A Collection of Short Stories

The Glass Ball

It was a sparkly night to admire.

The Glass Ball was held every 20th of December, for the prince to choose a new wife. It was a night of luxury, with high chandeliers that showered the guests in silver sparkling dust and luxurious dresses of the fluffiest silk and an array of colors.

Prince Edward stood at the corner of the ballroom with his brother, Albert. He was dressed in a royal blue coast with gleaming bronze buttons, black pants made of the finest silk in his kingdom plus a pair of navy combat boots. He could feel a thousand gazes were on him, especially the girls who were now competing with the other girls for his hand of marriage. Once he saw a girl shooting him a look while covering her face with her hair.

" So, are you ready to choose? " his brother asked.

" None of them suited my type. They are either extremely boasty or too extravagant or not pretty enough. " he answered.

" Ah. I hope you survive the night then. " his brother winked at him before entering the crowd of beautiful ladies.

Idiotic bastard, Edward thought.

He continued to wade through the crowd, looking at the girls who were chosen to compete. He talked to the girls, flattering with them. When he was finished, he grabbed the nearest glass and drank the whole glass of champagne.

Sometimes girls disgusted him.

Then suddenly, he heard the doors open. He whirled towards the doors, looking at a young lady stepping inside the ball.

All the guests made way towards the newcomer, directing her to him, who was holding his glass, which was refilled for another toast.

The girl was... a beauty.

She had golden locks of hair which flowed down her shoulders. Her eyes were coloured as the darkest green that reminded him of the lusting trees that surrounded his kingdom. Her pale skin seem to glow the whole atmosphere of the ball. A crown of flowers placed themselves in her hair.

She wore a billowing light blue dress with fluffy sleeves decorated with white laces. He couldn't see the shoes, but he knew she was barefoot. She made no sound when she walked gracefully towards him.

She almost looked like a Fairy Godmother in those fairy tales, but without a wand.

She bowed and said, " Your Majesty. "

Her voice sounded lyrical, like the violin playing in an orchestra. The sound opened his heart to him.

He grabbed another glass of champagne for her and gestured her to come over. She looked up to him and scurried over. He passed her a glass and she took it with her delicate hands.

His brother waved the guests to continue, then walked off, letting them have their privacy.

" So what's your name? " he asked.

" Sylva m'lord. " she answered.

" Please, no more Lord calling. Please call me Edward. "

" Edward's a nice name. " she commented.

" Sylva too is a nice name. Fancy one too. Sylva, may I know where you leave? "

" I'm not born of royalty, Edward. I leave at the edge of the stream. " she admitted.

" So you were one of the commoners. So how do you get this dress? This dress, I had never seen it before. "

" I sow it myself. With scraps of cloths from my stepmother's unwanted clothes. "

" Is your stepmother here? "

" Yes, she's the one in the lilac dress, " she pointed her finger towards someone, who was staring at her with pure hatred. He followed his gaze and her stepmother forced a smile and faked bowed to him, before turning to two other girls. 

" She seems to be the one who hated you much. " he pointed out. 

" Yes. She was jealous of my beautiful embroidery. " she said. 

" Come, dance with me. " 

" A--re you sure? I haven't tried dancing for - " 

" Doesn't matter. I'll teach you, " he reassured her. He saw her gulping a ting of fear and nervous. He waved his hands towards the musicians, and they struck a minuet. 

He dragged her towards the ball, with her following his footsteps. He pulled her, catching her in surprise, into an embrace with both of their hands clasping together in a flash. 

" One step front, " she stepped front, " one step back, " she stepped back. " Sway left and right while doing this, " she did it, following his simple rules. One moment later, they were dancing, swaying towards the carefree rhythm of the minuet. 

They were still dancing when his adviser approached to him and said that it's time for the crowning the Chosen Glass Ball. He squeezed her hand tight, and said that he would be right back. 

" And now, the prince had finally chosen a bride! Who would it be? " the announcer announced, and a thousand girls were screaming their names. The prince hushed them with a wave of his hand. 

" I had chosen a bride, " he held a tiara made of crystals of glass. 

" I give it to Sylva. " 

All the girls looked around, finding the girl named Sylva. He scanned the crowd, but he couldn't see the light blue dress. 

As if she was a dream. 

She was gone, at the struck of midnight.