There Was Once a Kingdom

Deborah González Roque

There was once a kingdom lost among mountains and mist. By order of the King, all damsels were required to attend the royal ball, so the prince could choose a wife among them.

On the magical night, the guests were euphoric. Lights? Brilliant as ever. Cutlery? All silver. Glasses? As glassy as they could be. And a young lady—beautiful, of course. Hair like rose gold. Her dress blue, like the heart of the sea. And the shoes! The shoes! She was wearing glass shoes, no less!

The prince couldn't stop looking at her. It was like a spell. But the twelve bells rang. She escaped. He followed her. So many guests. Doors. What a huge palace! He lost her on the stairs.

Heartbroken, he lowered his head. And there it was—a gift from the heavens. One of the beautiful, so very beautiful glass shoes. He embraced it in his arms like a newborn baby.

The next morning, the inhabitants of the kingdom woke up to the news. The prince was looking for the other shoe.

December 2025