"Lucinda, come to my aid!" I cried, brushing the tears from my eyes. I waited for a few moments for the beautiful fairy to appear before me. Clearly, she was far away, because she didn't materialize for several minutes. Long minutes.
While I waited, I reflected bitterly on my circumstances and dashed hopes. A few months before, I had received a letter from a boy—no, a prince!!—that I was hopelessly in love with. He declared his love for me in the letter, and needless to say, I was ecstatic. However, my chances of marrying him looked bleak, for I am cursed with obedience. I must do anything anybody commands me to, including horrible orders that could harm Char, my prince, or even the kingdom. I had concocted a scheme to make it seem like I never cared for him in the first place and, writing as though I were my horrid stepsister Hattie, effectively convinced him I was no more than a devilish little temptress, a harpy intent on gaining the crown.
Last week I learned Char would be returning home from his stay in Ayortha, a country right outside our borders. The king was holding three balls for his homecoming. It was rumored Char would choose a bride at one. Before, I was intent on staying away from Char and banishing him from my thoughts. But that proved to be impossible. I was hopelessly in love, and the thought of my two evil stepsisters and their odious mother attending the ball and flirting with Char made my blood boil. I had to see him. I had to. I wanted to explain everything that had happened. I wanted to make him know how much I loved him, but how I couldn't hurt him. So I was resolute on attending the ball, having a heartbreaking chat with him, and then leaving quickly. What I would do with my life from then on was a mystery. Right now the only thing that was important was Char.
I was startled from my thoughts when the beautiful but aging fairy appeared before me. She was the one who cursed me, but she was adamant that she wouldn't take the curse back. I still hadn't forgiven her, but I needed her help. The ball was tonight and I decided I couldn't reveal my plans to my fairy godmother and surrogate mother, Mandy. She would try to convince me otherwise, or even might command me to stay home. So I left her in the dark about my plans.
"What is it, my dear?" asked Lucinda tiredly. I hated the sad, pitying look she always had on her face when she talked to me.
"I need your help. I need a dress and transportation to the ball tonight. I must talk to Char."
"Ella!" she cried, aghast. "I thought you wrote to him and convinced him you had married and left Kyrria. He hates you!"
"I can't let him believe that, Lucinda. I—I saw his diary in my magic book. He called me a harpy, a siren. He believes everything that ever happened between us was a lie." My voice cracked. "I love him, Lucinda."
A tear ran down her cheek. She wiped it away and murmured, "This is a dangerous thing to do." With that, she stared intently at me until I felt myself being enveloping by yards and yards of beautiful silk. I ran to our mirror and saw I was wearing a beautiful periwinkle ball gown. It had cap-sleeves and a deep v-neck that plunged, revealing a very modest bust.
"Uh, Lucinda, the neckline is a little—"But she had corrected it before I could finish my sentence. I twirled happily in front of the mirror, noticing a beautiful train and a garland of white lilies she had set in my hair. I forgot for a moment that the ball would not be a grand affair, but a horrible heartbreak for both Char and me. "Thank you, Lucinda. Thank you."
She nodded solemnly. "There is a coach outside. Ella, this magic is pretty big, so I've set a time limit. Be home by midnight, or everything will vanish."
"Even the dress?" I asked, horrified, thinking I might lose track of the time and be left standing in my undergarments in the center of a crowded ballroom. She gave me a sad smile. "No, I understand. This shouldn't take long."
She nodded, and disappeared.
I ran downstairs and outside. A huge orange carriage stood before me. I laughed as the footman helped me into my seat. An orange carriage! She probably made it from a pumpkin. As the carriage started up, I saw Mandy through the kitchen window. She looked up, startled, but apparently didn't spy me inside. She went back to scrubbing dishes.
I arrived very late at the ball, but fashionably so. Quite a few maidens were still treading up the stone steps, giggling merrily. I couldn't help but glower at every one of them. They all loved Char because he was a prince and because of his looks, not because he was kind and brave and witty and charming. Thinking of his virtues made my lower lip tremble, so I hurriedly banished these thoughts from my head. Instead I focused on not stepping on my train and not falling over in the beautiful glass slippers I had discovered with Char months before.
Before I entered the ballroom, I donned my white mask. It was a masquerade ball, so this was not out of the ordinary, despite the fact that many girls had removed their masks to show off their beauty to Char. I didn't want Char to spy me before I saw him, so I kept hidden in a long group of girls and made sure my mask was tight.
Gradually, I realized that I was actually standing in a line of ladies waiting to greet Char. I turned quickly to get out of the line, but the girl in front of me spun around and said, "Save my place." I gasped. It was Hattie, my dreaded stepsister. Fortunately, she didn't recognize me.
"Of course," the words tumbled from my mouth. She hurried away from the line, right to the banquet table. I sighed, hoping she would return soon. The line was moving closer and closer to Char.
Ten minutes later, she still hadn't returned. Only a few more maidens, and then it would be my turn. I gulped, wondering if I could trick him into thinking I was just another girl, another golddigger hoping to gain a crown.
Fortunately, Hattie arrived with just minutes to spare. "Thank you. I'm sorry I took so long, I was just...powdering my face." I stifled a laugh as she brushed crumbs from her dress and wiped her mouth. She still had blueberry stains on her face.
"What's your name?" she asked. Before I could answer, it was her turn to talk to Char. She swept forward, curtsying deeply. "I shall be desolate if you don't remember me, Prince Charmont!" she cooed.
I grimaced. Poor Char.
"Ah yes, Hattie, how are you?" Suddenly I had goosebumps. I hadn't heard his voice for over a year. I began trembling.
"Never met royalty before, have you?" asked the girl behind me, smirking.
I didn't answer her. Instead, I swept from the line and ran toward the garden doors. I caused such a commotion that both Hattie and Char turned to look. He caught my eye for a second and I faltered at the doors before an attendant gave me a concerned look and opened them for me.
"Here you go, miss," he said. I thanked him and rushed out in the cool night air. I needed to compose myself before I talked to Char.