Try to imagine the disappointment, if you will, as I listened to my mother explaining why I would not be receiving the one birthday present that I desired and had hoped to receive since my sixteenth birthday. Of course, I told her that I understood, money is tight now and always has been, it’s just a fact for us.
However, try as I might, the disappointment was written on my face, and my shoulders as I shrugged and let out an audible sigh escape from my heart-shaped lips.
The annual royal ball was to be held on the night of my birthday, just like it always was. For years, I had longed to go and see the royal family and the privileged folks dressed in their absolute finest frocks of satin, silver, gold and ermine wraps. All the women had their hair styled up with just some strategically-placed tendrils here and there and wearing jewels enough to buy out the Spanish monarchy.
Over the past few years, I had asked for and received bits and pieces of silk, velvet, and even gold thread as birthday gifts and from my own meager savings. I had been blessed with the given talent of dressmaking and had been able to fashion a sincerely beautiful dress that could stand along side of any of the other dresses at the ball with ease. However, I could not fashion shoes – that, much to my chagrin, were far above my skill level.
Daily I would pass the shop of the village shoemaker on my way to the market for mother and daily I would stop and look into his window. There he had on display the most wonderful red satin slippers that I had ever seen. Each perfect point of a toe was decorated with a single round red ruby that showed a perfect reflection of the person looking at them. As I wished and dreamed of owning these shoes, I could see myself dressed for the ball and dancing with of all people, the prince himself. What a lovely pair we would make if only we had the chance to actually meet.
Today was no exception from the rule. On my way to the market I stopped and gazed but did not dare to dream for fear of my heart shattering into pieces. Tomorrow I would be 21 years old and if I did not meet the prince then I would be considered too old for suitable marriage material. I guess that also made me old enough to quit dreaming as well. What made me think that the prince would ever be interested in the likes of commoner?
I finished mothers’ shopping orders and then stopped to make deliveries of various mending projects that some of the town’s women had ordered from me.
Sleep that night was not easy. I tossed and turned and felt as if I would throw a fit of despair at the thoughts of my last chance of attending the ball vanish. Sometime early before the first rays of daylight sleep finally came, and set me free of my emotions.
When I did awake there was a note tacked to the front door. My name was penned to the outside of the paper. How very curious this was I thought, snatching it up, and reading the inside excitedly. It read: “Jules, come to the shop this morning we have much to get ready.”
I ran down the road as fast as my feet would carry me. Such anticipation of the unknown and set me off into a state of joy.
The shoemaker was waiting for me and appeared very happy himself, as he said, “Good morning, my dear, and happy 21st birthday as well.”
“Well, thank you, sir, but why did you summon me may I ask?”
“I think you may have noticed that the red satin slippers with jeweled toes are no longer displayed in my window, as they have been for so long.”
I ran and looked; it was true – the slippers were gone. Oh, what heartache I felt. Someone had purchased my slippers and in my excited state, I hadn’t even noticed until the shoemaker pointed it out.
“I think you will feel better when you open this birthday gift box my dear. A fine gentleman purchased the shoes as a gift for you.” “He said, to tell you that he expects to see you at the ball tonight, and that he longs to dance with you and your ruby red slippers.”
It was true; the now open box held my slippers! What complete joy filled me. I was going to the ball and would dance with the benefactor of my shoes.
However, who was this man and how did he know about my yearnings? The shoemaker told me that he had no more information that he could share with me. He then shoed me off and told me to have a wonderful night at the ball.
The rest of the day was filled with preparations for the big evening. Mother felt well enough to help me style my hair up high and offered some jeweled pins that she had worn in her youth to accent it. Make up was applied with a precision that I did not know I owned.
Before leaving for the ball, I took one final look and smiled at how lovely my dress looked. It looked as if a royal tailor had constructed it and formed it to accentuate only the positives. My red satin slippers shone brightly and matched my dress expertly.
I arrived at the ball and held my head proudly as I walked among the towns finest. As I stood along the garden path admiring the sights and sounds of the event, a hand touched my elbow. I turned and with stunned voice said, “Good evening your highness.”
“My lady, you look as enchanting as all of the visions that I have had of you. Each time you would admire the shoes in the shoemaker’s window, I could see us dancing.”
“I pictured that as well, my lord.”
Needless to say, he swept me completely off my feet and into his bed that very night. His words of passion burning almost as hot as the lips that he kissed every inch of my body with. Our lovemaking was ardent and earnest, bubbling with anticipation and longing for the two virgins deflowering.
His mouthed covered mine, and then explored all the hills and valleys of my womanhood. When his mouth reached my mound he spread open the garden gate and let his tongue enter with hungry desire to taste my maiden juices. He lapped and sucked until I could take no more and the fountains over flowed and filled his thirst. Then he came and lay beside me and we both tasted my love from his lips.
He then stood between my legs, and with his hard and rigid organ, he entered the gate slowly, gently, and lovingly. I felt my maidenhood pop and he said that he could see the blood trickle free. With great excitement, he pushed in further and harder until a passionate rhythm developed and took control of us.
Sweat beaded, on his forehead and chest, his teeth started to clench as spasms filled us both. And with backs arched and fevers pitched, we both let out our moans of love.
We were married the following day and were destined to share many nights of such unbridled exquisite love and lust. I bore the future king, an heir to the throne, where he now presides while my prince sleeps with the angels and I sit with my red satin slippers in hand. You
