Prolouge

Once upon a time, in a faraway land there was a tiny kingdom- peaceful, prosperous, and rich in romance and tradition. Here in twin chateaus, there lived a widowed gentleman with his little daughter Ella. In the other house there lived a family of three, a mother, a father, and their daughter Phoebe.

Although the gentleman was a kind and devoted father and he gave his beloved child every luxury and comfort, still he felt that she needed a mother's care.

The family begged him not to marry the vile woman Tremaine, yet the man refused and married the woman, desperate to give his child the loving mother she deserved. The woman had two other daughters Phoebe and Ella's age. By name, Anastasia and Drizella, both whom Tremaine adored more than Ella.

It was upon the untimely death of the good man however, that the stepmother's true nature was revealed. Cold, cruel, and bitterly jealous of Ella's charm and beauty. She was grimly determined to forward the interests of her own two awkward daughters. Thus, as time went by, the chateau fell into disrepair for the family fortunes were squandered upon the vain and selfish stepsisters.

While Ella was abused, humiliated, and finally forced to become a servant in her own house. The family next door pleaded that Tremaine let go of Ella, the woman refused. Phoebe would sometimes sneak in food for Ella while her parents distracted Tremaine. When discovering what Tremaine did, the family was furious.

Ella begged them not to tell anyone, for that would get her stepmother and sisters in horrible trouble. The family had to watch as poor Ella was mistreated from afar, and yet through it all, Ella remained ever gentle and kind. For with each dawn, she found new hope that someday her dreams of happiness would come true.

Now, our tale begins.