The following day, Prince Phillip returned to the palace with Ellen by his side and their arrival was met with tremendous surprise and commotion, particularly from the King and his trusted advisors, all of whom wanted to know what exactly was going on before deciding on a fitting punishment for his actions. The explanations were long and unexpected and doubts were immediately raised concerning the sanity of the young monarch for who in their right frame of mind would believe in such a fantastical tale about brainwashing, fairies, and misguided conspiracies to take over the throne?

“Do you take me for a fool?” the King asked, weary hand resting on his troubled chin. “Is this really how you wish to justify your defiance of my orders? How dare you disrespect me like this?”

“The truth is never disrespectful no matter how hard it is to believe in it,” Phillip replied. “We understand your doubts and concerns, which is why we would never dream of sharing this account without enough evidence to back it up.”

“Then where is such evidence, young prince?” the Count of Montparnasse intervened. “Why should your father and us believe this absurd fairytale?”

“Because sometimes seeing really is believing. If my word and the word of my companion aren’t enough to satisfy your senses, then perhaps hers is. Cinderella, do you mind?”

“Not at all,” the Fairy Godmother replied, appearing out of thin air right above everyone’s heads. Having exchanged her customary blue attires for a pure white dress, she was like an angel heralding the coming of a new age. “Good morning, gentlemen. Now, what were you saying about magic not being real?”

* * *

Two months went by and the entire kingdom settled into a new groove, one only made possible by the Prince’s decision to no longer consider possible suitors but focus all his efforts on getting to know and enjoying Ellen’s company to the fullest. The news was well-received by the general populace, especially those hailing from the poorest parts of town who also saw small changes being implemented little by little to improve their overall lifestyle. The first of those was a revamp of the tax structure that was effectively a prelude to a future complete redistribution of wealth, and the second was a massive cleaning effort, helmed by the prince himself. Nobody ever expected to see him shoveling shit around and disinfecting the streets, but he gave the example, and many others followed.

Despite the King’s initial reluctance. Ellen was offered a room in the palace, which she politely refused. Her main goal during that time was to purge her household from any trace of Mistress Tatiana and her daughters before anything else. To that end, she enlisted the help of her fairy, despite the latter’s visits becoming less and less frequent. No magic was used in rebuilding her home, not even her own.

While the work on her property was underway, Ellen made huge strides in understanding the forces dwelling within her and how she could use them for the greater good. Nonetheless, she decided not to push herself more than necessary nor fall into the temptation of using it as a crutch for every problem that could emerge. To remain focused on that goal at all times required a tremendous amount of discipline, but one that she never failed to demonstrate. Cinderella had every reason to be proud of her, and that was enough.

During that period, Ellen was rarely seen in the castle. The exceptions came in the form of an open dance where she was formally introduced as the prince’s bride-to-be and occasional visits to the underground dungeons, usually in the dead of night. Only one prisoner was worthy of her attention, and she always hated when it happened. The prisoner was Tatiana who had been captured alongside her daughters on the eastern border of the kingdom fifteen days after the final confrontation.

“Back again so soon?” she spat when Ellen’s clean figure entered the cell as radiant as she could be. “Have you come to gloat some more?”

“You know very well that’s why not I come.”

“Do I? So you say, but I really don’t get it. You have everything you could hope for now. If this is not your way of torturing me, then I don’t know what it is. Why am I not dead already?”

“Because I asked the King not to and, fortunately, he listened. This is where you belong, not hanging from a tree.”

“If you think I’m going to spend the rest of my days in this cell...”

“Oh, you are, that much is certain. However, I do have some good news for you.”

“What news?”

“Your daughters are safe. They’re now working at the castle and if you behave, you’ll be able to see them on occasions...”

“I suppose that’s your doing as well.”

“Actually, you can thank Phillip for that one. It was his idea to have them learn the value of hard work since you never bothered teaching them properly.”

“How magnanimous of you two but you’re still making a huge mistake.”

“Are we? Why?”

“Because the day I escape is the day you die. I don’t care what happens to me, but I will get my revenge.”

“You forget you can’t touch me now, so please save your breath. There’s no one to blame for your condition but yourself, and considering everything you’ve done, I say you got lucky.”

“I don’t need your pity nor your sympathy.”

“That’s good because you have none. You’ll always be my enemy, Tatiana, but I’m not scared of you anymore. I’ll never be scared of you again.”

“We’ll see, Ellen. Mark my words.”

“I’ve already forgotten them. Goodbye, Tatiana, I hope you eventually find your peace though I doubt it.”

“This isn’t over, you hear? THIS ISN’T OVER!”

Except it was. Years of plans and machinations were thwarted without reserve. Her name was destined to become nothing more than a fading memory, and despite Ellen’s good intentions, neither Prudence nor Drusilla ever showed any interest in seeing her in the years that followed. 

The flow of time continued its inexorable course toward entropy, and more things eventually changed for everyone involved. After a sexual scandal with a palace chambermaid, the Count of Montparnasse was excluded from the king’s inner circle and never showed his face in the castle again. As for the old monarch himself, he found love once more in an Eastern European widow thus paving the way for his inevitable succession. After too many years on the throne, the time had come to live the rest of his days the way he wanted to.

“When are you going to tell the people?” the prince asked one night as the two of them sat on the balcony of his chambers, bathed in blue moonlight.

“The day you finally get married. How long has it been since your announcement? Two years?”

“Almost.”

“Hasn’t it been long enough?”

“Not for one who never imagined this could happen to her. Ellen is not like us. What she’s been through has changed her in ways we’ll never fully understand.”

“But are you happy with the waiting?”

“I’m happy when she’s happy. Not being married doesn’t change the fact that I’m already hers.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For not recognizing that your actions at the time came from a genuine place and not a misguided passion. I thought I had nothing to learn from you or her and I was wrong.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“Who knows if I’ll ever get another chance to do so? Once I vacate the throne, that’s it. I won’t be around to interfere with your rule.”

“And you’re sure you can do that?” Phillip chuckled. “No offense, but you were never much for staying away.”

“True, which is why I’m going on a trip around the world the day it happens.”

“Oh? Seriously?”

“Yes. So many things I’ve yet to discover, so many places that have been nothing but a mirage so far. The company approves, so we’re making it happen. It will be a nice change of pace after all this madness.”

“Madness, huh?”

“You know it’s true. You’ll get used to it after a while, but the crown will never stop feeling heavy. Don’t forget to keep your friends close...”

“... and my enemies even closer, I know.”

“You’ve already ruffled quite a few feathers with the changes you’ve promoted so far. If you have no intention of stopping the transformations, promise me you’ll be careful at least.”

“Of course. Everything will work out, I promise.”

“I believe you. You’ll make a fine King, Phillip. I understand that now.”

“It pleases me to hear that. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. It’s getting late, so... should we turn in?”

“Just a few more minutes,” Phillip replied, looking at the quiet city spreading as far the eye could see. His work was only just beginning, but would forever be remembered as the most important in recent history.

* * *

Ellen saw Cinderella for the last time on the day of her wedding as she was putting on her dress. After postponing it for too long, the young woman was finally ready to embrace her destiny as well, and the good news didn’t end there.

“You’re pregnant,” the Fairy Godmother said, pointing at her still flat stomach. “Congratulations.”

“How did you know that?”

“You forget who you’re talking to, dear. I felt the new life growing inside you the moment it happened.”

“That’s a neat trick. Is it a boy or a girl?”

“Do you really want an answer to that?”

“Hmmm... probably not. It’s best to have some mysteries left in life, isn’t it?”

“It sure is. I’m glad for you.”

“I’m glad too. Phillip will be a good father.”

“And you’ll be the best mother of all, I’m sure.”

“Do you really need to go?”

“Yes. I’ve stayed far longer than I was supposed to. From this moment on, your path is one I can’t follow, but I still believe you’ll follow mine in time.”

“That story again? I already told you I’m not...”

... ready, but you will be. It makes sense, Ellen. When the moment is right, you’ll embrace the truth and become even greater than what are you now."

“And then what?”

“Only you can answer that, but the power will always be there. You create your own fate with every choice you make.”

“I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you, my friend.”

“That’s kind of you to say, but I believe you would have found your way, regardless. My role was never to be a savior, but a muse, and if you didn’t want this, you wouldn’t have found it. If you ever doubt yourself again, just remember that I only became visible because you chose to see me. Always see yourself, Ellen, and everything else will fall into place afterward.”

“Is that your final advice?”

“You don’t need more than that, but I look forward to what you can still teach me as you grow older.”

“I guess this it then. Are you sure you don’t want to stay for the ceremony?”

“Yes, I’m sure. There are other stories in need of a twist, and I’ll be there for them as I was for yours. Take care of the little one and of your man, too. Once he’s crowned king, he’ll need your support more than ever.”

“That goes without saying. Will you do the same?”

“When I have not been careful, sweetie?”

“The time you were caught in a binding circle comes to mind...”

“And look how that turned out. Stay safe, Ellen, and may you be as happy as you decide to be.”

“You too.”

Cinderella faded from the world in the blink of an eye, only to be missed yet never seen. And as the church bells announced to everyone that a new age was about to start, Ellen walked down the aisle certain of one thing. “Happily ever after” is a myth, but there can be moments of happiness in each day as long as your heart is receptive to them. Ignoring that is the greatest sin in the world and she would never sin again.

The End