Vol. 8.5 Special Edition: Free From Ashes; No Need for Glass Slippers

Cinderella let out a deep sigh. The root of her predicament was her stepsisters. "Hmm, I think this one brings out more of Cinderella's cuteness," one said. "Really? But don't the frills look kinda childish?" the other argued. "The one with the laces emphasizes her beauty way more if you ask me." Cinderella had been turned into a dress-up doll.

Truth be told, she was rather indifferent to her parents' divorce. They seldom showed their faces at home, and they never once showed her their love. As she grew up mostly under the care of servants, Cinderella had no comments to make regarding her mother's absence or her father's remarriage. Though a part of her wished he had at least consulted her beforehand, she knew that as a mere daughter, she had no right to question the will of the head of the family.

With the arrival of her stepmother, Cinderella hadn't anticipated that she would also gain stepsiblings. It came as quite the shock when she found herself with two stepsisters a year or two older than herself. Soon after, both her father and stepmother began to avoid coming home even more than before. Her father had always been a workaholic, and it appeared that her stepmother, perhaps due to her position, had married him out of necessity rather than choice.

Consequently, they both immersed themselves in their respective jobs, leaving the children to their own devices.

Thus, the responsible Cinderella was left to take care of her new two stepsisters. Fortunately, her stepsisters treated her kindly. Aside from practically abandoning her children, Cinderella's stepmother was a rational individual, and in turn, her daughters were sensible and fond of lovely things—particularly the beautiful Cinderella. They continued to adore her greatly, even to this day.

"I think Cinderella would look great in pink," one stepsister suggested.

"Maybe a light blue instead would make for more of a prim and proper look?" the other recommended.

The stepsister with the red hair and the other with her hair tied up in a ponytail were busy fussing over Cinderella's dresses, discussing which one would suit her best. On the other hand, Cinderella simply wished to get started on the housework.

With her father, the head of the household, frequently absent due to work, and her stepmother, who should have assumed the role of the lady of the house, also working alongside him, Cinderella was left without any real authority at home. Had she had been granted the power to manage the household, she could have arranged for help to some extent in her stepmother's stead. However, lacking such authority, she was just a young girl with limited influence. Luckily, they were provided with adequate funds for their living expenses, so while they weren't in financial distress, they still found themselves in a situation where they had to take care of their daily needs by themselves.

"Cinderella~, what do you think of this dress?"

"It's quite pretty, but it seems impractical for chores like cooking and cleaning," Cinderella judged.

"C'mooon!"

The dress they were suggesting was one with a large ball gown skirt, which was clearly unsuitable for doing household chores.

"We'll handle the cleaning, then. Okay?" one offered.

"Have you already forgotten how you dropped a bag of flour and turned the floor into a mess, or how you tipped over a bucket of water, flooding everything?" Cinderella reminded them.

"I'm sorry."

"Please be more careful next time." When Cinderella gently advised them while mentioning their earlier mishaps, they were quick to apologize.

Their home, while technically classed as a mansion, was modest for a noble's residence. Their lifestyle almost resembled that of a commoner's. Consequently, they didn't require much help with household chores, but if things were excessively untidy, it became too much for Cinderella to handle alone. Usually, she would turn to their neighbor for assistance, but she felt guilty about relying on him too often and preferred to manage as much as possible on her own.

"Dressing myself up is unnecessary. Besides, I still need to prepare lunch for both of you," Cinderella explained.

"And for the guy next door, right?"

"Stepsister, please." Cinderella chided her, giving her a sharp look. "Sorry…" The red-haired stepsister quickly apologized with a bow of her head, earning a laugh from the other.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

One day, while Cinderella was getting along with her new, growing family, an invitation arrived at her house. It was an invitation from the palace, which puzzled them at first, but upon opening it, they found it was for a ball at the castle.

The invitation seemed to be especially targeting young ladies of marrying age, and the three of them exchanged glances and shrugged.

"So it's essentially a party to choose a partner for the crown prince." They had heard that the prince was around their age, so it seemed likely.

"…Is it based on looks?" wondered Cinderella. The idea of finding a partner at a ball made her assume that it would mostly be about appearances. However, perhaps she only carried that train of thought due to her cynical way of thinking. Cinderella was by no means a dreamer or idealistic—she thought it would be more practical to decide on a fiancé from childhood and educate them accordingly.

"Well, having a partner with good looks can be a great way to show off to other countries, I suppose," one stepsister mentioned "But shouldn't education, intelligence, and character be more important for a representative of the nation?"

"Maybe they wanna work on that after the fact? All the invitees are unmarried noblewomen of a certain age, so they've probably somewhat screened the candidates already, right?"

"Really? Sending an invitation to a minor noble family such as ours could suggest that they're just trying to cast a wide net."

All three of them made speculations while looking at the invitation. Any normal noblewoman would see this as a great opportunity, but the three of them had no such desires and were just confused by the invitation. They even considered the invitation a nuisance.

They felt it would be improper for all of them to skip the event, as much as they wanted to pretend that they hadn't been invited. It meant that the palace had specifically recognized their house.

"Hmm, what should we do?" one asked.

"I have no interest in becoming Queen, but I am interested in the party's food."

"Indeed…"

It might seem greedy, but Cinderella couldn't help but think that dining in the royal palace must be an entirely different experience from their everyday meals. The dishes she prepared were homely and common, but at the palace, she imagined there would be a lot to learn, particularly in terms of cooking techniques and flavoring, even if the ingredients were the same.

"If it's a party hosted by the royal family, the food must be wonderful, right?

I was hoping it would serve as a reference for my cooking… Then perhaps I could prepare something special for you two as well as my stepsisters."

"Cinderella…!" the stepsisters exclaimed, hugging her tightly. Cinderella groaned as they squeezed her, but they paid her no mind and affectionately rubbed their cheeks against hers. Aware of their affection, Cinderella accepted the gesture with a small, wry smile. She didn't dislike the way they showed their fondness for her.

After a while of hugging, one stepsister, wearing a troubled frown, said, "I'd love to go with Cinderella, but we can't take her… The prince might set his sights on her."

"True that. If we bring our adorable little Cinderella with us, she might get chosen. And that'd stir up all kinds of trouble."

"I don't think that would happen, though…" Cinderella voiced.

Cinderella was aware of her good looks, but she didn't consider herself one of the most beautiful women out there. She thought the likelihood of other women being chosen over her was far much higher.

Cinderella saw her invitation to the ball as almost just making up the numbers. She doubted the prince would consider marrying someone from a nearly powerless minor noble family.

Contrary to Cinderella's somewhat pessimistic view, her stepsisters wore serious expressions on their faces. "No way, it totally would! Our Cinderella is so adorable!"

"Exactly! We need to find a good husband for our Cinderella!"

"We just need to find suitable partners at the party ourselves, and we'll be in the clear!"

This took Cinderella by surprise. "Are you two not thinking of inheriting the house in my stead?" she asked. Cinderella had no particular attachment to the house and would have no complaints if either of her stepsisters decided to take over. She felt she was better equipped than her stepsisters to survive in the common world, and was even prepared to run away from home if the situation called for it.

Her light comment was met with sudden seriousness from both stepsisters, who turned their quiet, intense gazes on her. "Cinderella."

"Yes?"

"We can't inherit the house since we don't share blood with our stepfather. If anyone but you inherits, it would be like completely taking over the house."

"How blunt of you," Cinderella replied.

Bloodline-wise, it made sense. The house's bloodline was with her father, not the stepmother. Had her stepsisters been biological children of her father, they would've had the right to inherit the house, but being the stepmother's children, they were not originally related to the house. Even though they were adopted into the family, Cinderella remained the rightful heir.

"We understand our place in this house, don't worry," one stepsister said. "Our mother knows that too, so she tries to stay away as much as possible," the other added.

"Huh? Really?" Cinderella replied. "I assumed she was just busy with work."

"Well, that's part of it. But also, we…we told her we wanted a sister, so um… Did we bother you?" They both looked at Cinderella, downhearted.

Despite both stepsisters being taller than Cinderella, they appeared awfully adorable to her. She quickly shook her head in denial. "No, I too wished to have a family. I'm happy that you two decided to come."

"Cinderella…!"

"You're familiar with how Father acts, right? He doesn't quite feel like family, so I'm glad to have both of you here," Cinderella told them with a smile.

The stepsisters exchanged glances and then whispered among themselves.

"Would stepfather let me off if I slapped him one time?" "I think Mother deserves the same treatment…"

Cinderella had a feeling she heard something rather risky, but she pretended not to hear the contents of their little conversation.

Returning to the original topic, one stepsister said, "You don't like dealing with royalty, do you, Cinderella? You think it's a hassle, right?"

Having her personality read like a book, Cinderella looked away. "And besides…y'know."

"Right?"

They looked past Cinderella's averted gaze. She was looking through a window. On the other side of the glass was their neighbor's house—the residence of someone they often relied on.

"…What are you implying?" "Nuthin?"

"Heh heh heh."

Cinderella knew what they were hinting at, but chose not to verbalize it.

Saying it out loud would mean acknowledging her feelings, which she wasn't ready to do. Her stepsisters, however, continued to show their affectionately mischievous smiles and gazes.

"Maybe we'll run into stepfather if we attend the ball?" one of the stepsisters wondered.

"We don't need to go, then." "Wow, you sure decided fast."

"It's fine. Things will only get sour if we see him."

Their father, though a workaholic, wasn't particularly power-hungry. If he were, he would have likely married them off to high-ranking nobles for his own benefit. In that sense, they felt relieved about him, but his character was, to put it mildly, lacking. His neglect of his three daughters alone was enough to keep him off any list of commendable parents.

Besides, if they did meet their father now, Cinderella wasn't even sure how to react. She could probably say a thing or two in resentment, but they didn't even have a relationship that justified voicing such grievances. It was best to avoid him as much as possible.

"We aren't all required to go to this ball, are we?" Cinderella asked.

"Don't think so, as far as I can tell," one answered.

"Then it's decided. I'll stay here, and only you two—my stepsisters—will attend," Cinderella concluded. She encouraged them to enjoy the food on her behalf, to which they responded with a wry smile and a nod.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

As Cinderella watched her stepsisters depart for the ball, she returned to her usual task of tending the garden, where she let out a sigh. She wasn't particularly bothered about missing a de facto matchmaking party, but she felt a mix of loneliness from being separated from her beloved stepsisters and disappointment at missing out on the delicious food. Her sigh must have been heard, as she sensed someone standing nearby.

It was someone whose presence she welcomed rather than saw as an intrusion. "Wizard-san."

"What's the matter? Why are you sighing?" he asked lightly.

Turning to her side, she saw her neighbor, who she saw almost every day. He belonged to a family of wizards and often helped around her house, considering it might be difficult for only girls. He started helping when Cinderella's father was rarely home, leaving her to live modestly with just one servant, something he just couldn't bear to see. His assistance continued even after the servant retired and when her stepsisters arrived, always being by her side.

She offered him meals as thanks for his help, but he did so much for her that she felt meals alone couldn't suffice. Cinderella was torn between gratitude and guilt, and now, after being addressed by him, she felt a warm sensation stir in her heart.

"Oh, it's just that my stepsisters have both went to the ball, and…" "Oh, right, that's being held today, isn't it? Did they leave you behind, Cinderella?" "They did."

"…But why? Don't they both adore you?" The wizard, who often visited, was well aware of the stepsisters' affection for Cinderella and seemed surprised they would leave her.

"They said it's to prevent the prince from taking a fancy to me."

"Ohhh." He seemed to understand and exhaled in what appeared to be relief, puzzling Cinderella.

He was part of a wizard family that had been in the country for a long time and occasionally interacted with the royal family. Given this, he should understand that the royals wouldn't consider someone from a minor noble family like Cinderella's. Yet, his reaction suggested something else, which intrigued Cinderella.

"But realistically speaking, isn't it impossible for the prince to fall for someone like me?"

"Not really. With how cute you are, it wouldn't be strange if he did."

Feeling her cheeks heat up at the direct compliment, Cinderella bit the inside of her cheek lightly to avoid showing her welling embarrassment on her face.

"I disagree. A future king wouldn't marry a girl without any significant backing. I don't think His Majesty would allow it, and at best, I might be a mere concubine."

"A very realistic way of thinking… Don't you wish to be admired?" "Even if we temporarily ignored the issues of bloodline and family background, I would eventually be criticized for those very reasons at the royal palace. The burden would be too much, regardless of how elegant the lifestyle promised. I'd definitely hate it," she explained.

Cinderella didn't yearn for a lavish life. The presence of her parents was slightly unsettling, but she was content with her kind stepsisters, a life free from worry of food and clothing, and the cherished wizard next door who enjoyed her meals with a smile. She was satisfied as things currently were.

"I want to live a stable life," Cinderella admitted. "I have no desire to throw myself into an environment where my life or mind would be at stake."

"Yeah, I'm both relieved and worried that you're so grounded in reality. It's clear that you dislike the idea…" he mused.

"And what about you, Wizard-san? Don't you want to be employed at the royal palace?" she asked. Wizards were rare in number, which made them valuable assets. Though he seemed to use magic only for daily tasks and kept his identity as a wizard concealed, Cinderella believed his abilities were substantial enough to warrant an invitation from the palace. He had fiercely used his powers to protect her from danger, proving himself as a strong, kind, and righteous wizard with a will to protect.

"Ah, no way. With position comes great responsibility, and reckless use of magic could eventually lead to one's demise. I'd rather avoid my own ruin or the country's downfall, so living quietly in the town is happier for me," he declared.

"See? You feel the same way, Wizard-san."

"…Yeah, I guess so," he agreed to her suggestion that they were the same, shrugging and smiling as he ruffled her hair. It felt patronizing, and she would glare at him, but his gentle, affectionate gaze made it hard for her to say anything.

"Hmph." Pouting, she tapped his large hand, playfully admonishing him.

This only softened his obsidian eyes further, leaving Cinderella without a comeback. "…Oh, by the way, why were you here?"

Thinking back, this wasn't the usual time for the wizard to appear. Although he didn't publicly declare himself a wizard, he was known as a pharmacist, selling highly effective medicines that were the talk of the town.

Cinderella had assumed he would be at his shop today, so she asked him why that wasn't the case. He seemed awkwardly evasive, saying, "Ahh, about that, well…" his words trailing off.

She stared at him, wondering if something was wrong, as he didn't need to be so evasive if he simply closed his pharmacy for a day. Finally, as if resigning himself to his fate, he spoke, "…Uh, I saw you from over there, and I thought you were crying. You were looking down and shaking."

Hearing the wizard's bashful mutter, Cinderella couldn't help but smile. "I see. You were worried about me."

"What, should I not have?" His voice and demeanor became defensive, a sure sign of embarrassment. Knowing this from their long acquaintance, Cinderella smiled gently, not wanting to tease him.

"No, I'm happy about it. I'm sorry for making you worry. I was just feeling a bit down about not going to the ball."

"So you did want to go, after all?"

"Well, not exactly…promise you won't laugh?" "I won't."

Hesitant to share her true feelings, but not wanting to let him misunderstand it was due to something severe, she slowly revealed her regret through her hesitation. "I just wanted to try the delicious food there and get some inspiration," she admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed to admit her food-focused reasons for wanting to attend.

The wizard, who had been listening intently, blinked in surprise. Then, inevitably, his mouth twitched as he tried to suppress a laugh. His body shook slightly, so it mustn't have been her imagination.

"You promised you wouldn't laugh!" she protested.

"I'm not…laughing," the wizard claimed as he stifled a chuckle. "That's it! No more of my cooking for you!"

"I'm sorry!" he laughed yet also rushed to apologize as she declared to revoke his food rights.

"Geez!" Cinderella playfully tapped his shoulder, which was as high as she could reach on his tall frame. His shockingly solid build didn't budge, and the slight embarrassment from this realization made her continue her light-hearted assault. The wizard just laughed, tickled by her actions.

After a while, Cinderella stopped her harmless barrage and looked up at him, now smiling differently. Gently patting her shoulder, he reassured her, "You don't need to take inspiration from the castle's lavish food. Your cooking is delicious already. I eat it almost every day and can guarantee it."

"…Thank you. But still, wouldn't you like to eat food that's even more delicious?"

"Me? I'm not really into food that's too fancy. The occasional luxury meal is nice, but for daily meals, I definitely prefer your cooking."

"I see, I see…" Cinderella giggled, feeling content with his affirmation that he preferred her cooking. Cinderella knew she was simple to feel so fulfilled by such a comment, but she didn't dislike this part of herself. Being praised by someone important was enough to fill her with joy. Even without going to the castle, she felt overwhelmingly fortunate to have these small moments of happiness.

"You seem quite pleased," the wizard said.

"I am, that's why. I'm happy to hear that you want to eat my meals every day."

"…Wouldn't you normally get annoyed by that? You know, having to take care of a freeloader daily."

"Why? You pay for your meals in addition to helping me take care of the house. Plus, I know how you secretly protect us," Cinderella replied. While the wizard lightly joked about freeloading, Cinderella felt she was the one benefiting more. He had been looking out for and helping her since when she only had one servant, often coming to save the day when male assistance was needed. He would protect her whenever strange men tried to woo her, going as far as to accompany her into town next time for peace of mind.

But that wasn't all. She also suspected he was using magic or something similar to safeguard their home. She always felt a sense of protection around the house, which had never faced any danger despite being inhabited only by women. The fact that he provided such care and only asked for meals in return made her feel all the more grateful, believing she was the one who should be more grateful, not him.

"Please, act like you didn't notice anything," urged the wizard. "Oh, did I hit the nail on the head?"

"…Just forget about it. If I admit it, it'd seem like I'm trying to make you owe me a favor," he replied. He was always modest and didn't like to boast, but Cinderella always wanted to express her gratitude.

She smiled warmly as she looked at his face, which was growing redder and redder. "I'm always grateful for your help. Thank you."

"Likewise, I'm also grateful," the wizard replied. "Thank you for accepting someone like me, an outcast."

"My, since when did you become an outcast? You're always welcome here," Cinderella reassured him. Both she and her stepsisters welcomed the wizard.

The stepsisters, in fact, often encouraged Cinderella to take action, making her wonder what being accepted really meant if he wasn't already. He might lack self-confidence, but to Cinderella, he was a respected and dearly beloved figure.

Lips pursed, the wizard appeared to be holding back something. Cinderella reached out her hand, and his eyes widened in surprise. "Come on, my stepsisters aren't home today, so we can relax inside. Please, come in," she said.

"N-No, no matter how close our families are, it's not proper for a young, unmarried woman to be alone with a man in her house. Your stepsisters wouldn't approve either."

He may be a wizard wielding powers beyond common sense, but he was quite conventional and cautious about social norms. He likely hadn't realized that this was a trait that often frustrated Cinderella.

"If anything, they actually encouraged me."

"What do they think they're doing…?"

"They told me to 'catch' you while they're away. Will you let me catch you?" she asked, her question almost rhetorical as she firmly took his rugged hand. He looked bewildered but soon smiled resignedly, his eyebrows drooping as though troubled.

Cinderella cherished these moments when he showed such innocent expressions, finding them especially lovable.

"Now you've caught yourself a handy wizard, huh?" he commented. "…It's not like I wanted to do this just because you're a wizard, though?" "Huh?"

"Let's begin by correcting that misunderstanding," she said, realizing he still didn't comprehend that he was valued for himself, not just for his magical abilities. To Cinderella, he had long ceased to be merely a wizard—he was her prince charming.

"Will you let me catch you?" she asked, hoping he would finally understand. Looking into his eyes, she saw his usually concealed dark eyes now mixed with shades of embarrassment and joy, bashfully cast down.

Realizing she had successfully 'caught' him, Cinderella couldn't help but laugh, though she wondered if it made her seem ungracious. Yet, she couldn't hide her high spirits and let her joy show on her face.

"…I think you're the one who's been caught, if you ask me," he retorted. "Oh? Well that means things have worked out perfectly. Let's spend today talking a lot, so you understand better," she proposed. "What a silly girl you are."

"Hehe. We'll see which one of us is the silly one sooner or later."

We're both silly in our own way, Cinderella thought. She led her prince charming by the hand into their modest house, disappearing together from the world outside.