Chapter 2: Building Tension
Cinderella happened to be in the Royal Library one evening, while the Prince was in conference with the King. She decided to find something interesting to read to occupy her time. She was strolling down the aisles, trying to find a book that would be entertaining. The Captain of the Guard entered the Royal Library, and placed a book back on the shelf. When he noticed the Princess, he bowed to her and started to back out of the room.
"Please wait, Captain," she asked him.
He stood there, waiting to serve her anyway he could.
"I'm looking for an entertaining book to read to pass away the time. Do you have any suggestions?" she asked him.
"I wouldn't know your interests, My Lady. Therefore, it would be hard for me to recommend a book," he politely told her.
"What was the book you just placed back on the shelf? Was it entertaining to read?" Cinderella asked.
"Oh, you wouldn't be interested in that book, My Lady. It's filled with illustrations an d descriptions of fighting techniques. I use it to teach my men the fine art of hand to hand combat and in close fighting. Not suitable material for a Princess to read, I'm afraid," he said smiling.
"I see. Alright, Captain. Thank you anyway," Cinderella said.
"You're welcome, My Lady," he said as he bowed and backed out of the room.
She took the book about fighting techniques down from the shelf and thumbed through it. Then she smiled and walked out of the Royal Library with the book tucked under her arm. She knew the Prince wouldn't approve of her reading material, so she found a comfortable place in one of the Castle towers, and sat down to study the book. After twenty minutes or so, she got up and went over to lock the door. She placed the book on the bench where she could see it while standing up, and imitated the fighting stance illustrated on the page.
For the next two hours, she practiced the moves on the pages of the book. She studied the grappling techniques, and learned how to use her opponents weight against him. She applied wrestling holds on an imaginary opponent, and pictured the muscular man in her mind screaming for mercy. Then she shadowed boxed with an imaginary adversary, and beat him until he begged to be knocked out to escape the pain she was inflicting on him with her hard feminine fists. It was the most enjoyable time she had spent since she moved to the Castle with the Prince. She smiled happily. Then she went to her room and took a nice long bath. She hid the book so it wouldn't be discovered by the Prince.
She knew he would disapprove of her studying fighting techniques instead of attending tea parties and charity balls. That night, she lay awake in bed, thinking about what she had learned, and planning her training regimen. She would practice whenever she could, without alerting anyone in the castle.
As days passed, Cinderella grew more and more restless. She couldn't help but feel trapped and suffocated by the confines of royal life. She missed the freedom of running barefoot through the fields and the satisfaction of completing a hard day's work.
Every chance Cinderella got, she returned to that tower room and practiced. Hundreds of imaginary male opponents were beaten to a pulp, thrown around the room until they lost consciousness, and cried out in pain while she forced them to submit with her painful wrestling holds.
She went through the book from cover to cover, then went through it again to refresh her memory. The hard muscles she had to begin with, were even more well defined and solid. Anyone seeing her naked, would still see a somewhat attractive woman with a feminine body. Her hard female muscles only enhanced her beauty as far as she was concerned. She didn't look like a body builder or a weight lifter, but you could tell she was remarkably strong.
The book and her practicing, made it a little easier to deal with everyday life. If the Prince or one of the Royal rules she had to follow made her angry, she would hide out in the tower room and work off her frustrations while practicing. All the years of dreaming and thinking of a better life, had made it easy for her imagination to create what ever she wished it to. On those days when she was really angry, her imaginary adversary's would pay with a lot of pain. Her imaginary wrestling opponents would be lying in the floor crying, with badly sprained or broken limbs. And her imaginary boxing opponents would be out cold at her feet, with unrecognizable, swollen and battered faces.
She continued to train and perfect her skills, focusing on precision, endurance, and strength. She visualized scenarios where she faced real threats - bandits, kidnappers, or even deadly assassins sent by enemies of the kingdom. Each time, she emerged victorious, striking fear into the hearts of her imaginary adversaries, leaving them begging for mercy.
One day, while practicing in the castle tower, Cinderella heard footsteps approaching. She quickly hid the book and assumed a nonchalant pose. The door opened, and to her surprise, it was the King.
He asked what she was doing but she just said she was practicing curtsying. He was satisfied by her answer and left. Cinderella was relieved that her secret was safe.
She knew that if the King or the Prince caught her training, they would never let her continue on her own terms. So, she made sure to exercise caution during her sessions, never allowing anything to distract her from her focus.
One day, Cinderella met the King's daughter, a stunning young woman named Snow White. Snow White had long black hair and bright blue eyes, and she possessed a gentle spirit that immediately drew Cinderella to her. Despite her royal status, Snow White seemed to share Cinderella's longing for adventure and excitement.