Cinderella and the Colonel by K.M. Shea Read Free Book Online Page B

desires rankled Cinderella. Thankfully, they seemed to dislike their housing situation as much as Cinderella did, and mostly kept to their rooms or spent all of their time with other Erlauf friends.
    “It seems those from Erlauf will not give me rest ,” Cinderella said. “I wish they would all just leave .”

    “The Erlauf Count Linz once stayed here. Dur ing his visit he…,” Cinderella trailed off as she watched another squad of Erlauf soldiers troop past. They seemed to be out in high numbers today. She would have to wait to perform one of her less-than-legal errands thanks to the sudden influx.
    “Cinderella?” the Colonel said , shattering Cinderella’s thoughts.
    “Yes?”
    “What did this count do during his stay?” the Colonel said before he yawned.
    “He broke his toe and hobbled for the rest of his life. This way , please,” Cinderella said, holding up her makeshift flag as she led the Colonel and her maid deeper into the historic district of Werra.
    “You made that up,” the Colonel said.
    “I did not.”
    “You must have. You cannot tell me a Trieux history book would contain that kind of information. No Erlauf historic text would.”
    “It’s true ,” Cinderella said, passing five soldiers as she led the Colonel through what remained of the Royal Gardens.
    “Mademoiselle!”
    Cinderella paused, recognizing the voice.
    “Mademoiselle Cinderella,” a young boy called as he scurried to catch up.
    Cinderella squinted, recognizing the young boy as a servant from Aveyron. If memory served her correctly he was the youngest shepherd in the duchy. “Yes, Florian?” she asked.
    “Vitore sent me. She needs assistance,” the young boy said, panting.
    “Is something wrong?”
    Florian shook his head. “Customer bought out all our potatoes for the day.”
    “Didn’t we bring a dozen bushels?” Cinderella asked.
    “Aye. Cook up at the castle bought ‘em, but he needs help transporting ‘em. Someone needs to mind the stall while Vitore ‘n me deliver the potatoes,” Florian said.
    Cinderella almost clapped her hands in glee. All the potatoes were sold out? And it was still moderately early in the day. What good luck!
    “Of course we can return,” Cinderella said.
    “Are you going refuse to give me my money’s worth, then?” the Colonel asked, his voice lazy.
    Cinderella winced. She had forgotten him. “No, of course not, sir.”
    In Cinderella’s hesitation the housemaid stepped forward. “I will go will go with young Florian.”
    Cinderella’s sense of decorum briefly fought with her great desire for money. “Are you sure you do not mind?” Cinderella asked as the housemaid stalked closer.
    “If you will pardon me, Mademoiselle, I will send someone from the market to watch you. The Tanner’s wife, perhaps,” the maid said, whispering to Cinderella.
    Cinderella smiled in relief. “Very well. That sounds excellent, thank you.”
    The shepherd and maid bobbed in a bow and a curtsey before they scrambled in the direction of the market.
    Cinderella watched them go before she continued on her course, heading through the historical district.
    “Where are we go ing?” the Colonel asked.
    “To the Ruins of Alsace ,” she said, naming a historic Trieux building that Erlauf had torn down.
    “We’ve already visited Alsace. Twice.”
    “Yes , but I did not tell you all there is to know of it,” Cinderella said.
    “ I can hardly wait to hear more,” the Colonel said, his voice lacking enthusiasm.
    Cinderella glanced over her shoulder. The bored Colonel stared at her , and behind him walked the five soldiers from the gardens. “I am sure,” Cinderella said.
    “When will you desist playing tour guide?” the Colonel said.
    “ I should think never. It is the greatest aspiration of my life to give historic tours,” Cinderella lied as they approached the toppled building. The grounds surrounding it were a wreckage of rubble and stone.
    The Colonel snorted. “I see. I suppose