hand tightened around my waist.

  “Of course, I’ve ended up losing you anyway. I don’t suppose this dress means you’re secretly a duchess or something?” He looked at me hopefully.

  “Unfortunately not.” I shook my head. “It just means that someone powerful took pity on me. Well, on both of us, I guess.”

  There was another moment’s silence.

  “Do you really have to marry a duchess?” I tried to keep my voice light but I don’t think I succeeded. “Brianna will be disappointed.”

  Stefan made a face. “Not a duchess necessarily. Just someone with power or wealth or political connections.” He glared over towards his parents who were watching us with interest. “I’ve tried talking to them but the problem is my grandfather.”

  “I thought he was dead.” I was sure Stefan’s father couldn’t be the earl if his own father was still alive.

  “The other one. My mother’s father.” Stefan sighed. “My parents take their responsibilities towards our people very seriously. Our lands and the villages under our care are always well-maintained and managed. But unfortunately my grandfather takes a different approach. He has extensive lands in the eastern part of the kingdom and he’s completely neglectful of them. But he’s been letting my father manage them for years now and has always said that when I get married he’ll give them to me as a wedding present. But only if he approves of my bride.”

  The tortured expression was back in Stefan’s eyes. “I’ve argued about it with my parents so many times but we can’t turn our back on all those people. They rely on us. Who knows what my grandfather would do if I don’t comply. I wanted to introduce you to him, I’m sure you could win anyone over. But my parents think it’s a bad idea.”

  Tears sprang to my eyes.

  “Stefan, stop,” I whispered. “Of course, I understand. Earls have responsibilities and they can’t marry pastry chefs’ apprentices.”

  He saw my tears and jerked us both to a stop in the middle of the dance floor. Reaching up he tenderly wiped the drops away.

  “Forget my grandfather,” he whispered into my ear. “We’ll find some way around him. I can’t bear to see you cry.”

  I shook my head, conscious even through the tears of all the curious eyes watching us.

  “You know things don’t work like that,” I said. “How would we find a way around him? I can’t let you sacrifice all those people just for me.”

  “It isn’t just for you, it’s for us.”

  It was hard to resist him when he looked at me with so much love and intensity. I shook my head again but I could feel myself weakening. And then a chime rang across the ballroom.

  My eyes flew to the clock and I clapped a hand to my mouth. Midnight!

  I wrenched myself from his grip and ran towards the stairs, counting the chimes as I went. I could hear him trying to follow me but he was hampered by the crowd. Curious voices asked him who I was.

  In my rush I stumbled on the stairs and one of my slippers flew off and bounced down to the bottom of the flight. I turned to go after it and then heard the tenth chime. I abandoned the shoe and fled down the corridor instead.

  I had barely rounded the first corner when my blue gown disappeared and I found myself once again covered in soot. I paused to remove the remaining slipper and the mask. Cradling them in my arms, I ran towards my room, the tears streaming down my face.

  My guess had been right. It took three baths to remove all the ashes and cinders from my body and hair. And it took nearly as long for me to cry myself out.

  I had saved Stefan but I still faced the death of all my dreams. My only consolation was the mask. Brianna and Master Girard would never suspect it had been me and I knew Stefan would never betray me.

  Sure enough, the kitchen was buzzing the next morning about the mysterious girl who’d shown up at the ball. Everyone speculated about who she could be but no one came close to the truth.

  To my surprise they were more interested in her identity than the unexpected new queen of Rangmere. I couldn’t get any details about what had happened to Prince Konrad but I was dying to know how Princess Ava had ended up queen. I hoped there hadn’t been much bloodshed and that my parents and brother were all right. I wondered what Hans thought of the situation. He had been Ava’s personal bodyguard for years but, even so, personal bodyguard to the reigning monarch was quite a promotion.

  I knew I was only trying to distract myself from my own misery but I was desperate to keep my mind on other things. I was in complete disgrace with Master Girard and, on top of that, Brianna was ironically taking out her venom towards the mystery girl on me.

  Master Girard even spoke of a fourth apprentice and I suspected he planned to cut me out of the baking all together. With Stefan out of reach and my parents away, I had nothing but a long, lonely year of scrubbing pots and cleaning benches to look forward to.

  I wondered who Stefan’s parents would pick for his bride and then quickly forced my mind back to thoughts of my newly crowned friend. I couldn’t bear to cry in front of Brianna.

  A sudden commotion attracted my attention to the center of the kitchen. Joanne was leaning against a bench surrounded by an eager crowd. She had obviously just arrived with some fresh piece of news. I shook my head. Where did she hear it all?

  She caught me looking and gestured me over.

  Even Brianna drifted towards the group although she pretended to be occupied with something else.

  “Have you heard?” Joanne asked. Her eyes were shining so I assumed the news was something big. She continued without waiting for my reply.

  “The mystery girl left one of her shoes at the ball. Lord Westruther picked it up and now he’s vowing that he won’t marry any girl but the one who fits the slipper. One of the footmen saw it too and it was made of glass!”

  This time the gasp wasn’t mine. I was pretty sure it had come from Brianna.

  “He’s going through the whole palace, trying it on every girl.” One of the other scullery maids took up the story. “Apparently he’s on his way to the kitchens now!”

  The gasp was more general this time and most of the girls dispersed to examine their appearance in any reflective surface they could find. I remained still.

  What game was Stefan playing? I’d told him last night that he had to let us go.

&
nbsp; “What does his family think about it?” I asked.

  “Well, that’s the most mysterious part of all. Apparently they’ve found out the mystery girl’s identity.”

  “What?” My exclamation was loud enough to draw the crowd back in but I kept my eyes fixed on Joanne’s face.

  “Apparently she’s royalty from Rangmere. A princess or something. But she’s incognito, hiding in the palace somewhere. No one knows exactly who she is. Isn’t it romantic?” Joanne sighed.

  I paled.

  What sort of lies had Stefan told his family? The whole situation was a looming disaster. I decided to hide in my room. If he couldn’t find me, Stefan couldn’t make me try on the slipper. I whirled towards the door just as a number of footmen entered.

  I turned and ran the other way instead. I blindly took the first opening I found and ended up in the pantry. I quickly closed the doors behind me and peered out through the crack. Sure enough, Stefan had entered the kitchen with a large entourage. A footman carried my slipper on a small red cushion. I rolled my eyes at all the pomp.

  Stefan was peering around and looked disappointed when he couldn’t spot me. I’d only just made it out in time.

  Brianna rushed forward but I couldn’t hear their conversation. Stefan looked displeased but he gestured her into a chair anyway and knelt down to try to fit the slipper. I held my breath while he attempted to wrestle it on. Only when he gave up, did I breathe again. It would be just my luck if Brianna had the same size foot as me.

  Brianna looked outraged but she could hardly make a scene in front of Stefan and his attendants. She surreptitiously glanced around the kitchens and seemed relieved not to see me.

  Slowly each of the other girls in the kitchen came forward and tried on the slipper. There were plenty of blushes and giggles but no one fit into the shoe. I glanced down at my feet. I’d never realized they were so small.

  When the last girl had tried and failed, Stefan looked around hopefully.

  “Are there any other girls in the kitchens?” he asked, his voice loud enough for me to hear in my hiding place.

  I knew he was talking to me but I refused to come out.

  “No, that’s everyone.” Brianna was quick to speak and the man who looked like Stefan’s steward began to usher the others out.

  Stefan looked reluctant to go and dropped behind the rest of his group. Even so, he was nearly out of the door when Joanne spoke up.

  “Where’s Hanna?” she asked. “Hanna hasn’t tried it on. And she’s even from Rangmere.”

  The other scullery maids took up the cry and Stefan quickly returned. Slowly the rest of his attendants trickled back in.

  The maids, meanwhile, had spread out around the kitchens, single-mindedly searching for me. I appreciated their kind motives but I dreaded one of them opening the pantry door.

  Sure enough, it didn’t take them long to discover me and drag me out to face Stefan. His smile was almost blinding and he gripped my hand tightly as he led me to a seat.

  “Stefan, don’t do this,” I whispered. “You know I’m not royalty!”

  “Aren’t you?” His voice was so light and happy and his face so beloved that I already felt myself melting.

  “Stefan! You know I’m not.”

  “Well, that’s the funny thing.” The smile was still firmly on his face. “It seems my grandfather was visited by a godmother. She told him that the mystery girl is the sister of the new king of Rangmere. She wouldn’t give him a name, she just said to find the one who fits the slipper. So now I’ve been given an entourage and told to try it on every girl I see until we can discover the right one. I thought the kitchens would be as good a place to look as any.”

  I could see the suppressed laughter in his eyes as he continued. “Turns out Grandfather is very interested in a marriage alliance with such close ties to the Rangmeran crown. Especially one that’s approved by a godmother.”

  “But, but, Rangmere has a queen not a king.”

  I couldn’t get my mind around what was happening and I kept being distracted by Stefan’s hair which was sticking up as usual. I had to stop my hand from reaching out of its own accord to straighten it.

  “Rangmere has a queen and a king,” said Stefan. “It turns out it was a combined coronation and wedding and the new Queen Ava has married a lowly young guard named Hans. Does the name ring a bell?”

  Hans was my brother’s name. My brother was a guard.

  Stefan chuckled at my thunderstruck expression and used my distraction to remove my shoe and replace it with the glass slipper.

  “It fits!” screamed Joanne. The entire kitchen staff erupted into riotous noise but I barely heard them. I was too busy staring into Stefan’s delighted face.

  “The mystery woman!” Stefan announced loudly. He was clearly enjoying himself. “I’ve found you! Will you marry me?”

  He lowered his voice. “Say yes, Hanna, or you know I’ll never stop asking. Plus, how am I going to survive without your baking?”

  I considered the question.

  My brother was a king. Stefan had permission from his grandfather. And the shoe fit.

  I looked up and smiled. “Of course I’ll marry you.”

  Loud cheering rocked the kitchen as Stefan jumped to his feet, pulled me up into his arms and finally, finally pressed his lips to mine.

  About the Author

  I grew up on a staple diet of books, books and more books. And although I got older I never stopped loving children’s and young adult novels. I always wanted to write one myself but it took three careers and three different continents before I actually managed it.

  I now feel incredibly fortunate to spend my time writing from my home in Canberra, Australia where I live with my husband and daughter and where we don’t have a beach but do have kangaroos hopping down the streets. My staple diet hasn’t changed much, although I've added choc mint Rooibos tea and Chicken Crimpies to the list.

  I’m currently working on the Four Kingdoms series which is made up of standalone young adult fairy tale retellings.

  Subscribe to my mailing list to be kept up to date on book news, giveaways and new releases.

  Want to know why Hanna had to flee Rangmere as a child? Curious how her brother ended up married to a queen?

  Read the books of The Four Kingdoms series and find out! Out now:

  The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea

  The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood

  www.melaniecellier.com

  Through the Mirror

  by Rachel Morgan

  Chapter 1

  Bianca’s heart pounded an uncomfortably fast rhythm as she bent to peek through the keyhole into the forbidden room. A curtain of ebony hair slid over her shoulder, partially blocking her view. She tucked it behind one ear and pressed her face closer to the door.

  Darkness filled her vision.

  For as long as Bianca could remember, The Dark Room had been the only room in the penthouse that she wasn’t allowed into. Even when her mother was alive, The Dark Room had been off-limits. She’d caught a glimpse of it several times, which was how she knew that heavy curtains hung across the windows, blotting out the light completely, and that the room was empty save for the large oval mirror that hung on the otherwise bare wall. That was also how she knew that when her mother went into that room, she would stand in front of the mirror for ages, stroking its surface longingly with her slender hand, sometimes whispering, sometimes crying. Mostly, though, her mother remembered to close the door when she went into The Dark Room, and lock it when she left. Bianca had asked her father about it once or twice, but the only answer he ever gave her was that they should respect her mother’s right to privacy when it came to her magic.

  After throwing a quick glance over her shoulder and rubbing her sweaty hands against her jeans, Bianca carefully pressed down on the handle. The door didn’t move. She leaned the full force of her sixteen-year-old body against the doo
r, hoping that perhaps it was simply stuck and enough pressure would loosen it. But still it didn’t budge.

  She looked over her shoulder again, listening for her step-mother’s footsteps. But all she heard was the distant tinkling of piano keys as Riona entertained her friends in the lounge on the far side of the apartment. She might at any time notice that Bianca had slipped from the room, and then she would come in search of her step-daughter. The thought terrified Bianca, but desperation made her braver than normal.

  It had been two months since Bianca’s father died, leaving her alone with Riona and Riona’s son. Admittedly, Hunter wasn’t all that bad. In fact, Bianca had grown to love him like a real brother in the two years since her father had married Riona. Hunter stood up for Bianca whenever his mother directed cruel words or magic at her, and when Bianca struggled to produce more than just a spark of her own magic, Hunter tried to help her. But Bianca felt more alone as each day passed. Desperate to hold onto some form of connection to her parents, she realized the mirror might be her only hope. Her mother had spent so many hours in front of it that perhaps some leftover magic of hers still lingered within it.

  Magic. Bianca had grown up knowing of its existence, just as other children had grown up knowing about the existence of gravity or electricity or the earth’s orbit around the sun. She had grown up knowing it was a secret too. Magic is rare, her mother had told her. Those who don’t possess it will do anything to get their hands on it, and so we must keep it secret. Bianca’s father had no magic, and so she’d ended up a blend of her two parents—the occasional spark here and there, along with the odd and unpredictable ability to fix broken objects by touching them, but nothing spectacular like the visually stunning magic she’d seen her mother perform.

  Riona didn’t perform beautiful spells of light and wonder. Her magic was darker, more dangerous. How Bianca’s father had managed to find two wives in possession of magic when it was apparently so rare was a question Bianca had yet to find the answer to. Perhaps there was a group, a society of some sort that her father knew about or had a connection to. Perhaps that was where he’d found both his first and second wives.