Midnight: A Retelling of Cinderella: Chapters 1-3
Chapter 1: Two Years Later
Ena finished hammering the heavy silver headdress into place, picked up the chain, and ran to the coals, where a muscular man stood waiting. “How’s this, Masao-san?” She asked.
Masao stroked a calloused hand across the chain and its clasp. “Beautiful work, Cinderella. Let’s get some amethysts on this thing and we can deliver it to the empress.”
Ena beamed. Masao and his family were some of the few people in all of Matsu that knew her real name, but were understanding enough to not use it in public. “Good.” She said. “I’ve been trying to work on that sword for quite a bit now. Empress Yuri’s orders have taken up most of my time.”
“And they still will, I’m afraid.” Masao took a deep breath. “The royal family wants another set of eight bracelets by tomorrow night.”
“Doesn’t the empress have enough bracelets?”
“It’s not to be Empress Yuri’s, not this time. It’s for that atrocious daughter of hers.”
“Which one?” A mischievous glimmer entered Ena’s eyes.
Ena had the reward of seeing the corners of Masao’s mouth turn up. “The youngest, Princess Aratani.”
“That figures. Aratani loves jewels as much as she loves herself.”
“Will you be able to finish the bracelets by then? I know you’ve wanted to finish that sword, but…”
Ena gave Masao a confident nod. “The sword can wait. I’ll go heat up some golden ore.”
Masao nodded. “And I’ll get some rubies mined. Kohana!” He barked, turning to an eleven-year-old girl with red braids. “Care to take another trip into the ruby mines?”
Kohana gave him a small smile before setting down the crate of just-mined diamonds that she had been carrying. Ena walked over, the chain still dangling from her hands, and brushed some red hair out of Kohana’s gray eyes. “Look at the bright side – with all of this jewelry we’re selling, at least we can make some extra money.”
Kohana snorted. “Money that we’ll be forced to give back when taxes come around.”
“Maybe the empress will lower taxes soon,” Ena continued, even though she knew it wasn’t possible. Yuri needed money to buy her finery, and she didn’t make any of her own. Even so, Kohana gave Ena a half-smile as she and Masao walked out of the room to make the trip to the mines.
Ena waved good-bye to them before plunging her hand into a crate of jewels and pulling out a handful of amethysts. Gently, she linked them one by one to the chain, allowing her mind to wander.
It was obvious why Kohana was so against the royalty. The problem with the kingdom was worse than Ena had imagined - the amount of money they had to pay off was insane. The empress took away nearly all of their profits by way of taxes. With what little remaining money they had left, the townspeople literally struggled for survival. Ena was lucky – while she was a blacksmith’s apprentice, most people had no jobs and no way of earning income. Half of the town was reduced to living in the alleys.
Ena hadn’t realized she was clenching her fists until she felt the headdress dig into her skin. She let go of the jewelry and set it on the counter, admiring the jewels. Purple was her favorite color.
Now that the necklace was finished, Ena peered impatiently out the door. “What’s taking Masao-san and Kohana so long?” She said to herself. “They’d usually have crates of rubies back in half this amount of time.” After making sure her face was thoroughly smudged with ashes, to keep from being recognized, she ventured out.
~
Akihiro ran his hands through his unkempt dark hair. “Mother, what do I do? Retyo might be doing well, but Matsu is our best partner in trade. If they go bankrupt…”
Hekima, the empress of Retyo, shook her head. “I don’t know, dear. Yuri’s been at this business for two years now.”
“But why? We’re a much more powerful kingdom than Matsu – don’t you think the empress should be listening to us?”
“That’s what I can’t figure out. If that Ena girl from your youth really was telling the truth, then Yuri’s been ruling and exploiting the kingdom illegally. But what can we do? She’s the empress. She can’t be arrested unless she publically orders herself to be.”
Empress Hekima had a point. Akihiro sighed and absentmindedly picked up a book, leafing through its pages as he spoke. “Isn’t there a way she can be stopped?”
“Not if Yuri’s too busy asking for jewels to start up trade again. I don’t know what those poor townspeople in Matsu will do. We’ll run bankrupt ourselves if this keeps going on – I can only imagine what it’s like for them...” She stood up from her throne. “Let’s think of something more positive.”
“Mother—”
“Akihiro, don’t worry. I’ll take care of Empress Yuri. All you need to worry about is turning fifteen in the next few days. We’ll be hosting a three-day ball in your honor – and you’ll finally be able to marry!”
“Yes, I’ll be able to—what?”
“To marry, dear.” A light entered Empress Hekima’s green eyes. “Come to think of it…your betrothal may just be how we can return trade to normal!”
Great. This can’t be good, Akihiro thought to himself. “What did you have in mind?” He asked, not wanting to know the answer.
“It’s simple: Your wife-to-be will be Princess Kimi, the oldest princess of Matsu!”
He dropped the book he was holding. “My wife-to-be will be who?”
“Princess Kimi. It’s simple, Akihiro. If you marry a member of the Matsurian royal family, it’ll only be a matter of time before the riches of their family can sustain us legally.”
“But…but does it have to be Kimi?”
Hekima must’ve noticed how disgusted her son was. “I’m sorry, musuko-san. It’s for the best.”
Akihiro wanted to say a thousand reasons why he would never want to marry Kimi, but instead he swallowed his feelings and forced himself to nod. Something must’ve been in his eyes, however, because Hekima patted his head apologetically and kissed his cheek. Akihiro started towards the door. “I’m going to go out for a walk. Think about all of this.” His mother nodded encouragingly, a sad smile on her face. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the room into his courtyards.
Chapter 2: Accident
Ena slid on the ruby-encrusted ground of the mines. She’d just gotten in, and had hoped to find Masao and Kohana before the end of the day.
This would’ve been easier if she didn’t have such a lousy sense of direction.
Ena had been going in circles, trying to find any other path to take that would lead her to her newfound family. Rubies as big as her head snagged her well-worn cotton attire, until she finally found Kohana’s scarlet braids, and next to her, a well-built blacksmith.
“Kohana! Masao-san!” Ena shouted, running towards the two – and then stopping when she saw Masao holding Kohana in his beefy arms, excruciating pain etched on her face. “Wh-what happened?” Ena stuttered.
“A rockslide. That’s what happened.” Masao replied gruffly. “Some idiot didn’t mine a ruby gently enough and it disturbed the ceiling. It collapsed, and some of the rocks went right on Kohana’s foot.” Ena’s head felt light when her eyes settled on Kohana’s swollen, black-and-blue ankle.
“I don’t think I can walk,” Kohana said, her breathing quick and shallow.
“Shh, Hana,” Ena whispered, using the nickname she first gave Kohana.
Kohana managed a small smile. “Don’t call me Hana,” she replied.
Ena smiled back. Kohana’s ankle was hurt – broken, by the looks of it – and she was still bantering with Ena. Aratani and Kimi never bantered with her.
Masao lugged Kohana onto his back. “Rest, Kohana,” He whispered before turning to Ena. “She’ll be all right, Ena. I know you’re worried.”
“Wh-what?” Ena replied as they exited the mines. “No, I’m fine. Hana can take care of herself.”
“You’re worried, I can tell. You always run your hands through your hair when you’re worried.”
“I do not!” Ena replied, briefly taking her hands through her hair - she hadn't even known they were in her hair in the first place. Masao rolled his eyes affectionately.
“I want this mine sealed off. Get the miners out and prevent anyone else from going in,” he ordered a random miner.
“But Otousan, the empress will be wanting those jewels,” the miner replied.
“That’s her problem, not ours. I’m not letting my Kohana get hurt like this again, and if that good-for-nothing excuse for a ruler has anything to say about it, she can go mine those rubies herself!”
The miner’s face went pale. “Otousan, those are treasonous words!”
“Do you really think I care? Seal the cursed mine off!”
“Yes, sir.” The miner bowed and left, and Ena, Kohana, and Masao all kept going. Ena’s eyes were pinned on Kohana the whole way there.
~
Akihiro wanted to scream. His betrothal was a way of getting Matsu back to normal, but why did it have to be with Kimi?
Princess Kimi was arrogant, cruel, and about as deep as a koi pond, and her mother and sister were no better than she was. Kimi was the last person on earth that Akihiro would want to marry. Briefly, Ena’s face flashed in his mind, and he pushed the image out. Of all the girls to think of, why would it be her? Ena was a friend. Nothing more.
Akihiro took a deep breath and changed his thoughts to the ball. According to various bits of gossip he picked up from the servants, his mother had organized the ball to celebrate his coronation and his betrothal to Princess Kimi. Royals and commoners alike were allowed, which, to him, seemed the only reason to celebrate at all. Since she renounced her title as princess, Akihiro hadn’t seen or heard of Ena at all. He wanted to catch a glimpse of her again – and, he was scared to realize, he had no idea why.
His lips curled into a smile. This ball would be the first ball Ena would attend in two years. He should welcome her back to the nobility. “Excuse me,” he said, tapping a servant’s shoulder.
“Yes, Your Highness?” He replied.
“Send an invitation to the ball at the blacksmith’s in Matsu. There’s a girl there who I think would be very pleased to go.”
Chapter 3: Plot
“I’m not going to the ball,” Ena said decisively.
“Why not?” Masao replied. “It’s for royals and commoners alike, and it goes for two days. Seeing that the first ball’s tonight, it’s a bit spur-of-the-moment, but you deserve two days off.”
“That’s not it.” Ena said. “Kohana just broke her ankle. There’s no way I’d leave her, even for a night.”
She looked concernedly at Kohana. Any other day Kohana would tell her, “I’m not an invalid!” after Ena would refuse to leave her side. But now? Silence, so thick a samurai’s sword could cut right through it.
“Ena, please reconsider—” Masao started.
“No. I can’t just leave Hana here. What if infection settles in to her ankle?”
“Kohana’s a strong girl. She’ll be okay.”
“Will she?”
Masao ruffled his hands through her hair affectionately. “Yes, Cinderella.” He stood up. “Could you head to the healer’s and get some herbs? They could help her with her foot…”
Ena bowed. “Yes, Masao-san. Watch over Kohana and if anything happens to her, find me as soon as you can.”
Masao chuckled. “I will, Cinderella.”
~
The sound of Ena’s feet seemed to be the only audible sound in the entire village. Nearly everyone was away at the ball, providing no sounds of life.
There weren’t many sounds of life anyway, even with them here, Ena thought. Finally, the healer’s was in sight. Ena’s feet picked up speed. Please, please let the healer’s be open…
Ena ran through the door to find a middle-aged woman in a rough cotton kimono. Her dark hair was pinned up in a neat bun. “Oh, kon’nichiwa,” She said. “I’ll be leaving in ten minutes for the ball, so what can I do you for?”
“Do you have any teasel root? My friend’s ankle is broken.”
The woman nodded. “Certainly.” She took a packet of tea and handed it to her. In return, Ena gave her a few yen. “Thank you for coming—” she started, a bang interrupting her. Both Ena and the woman turned to find a peasant girl, her face smudged with dirt, tiptoeing towards the woman.
The peasant girl limped towards the herbalist. “Pennyroyal,” she whispered. “Pennyroyal oil.”
“O-of course,” The woman replied, handing her a vial of golden oil. “It’s very concentrated, so be careful with dosing.”
“Thank you,” the girl replied, placing some yen in the woman’s palm before fleeing.
“I’ve been selling quite a bit of pennyroyal to that girl lately. Not sure why…” The woman whispered, but Ena was already gone.
~
Akihiro wanted to groan when he saw Kimi in a bright pink kimono, walking haughtily down the aisle to him, and looking down her long nose at nearly everyone in the pews. Empress Yuri had insisted the wedding take place that day, and Hekima had agreed. He supposed it was because the sooner they saved Matsu, the better.
“Dearly beloved,” the priest began when Kimi finally came to the altar. “We are gathered here today to witness the joining of this man and this woman in holy matrimony.” The speech lasted only a few minutes, but every word seemed like an hour to Akihiro. “Do you, Princess Kimi, take Prince Akihiro to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do,” Princess Kimi replied. Akihiro figured she asked the priest if she could say the words before Akihiro did – symbolically lording over him even before marriage.
It took a few minutes before Akihiro realized it was his turn to speak. “Wh-what?” He stuttered.
Kimi sighed dramatically and motioned to the priest to repeat what he said. “And do you, Prince Akihiro, take Princess Kimi to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
He wanted to say no. He wanted to refuse to marry Kimi and tell her exactly why. But then his eyes set on Empress Hekima.
I’m sorry, musuko-san, she mouthed. But please, do it for Matsu.
He took a deep breath and savored his last moments of freedom before saying the words he dreaded to hear. “I do,” he replied.
~
Maybe it was her instincts or simply the thoughts of an impulsive young girl, but for whatever reason, Ena was following the peasant girl. The lady at the store said she’d been selling a lot of pennyroyal to her. Why would anyone need that much? She thought.
The girl ran into an alley. Ena dove behind the wall, peering out to the girl.
“It’s me. I’m here.” She said, her voice deeper, more commanding than in the herbalist’s shop. Two other women crept out of the darkness, one in the same peasant’s clothes as the first girl, the other in a pink kimono so brightly colored it hurt to look at it. But that wasn’t what really shocked Ena. There was something about the peasant girl’s voice, something so familiar…
“Did you do it?” One of the women said. This one had a younger voice than the first girl’s.
The girl showed them the vial of pennyroyal oil. “We’ll need to concentrate this even more. If we can do it by midnight tomorrow, we have only to put a few drops in Prince Akihiro’s tea. It’ll kill him instantly.”
Prince Akihiro? Kill? Ena wanted to scream, to call for help, to do something.
“Perfect. As his new wife, I can take over Retyo legally after his death. You’re a clever one, Mother.” The woman in the pink kimono purred.
Mother?
Ena squinted at the girl holding the pennyroyal and had to cover her mouth to restrain from gasping.
