Finally some prince action!!! IT”S ABOUT TIME!! I hope you enjoy this one! I enjoyed writing this part a whole lot! And I love to hear your feedback! So don’t hesitate to tell me what you think, good, bad, or anything in between.
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Just like her mother had said it would, the horse took the carriage right up to the steps of the huge building. Going through the gates was overwhelming enough for Cinderella, and now she felt intimidated by the large white pillars, gold plaited railings, and marble-topped floors. She slowly stepped out of the carriage and found a hand waiting for her. She gingerly took the hand as she stepped out of the carriage.
“Madam, you don’t have a coachman.” He said matter-of-factually but had a rather confused look on his face.
“Just tell the horse where to go and he will get there on his own.” She gave the man a reassuring smile and he nodded. He turned to the horse and started to speak to it as Cinderella started up the steps.
She reached the top of the stairs and two men opened the large doors. The light was disorienting for a second, but she quickly regained composer and found herself at the top of a grand staircase. A young man approached her and asked for her name and title. “I don’t have a title. I’m just a house maid.”
“Well, you are the best dressed house maid here. Look over there,” he pointed to a far corner in the ball room. “That’s where the other house maids are. Do you see? They came in their work clothes.” He turned away from her and announced her arrival. “Now entering, Lady Emily.” Cinderella was puzzled as to why he chose to call her Emily. She gave him a confused look and he said, “It means ‘admiring.’ And already everyone here is admiring you.” Cinderella turned to look at the ball room and saw that everyone was staring at her, and she couldn’t fathom why.
She slowly walked down the steps and looked at all of the people, mostly women. It didn’t take long for her to lock eyes with her stepmother and stepsisters. Their mouths dropped and a scornful look crossed all of their faces at the same moment.
She reached the bottom of the stairs and was offered a glass of champagne, but refused because she didn’t want her senses impaired tonight. As she walked across the dance floor the crowd parted until she was face to face with the prince. His face contorted into a look of shock but was quickly changed into a look of pleasure. “I’m sorry, but I was in a conversation when you name was announced. What is it?” His voice sounded like doves flying in an open field, or like a calm river teeming with fish.
Cinderella stuttered for a second, not sure whether to use the new name or her actual name. Then she looked into his eyes and noticed that they were like a cool glass of water, crisp and refreshing. Cinderella noticed that everything was perfect about him, even his nose was shaped perfectly, as if he had been chiseled by angels.
“Let’s not worry about that right now,” he gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m Prince Ryan. Would you like to dance?” Little did Cinderella know, but the prince had not danced with anyone yet. He kept telling his father that he had not found the right one yet and would know as soon as he saw her. Cinderella carefully took the prince’s offered hand and he looked over at the band who had stopped playing when she entered.
They quickly started up a soft ballad that was very easy to dance to. For Cinderella, the entire crowd had disappeared, and for the prince, he marveled at how beautiful this woman was. They danced long after the first song was finished, and didn’t stop dancing until Cinderella noticed a heavenly figure in the distance. “Excuse me, but I need to freshen up. May I use your powder room?”
“Of course! Just down that hall there. I’ll be waiting here.” Cinderella went towards the figure and noticed that it was her mother.
“Mama! What are you doing here? What if someone sees you?”
“No one can see me, my dear. I just had to watch you. And I had forgotten to warn you about the gifts. They wear off at midnight, make sure you leave here before then. You two look so perfect together!” Tears were teasing her eyes, and she gave a sad smile.
“Oh mama. Thank you. I love you!” Then Cinderella turned around and went back to the prince.
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When Cinderella turned back to return to the prince, she found him surrounded by women. The women were trying to woo him with their over-perfumed faces. One woman looked like she could be Cinderella’s grandmother. Another woman looked like a clown with the amount of powder and lipstick that covered her face. Another woman looked like she belonged in a whorehouse.
But the prince was not interested in any of them. He kept looking around and when he caught Cinderella’s eyes he smiled from ear to ear and pushed his way through the crowd. “I’m sorry, but they pounce at the first chance they get. But only wish to dance with you, if that is what you want.” Prince Ryan’s cheeks were turning a rosy color and Cinderella smiled at his humbleness.
“Of course I want to dance with you.” She was surprised that she had actually forgotten he was the prince, he had become just another man at a ball to her, but a very special man that she was falling for.
They resumed dancing and Cinderella caught a glimpse of her step-family. They all were glaring at her and had envy written all over their faces. Cinderella focused back on the prince and lost herself in his sparkling dark brown eyes.
Then the inevitable happened: the grand clock struck twelve times. “Oh no,” muttered Cinderella. “I must go. I’m terribly sorry!”
“Wait, you can’t just leave! We’re having a great time! And I don’t even know your name!”
Cinderella ran up the steps that led to large doors. The two men quickly opened them and Cinderella slipped out before the prince could catch her. As she was running down the marble steps she slipped and fell down. She quickly jumped up and found her horse waiting without the carriage. She gracefully jumped onto the white horse and yelled for him to go. As soon as they took off Cinderella’s white gloves vanished in a plethora of glitter.
As the horse dashed through the gates Cinderella’s dress started erupting in a cloud of glitter. It didn’t take long for the horse to make it back to Cinderella’s home and by then Cinderella’s entire dress was gone, all she had on was the shredded gold dress. Cinderella got off the horse and thanked him, then he too became a shimmering pile of glitter.
As Cinderella was admiring the pile of glitter on the ground she noticed one item that had not returned back to its normal state: her glass slipper. However, there was only one, she must have lost one when she tripped on the stairs. “Great,” she thought. “Well, at least the prince will be able to keep a souvenir of our night.”







