His Cinderella

Mara spilled the beans

Mara became silent for a moment. Her hand was touching her forehead. It was like she was in deep thoughts, or she was confused. The prince was looking at her without blinking. “ I was asking about your sister, Mary”, the prince said with a stern voice. “Oh! Mary, I- I”, Mara was stammering while she was still holding her forehead. The prince shifted his hand closer to her direction. He touched her hand. “Are you alright”, he said, and seemed to be concerned. Mara lifted her hand, smiling nervously. “ I- I’m alright, yes. It’s just that I- I”, she seemed disoriented this time.

“No, no, feel free to talk’, the prince said, standing up to reach her side of the table. He got closer behind her back. He stretched his hand and gave her a shoulder rub. Mara felt a warm gush of blood going down her spine. She felt her heart racing vigorously. She had never felt like that before, and she was loving every minute of it. “ Here goes a man”, she thought to herself while her heart was pounding very loud. She had mixed feelings of joy and nervousness. The prince was a dignified man despite his handsomeness. Anyone would think twice before saying anything to him. “I wonder how Mary handled this handful of a man, she thought to herself while her whole body was on the point of shivering. Nervousness and excitement were getting the better of her. He is a package in its wholeness”, she thought. Her mind went back to what her mother told her. “The prince is going to be my husband”. She thought of those words she was saying on her way to the palace. She couldn’t help smiling as the prince was rubbing her shoulders. She was taken away and melted instantly. Her mind was still racing when the prince moved his hands away. He quickly changed the scenario. He just stood behind her without saying a word. “Is he thinking what I’m thinking She asked herself, and she could not contain her excitement. She sat quietly waiting for another move. She did not stop smiling. “Now, are you going to tell me the truth?” the prince said sternly. He was asking this question with his mouth close to his ears. “ What truth?” She asked still smiling. “ The truth about Mary and her disappearance, he said with a stern voice and emphasizing his words.Then her dreams of being in the arms of the prince had quickly vanished. She sat there motionlessly until another question awakened her. I asked you a question, and you haven’t answered yet”, he said, coming very close. Mara was scared and she could not even move. It was like she was trapped in the claws of an enormous beast. “ “The only way to get away from this is to tell the truth”, she thought to herself while the prince was standing there without moving wait for an answer. Oh! No, this can’t be happening, she thought. She and the prince were getting along so fine not so long ago. The hate she had for Marry was right then was beyond measure. How could she keep intimidating her even in her absence? This was so unfair, she thought. She was awakened from those thoughts by the stern voice of the prince. “Mara! I asked you a question’, he said impatiently.” Where is Mary? Mara knew that if she told the truth everything would be ruined. Her mother had insisted that what happened to Mary should only be known by the two of them. Mary was just an obstacle between her and their dream. She was not even there, but she felt intimidated by her silent presence. How could the prince ask her about Mary, she thought. And why is he so adamant? Does he know something? These were the thoughts that went through her mind while under the spell of fear.

“Sh-e-e is at aunt Rita’s. My mom sent her there. Those words left her mouth without planning them. The prince jumped with astonishment once he heard those words. So, he was right all along. Mara and her mother knew about Mary’s disappearance. His mind raced to the day he had a dream about Mary’s stepmother attempting to drown her in the water. One of her guards came to the rescue while he was struggling to save Mary. So, the dream meant this, he thought. He paced across the room trying to figure out what to do next. He put his hands on his waist, thinking very deeply. Mara noticed a beautiful and expensive watch in his hands. The piece did not cost less than the wage of a normal middle-class worker in society. It was glittering as he was pacing up and down in the room. She still admired him despite his sudden change of behavior. He was a tall, handsome man. He had a physique that made a girl burn with the desire to be in his arms. He was wearing a cream Indian-style casual suit with gold trimmings. His watch matched the gold trimmings. Mara did not notice that the watch had a voice recording device. Now the prince bent over her to get more details about the place Mary was hidden in. “I should have run while he was pacing around the room”, Mara thought to herself. Now she had to tell everything and it would ruin their entire lives. The thought of seeing her mother very angry because she could not control herself made her burst into tears. She sobbed bitterly and there was no one to hold her in his arms this time. She could feel the animosity between her and her stepsister’s fiancé. Things were not looking good at all. She felt the urge to get up and run, but she knew there was nowhere she could hide. She had already given the hint of Mary’s whereabouts. Now she was waiting for another move. The prince came closer to her and asked another question. “ What is she doing there? Why is she staying so long? The prince asked.” My mom sent her to deliver a parcel and she never came back.