Glass

Chapter Eleven: The Search (Part I)

Some things were better left between me and Emiliano. For one, my obsession with the ocean, of which my parents didn't even know half of its extent. They told me once that it was dangerous yet not as exciting as I would expect, and we left it at that.

Another thing we kept was my love for story books, in the times where I had been expected to focus on the educational offerings outside of my interest. Emiliano had been the one to sneak in such books for my reading pleasure, but he also made certain that I studied all the things expected of me. He feared that my father would notice a gap of knowledge more than he feared the future king would be left with it. That was something we also shared; a mutual unease when it came to King Santos, and the complicated mixture of deep admiration that came along with it. Not once had Emiliano ever raised his voice in the presence of either of my parents, and so I knew for a fact that my next insanely reckless plan would never enter their ears (at least until it was too late).

"Emiliano!"

The library door burst open. From around the corner, Emiliano's head popped out, and he raised an eyebrow. I strode towards him eagerly, still elated at Rosaline's discovery.
"The glass slipper! That's the answer!"

"Have we not already looked into that avenue?"

I took the heavy folder from his weakening arms and dropped it onto the carpet.
"Well, yes, but not in the right way. It's not just a shoe made of glass, but a magical item. An item which itself has magic!"

I spiralled around the room, seeing everything as if the familiar room was completely anew. Emiliano looked at me worriedly as though I had gone slightly mad.
"Calm yourself, Andres, and tell me exactly what it is you mean."

Wording it in a convincing way was difficult. But after some struggle, I just blurted it out.
"The shoe can only fit the person it belongs to!" I looked around, hoping I hadn't spoken too loud. I felt my cheeks turn slightly pink and I took a breath. "Do you understand what this means? What I must do to find her?"

Emiliano became very concerned.
"But how can you see if the shoe fits if we don't know who or where Cinderella is?"

For once, not even Emiliano was able to figure out such an unconventional plot. I wasn't sure if that meant that I had outsmarted him in some way, or if what I wanted to do was just so absurdly stupid.
"We're going to use the shoe to find her."

And with those words, Emiliano's eyes widened with what I could only gather was immense disbelief.
"Surely… you are not suggesting… that we try the slipper-"
"-on every woman in the kingdom?" I said, still so sure of myself despite the backlash I was anticipating. Emiliano was a logical man, of course we would have tried to talk me out of this idea. But instead, he just listened to the word I said next, "Yes."

And so that was another secret kept between me and Emiliano. For all of three hours, our lips were sealed in solidarity until I could reveal my plans to the rest of my entourage. But that gave us time to think ahead.

Emiliano had trust in Sir Rafael Jimenez as did I, but his loyalty to my mother was unmatched. I resolved to break up our plan gently to him, and give him a reason to not inform my parents immediately of what was going to commence. Usually, they would get intel on our intentions for the day before we left, but our plans were within the confines of my safety. Visiting every home in Mendessa City and beyond crossed that barrier. We could have been interacting with just about anyone, including anti-monarchists and dangerous criminals. If my parents were to find out, the entire operation would be dismissed in minutes. And Rafael, as captain of my expeditions, would never disobey that order.

Zolin and the outer entourage were merely guards and soldiers who chiefly answered to me, if not for their captain. But Rafael… he would take much more convincing. He became the target of my thoughts.