Cindershy : Cinderella AU

by Crystal Aura

Cindershy's Simple Maiden Life

As a young maiden walked down her path, she noticed a group of birds frantically fluttering about. She hurried over to find a pack of stray dogs circling around, and without a moment's hesitation, she leaped into action, chasing the dogs away with a stick. Once the danger had passed, she turned her attention back to the birds, who were now chirping happily at her, seemingly grateful for her help.

She smiled and knelt down to their level, speaking softly, "Stay out of trouble now, okay little birdies?"

The birds continued their chirping, and the girl couldn't help but giggle a bit. "Hehe, good boy, aren’t you?" she said, feeling a sense of warmth and contentment spread through her.

As a young maiden living in a kingdom, Cindershy knew she had very little to her name. Her parents had died when she was young, leaving her with only her step-mother, step-sisters, and her beloved friend Pinkie. Despite her hardships at home, having to work as a slave, however, Cindershy always tried to remain optimistic and kind, especially towards the animals she so dearly loved.

Cindershy had a small, dimly lit room, where the sound of her knitting needles clacking against each other filled the silence when she wasn't out. As she knitted, she always hummed a soft tune, her voice like honey and luring in the tiny creatures of the night. They huddled outside her window, listening intently to the melody that drifted out to them.

In the barn, Cindershy made her way to the horses, the familiar scent of hay and manure filling her nostrils. She reached out a hand, the hay crunching beneath her fingers as she grasped a bundle. Cecil, her favorite horse, nuzzled up to her, his soft brown eyes pleading for his meal. She smiled, affectionately patting his nose.

"Come on, Cecil, you know the drill," she said, teasingly, holding the hay just out of his reach. Cecil whinnied, pawing at the ground, but obediently stepped back as Cindershy deposited the hay into his stall.

As Cindershy walked down the dirt road, her arms full of groceries, Pinkie trotted beside her, as she always did when she went to the market, humming a merry tune. Despite the weight of her burdens, Cindershy's face remained serene and kind. Suddenly, Pinkie came to a halt and pointed to a nearby peacock.

"Look, Cindershy! He's got a new coat!" Pinkie exclaimed, gesturing towards the bird, who was preening its feathers.

Cindershy noticed that the peacock's once vibrant feathers were now caked in mud and grime. She frowned, feeling sorry for the bird. "Oh no, poor thing," she said, setting down her groceries.

Pinkie rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress a grin. "Don't look at Mister Peacock now; he's flaunting a new ugly coat!" she teased.

Cindershy laughed softly, but scolded Pinkie nonetheless. "Pinkie, that's not a very nice thing to say," she chided.

Pinkie shrugged, still smiling. "Oh right, the poor bird will get insulted!" she replied with a snicker.

Cindershy shook her head, but couldn't help smiling at her friend's lighthearted nature. Together, they approached the peacock and offered it some water and bread. The bird pecked at the crumbs gratefully, and Cindershy couldn't help feeling a sense of satisfaction at having helped even one of nature's creatures.

As the Prince rode his horse down the path, Cindershy spotted him from afar. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched him, a sense of awe and admiration filling her. She had always admired the Prince, not just for his royal status but also for his kindness towards his subjects.

Once, when Cindershy was walking by herself, the Prince's horse collided with her, knocking her to the ground. She winced in pain as she tried to gather her wits. The Prince quickly dismounted and rushed to her side. "Are you alright, Miss Cindershy? Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Cindershy's heart raced as she tried to compose herself. "Uh... Err.. No? I mean yes! Fine! Uh, not hurt at all!" she stammered, feeling embarrassed at her awkward response.

The Prince helped her up, his hand warm against hers. "I'm really sorry about this," he said, his eyes full of sincerity.

Cindershy couldn't help but blush at his kind words, feeling a surge of admiration for the Prince. "No need to say sorry, your highness... it's fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sometimes, Cindershy walked through a quiet cemetery, a small bouquet of white jasmine flowers in her hand. She made her way to the small gravestone, kneeling down in front of it. "Hello, Mama and Papa," she whispered, placing the flowers at the base of the grave. "I hope you're both resting peacefully."

She would sit there for a moment, lost in thought. The only sound was the gentle rustling of the leaves in the nearby trees. After a few minutes, she stood up, brushing off her skirt. "I'll come back soon," she promised, before turning to head back home.

Every night, Cindershy sat cross-legged on her bed, a small leather-bound diary resting on her lap. She took a pen and began to write, the ink flowing smoothly across the page as she recounted the events of the day. As she wrote, a small bird perched on her shoulder, its eyes drooping with sleep. Cindershy smiled, setting down her pen and gently stroking the bird's feathers. "Sleep well, little one," she whispered, before settling under the covers with the other creatures curled up beside her.

Comments

[Foxhelm]

Pacing. You needed to pace the meeting with the prince. Transitions, use them!