"What, today is the coronation of the eligible knights of Fairytale? "
I exclaimed to one of the few shop that was yet to close for the ceremonial parade that were to take place over the town in a few hours.
"Yes.. where were you all these weeks, young lassie? Locked away in a tower? "
The shopkeeper failed to meet my eyes and I didn't mind it acknowledging how busy he was in packing things.
"In a prison actually. "
"..What..?"
"Ahh, I-I mean, my h-house. I was locked.. No.. unexposed to the events of the state due to certain circumstances.." I corrected the error quickly.
But, I am afraid, It wasn't enough to convince the baffled baker. His eyes twitched in suspect and he gave me one long intentful look.
A chump of guilt stuck on my throat. Don't swallow it. I order you, don't swallow it, Anastasia! It would only make you look like a suspect. I ordered my conscience.
"You.."
"Yes!" I abruptly swallowed my saliva.
Oh shit! I am done.
"...must have had a pretty miserable childhood. Don't Ya?"
"Huh..? "
Loud thuds of appreciation and admiration fed my shoulders. And, a little sigh escaped my lips. Cool so, I wasn't found out. I relaxed.
"Don't worry, kid. Times will change and good things definitely will happen. Just be brave enough to wait for them.." consoled the old man giving me a bucket full of baked bread.
I blinked at the guesture.
"Here, have them. I know, my spoiled son would prefer cakes and pasteries instead of these, anyway. Take them, child. You look like you haven't eaten well for days! "
My heart was moved by the compassion and my lips abruptly turned into a salient grin.
"Thank you, Gramps!" I thanked him.
"And, little girl.."
"Huh? "
"..you might wanna take off that suspicious black hood and the band-aid mask, you have covered your mouth with. It makes you look more scarier than you really seem like." warned the shopkeeper as I blushed.
"Y-Yes.. I'll take that advice, Gramps". I lied considering how I might immediately be exposed if I do that and how the kindness showed by the old man towards me might be turned into hatred if he found my real fairytale character .
But, well, I can't blame him. That's how things are in Fairytale.
I looked back at the white board that glimmered through the hot sun beam as I walk out of the little shop of the old man.
"Pinocchio's Favourite".
I shook my head. That's a pretty odd name. So the old man is a character from the tale of Pinocchio.. Huh? I rubbed my chin in thought and a sly smile cornered my lips behind my masked half band-aid
face.
I mustn't forget to repay his kindness after regaining my post. I added that to my mind and looked around.
Though, many of the shops were closed by now. The market was nevertheless crowded like the usual days, much more today, if I should put my words accurately.
I remember, coming with my Mamma and two sisters a while back.
As the Nobel, bought up by proper etiquettes, I was strict to my behavior towards the commoners surrounding the atmosphere. Being a Nobel not only meant you are more well of than others. It also meant you are always being watched by many pair of eyes, 24/7. That was the reason, I was forced to talk limited yet authoritied words in order to not disgrace my family.
But, Cinderella wasn't bound by these annoying traditions. Having lost her mother young and her father busy with his business trips, she wasn't taught of these etiquettes.
Yet, That child had a natural charm and a God-gifted kindness that attracted people towards her. Whether be it the cunning nobels or the ignorant common man. Everyone loved her. So, no-one would ever try to even harm the little princess.
And, this kindness was something she had even expressed to someone like me.
"Big sister.." she would say half singing like a nightingale. "Watch your steps. It would be dangerous if you would have to trip like you did last time."
That innocent child. Though, she is the one who should be more careful around me having a delicate body and my malicious past self that had already attempted to kill her by pushing Cinderella before a mad horse.
I clenched my fists. Now, who would have dared to kidnap that little angel!
"Make way! For the knights of bravery! The knights who would protect the citizens of fairytale with justice passion and love towards our kingdom. Make way! "
The trumpets blew. The fireworks soared through the sky and the crowd that had covered the entire area were immediately sent away by the imprudent guards who made huge passage that was enough for an army of the Royal knights to pass through the market place.
My breath suffocated being trapped by this huge crowd and my knees tried jumping being caught up between a group of tall thugs who had now completely blocked my sight of vision. I grumbled under my breath at the uncomfortable situation but soon found a little staircase that led to an entrance of bar shop.
I smirked quickly climbing on it and was pleased to see a little glimpse of what was happening around me. I hastened my black hood closer to my shoulders covering my long red hair.
Wow.. I whistled at the beautiful sight.
The entire town had suddenly turned splendid when a man seemingly, a professional wizard appeared behind the cart, the announcer and the trumpet blowers rode on and chanted a powerful spell.
Few sparks of magic glistened in streaks like red thunder.
And, the aura in the streets of Fairytale suddenly turned into something so.. magical.
The town was illuminated with many beautiful floating lantern lights. The loud cheers echoed the atmosphere and plenty of gorgeous Arabian maidens who danced on their bikini tops and loose tango skirts magically appeared into my line of sight.
They were followed by the group of fire benders who cast a few tricks in the parade with their fire magic to entertain the crowd
Fire magic. The power that is direct weakness for my thread magic. I cringed at the sight reminded by my horrible nostalgia.
"Make way for the pride of Fairytale knights. The symbol of the best knights of the year! The one and only Golden Dragons!!"
Suddenly, the excitement of the crowds grew more intense as a big silhouette of an enormous creature appearanced in a distance.
I peered for a clear vision trying to stand on my knees and heard a few whispering.
"So, the Golden Dragon Knights house won the best knights of the year trophy..Huh? Cool."
"I guess, every fighting character of Fairytale would apply for this class next year at the Fairy Knight Academy."
"Yea, The admission rate is probably gonna explode this year too. It would be difficult for my son to enroll to this house this year."
"Oh, look there it is!" a young woman pointed her fingers and Mu eyes followed them.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
"Wahhhhhh!"
The kids screamed and sobbed in fright when an enormous five feet high cosplay of The Great Golden Dragon, one of the powerful iconic creatures of Fairytale mythology itself walked abruptly out of thin air.. Probably called by the wizard's magic, I guess.
The dragon looked so realistically terrifying that for a moment, I took a step back at the cosplay before, I noticed the legs of ten workers trembling beneath the thick plastic covers.
I let out a sigh and blushed.
When did I become such a child?
Soon, the trumpet was blown again and four large groups in different colored robes, white, gold, green, red designed with the logos of the four most powerful types of knights of Fairytale, Silver Lion, Golden Dragon, Emerald Twin-headed Eagle and Crimson Fox entered the scene.
They were young, handsome, beautiful and most precicely very magnificent. Their faces emitted a proud glow that were obviously because of the fact that they had successful completed their three years of education to become a successful Royal Knight in the Fairy Knight Academy and because of the fact that they were now gonna be coronated into their posts in a few minutes by the royal highness himself.
After, these groups of our kingdom's future knights, came the beautiful Royal Chariot, that was magnificently embroided with the richest jewels of Fairytale led by majestic two white unicorns.
The off roof chariot revealed the two most handsome princes of Fairytale, sitting inside them, showcasing their faces and making slow hand waves to the local public.
And, loud squeals of the country girls abruptly disturbed my ears when the prince's gaze landed towards our direction.
I closed my ears and grit my teeth harder.
Ugh, fangirls! They are present everywhere! I can't believe I was one among them in my past lives.
The first Prince Charming, Prince Julian Glo Charming, had a cold yet dignified look on his face. He was very hot as usual, was gifted in both literary and martial arts, a chiseled face and looked totally like the main protagonist who is now completely obsessed with Cinderella. He was just like the cool type heroes I have read in many romance novels.
The second prince, Zenon Altizer Charming, the one I had met in the dungeon was the exact opposite of him.
Well, they are half brothers, after all.
Prince Zenon Charming is the child of a mistress and is hence lower in the rank of the succession throne than Prince Julian Charming, the Empress's son.
But, He doesn't seem to have any interest in the throne. He was highly talented and smart but wants to solely use his intelligence for the country and for supportimg his elder brother.
That's the kind of man he was, said by the Enchanted Grim Book in the description page of the supporting characters, of this life.
"Oh, Prince Zeno! Prince Zeno!" squealed a bunch of country girls.
And, the young prince without a second thought stood up on the jeweled chariot completely shaking the perfect balance of the cart man and blew a playful flying kiss to them.
"Hey girls, do you wanna forget about all these ceremonial waste of time and come play with me for a while? " he asked flirtatiously.
"Yes, Yes! " the girls squealed and yelled the name of the young prince.
A cynical smile suddenly twisted his lips and a cheeky chuckle escaped his mouth.
"Oh please, delicate maidens. When I say play you know, I mean more than that. Cuz, when you play with a wolf you might feel a little wimp. Little lamb chops.."
..as cheesy as it could be, he winks at them revealing his sparkly grin when the group girls dramatically fainted at his flirtatious charms.
I narrawed my eyes with disgust watching the entire scenario in nostalgia of how my heart had fluttered infected by his previous cheesy flirts.
"....."
My Grim-Tale book seems to be wrong this time. He's not smart or clever at all.
He is simply a player..
The First Prince ultimately tried pulling his stupid step brother back into the chariot with much effort but failed frantically. He sank back to his seat blushing and covered his face with a face palm.
A small giggle had erupted from my mouth. These two brothers were so cute.
My pupils suddenly shrunk back in realisation.
Wait, I giggled.. Didn't I? Why..?..
Maybe being alone for a really long time makes a person light hearted to comfort their loneliness. I reasoned. Even the smallest thought could make one so happy.
"Hey, girl! Get out of my shop if you are not buying anything!" Yelled an angry bartender interuppting my string of thoughts, as he closed his shop's shutter for the parade.
"Oh, sorry" I apologized and looked around.
It is better to get out of this lunatic fandom bunch who have no other jobs other than looking at how the fortunate ones succeed rather than out beating them with your own powers.
My hair swayed back as I toss them aside from my blocked vision and peered through the over crowded street.
"Ah! Got it." I smiled at the sight of a tiny path through the thick crowd and quickly trugged my way through it when.. suddenly the cheerful yells of the people turned into a lot more desperate ones filled with fright and shundder.
.....
.....
.....
.....
"GROWWLLLL!"
I suddenly heard an eerie blood freezing disaster and found a great disaster waiting for me on this hitherto peaceful market.