Cursed Beauty (A Fairy Retelling #1) by Dorian Tsukioka Page B

quite sure how, yet, but I’m not willing to give up quite that easily.”
    Adelaide spent the rest of the day searching for a way to steal into her stepmother’s bedroom. She was certain that was where Celeste had hidden away the glass slippers. It was the only room in the house that was locked. Celeste did not keep herself hidden, though, and Adelaide found her constantly hovering near, barking orders for something to be cleaned or washed every few minutes.
    As evening drew nearer, Adelaide worried that she might not be able to find a way into Celeste’s room after all. She considered the possibility that Celeste would wear the glass slippers herself, or give them to Thalia. After all, Thalia was supposed to be on the hunt for a suitable suitor to wed. What better way could she find for catching a man, than wearing magical slippers that would make her irresistibly beautiful?
    Just before sundown, Thalia called Adelaide into her room to help her dress. “This will be perfect for tonight,” Thalia remarked. “Help me with the buttons in the back, Adelaide, and hand me my shawl. There’s a chill in the air. I want my fire warmed and ready for when I return home.”
    Adelaide rolled her eyes. The air had just begun to bear the crispness of the coming autumn. A thick comforter would be plenty to keep Thalia warm. A fire would be overkill, but taking the time to start one would be preferable to an argument.
    Adelaide returned a few minutes later with some wood, and regarded the fireplace with new eyes. It was large. Adelaide had swept it out earlier that day, and was able to stand up completely inside it. She wondered if the width of the fireplace continued all the way to the top. As she placed the firewood in the hearth, she looked up. She could see the darkening sky, and though it seemed that there might be some narrowing as the chimney grew, she was certain she could fit through it.
    Adelaide smiled. Celeste’s room held an identical fireplace as well.
     

CHAPTER 7
     
     
    The idea of breaking her neck was not appealing. Adelaide needed to find some way to get on top of the roof and climb down twenty feet of chimney without becoming stuck or falling and breaking a bone.
    Once again, Celeste made no mention of Adelaide accompanying them to the ball. Adelaide watched both of them carefully as they prepared to leave. It did not seem that Celeste planned to take the glass slippers with her. Neither she nor Thalia were wearing them, and her bedroom door remained locked.
    The carriage pulled away from the manor, and Adelaide continued her search for a piece of rope long enough to help her climb down the chimney. Finding nothing helpful inside the house, she continued her search outside. She passed the morning’s laundry still hanging from a clothesline in the yard, and stopped. It was at least 30 feet long. Adelaide did some quick calculations. The rope would probably be short. She’d have to drop the last few feet onto the hard, stone hearth.
    Is this really worth it? Are you really doing all of this just to apologize? She had to admit, this whole plan was ludicrous, just to give an apology. Why is this so important to me?
    The conversation she had with Prince Julian the previous night ran through her head. She analyzed each sentence, and recalled how he spoke about her. She could not get over the fact that he stayed with her the night her father died. That alone kept drawing her in, causing her to question why he would care so much.
    Because he did care. About her. She didn’t understand why, or how, but he cared for her, and that meant something. Do I feel the same? The familiar tingles that danced up her spine when he spoke to her yesterday made their way up her back again as she thought of him. If I’m willing to risk my life, I suppose that’s a good indication that I do.
    A floodgate of confusing feelings opened. She’d kept her heart guarded for so long, allowing few to get close, so that no one could hurt