Noella (Cinderella cousin)

“Daaaaaad!”

I yelled for my father the minute I heard the news. I cannot believe it. This has not happened in my lifetime.

“What is it?” My father asked as he ran into my room huffing, trying to catch his breath.

“My cousin Cindy is marrying the prince.”

“My dear, don’t you think she should have some happiness? After all her mother and father passed on.  From what I heard. Her sister and her stepmother were not easy to live with.” He mumbled ( I wouldn’t mind a tumble with her though. No kindness required.)”

“Father you are so, so male.”

I stomped over to my bed and flopped on it.

“Now Noella you will be married when your prince comes.”

I looked at him as if he had sprouted a tail.

“I am tired of waiting. I want a ma—. I want a prince now.” I sat up and looked at him with a plan.

“Isn’t there a prince in the bordering kingdom? Prince Quan?”

“No not Prince Quan.”

“Why not father?”

“For starters, he is too old for you.”

“Men are usually older than the wife before they marry.”

“Secondly I have heard disturbing things about him that I will refuse my innocent child to be subjected to.”

“Disturbing?”

“Never you mind. How about Lord Corton. He had a large home two towns to the left.”

“A Lord?” my father reiterated as if it made it better the second time.

“No father.”

Why not?”

“Well, I feel that I may not survive to bear children if I was to be beneath—”

“Child I am your father.”

“No not him. Prince Quan is fit and has no heir. Send the proposal.”

“No!”

“No?” I repeated in disbelief.

“That is what I said. Be happy for your cousin and not envious.”

My father walked out of the room, and I swore I had seen the moon eclipse the sun at the very moment.

Prince Quan

“Sire, sire did you hear the news.”

“Yes, yes another one of us bites the dust in holy matrimony.”

Both men motioned the sign of the cross.

“You know your mother is going to demand you find a bride now more than ever.”

I walked down the palace hallway with strident steps that echoed.

“I do know this, Eugene. So, we must head her off.”

“Pardon, sire.”

“Yes, find a woman who is desperate to marry and bring her to me. I will show Mother that I am not marriage material, and she will stop pestering me.”

“What would you do?”

“Eugene do not worry. Whoever you choose I will do right by her in the end. But during she will endure some unpleasantries.”

Eugene knew what his prince meant by unpleasantries.

“But if you take her maidenhood no man will marry her.”

I stopped and looked at the poor man. He was fully grown, yet he was still so naïve.

“Eugene men will want her in spades after I had her. Just think of it as I am doing her a favor.”

Eugene thought that the prince thought too highly of himself.

“There is going to be a ball when they return from their moon.”

“There will be plenty of women there that will be willing to indulge me.”

I walked out into the garden and realized that the moon had covered the sun. This is not a pleasing turn of events. Nothing good happens after this kind of occurrence.

“Eugene, I also need you to find my godmother., Coran.”

“Sire?”

“Yes, my godmother should be in the moors. The seedier part but she is there. Tell her it will only take a moment of her time.”

“Why don’t you just summon her?’

“Eugene the last time I summoned her she was dressed in something that Mother has never forgotten.”

Eugene stopped waiting for me to elaborate.

“She was barely dressed. Her breasts were visible and her — I motioned lower.

“Was being serviced at the time by a male on all fours and bare.”

His eyes grew wide like saucers.

“It did not phase me one bit, but Mother does not want her in the castle, and I need her.”

Eugene nodded turned and went to his duty to retrieve the soon-to-be deflowered maiden and my godmother, Coran.

Prince Charm is going to be surprised on his wedding night. I remember when we all went to Skullian Inn. It was the five of us. I of course was the oldest and had already been there with my father the king when my facial hair began to grow.

Everyone except Charm enjoyed the ladies. He wanted to wait. I bet he is sorry for that. She will be. Two unknowledgeable people share a moment that may make or break a marriage.

I will send a gift of congratulations since it is customary.

Damn, he must hurry and find my godmother.