Fairytale chosen by Maya Shepherd Read Free Book Online Page A

over Heera’s bust slide. "I'd say you liked that it reminds me of you. But I'm sorry, this is not like that. "
    The court erupted into laughter, while Heera insulted criss-crossed her arms before her breast. Her cheeks reddened and her eyes sparkled in Lean's direction. That was his revenge, but strangely he did not enjoy her as much as he would have expected. He had the girl humiliated in front of all and seemed thus to have truly hurt, because for the first time she looked past at him rather than in his eyes.
    The king commanded all the laughter to stop. "Both horse and cow be handed over tomorrow to your dear parents," he turned to Heera. She bowed, but it looked like a doll made of wood, whose bodies you had to bend.
    She entered without a glance at the Prince to pay tribute to her sister, who was talking excitedly to them. Lean wondered whether she is actually still with his joke, or whether she has already planning the revenge on him as the next of the Twelve was announced.
    As all the elect had entered the ballroom, the musicians began to play. It was the Prince to open the dance. He came from the podium, on the throne, and went to the number of female candidates on and off. Each one gave him her warmest and most exciting smile with one exception. But Lean decided that he had tortured Heera enough for that day. He was sure that she danced more miserable than Him. In addition, he would have angered his mother, if he had given the outrageous brat the honour of the first dance. Perhaps Medea? Her wonderful voice still hummed in his ears and she blushed every time he looked at her. But he walked past her. His eyes remained on the graceful Agnes. Her dress was black as night, matching her silky hair. She had an unapproachable aura and looked mysterious to him. Her smile was sublime, as if she knew more about him than he already is and also the one he could only imagine. Erina was fourteen years old, not only the youngest but also the smallest of the girls. Her red dress emphasized her fiery mane of hair. Certainly he would have been pleased with her request, but he would have to spend a whole day with her. She was not only shy, but downright taciturn on him. How could he pass the time with her only? Even her he passed. Finally, he chose the last of the twelve: Xenia. A girl of sixteen years with almond-shaped eyes, and long, brown hair in a plait, fell on the back. The yellow of her dress emphasized her tanned skin. She curtsied to him before he took her hand, giggling and let him lead her to the middle of the dance floor.
    Lean was not a good dancer. He spent his time in the woods with his friends rather than in the ballroom with the exasperated teacher. But he was lucky, because Xenia was the better dancer who ironed out his mistakes by a smile. She did not complain once about the fact that he kicked her feet. On the contrary, she seemed to enjoy it. And the prince was So relaxed. He had to admit that he almost took a liking to the dance, as long as he had a girl at his side, which knew how to move. Although all twelve were from middle-class home, they seemed all the dance to have been placed in the cradle. Also his friends Silas and Yanis danced with the elect. Xenia's graceful example was followed by Daphne, who he called as Second and Phoebe as third parties.
    Meanwhile Heera explored the buffet. Although a myriad of dishes had been served, she was hardly interested. When the other girls were not dancing, they looked longingly to the prince. The decoration in the castle seemed to serve food. The idea made Heera angry. From the buffet a whole village could have been filled, but instead, the courts would probably end up after the party in the pig trough. Grimly she pushed one of the pies in the mouth. The taste of sweet cream, dark chocolate and pickled in rum cherries spread. She had never eaten anything tastier. If she could, she would have packed everything and brought her little sister Elena. At home she rarely had