by A. W. Cross
“Don’t be silly. Many nobles want to marry you. Besides, your prospects would worsen if the prince rejected you and sent you back. Trust me; you are better off waiting for a true husband.”
Deborah straightened her back. “What happens to the ones that don’t return? Does he eat their hearts to prolong his life? I’m sure that you know the truth.”
The Regent averted his eyes from hers as a cold shiver raced up his back. “Believe me; you don’t want to know, child. Those are rumors that I’m not going to deny or correct because I don’t want you near the prince and his fortress of solitude. We will sacrifice a maiden this year, but it isn’t going to be you.”
Deborah huffed as she balled her hands. “I would make an excellent queen. I can’t allow you to choose another girl. She might steal my crown. Wouldn’t you want to see your only daughter as the queen of this kingdom?”
“My decision is final,” the Regent said.
Squinting her eyes, his daughter added, “Well, if I won’t be queen, at least I can look like one during the celebration. Will you buy me a new pair of shoes now?”
The Regent sighed, knowing it was a losing battle fighting his daughter. At least, no matter how fancy she looked, the prince would never get his hands on her. Having Deborah safe mattered more than a few extra measly gold coins.
“If you want a pair of shoes, then let’s go to the fair, my darling. Pick any that you want.”
5
Claire and Myka arrived early to get the best spots at the fair. They each had wares to sell along with all the other vendors present. Luckily, they found stalls close to the front and were able to fend off anyone wanting to bully them out. The fair was both a beautiful and hard place to sell. The competition was fierce as everybody had things for sale and wanted those with the deepest pockets as customers. Having a prime spot was just the beginning. You had to be able to haggle and deal with the best of them just to get noticed, much less make a sale.
“Think you will sell off all your wares before mine?” Myka teased Claire. “At least before you become our queen, that is.”
“Please, stop, you are worse than my mother. The prince would never want some commoner as a wife,” Claire reasoned with her friend. “He is from the highest class of royalty. A noble girl will one day melt his heart and become the queen of the kingdom.”
“Whatever you say, killjoy.” Myka shrugged. “Sometimes, I don’t understand you, Claire. Many girls would kill for a chance to meet with him. Why wouldn’t you be excited about that honor?”
“Maybe you should petition for guys to go and offer yourself,” Claire countered. “Then you can see what the fuss is all about. Of course, you will have to delay your wedding. Also, if he suddenly falls for you and the curse breaks, you’ll have to forget all about Tanya,” she teased with a grin.
“I should tell Tanya that you’re trying to sell off her husband right under her nose,” Myka joked back.
“I think she would give you up for the greater good,” Claire retorted. “But if you rat me out, I will never forgive you. Tanya would kick my butt all across the kingdom.”
Myka laughed out loud.
“We need to focus,” Claire said as she looked around. “The customers are arriving, and we need to tout our product.”
“I won’t tease you about this anymore if you accept the boots without protesting,” Myka bargained.
“Fine. But I plan to give you some money to compensate for your work.”
Myka’s smile widened. “You can make me a nobleman when you are queen.”
Claire rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything. Instead, she focused on selling her goods. Her family needed the money. Thinking of pipe dreams and palaces were not going to make that happen.
Several pieces sold quickly at base price. The nobles liked the look and feel of the fabric. Myka also had positive sales with several stating he should go work for a noble family or apprentice to an expert. Claire knew that he would never leave his family hanging to do that. Not unless there was something in place to help them while he was gone.
There were also the losses. A woman wanted to buy several pieces at less than half the price, citing noble birth from a far-off kingdom. Claire had to decline and spent several minutes being berated before the woman stormed off. It took a while before people started coming back to her stall. Myka had a few people trying to lowball him on the price, citing his inexperience and shabby clothes. He just told them to buy from another seller and refused to budge on price either. These people usually had no idea what it was like living on the edge of homelessness. Underselling the wares held no incentive. Claire and Myka were better off returning another day than wasting their talents.
Claire’s attention piqued with the sound of a girly voice.
“Father, I need a new pair of shoes for the celebration,” the young woman whined. “You promised me I could have them.”
“Deborah, please calm down, we are in public,” the Regent chided. “There’s a stall over there with more shoes. I can only buy a pair once you like them, dear.”
“Those other shoes were not worthy of my royal feet,” Deborah insisted, moving forward. “We’ll have many royal guests at the celebration. I must look the most beautiful of them all.”
“Please, don’t come this way,” Claire prayed under her breath.
“Hey, I need to sell my shoes,” Myka reminded his friend.
“She never likes anything,” Claire complained.
Myka puffed his chest and gave them his best smile. “Hello, I’m Myka, and I sell some of the most beautiful shoes. Good day, Regent, and lovely daughter.”
Claire’s best friend was handsome, and the girls often fought for his attention. Yet, Deborah looked at him as if a rotten smell had hit her nose.
The Regent smiled at Myka and guided his daughter to his stall. “Good morning, young man. Let us see what you have here.”
His daughter wasn’t as polite. “Hello, commoner.”
Her dry greeting didn’t seem to falter Myka’s good mood. “Good afternoon, Miss Deborah. I’m honored you decided to take a look at my wares.” Myka put on the charm. “Do you see anything you like?”
“These shoes look nice,” the Regent commented. “Did you make them?”
“Yes, I did. Glad they caught your eye, milord.”
“Maybe this one.” Deborah reached for the pair, knocking over Myka’s bag.
Myka rushed to clean her mess without her even bothering to apologize. “I’ll grab them, don’t worry.”
Deborah sneered at the shoes until her eyes glinted. “What are those?” she asked, pointing at the shoes that Myka made for Claire.
Claire’s stomach dropped, and she had a bad feeling about it. A new customer looked at one of her goods and asked for the price.
Meanwhile, she heard Myka apologizing. “I’m sorry, milady, but these are already spoken for.” By the corner of her eye, Claire saw Myka shove the boots inside his bag. “They are a gift for a friend, and they are not for sale.”
Deborah looked at her father. “Dad, I want those.”
“Honey, the nice lad just said that they weren’t for sale,” her father reasoned with a tight smile.
“But I want them!”
The Regent looked at Myka. “I will pay double what they paid you.”
“I’m sorry, milord, but these are a gift.”
“Dad, you are the Regent, he has to obey you. Force him to sell them,” Deborah whined.
Myka was pale when his eyes met Claire’s. She knew she had to do something.
Moving closer to Myka’s stall, she grabbed the bag and removed the boots. “Miss, these boots are beautiful, aren’t they?”
Deborah nodded as her eyes aimed at the boots, and she folded her gloved hands with a smile. “They look so comfortable. Can I try them on?”
“Of course.” Claire made the gesture of giving them to her, but then pulled back. “But I couldn’t help but hearing why you wanted a new pair o
f shoes.” She looked at the Regent who seemed embarrassed since his cheeks were red.
Deborah raised her chin. “I have all the shoes that I’ve seen here. Nothing is new to me. What I’ve never seen are boots like these. I have to have them. My father will pay anything you want for them.”
Claire nodded with a placid smile. “My friend makes the most original shoes in the whole kingdom. However, these are boots, and you would look prettier if you wore a nice pair of shoes for the ball. Are you sure you want to buy these?”
Deborah’s expression changed, and she looked at her father. “Dad, she’s right. I can’t wear a pair of boots to the selection.” She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. “Where will I find shoes that match my dress now?”
“Deborah, you didn’t like anything so far. Whatever you choose, I’m sure that you will look great in them. We can look one last time around the fair.”
Deborah pouted. “I don’t want any of the shoes we saw. I just liked the boots, but they don’t match my dress.”
Myka spoke. “I can make you a pair of shoes as comfortable as these boots.”
Claire looked at his friend with incredulity. Is he insane? “It’s getting dark. You won’t have time.”
“I can come here tomorrow with fabric samples and take measurements. Of course, it would be a bit more expensive than one of these that are already made,” Myka said, looking at the Regent and then at his daughter.
“I’ll pay whatever you want.” Deborah was quick to answer as she jumped in excitement. Then, she looked at her father. “Won’t we, Dad?”
The Regent rubbed his forehead and nodded. “Be at my home tomorrow morning. I’ll pay you well for your trouble.” Then he looked at Claire. “You should thank your beautiful companion for securing you this deal.” Tipping his head, he grabbed his daughter’s hand and strolled away as the bratty girl kept chirping at him.
When they were far away from them, Claire glared at Myka. “What were you thinking? I was almost convincing her to give up on the boots. Why did you offer to make her a pair of shoes?”
“She looked so sad. I felt bad. I didn’t want to sell her your boots, but I didn’t want her to be sad, either.”
“Are you kidding? She’s spoiled and gets away with anything she wants. You just indulged her whims and put yourself in a mess because I’m sure she’s picky and won’t like anything you make for her.”
“I’m sure I can make something she likes. She must have delicate and beautiful feet.”
Claire arched an eyebrow while Myka rearranged the shoes. “Are you serious? Do you have a crush on the Regent’s daughter?”
“Of course not. I’m going to marry Tanya.”
“That noble girl thinks you smell bad. She would never look at you as someone who is human like her. She treats everybody like slaves. It doesn’t matter how pretty she is on the outside. Inside, she’s ugly.”
Myka stopped what he was doing and looked at his friend. “Calm down, Claire. It’s just work. I could use the money. Plus, if she likes my work, she’ll recommend me to other noblewomen.”
His reasoning tamed her rage. “You’re right. This is a great opportunity for you. You could save money faster to get married.”
Myka nodded. “Also, the Regent thinks you are beautiful. You could be the next queen, and my chances of being a nobleman just improved.”
Claire rolled her eyes and shoved him back. “Stop with the nonsense. We have merchandise to sell.”
6
The night of the celebration had arrived. Whether noble or commoner, this was a time everyone had to come together. The law demanded it, and many girls were in a rush to attend and find out if the Regent would pick them to meet the prince. Who wouldn’t want a chance to be queen and end the cursed winter?
Claire dressed in her best clothes and prepared herself to travel with her parents to learn her fate. That night was supposed to be one of jubilation. Another chance for the kingdom to pick a girl in hopes of melting the prince’s heart. Yet Claire felt as if she was being led to the gallows. Failure either meant returning to the mundane or not at all. No one outside the Diamond Palace knew the fate of the girls who never came back. The rumors chilled her to the bone.
Her father rode a horse-drawn cart to the Regent’s house along with Claire, her mother, and three other girls from their village. Their dresses were decent but not nearly as fabulous as the one Claire wore. Their community always tried to help anyone they could, and her father had rented the cart after carrying out a favor for an officer. He never said what, and she never pried.
Everyone was nervous and barely said a word along the road.
Hours later, Claire walked her parents to the catwalk while the other girls gave their thanks and hurried to the entrance. Who could blame them for being so excited for a single night of luxury? Those not chosen got to return to their regular lives, and theirs was poverty. The Regent and fellow high-class citizens enjoyed the bounty of life after that night. The commoners less so, especially the poorer among them like Claire’s family. At least they still had a home.
It was unfair that the ballroom was not allowed entry by the impoverished. Claire’s parents and many others were expected to put their daughters up for barter., but their class level determined if they could watch up close or from afar. The catwalk stretched from the inside to the city’s square and all those not granted entry had to pack out there to watch the young ladies on the catwalk answer the questions the Regent had for them.
Claire kissed and hugged her parents before going in.
“You would make a great queen. I love you, Claire,” her mother said.
She smiled, letting the silly words slide this time. “I love you both. I’ll see you after the selection.”
The idea that this might be the last time seeing them rattled in the back of her mind. Silly since the Regent had many beautiful, noble girls to choose before considering a commoner.
In the entrance, Claire gave her name and was escorted inside. Wiping sweaty hands against the side of her dress, she pasted on a friendly smile and moved forward.
“Well look who’s here!” a voice cackled. Claire’s heart stopped beating as she turned around. “I see that you decided to wear those tacky boots, after all.”
Claire kept walking as Deborah and a crowd of girls headed in her direction. No doubt, she was still upset. Yet, she had no reason to be since Myka made her a pair of beautiful shoes.
“Wow, those boots are gorgeous,” a noble girl gasped, seeing the boots up close. She was tall and elegant, dressed in a sparkling blue dress with her brown hair cascading in large curls. If there was someone in the running to be chosen, this was that person.
“No, they’re not, Reya. You’re going blind,” Deborah barked. She was dressed in a tight, blood-red dress with a silver bow in the back. Her makeup was flawless, and her hair cascaded down her back. The shoes were silver with a red bow on each. They looked incredible, Myka outdid himself. Still, Claire preferred the beauty and simplicity of her pair.
“Your new shoes are beautiful, Deborah. A lot more than these I’m wearing.”
Deborah’s eyelids fluttered as she looked at her feet. “They are also really comfortable. I love them.”
“It matches your dress perfectly,” Claire added with a smile.
“They do,” Reya chipped in. “You need to tell me where you got them.”
“My father found someone to make them just for me. They are one of a kind. No one else has a pair like these,” Deborah said as she laced her arm around her friend. “Let’s get out of here. We don’t mingle with her kind.”
Claire clenched her jaw but ignored the insult. She had tried to be nice, but Deborah was just being herself.
“Don’t mind her. She’s just scared of the competition.”
Claire looked around to find the voice of the girl who had spoken to her.
“I’m Alina,” the girl in a gaudy orange dress introduced herself. She was shorter
than Claire but stunning and with long, blonde hair. “Your dress is gorgeous.”
“Thank you. My mother made it for me.”
“That’s nice of her. Mine forced me to wear this,” she said as she pointed down at her dress with an amused smirk. “I’m aware of how bright it is.”
Claire giggled. “I’m Claire. I’ve never seen you around.”
“I’m from a faraway kingdom. We heard about this tradition, and my parents decided to try to get rid of me.”
Claire raised her eyebrows, unsure if she should laugh or not.
“It’s fine. I didn’t want to be here anyway.”
“That makes two of us.”
Alina looked around and whispered closer to Claire, “I don’t know anyone.”
“You know me, now,” Claire said. “But by the way you talked to Deborah, I thought you knew her.”
Alina shrugged. “My parents know her father. We used to come here when I was little.”
“I was going to join my friends. Do you want to come with me?” Claire invited Alina.
“Sure. I would like that.”
Smiling, she guided Alina through the crowd.
Claire felt like a slab of meat as she presented herself along with the other girls participating. Fifty in all this year. They all wore their best smiles, answered all the questions the Regent had, and listened to the cheers as they cat-walked. In the end, everyone relaxed to enjoy the musical performances while the Regent went off to decide on which maiden would be chosen.
An hour later, he walked out on the balcony with a name on a golden sheet of paper. The silence hung like a blanket.
“I know it is not easy to leave the life you know for a man with no guarantees,” he said, looking out at everyone. “This is for the best. Your sacrifice will be rewarded, and your family will be taken care of. With no further delay, the young lady leaving to meet the prince is Claire James.”
