I woke up with a start covered in tears and sweat. I pushed down the bile that threatened to rise, leaving a burning sensation in my throat. I got up from my bed to sit on my window still. I watched as the sun rise, slowly illuminating the castle grounds. A lonely tear escaped, streaming down my face, allowing the overwhelming feeling guilt and loneliness to engulf me for a minute.

"Their sacrifice was necessary," I reminded myself. After a minute, I dried my tears, prepared myself for the day. I washed my face cold water from the washbasin, then changed into my black plain servant dress, my hair was pulled into tight bun. i took small wooden hand mirror to look at my complexion. A pair of crystal blue eyes, slightly red from crying, stared back at me. A light pink color marked facial features. I sighed to myself. If I waited for the redness to disappear, I would be late.

I quickly descended the stairs. The familiar sounds of servants bustling and pans clanging filled my ears as I approached the kitchen. I silently poured myself a bowl of porridge, hoping no one would notice me.

"Cinders," a stern voice came from behind me as I was about to leave the kitchen to sit in a some quiet place where I could my breakfast in peace. I turned around to a plumped middle aged woman wearing an apron who stood there with hands on her waist and an expecting look in warm brown eyes. her brown hair tied into a tight and her cheeks red from the heat of the kitchen.

"Good morning, Cook," I greeted, with a small guilty smile on my lips.

"I told you that I expect a greeting every morning, young woman. Is this how you treat the person who raised you?" she scolded. Although she made no remark of the redness of my facial features, her feature softened when she notice. She already knew about my nightmares because she was the one who had found me that dreadful night, the person made me Cinders, the only person who knew my true identity. My debt to her was much deeper. She was Cinders’ adopted mother.

~

14 years ago…

I giggled to myself as secretly entered the kitchen. I had finally manage to escape Nanny. She was busy ordering the servants around when I had slipped away. In the kitchen the servants hurried around preparing for dinner. I spotted there on a table in the corner what I came for. The cookies left from tea time.

Nanny had made sure that I only took two cookies, which wasn’t fair. When no servants were watching, I sneaked over to the table and was about to swipe one when I heard, "Hey, you can’t take those!"

I almost let out a gasp as I turned to see a girl around my age. She looked just like me! Blond hair, blue eyes and a similar face, but she was wearing a maid’s dress. I suddenly remember a fairytale where the princess had a secret hidden twin who looked exactly like her.

Maybe she’s my secret twin!

I had always wanted a sister, but my mother died when I was just a newborn, so it wasn’t possible anymore. Yet there was possibility that they had hidden my twin to protect us from an evil witch like the fairy tale.

As I reflected on my theory, she took a long look at me. Her eyes widened and paled.

"Are you noble?" she said with a trembling voice, it seemed she didn’t realized our ressemblance and only noticed my clothes, "I’m sorry, please don’t punish me."

I was too immersed in my theory to answer. I want to share it with her but we were in crowded room. One of servants is bounded to see me and take me away from her. Or maybe one of the evil witch’s minions will see and tell her and my possible twin could be in danger.

"Come with me," I whispered. I took by her arm and sneaked her out of kitchen.

Once in the hallway, I moved aside a tapisriy. Behind it was a small hidden door. I heard the servant girl let out a gasp. I pulled her into the secret passage way. It was dark and damp. The floorboard creaked a little as we treaded upon them. Then we arrived to another small door which I opened. Before us was a garden filled with different types of flowers. It was my private garden which no one is allowed to enter except me and the servants who accompany me. The whole way there i had felt her arm tremble. Finally, I turned around to look at her. She was pale as a ghost trembling like a leaf. Her eyes filled with fear.

Does she know? Is she scared of the witch?

"Don’t worry no one can find us here!" I told her. Yet instead of reassuring her, she seemed even more afraid.

"I-I’m s-sorry, I-I didn’t- I swear I didn’t know you were that no-noble, my lady," she stammered, her eyes brimming with tears, "Pl-please, don’t hurt me."

She cowered in front of me as if she were afraid that i would hit her. I realized then that she wasn’t afraid of the witch, she was afraid of me.

"I won’t hurt you," I promised, "I just wanted to talk."

"Really?" she asked, still unsure.

"Why would I hit you? I have no reason to." My brow furrowed.

"But...but you’re noble and I told you to stop. I’m not supposed to do that."

"You didn’t know and I was doing something bad… " I confessed, a bit ashamed. I was a princess. I shouldn’t be stealing cookies.

"But the other noble kids would beat me just for not bowing my head when I pass," she blurted out. Her eyes suddenly widened, her hand instantly covered her mouth. "I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone."

I gritted my teeth. I could imagine exactly which children would do that. Those who thought they were better than everyone because they were lords or ladies. Those who would flatter me but then behind my back, critcize my every mistake.

Nanny, once told me, "You may have a higher status than others, but that does not make anyone with a lower position any less human."

Anger boiled inside me. I would have to teach those idiots a lesson. I took a deep breath reminding myself that I was princess and i had to keep my poise as Nanny said I should.

"Don’t worry. I’m not one of those spoiled brats. I won’t hurt you," I smiled at her, "What’s your name?"

"My name is Cinders," she answered shyly. Now that she knew I wouldn’t hurt her, she seemed more relaxed. However, her guard was still up.

"That’s unique name," I said with a smile, "Where does it come from?"

"Well… it’s complicated story."

"I love stories!" I respond, then quickly added, "if you want to tell me."

Complicated story! I knew it she’s my twin!

"Um… well… you see, when I was a baby, there was a fire in my old village. Me and my um…birth mother were in our house when it caught on fire. My mother had protected me so I survived, but she didn’t," she paused in her story, taking a trembling breath before continuing, "The other villagers found me covered in cinders so they started to call me Cinders."

"I lost my mother when I was newborn as well."

"Do you miss her?"

I pondered for a moment before answering, "I think I miss the idea of a mother, instead my mother herself. I didn’t know my mother so I don’t really miss her. Yet I wonder a lot of what she was like, what type of mother she would’ve been. I’m jealous of the girls who still have a mother, but I have Nanny so I’m okay."

"Wow." She looked at me with big eyes. I smiled, proud of myself. "I hadn’t thought of it like that. I always thought I miss my mother even though i don’t remember, but what you said makes sense. I have Ma."

"Ma?"

"Oh, Ma is the one took me in when I was a baby. She was a friend of my mother. Now she works in the palace as head cook."

"Cook ?"

She just nodded. The image of the warm middle-aged cook appeared in my head. I didn’t know she had an adopted daughter. I thought for a moment. Her story could be a lie told to protect her. The possibility that she’s my twin grew the more I thought about it, but I still had one last question,

"How old are you ?"

"I’m 6 years old, my lady."

With that, all my theory was ruined. I’m a year older than her. She can’t be my twin. Cinders seemed to sense my disappointment. She looked at me with worried eyes.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, of course not," I reassured her, "It’s just… that…-I lowered my eyes now embarrassed of my theory- I thought you were my twin."

"What?!" Her mouth hung open, her eyes widen in shock. "how-how could a lady such as youself ever think that a mere kitchen servant could be related to you?"

"Because you look like me a lot," I explained, "and i wanted a sister."

I observed her as she studied me. She gasped,

"I do look like you!"

"Well since you’re not my sister, do you want to be my friend?"

"Me? But I’m a servant and you’re a lady."

"I don’t care! I want you to be my friend."

"Are you sure?" she hesitated.

"Please."

"Okay, " she responded shyly.

"Yay! We are going to be the best of friends. you can call me Ali. Can I call you Cindy ?"

"If you wish, ... Ali"

For first time since I’ve met her, Cinders smiled. I returned the smile with an even bigger smile. I didn’t actually have any friends though my father and Nanny are always pushing to be friends with the other nobles. The other nobles who were my age were spoiled brat and those who aren’t don’t live in the capital so I only see them once a year. However now I finally have friend!

The moment was suddenly ruined by Nanny yelling from across the garden,

"Your Highness!"

Cinders looked around in panic. Once she realized that we were the only ones in the garden, she looked at me in disbelief.

"Yo-you’re the prin-princess!"

I smiled back guiltily. I was about to respond, but Nanny had already reached me. She took me by the shoulders and examined me. Her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes lined with worry and exasperation.

"Your Highness! How could you disappear like that? Do you know what a fright I had when I realized you had disappear?" Nanny scolded me, "Look at your dress! You’re a mess."

"Sorry," I mumbled, "I won’t do it again."

She let out a sigh, knowing far too well that I was lying.

"I made a friend." I quickly changed subjet. Nanny let go of my shoulders and turned around.

"Oh my," she let out once she saw Cinders. Cinders, pale as a piece of paper, stood there as if paralyzed. She looked between me and Cinders. Her eyes widen in shock. As if Nanny’s exclamation had awaken her from shock, Cinders blurted out, bowing her head, "I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was the princess!"

"No, I’m the one who is sorry. I was the one who hid it from you," I reassured. Then I looked to Nanny, and commanded, "She’s my friend, no one is allowed to punish her!"

Nanny stared at me, for a while, with stormy eyes, then said, "She won’t be punished."

Turning to Cinders, "Who are you?"

"My name is Cinders. I’m a kitchen maid."

"Well Cinders, follow me," she order, afterwards to me, she added with a warning look, "Princess, you will return to your chambers to clean up."

"She won’t get into trouble because of me ?" I inquired before I turned to go. Nanny’s eyes softened, "Don’t worry. Now go."

~

That day Cinders and Cook met with the king. My father had allowed her to become my playmate with the help of me pleading him. Everyone was surprised at how much we ressembled each other. There was only subtle differences between us such as her eyes were a shade darker than mine or that her hair was straighter. We both loved the fact that we looked like each other and often played pranks. We were kindred spirts though we were of different social ranking. I didn’t know the real reason why my father had allowed me to befriend a servant until that horrible night. She was my replacement and she knew. She had accepted her fate as the princess’ copy.

Somehow, Cook didn’t hold any grudge against me. She had told me she was proud of Cinders and didn’t blame me for her death. She had dressed in Cinders’ clothes, given me Cinders’ bed and given Cinders’ name. I had stolen Cinders’ life and identity and no one noticed. Everyone was mourning the death of the royal family and the other noble families who were loyal to my father. The servants were too busy whispering about the new rule under king of Akos to notice the change in personality of a simple servant girl who used to be friends with a princess.

~

Cook broke my thoughts as she said, "Wait a minute!", with a look that I didn’t dare disobey. She turned around and hurried to a stove where she poured something into a cup. Then she exchanged the bowl of porridge in my hands for the cup of black steaming liquid.

"What is this ?" I asked curiously as the nice smoky aroma of the drink filled my nose.

"It’s somewhat of a tea that was imported from the south that the nobles drink for energy," she explained, "now drink."

"I can’t drink this, this is most likely more expensive than everything I have," I exclaimed, "Only nobles can drink this."

She sent me look that said "Sweetheart, you’re a princess."

She had a point. I looked at the drink unsure. Then I took a small sip. Its bitter taste overwhelmed my mouth. The hot liquid burned down my throat, spreading warmth though me. The taste wasn’t amazing, it could’ve use some sugar, but it wasn’t horrible. So I finished the cup. Soon after finishing it, I felt more awake than I had the past few days.

"Thank you," I said to Cook as I handed back the cup and retook my porridge. She responded with warm motherly smile, "Now finish your breakfast and go to work. You know how madame gets when someone is late."

Distain filled her voice when she pronounced the word 'madame'. I understood her hatred very well, but it seemed that my loathing of her ran deeper. Not because I was her maid in waiting and she often abuse of me physical and emotionally, but because she was my father’s murder, my stepmother.