It was a beautiful spring morning. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and laughter could be heard from afar. Laughter that Cindernazz wished that she could be a part of. As she was washing dishes, she looked through the window watching May and Marie playing croquet. Every single day they would have fun while poor Cindernazz spent her days waiting on them hand and foot.

"CINDERNAZZ!", someone shouted from behind.

Cindernazz immediately gasped and turned around, not knowing that she had dropped a plate letting smash on the floor. Her stepmother walked in front of her and glared at the pieces of shattered dish.

"Now look what you've done.", Lee said coldly.

"You,", said Cindernazz, "you frightened me." She knelt down and started to pick up the shards. Lee just watched as she took a spoon from the counter and gently swish it back and forth against her palm.

"When you're finished cleaning up your mess," Lee began, "I need you to mend the garden, do the laundry, clean the tapestries, and polish the silver."

"But I just polished the silver.", said Cindernazz in a quiet voice.

"WELL DO IT AGAIN!", shouted Lee, "I WANT TO SEE MY FACE IN EVERY SPOON!"

Before she could say anything else, the spoon Lee was holding suddenly jumped and stuck itself on her nose.

"What?", Lee was taken by surprise, "What's happening?", she asked as she was trying to take the spoon off her face, but it was as if it were stuck by super glue. "Ohh, what's going on here."

Cindernazz giggled at how ridiculous her stepmother looked right now. Behind the wall separating the kitchen and the hallway, Cindernazz's fiary godmother was watching her magic do its work. Then with a quick flick of her wand, she disappeared to the yard where May and Marie were, hidden in a tree. Right when Marie hit the ball with her croquet hammer, the fairy flicked her wand again and then the ball hit one of the rings and rebounded towards Marie knocking her out. The ball didn't stop there though. After it hit Marie the ball started to rebound all over the yard until finaly, it hit May on the head. Although it took her a few more seconds to fall with a dopey look on her face.

Cindernazz watched the whole thing happen from the window, and couldn't hold in the laughter that was unnoticed by her stepmother, who was still trying to free her nose from the spoon.

Meanwhile at the castle

The king and queen were both trying to look peep throught the doors, hoping that their son hasn't been noticing them.

"What's happening?", asked the king, a short man with combed blond hair and walrus whiskers.

"Well,", said the queen, who was a petit woman with her black hair in a bun, "if I could see, I would tell you."

In the room their son, Prince Eddward, a handsome young man with shoulder length hair that he kept in a ponytail and was the color of his mothers, was with another young lady that they had tried to set him up with; Miss Sarah. Her red hair and green eyes were very unique, but she couldn't seem to stop talking about how rich her family was and how handsome they would make the kingdom with their looks.

For months, Eddward's parents have been trying to get him to talk with so many other girls, hoping that he will marry one so that he could be king. But Eddward didn't seem to take and interest in any of them. In his mind, he needed to marry out of love, and he couldn't feel that for any of the women her parents set him up with.

"My father was very wealthy in the beginning.", said Miss Sarah.

"I don't really have time for wealth right now.", said Eddward, clearly bored with the conversation.

"My uncle was even wealthier.", Miss Sarah didn't seem to notice that the prince found what she was saying dull. "I'm sure that after a few years work, we could use our wealth to turn this- huh?"

Eddward clearly had enough of this chatter, so he walked towards the door.

"Quickly dear, he's coming.", said the queen as she king quickly sprinted and waited in the hall awaiting their son's response. When Eddward faced them, he gave them a very icey glaree.

"I refuse to marry somebody I don't love.", he said as he turned his back on them.

"Oh, come now dear,", said the queen, "there has to be at least one woman you can share your life with."

"I think I may have a solution.", said the king with glee, "We shall hold a ball here in the castle, and invite every eligible maiden in the kingdom, and any one of them might be your future bride."

"Oh,", said the queen, "excellent idea. What do you think Eddward?"

"I will agree,", said Eddward as he faced them again, "on one condition."

"Yes?", the king and queen asked in unison.

"The choice is mine and mine alone.", said Eddward, "No interference."

"Of course darling.", said the queen, "We will be sure not to get in the way. Right?", she looked at her husband with a very stern look.

"Umm," the king stuttered and started to sweat, "of course not, beloved."

Back at the chateau 3 hours later

Cindernazz was doing the laundry outside where she could hang the clothes to dry while May and Marie decided to play a game of badminton. When Marie served, May stumbled and fell over. Marie's annoying cackle could make anyone want to go deaf.

"IT'S HERE!", shouted Lee surprisingly.

"Huh?", asked Marie.

"The invitation is here.", Lee said while waving a piece of parchment. "The king and queen are having a royal ball in the castle and every eligible maiden is allowed to attend. And by royal decree, one maiden will be chosen to be married to the prince."

"Oh, yes!", said Marie, "I'll bet that the prince can't wait to meet me."

"Not if I catch him first.", said May.

"Girls, girls,", Lee said, "one of you will have your chance. Who else would he choose? I will go down town and buy two new dresses to make you both even more irresistible."

"Um,", began Cindernazz, "may I go to the ball?"

"Why Cindernazz," said Lee, "you honestly don't expect me to buy three new dresses, do you?"

"Well, I-", said Cindernazz.

"Besides,", said Lee, "you can't even dance. Come girls, there's so much work to do."

As they left, Cindernazz was trying to remain in control.

"I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry.", she couldn't help it. She immediately started to cry and placed her hands over her face so that nobody could see.

"CINDERNAZZ!", shouted Lee.

Cindernazz quickly ran to her awaiting her instructions while at the same time trying to will away her tears.

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