The Sweetest Sounds


"Good morning my friends." Cinderella spoke aloud to the five hens as she tossed seed from her apron onto the ground "Time to eat!"

She smiled as he watched the birds quickly peck at their food, happy to be their caretaker. This was her favorite time of the day, the early morning where she had a peaceful few hours to herself as her family slept upstairs. She didn't have to answer to anyone or anything but herself and her hens of course, which she didn't mind at all. The first half of the day belonged to her and only her and for that she was grateful.

It was still dark as it was just the twinkling of dawn, early enough to hear the birds chirping in their nests and the deer scurrying out of the forest. She looked up into the sky to see the fading stars as they slowly disappeared to make way for the bright sun.

Another day had begun, which meant for another miserable day with her step mother and step sisters. Cinderella simply sighed as she rubbed her aching leg, still sore from tilling the land to grow vegetables all day yesterday.

She wanted to do nothing except rest her weary body in her favorite rocking chair by the fire and read a good book.

However those plans were far from reality as she knew that today was her step mother, Hera's day to visit the village square. Only once a week they'd browse the market, which Cinderella was indifferent to because she never bought anything for herself.

She deeply inhaled the crisp air, once again thankful for the morning and a new start. However she quickly frowned as she exhaled to discover a weird smell coming from the kitchen. Was that smoke?

"Oh no!" Cinderella gasped as she hurriedly ran inside the tiny kitchen, grabbing a towel to remove the porridge pot from the fire "Not again."

She had been so busy with tasks and lost in her thoughts that she'd forgotten breakfast was cooking.

The young woman sighed in frustration as she placed the pot on the floor in disappointment, as she stared at the ruined food. That was her only meal for the entire day and now it was gone.

"Cinderella, what is that smell!" she heard Hera screech from the top of the stairs

She couldn't do anything but open the back door and window quickly to air the room out before the horrid woman could see what happened.

"It's going to be a long day..." she whispered to herself.


Knock, knock.

Prince Christopher groaned at the sound as he covered his head with his bedding. "You may enter." he said reluctantly.

"Good morning Your Highness!" announced Lionel "Time to begin the day!"

He hated this time of day, the early morning where for many hours he was to be locked into a strict schedule. He had to answer to his mother and father, couriers, and chamberlains about matters that didn't concern him. The first half of the day belonged to the kingdom, and for that he was resentful.

"It's going to be a long day..." he whispered to himself

The young man glanced towards his window to see that the sky was still dark, the beginnings of dawn, early enough to see the fading village lights in the valley as citizens' awakened from slumber.

Another day began, which meant another monotonous day with nobility. He sighed reading over his schedule, as Lionel called in maidservants to help him get ready. He wanted to do nothing but ease his jaded mind while playing at his favorite grand piano tickling the ivory keys.

However those plans were far from reality as he knew that today was planned out for him. He watched as several servants entered his room with clean clothing, shoes, towels, soap, and one to run his bath.

"Is there anything else His Highness requests this morning?" asked Lionel

"That will be all." he replied as the small team bowed and closed the door leaving the room. He stood and walked over to his balcony looking down at the village below him inhaling the fresh air thankful for a new start. Just then an idea popped into his head.

He quickly changed into plain clothing he purchased months before, quietly sneaking down the corridors and out of the palace into the village.


"Come along girls!"

"Hurry up!"

"Move it!"

Cinderella tried her hardest to keep up with the three women as they moved from shop to shop searching for the newest garments and fashions in town. It would help out a lot if they carried their own bags.

To her relief, both Minerva and Calliope stopped at a hat shop giving her time to catch her breath.

She glanced over to see several children gathered around watching a puppet show in the square.

Memories instantly flooded of her younger days when she would look forward to viewing those shows as her father shopped in the market.

As if she were a little girl again, she smiled as she listened on

"Quiet down, here comes the prince!" shouted the valet puppet

"Have anyone of you seen Lady Gwendolyn? Can you show me where to find her?"

"Cinderella!"

"Yes?" she was startled from her trance

"Does this hat look better on me?" smirked Calliope

Minerva snatched the hat away from her sister "Or me?"

"Well I don't know much about hats, but I don't think it flatters either one of you." she answered honestly.

Both sisters were taken aback by her answer.

"What did you ask her for?"

"She doesn't know anything about hats she said so herself." she said as she snatched the fuzzy hat off her head

"Give it to me!"

They went back and forth until they finally cried for their mother inside of the hat shop.

Cinderella couldn't believe that they were fighting as if they still were five years old. She held a blank stare as she turned back towards the puppet show. It was far more entertaining than watching them argue.

"What are words compared to the joy of holding you in my arms again?"

"Be my bride Lady Gwendolyn, and I will pledge to you my love, for all eternity..."

Cinderella couldn't do anything but swoon at those captivating words. Loving someone for all eternity? Could it be possible? She wondered if she would even be lucky enough to find love, let alone find a love that was as passionate as that.

The young woman turned to see a man spinning his daughter around in his arms, and her heart melted at the sight. She grew fond of the days when her own father would take her out into the village market to shop every Sunday afternoon.

She dreamily sighed as she watched a loving couple share a kiss after surprising the lady with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

"Is it possible for me to experience that?" she pondered

Her life at the moment wasn't the best and there were many obstacles in her way for her to meet someone, let alone fall in love.

Hera was very strict about how often she could leave home and when she was allowed a chance out she was overwhelmed with so many errands that there wasn't time to focus on anything else.

She missed her father so much, it was still very much painful as if he had gone yesterday. However she kept him close to her heart by keeping him alive, through his music. She envisioned him playing the piano at that very moment...

"The sweetest sounds I'll ever hear are still inside my head...

The kindest words I'll ever know are waiting to be said...

The most entrancing sight of all is yet for me to see...

And the dearest love in all the world is waiting somewhere for me...

Is waiting somewhere, somewhere for me..."

That gave her hope. She knew that if she wished hard enough that maybe it would become true.

"But who would want me, a servant girl?" the thought bounced around her mind often.

If she didn't do something about her miserable situation soon, what would become of her?

"Cinderella!" Hera thrust her heaviest bags into her hands as she walked off annoyed.

"Have you ever seen such a lazy girl in your life?" Minerva asked Calliope

"Who are you calling lazy?"

"Not you stupid, Cinderella."

"Who are you calling stupid?"

She decided to let it go for now as she followed behind her step sisters throughout the market.


By the time Christopher made it to the heart of the village, it was teeming with lots of people from all over the kingdom.

Conversations of all types filled the air, as well as smoke from vendors selling food, and children flying kites in the sky.

He couldn't help but to feel giddy at the scenery, this is where he felt he belonged, among the people, real people. Not cooped up inside the palace all day long with servants, guards, and valets.

He would much rather sit and chat with the local baker or butcher over a Duke or Duchess any day.

The prince smiled at a couple who weren't agreeing with each other and decided to buy a flower for the lady to break the tension. She kind of reminded him of his mother with her thick locs and brown skin.

The lady simply smiled when she received the daisy and Christopher walked away pleased. He couldn't understand for the life of him why a couple in love would argue. Raising his voice at the woman he loved? Never.

He turned to see that the couple had reconciled and they were now hugging and holding hands. That warmed his heart, but he couldn't help but to think if he could ever have that.

"I wonder what it's like..." he pondered

To be in love that is. His life at the moment was confusing to say the least, so much fell on his shoulders when it came to being the crown prince, especially wondering if women liked him for who he really was instead of a just a prize to be won.

The only time he was allowed outside of the palace is when he is sneaking off into various places in the village which didn't really leave much time to meet anyone new.

He sighed as he began to hum the tune of his favorite song from his mother's favorite play called No Strings.

"The sweetest sounds I'll ever hear are still inside my head...

The kindest words I'll ever know are waiting to be said...

The most entrancing sight of all is yet for me to see...

And the dearest love in all the world is waiting somewhere for me...

Is waiting somewhere, somewhere for me..."

Those words gave him hope. He hadn't given up this far so why now? This was his only wish.

"But who would want me, for who I really am?" the thought was persistent in his mind.

If he didn't do something about his uneasy situation soon, what would become of him? The kingdom?

Suddenly, he heard a huge crash on the main road with a startled young woman watching as one the royal carriages trampled over all of her belongings. He quickly ran over to assist her.

"They're looking for me" he thought

"Are you alright miss?" he asked looking in the direction the carriage went. He knelt down to pick up her many boxes.

"Yes I'm fine I think." she responded shyly, embarrassed about this silly accident she was so tangled in her thoughts that she hadn't looked before crossing the road.

"Here you go." he handed her the bruised hat, ashamed of how rude the horsemen were "Just like those royals isn't it? Not caring if there in anybody's way..."

"Well I'm sure they were going somewhere very important."

"I doubt it..." he looked up to give her a bag when they finally locked eyes with each other.

Christopher couldn't do anything but stare as his eyes wondered her entire face. He'd never seen a girl so beautiful before in his entire life. His mouth wanted to speak but his mind wouldn't allow him, and he couldn't look away if his life depended on it.

Cinderella saw his face and simply smiled. She was unsure of what to say to this charming and handsome gentleman.

"Thanks, thanks for your help." was all she could muster up as she stood and quickly walked off.

He was still on the ground as she was walking and quickly stood to follow her.

"Wait! What's your name?" he blurted out. It was so unlike himself to act so impulsively.

"Cinderella." she stopped in her tracks afraid to speak.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Cinderella. I like to sit by the fire and the cinders fly and my face gets smudged." she explained.

"Ah, Cinder-ella...I like it!" he smiled understanding.

"It grows on you I guess...excuse me!" she said nervously walking off again.

"Tell me Cinderella what would a man have to do to find himself in your good graces?" he followed behind her, he had to know more about her.

"Who wants to know?"

"Let's just say a charming stranger."

"This charming stranger seems pretty sure if himself, but he'd have to get to know me a lot better than some girl he just met on the street..." she was a bit uncomfortable that he was following her.

"Oh but he'd like to, very much." he was so enamored with her that he crashed into a flower cart.

"Oh my..." Cinderella was shocked at his actions and scurried off "I'm not sure I want to meet this stranger, I doubt he has any idea of how a girl should be treated."

"Like a princess I suppose?"

"No! Like a person with kindness and respect."

He was perplexed to hear that. "You're not like most girls are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing...I didn't mean to offend you."

They were silent for a while, not knowing what to say next.

"It's alright, it's just that I've lived a pretty sheltered life." she said matter-of-factly.

"So have I!"

"Really?"

"Every day the same old routine-" he began

"Don't you just want to run away and-" she exclaimed

"Never come back!" they said in unison

They were both shocked and amazed to find out that someone else could relate to their mundane lives. It was like a breath of fresh air.

"I thought I told you to never to talk to strangers!"

Cinderella instantly recognized Hera's voice and ran over to her a little embarrassed to be caught.

"I'm so sorry step mother."

That didn't faze Christopher at all. "I hope I see you again...Cinderella."

"Goodbye." she mouthed she stared into his eyes, unusual feelings engulfed her instantly.

"Hurry up with those packages, what are you doing?!"

Cinderella ignored her while standing like a statue with her feet glued to the floor unable to move as she watched the young man walk away. She felt something different while talking to him that she felt with no one else.

Unable to figure it out she followed behind her family yet again to continue shopping. "Duty calls..." she said mentally

The most entrancing sight of all is yet for me to see...

and the dearest love in all the world, is waiting somewhere for me...

is waiting somewhere, somewhere for me...

Christopher looked back once more to see her walk away with her family as he entered his carriage unwillingly. He couldn't stop smiling, as he looked out the window. What was this strange feeling all of a sudden?

He decided to let it go as the horses trudged up the giant hill towards the palace, his home. "Duty calls..." he sighed thoughtfully.


Lionel was pacing back and forth in the foyer of the palace waiting for the prince's carriage to arrive. He couldn't believe that he was still going against his parents' wishes by leaving the palace grounds without proper supervision.

The anxious valet sighed in relief as the carriage rolled through the front gates. "Finally." he said as he hurriedly approached him.

The prince not once looked at him as he walked inside. Lionel was becoming tired of his antics, it was becoming too much to handle.

A maid servant handed Lionel the set of clothing the prince had abandoned earlier that morning and quickly ordered him to change.

"Your father and mother have been waiting for you since nine." he explained as he looked at his plain clothes in disgust "I told them you were playing an intense game of cricket with your friends..."

Christopher ignored him as he began to change. He honestly didn't care what his parents had to say to him, they were always down his back about something. At least he had Lionel to confide in.

"They are in their bedroom and are growing antsy so please hurry!"

The prince knew how his mother was so he indeed picked up the pace as Lionel trailed behind him.

"Why? Why the disguise again your highness after I begged you!"

"I had a wonderful time today Lionel, no one treated me like a prince...what a relief to be among real people!"

"Ah yes, yes can I tell you something? Real people are not all their cracked up to be eh."

The short man stopped to get his attention pointing at himself "Look at me. I am a real person...does that tell you anything?"

Christopher sighed in frustration walking away, he thought that he would see his side of the matter. Even Lionel couldn't understand why the prince wasn't satisfied with his life.

"Believe me they are all out there wishing they could be you!"

"Because they have no idea what it's really like!"

He was still confused. "Help me out here...you are rich, you live in a gorgeous palace, you have beautiful women throwing themselves at your feet, is there something I am not getting?!" Lionel exclaimed. He would trade places with him in a heartbeat.

"I have no life of my own! Everything is decided for me...where I go, what I do, and who I see!"

"Your Highness this disappearing thing has got to stop it is too dangerous!"

"Oh it's perfectly safe Lionel..."

"I am not worried about you I am worried about me, I cannot keep lying to your mother they have laws against that!"

Christopher shook he head as he stuffed his shirt into his pants before walking into the King's Quarters to talk with his parents.

"If he wants to kill me why doesn't he just trample me with his carriage and get it over with?" whispered Lionel

"You wanted to see me mother?" he walked in to see his mother and father busy with their separate tasks.

"Christopher darling, where have you been? Your father and I were just talking about you!" she hugged her only son with joy

"Your mother was talking, I was listening." The King interjected.

Constantina narrowed her eyes at her husband.

"Alright...what's going on?" the prince knew something was up. He noticed a scroll at her desk, as he went over to read it.

She instantly brightened at those words as she followed her son to her writing desk to explain "Oh nothing, just planning a little get together..."

"Uh huh." Christopher saw the list of names reading them closely

"Nothing fancy just family..."

"Uh huh."

"And a few close friends..."

"Uh huh." he frowned as he read the names

"...and all the eligible young women in the kingdom." he said quickly hoping he wouldn't notice.

"Mother!" he shouted recognizing several of the young women's names from the previous balls in the not-so-distant past.

This would be the seventh ball his mother had thrown for him in his 'honor' within the past year. It was simply humiliating.

"We're only talking around four, five hundred guests at the most." she shrugged knowing how he would react.

"Mother, you cannot keep doing this to me!"

"What?"

Christopher was so angry that he just stared at his mother with dissatisfaction.

"Max what is he saying?" she turned to her husband, she really didn't understand what the big deal was.

"He's saying he doesn't want to have another ball."

"No he's not!"

Maximilian saw how hurt his son looked and decided to add to the conversation. "Chris, it's really very simple...all your mother and I want is for you to be happy."

"Happiness has got nothing to do with it!"

The men both turned to the woman of the room distraught at her careless words.

"I mean of course we want you to be happy" she corrected "but you do have certain obligations..."

"What your mother is trying to say is..." Maximilian tried to explain in the gentlest yet straightforward way he could "We think it's time you've chose a bride...and produced an heir."

Those words came down on the prince like a stone wall. Of course that is what this is all about, his bachelorhood. In his parents' mind, time was winding down for him and they needed absolute reassurance that the kingdom would continue to thrive.

"Someday soon this entire kingdom will be yours!" she offered hoping it would give him perspective.

"Not that soon!"

Christopher had to find a way to make them understand how difficult this was for him. Finding a bride at a formal ball? How ancient. Her way hadn't worked for him before, so why keep forcing it to happen?

"Look, all I'm asking is if you'd let me choose a bride for myself in my own way..." he smiled at the thought of finally meeting the girl of his dreams "And I guess I have this silly idea that I want to be in love when I get married...like you were."

The royal couple smiled at that. They knew that their son was a true romantic at heart, but he had to be realistic. He was now twenty-four years old, with no signs of a future prospect in sight. His way hadn't worked in all this time, so why allow it? The Queen knew what she had to do.

"That's all we want for you too son." smiled Maximilian

"Yes darling, but here's nothing saying you can't fall in love at the ball it happens all the time!"

"You haven't heard a word I said." he mumbled walking out of the room to take a walk around the gardens. He had to clear his mind before he said something he would regret.

"Where is he going?"

"Couldn't it be something we said?" The King said with sarcasm.

Constantina sighed as she called for the valet. She loved her son dearly, but it had to be done, and soon.

"Lionel!"

"Yes, Your Majesty." he said sheepishly

"Proclamation from the Prince..."

"Excuse me your majesty, I couldn't help overhearing and I have to say I don't think the prince sounded like..."

She wasn't having it. Her mind was made up. "Lionel. Take this down." she ordered

As always he obeyed, dipping the violet quill pen in a tube filled with dark ink and unrolling a fresh scroll to write down her words. He felt a little bad for the prince, as he now understood what he meant when it came to voicing his opinion for his own life. Lionel just hoped that the Queen was right for once.

"His Royal Highness, Prince Christopher Rupert Windermere Vladimir Carl Alexander Francois Reginald Lancelot Herman Gregory James...is giving a ball!"

The King simply looked at his wife in disbelief that she would go against their son's request. However, he didn't detest her from doing it.

Constantina felt her husband's concern, but that didn't deter her at all. Something had to be done.

"He'll thank us for it later." she said confidently.