Sheriff Cinders was not sure what he was supposed to do with the young lady who insisted on accompanying him on his journey.

Hera was, at first glance, not the most pleasant traveling companion. She was brash, snarky, and stubborn- not exactly the type of person the officer needs for a partner. She was pretty on the outside- which Sheriff Cinders feared would only draw more unnecessary attention to them and distract them from the cause- but cold on the inside.

They'd walked to Milford, a few miles away, and she was already complaining. Milford wasn't exactly the sheriff's choice of location to find the prince or princess or the mysterious maiden, but it was as likely as any.

They had to start somewhere.

"What the heck would Ella even want the prince for anyway?" Hera scoffed, finally saying something that gained the sheriff's interest. "I mean... She's the only woman in the kingdom who hates the guy."

Sheriff Cinders stopped in his tracks. If that were true that perhaps meant...

"Enough to kill him?" He wondered.

Hera stopped too, startled by the question. "What? No! It was more like, she was indifferent to him. She wasn't normal and wanted to marry him like a lot of girls in town. Ella would never... Well... She did do something to Zera, so maybe..."

"Maybe she's planning on offing the prince?" He suggested.

Hera shrugged. "I don't know. I don't want to think Ella did it. I may not love her or anything but to think I let a murderer live with me? Ugh no thanks. But... The proof seems pretty irrefutable."

"Maybe we've got the wrong girl."

"...I hope we're missing something." Hera mumbled to herself. Sheriff Cinders heard anyway.

He stretched and kept walking. "Well we must find the prince and princess soon, especially if our worst case scenario comes to pass. Perhaps you should turn around here. I think I can handle this myself."

Hera snorted. "Oh no you don't! I'm not going anywhere. I knew the guilty- or suspected guilty- party in question and therefore I have vital knowledge on getting her."

Sheriff Cinders rolled his eyes. "You don't even know her as well as you thought you did."

"Maybe... But I'm still not leaving. This is person, Cinders! She's my stepsister." Hera stomped her foot as dramatically as she could muster. Her companion rolled his eyes.

"As long as you stop complaining I'll allow it." Sheriff Cinders nodded as they arrived at a little brook, at almost noon, the morning after the ball.

Laughter could be heard coming from the stream.

Short chapter I know and I know it's later than usual. I'm going to update on Fridays from now on but it's my senior year and it's been hectic. Thanks for reading!