Ellen woke up three and a half hours later to a cacophony of maddening screams and shattering pieces of glass coming from above. Mistress Tatiana and her daughters had finally returned home from the Royal Ball and the matriarch was hellbent on unleashing every single drop of fury she had bottled up until then. Both Prudence and Drusilla did their best to stay clear from her rampage for when their mother lost control, no familiar voice ever calmed her, much to the contrary. Amidst the commotion of flying objects and their inevitable crash with gravity, the young woman had a hard time understanding everything that was being said, although she could pick up a few sentences here and there...

“... that wretched bitch!”

“So much effort and for what?”

“When I find out who she really is...”

The ramblings continued for another ten minutes with even more objects being thrown around and turned into nothing but echoes of their past shapes. Then, a sepulchral silence fell over the estate only to be shattered almost immediately when the scheming Mistress came to look for her favorite punching bag.

“Ellen? Come here, you miserable girl!” she growled.

“Mistress? What’s wrong?” 

“Everything!” Tatiana grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out of her makeshift bed. “This was supposed to be my perfect night, the culmination of everything I worked for in the last decade, and then it all went down the drain! Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? No, of course, you don’t, because you’re nothing but a stupid servant girl, anyway. It’s a mess upstairs. Go clean it up, now!”

“It’s so late... can’t it wait until morning, please?”

“Are you questioning me, girl?” Tatiana punched her in the boob so hard that Ellen coiled up in pain. “No, it can’t wait! I want everything sorted out as quickly as possible. Get to it.”

“Yes, Mistress Tatiana,” Ellen gasped as she tried to gather the strength to stand up once again. Floating next to her, the fairy godmother whispered in her mind. “Easy now, I’ll help you out.”

Still struggling to catch her breath, Ellen climbed the stairs and entered the living room. Everything was in shambles as if a massive tornado had run through the place, leaving no stone unturned. It was a puzzle of pointy glass shards, broken pieces of china, and other objects she could no longer recognize. She didn’t even know where to start.

Prudence and Drusilla stood by the entrance of the division, make-up melting on their crying faces and their dresses shredded. They too had been the unwilling victims of Tatiana’s misguided anger.

“I’m sorry, Ellen,” Drusilla muttered, the first time in forever that her words sounded absolutely genuine.

“That’s okay. I’m already used to it,” she nodded in reply. “You should go to bed.”

“Not until mother says we can,” Prudence wiped the acidic tears from her eyes.

“Boy, she really is out of control now, huh?” Ellen thought.

“We knew it would happen,” Cinderella replied. “Let’s not give her any more reasons to lash out for now.”

“And how are you going to help me clean this shit? It’s not like you can cast your spells while they’re standing there watching.”

“I guess we’ll have to do something about that then.”

Cinderella waved her left hand and an invisible dust cloud filled the room, slowly descending atop the other women’s eyelids. Drusilla was the first to yawn, eyes feeling so heavy it was nothing short of a miracle she didn’t collapse on the floor right away. Prudence accompanied her sister, holding on to the door’s threshold to keep herself from falling. Tatiana, who still had quite a reserve of anger waiting to be expelled, fought the first signs of mental exhaustion by clenching her teeth and fists but as the magic dust landed on her tongue, hands, and feet, every part of herself began to unravel like a ball of wool. Tripping on herself, she said,

“Why haven’t you started cleaning yet? Hurry the fuck up, you worthless dimwit!”

“You look tired, Mistress. You should get some rest,” Ellen cooed.

“Yeah, right... the moment I leave, you’ll drag your sorry ass back to bed, too. No, I’m staying up until you finish the job.”

“It may take a while, and it’s obvious you’re quite tired from the party. Are you sure you can handle it?”

“Of course, I can handle it. Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do. That’s not your place!”

Cinderella blew another cloud of sleeping dust into the air, its magic particles becoming denser and more irresistible than ever. The two sisters lost their balance almost instantly, landing on top of one another like crumpled sheets of paper. Tatiana pulled up a chair and almost rolled over trying to sit down.

“You really should go to sleep now,” Cinderella said, her voice deep within the three women’s thoughts. “Go to sleep.”

“On second thought...” Tatiana mumbled. “I think you’re right, Ellen. It was the most exhausting ever so we’re going to our quarters. I expect this confusion to be taken care of when we wake up or I’ll make you regret the day you were born.”

“Everything will be in order. Have a good night,” Ellen said.

“Good night,” Drusilla answered before disappearing into her bedroom with the rest of the family soon following. Alone again, Ellen sighed,

“Nice trick there,” she caressed her bruised boob. “Do you have something for the pain too?”

“What pain?” Cinderella reached for her heart and a soothing balm irradiated throughout the young woman’s body.

“Much better, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Now what? This place is completely thrashed.”

“Not for long.”

Cinderella snapped her fingers, and every single broken inanimate object came to life, scurrying across the floor into the gaping maws of three black trash bags that had appeared out of nowhere. It was a scene straight out of a cartoon, and Ellen couldn’t help but chuckle.

“That’s an even better trick. I could have used it many times in the past,” she said.

“I can teach you a couple when this is all over,” Cinderella replied.

“Are you serious? But I don’t have any magic in me.”

“Every living creature has magic in them or at least the potential for it, but most never strive to awaken it. If you want, I’ll show you how to harness your inner energy when the moment is right.”

“Nothing would please me more.”

“It’s settled then. Don’t worry your pretty head about anything else tonight, okay? I’ve got it all covered.”

“Maybe I can go back to my dream then.”

“Were you dreaming about the prince?”

“Maybe...” Ellen blushed.

“That’s my girl.”

“I wonder how he’s doing right now... Do you know?”

“Yes... and no. I know what usually happens at times like this, but this version of things has had so many twists already it’s hard to grasp where it will go from here. I can go check it out if you wish.”

“No. I’ll admit I’m curious, but better leave it for now. I’m not sure what my heart can handle.”

“A sensible call. Sleep tight, Ellen. We’ll soon know more.”

Ellen returned to her modest chambers and laid down to rest. The second time around, it took half the time of the first to let sleep win her over. She dreamed of dancing with Phillip once more, surrounded by nothing but a blanket of stars.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Royal Palace, the atmosphere was tense and charged with contradictory feelings that threatened both the sanity of everyone involved and the peace of the kingdom. Phillip sat in the now deserted ballroom, crystal boot in hand, a pensive expression covering his once smiling visage. Next to him, stood the King who had already exchanged his gala outfit for something lighter, yet no less luxurious. With golden trims on his shoulders and legs, the monarch was like a glistening bag of money waiting to be robbed.

“We need to talk about what happened tonight,” he said somberly.

“What do you mean?” Phillip asked. “Wasn’t the Royal Ball a success?”

“It could have been if you had kept your eyes on the prize instead of fooling around at every turn. You neglected your responsibilities, Phillip. What do you have to say about that?”

“I say you’re overreacting. What have I done tonight that was so terrible?”

“How about neglecting our most illustrious guest to focus on that mysterious woman, for starters? What were you thinking?”

“That she was the most intriguing person in the room and had me curious from the start. I don’t regret that one bit.”

“Well, you should! People in our position can’t afford to be ‘curious’. There are protocols in place and norms we must adhere to. Not doing so makes no less different from beasts.”

“Now you’re being dramatic! It was refreshing to be with someone that thought for herself and wasn’t just another sheep in the herd. The Lady Sin challenged my intellect and my heart, father, and it was glorious through and through. You should be happy for me.”

“What? Don’t be ridiculous! A challenging woman is one you can’t control and is bound to give you more trouble than she’s worth down the line. A future King needs no such things!”

“What do I need then?” Phillip scoffed. “A submissive bimbo that only does what she’s told? Are you sure you’re not trying to find me a slave instead of a wife?”

“Everyone has their place in this world. You need a Princess happy to play her part, not someone that plays games of seduction while hiding behind a mask!”

“Is that what’s really bothering you? That you don’t know who she is? Because I thought we were past this already.”

“And I was convinced you would behave like a man of your stature! Instead, I find you here moping to a piece of footwear, and quite an ugly one, too.”

“I’m not moping,” Phillip brushed his hair.

“Then what are you doing?”

“Thinking about everything that happened, or am I not allowed to do that either?”

“I cannot forbid you to think, though I hope you’re smart enough not to be consumed by your thoughts. Whatever you experienced tonight was nothing but lust. It will go away as soon as you have a good night’s rest.”

“So you say, but what do you know for real? Nothing!”

“I know because I was young once, too. At your age, I didn’t care about my duties at all, and yet I thought I taught you better than that. Lady Sin may have been the distraction you felt you needed tonight, but if you ever wish for it to become more than that, then we have a problem.”

“The only problem I see is in your mind, father. Yes, I’m aware of my responsibilities towards the kingdom, but what about my responsibilities towards myself? Everyone else I interacted with tonight was either boring as fuck or gold-diggers trying to claw their way into our family, sometimes both. At least, she was different, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to forget what I felt just because of your backward ways.”

“What are you going to do then?”

“It’s simple: I’m going to use this boot to find out who she is and then we’re going to have a conversation away from the court and all prying eyes. Just her and I.”

“Why? What do you hope to get from that?”

“To prove she’s as special as I think she is.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t allow you to waste your time on something like that. Not when you have a bride to choose.”

“I’m not asking for your permission, father. I’ve already made up my mind. This is happening, whether you want it or not.”

“My obligations towards the realm come before any familial ties. I was King before being your father and I shall continue being so long before you claim the throne,” the older man grumbled. “Dare you refuse a royal command?”

“If the command is unfair, then yes, I have no choice but to say no.”

“Perhaps being confined to your quarters will make you come to your senses, then!” he exclaimed. “Guards, please escort the Prince to his bedroom and make sure he doesn’t leave until I allow it.”

“You’re joking, right?” Prince Phillip stood up in anger at the unexpected outrage.

“I wish I was, but after tonight’s embarrassing display, the last thing the kingdom needs is having his only prince go around on a fool’s errand after a boot. I will not allow you to compromise our dynasty any further with your insensitive actions.”

A handful of guards surrounded the two men, confused eyes partially hidden behind their shiny helmets. Never had they witnessed father and son on opposing sides of the spectrum, and if a real confrontation was to emerge between the two, loyalties would be put to the test in surprising ways.

“Father, please reconsider this madness!” Phillip begged.

“I will once you do the same. We’ll talk again when you choose to be a prince once more instead of a horny boy. Oh, and I’ll be keeping this, too.” He snatched the crystal boot from the befuddled man’s hands.

Dragged across the palace’s corridors against his will, Phillip swore to set things right no matter the cost. Nothing or no one would stop him from chasing his dreams.

“This isn’t over, Father.”

“For now, it is,” the king declared.

How wrong he was.