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        It was said that there was a tower in the nearby forest.

        The rumor had been told over about six hundred years, but no one knew when the rumor started. So did Cinder. She remembered that when she came to the market or washed her clothes along the river, she could hear villagers chatting about the tower, just as she heard from officers, aristocrats, and beautiful ladies in the ball held to select the perfect wife for Prince Issac. All of them whispered with a hiding satisfaction as if they really had witnessed it and figured out some unprecedented secrets. They murmured to each other that in the tower there was a beautiful princess, as innocent as the full moon, and as delicate as a blooming lily. Imprisoned by a wicked witch, she was waiting for her brave bridegroom to save her out of desperation. At that time, they would enjoy all the wealth and treasure the witch occupied, get married, and lived happily ever after as old fairy tales.

        Cinder remembered that when she waited in line, the baker, whose face hid in his beard, said to a farmer when he packed some pieces of bread for him, "If I can find the tower, I will get a pretty wife and be rich. Afterwards, I can be happily ever after and get rid of the tiring life as a baker, just as old fairy tales."

        She remembered that when she walked through crowds in the ball, a baron said to a minister, "It's boring that we have to come to the party for the prince. I would rather find the tower, save the princess and enjoy forever happiness, just as old fairy tales."

        A young girl said to her partner in worries, "My father told me that I must marry this end of the year or I will be too old to find a good man, but I don't think Prince Issac will pick me."

        Finally, she said melancholy, "I wish I could be the princess in the tower. Then I must have a handsome and gentle husband and be happy ever after, just as old fairy tales."

        The tower. It was the representative for old fairy tales and eternal happiness. Almost everyone took it as granted and dreamed of it, but no one actually saw the tower with his own eyes. However, it was just in front of Cinder in the deep forest, covered by the shadow of trees. Standing outside of fences, she could see creepers sticking on dark yellow bricks of the tower. Spiders rested on their webs between creepers and its surface. The garden was full of weeds and dying plants.

        Was there really a beautiful princess and a powerful witch? Cinder did not know. After refusing to marry Prince Issac, she could not live peacefully in this country anymore. Originally she planned to return to the East, where her mother used to live, but escaped because of a mandatory marriage with a violent king. However, she canceled out the plan when she remembered that her friend Otohime used to complain she was pressured to marry a man she had met only once. Then she planned to travel through the forest to the northland where it was said that the Snow Queen lived, and settle down there to live freely by her own, but it seemed that she lost her way.

        The sun had set, and it became darker and darker in the forest. Crows began to caw. Their gruff and harsh cries echoed in the forest. Just before two weeks, a girl wearing a red hood and her grandmother were eaten by a wolf in a forest. Staying in the forest without weapons was dangerous, and she must find a place to stay for the night.

        If there was no one in the tower, it would be much safer for me. Cinder thought. Though for the convenience of running, she had torn off the long and gorgeous hem of her dress and thrown her little golden shoes, she still looked like a princess with the azure blue gown she inherited from her mother and put at the ball. However, for risks such as declining marriage with the prince and escaping from the palace, it was lucky enough that she still walked in the forest alive and in relatively good health. Since soldiers would soon come to her village and ask for her, there was no possibility to return home, change clothes and prepare packages. Possibly entering the tower was the best choice.

        Two blue birds, Bill and Bella, flew down and rested on Cinder's shoulder. "How are you? What about the rabbits? I have to enter the tower because it is too late." She asked them when she gently stroked their feathers.

        "We are fine." Bella said, "Don't worry. We will be with you after we find some food. We will come back soon." Then they flew away.

        Cinder clenched her fists, crossed the fence and knocked on the door. "Is anyone here? I am a passerby and lose my way in the forest. I will appreciate it very much if you allow me to stay for a night."

        No one answered. Probably it was just an empty tower? It was already night, and she could hear wolves howled towards the moon. Making up her mind, Cinder pushed the door and entered the room. Moonlight went through the dark room and projected her figure onto the dusty brick floor. It should be light yellow, but after so much time it was now a color between gray and yellow. Cinder stared at the floor. The colors of the bricks were not the same. Some deeper, some shallower. There must be someone living in the tower.

        Suddenly a person's shadow covered her. "A princess." Right behind her, a woman sighed with surprise and satisfaction. "The rumor is right. There is a beautiful princess, as innocent as the full moon, and as delicate as a blooming lily. Imprisoned by a wicked witch, she is waiting for her brave bridegroom to save her out of desperation."

        "Hey wait, I am not a princess. Who are you? Are you a soldier from the palace?" Cinder turned back quickly and asked. The shadow of her broken and dirty gray hood covered the woman's face, but it was recognizable that she had messy short white hair and was as thin as a weed. She was staring at Cinder in the moonlight with obsession. But to be more specific, she was staring at Cinder’s long silky black hair and shining azure blue gown.

        "No, you are." The women insisted. She approached, took Cinder's hair, and murmured in a fantastic voice as if she was dreaming. "Innocent beauty, long soft hair, shining gown... You are a princess, just as in old fairy tales."

        Immediately Cinder hit her hands away and stepped back. "Stay away from me or I will tan your hide!" She shouted angrily, "I am not a princess! I am not innocent at all. I have killed the guards who wanted to assault me in the prison of the palace. Besides, unfortunately I just personally prefer long hair and it is none of the business to be like a gentle princess."

        "Who are you?" She asked loudly.

        But the women continued in a trance. "I have found the tower. I have killed the witch. Finally, I have found my princess. My princess is beautiful, innocent, obedient, and rich. Then it is the wedding. I will marry my princess, and we will live happily ever after."

        It looked as if the woman was totally insane. Cinder frowned, "What are you talking about? It is impossible! You even don't know me and ask me about my decision! Are you the witch?"

        "No... No! The damned tower!" abruptly the women began to scream, "I am not the witch! I am the prince! The Savior! We will have eternal happiness after the marriage!" she laughed out in hysteria and said ferociously, "My princess! If you want to oppose me, I guess you need some punishments to calm yourself down."

        She quickly took out a black bottle and smashed it near Cinder's feet on the ground. In black smoke, Cinder lost her consciousness.