When night begins to fall, a big party is about to begin.

The royal palace of the Kingdom of Blackcastle was brightly lit, and countless magnificent carriages came from all directions, the coachmen were strong and powerful, the attendants were courteous, and the noble girls who got off the carriages were even more dressed and beautiful.

The same is true of Mrs. Temani, who married Cinderella's dead ghost father half a year ago for gold coins, and began to squander the family fortune after successfully obtaining it, but it is clear that the wealth accumulated by a small businessman cannot satisfy her vain and greedy heart, and she needs to climb the higher branches of luxuriant and wealthier, and the royal family is the best choice.

Although Mrs. Temani was quite self-contained, she was not arrogant enough to conquer His Royal Highness the Prince with the body of a thin willow.

Antesia and Trisilia, her two daughters, thanked God for leaving them with a beautiful skin when they were deprived of their wisdom, and Madame Temani was desperate and bound to win.

However, there are always some self-conscious little mice that spoil her good mood.

"Mrs. Temani. Cinderella cautiously walked up to the three of them, changing her previous gray appearance, she changed into a decent pink dress, although still cold, but there was a feeling of refresh.

"Can I go to the ball?" asked Cinderella expectantly, and soon added, "Don't worry, this dress didn't cost a penny to the tailor, it's my mother's dress, and I've changed it a little." ”

"Tut-tut.." Mrs. Temani looked Cinderella up and down and exclaimed, "Look at our Cinderella, it's so beautiful I can't believe my eyes." Is this your mother's dress?.. Oh, it's not strong.."

With a "tear", Temani roughly ripped the sleeve of the skirt, then the chest, the hem of the skirt...

"The shoulder is off the line.. Here too. And here.."

"No!" Cinderella screamed in panic, and in the blink of an eye, the "evening dress" she had spent three hours sewing had become tattered.

Mrs. Temani's eyes darkened, "You can't go to the ball, this rag dress, it will disgrace us, it will ruin the future of my two daughters."

Cinderella watched as the gowns, which represented "Mother", "Expectation", and "Longing for Love", turned into rags in Mrs. Temani's hands, and muttered, "How can you ?.. like this?"

"Huh?" a sneer appeared on Mrs. Temani's face, "I will never allow a ragged maid like you to walk with us, remember, you are just a subordinate, don't try to change in this life.."

"But the king invited everyone, all the maidens. Cinderella cried out excitedly, her eyes reddening with grievance: "That includes me." ”

Mrs. Temani gazed at Cinderella for a long time, and suddenly laughed: "Well, dear, what right do I have to stop a young girl from yearning for beauty and nobility?"

Hope burned in Cinderella's eyes, and Mrs. Temani finally woke up, was a miracle going to happen?

The answer is no.

"I'll sprinkle a bowl of black beans in the soot in the kitchen, and as long as you can pick it up, you'll be eligible for the prom... Don't worry, dear Cinderella, the ball will last for a whole week. ”

Mrs. Temani sprinkled the black beans and walked away, adding at the end: "If you sneak to the ball without completing what I have told you, there will be no place for you in this house." ”

Cinderella's ears rang with the smug laughter of Lady Temani, and the piercing sneer of her two foolish daughters: "She even wants to go to the ball, giggles, who would marry a maid as a bride?"

"Black beans, soot, oh my god, there's nothing like these two things and our Cinderella. ”

For the first time, Cinderella experienced what it was like to be heartbroken, weeping at the roses in the garden, in the tattered, ridiculous, mother-in-house dress.

"I'm sorry Mother, I promised you to be brave and strong, but I can't do it, I can't anymore.. I've worked hard.."

Despite the pain, life goes on, and Cinderella finally does not give up hope. After all, there's a week to the gala, isn't it?

Carlo hid in the shadows, watching with interest as Cinderella picked up black beans in the filthy soot. It was hard to distinguish between the black beans and the soot, and she had a hard time picking them up, her hands were covered with soot, and tears rolled down her face to make two tragic marks.

Carlo's feet are covered with the corpses of various small animals, all of which are natural spirits who have been inspired by Cinderella's divine spirit to come to the rescue, but the demons have taken their lives.

Carlo's eyes twinkled, and he smiled, and disappeared in an instant.

It was close to midnight when Cinderella picked up a small half bowl of black beans, and she was exhausted by this time, and if she wanted to finish the work, she had to wait at least until dawn, so how could she have time to go to the ball?

Cinderella sat on the ground in despair, and suddenly, a voice sounded in her ears: "Kind and beautiful girl."

"Who!" Cinderella turned her head suddenly, and she saw a tired traveler.

"Can you give me a little slice of bread and a bowl of milk? The traveler pleaded bitterly.

Cinderella's heart softened, and she agreed, "You wait a minute." ”

She brought bread and milk, and the traveler devoured it all, smiling gratefully, "Good luck." ”

The traveler is gone, but Cinderella's work continues.

It was getting dark, and after a night of partying, the mother and daughter returned happily, talking about what had happened at the ball.

"I think the prince has fallen in love with me, and he has set his eyes on me three times in one night.."

"Shut up, you stupid woman, the prince likes me, didn't you notice the look of amazement in his eyes when he saw me?"

...

The two idiots, Antasia and Trisilia, were still chattering and arguing, but Lady Temani had come to test Cinderella's work.

"Oh, my poor Cinderella.." There was schadenfreude and hypocritical pity in her eyes, "You're so slow that you can't even do this little thing in one night, and you still want to go to the ball?"

"But it doesn't matter. Teneman kindly patted Cinderella's cheek, "You still have a chance today." ”

Cinderella, who had been sleepless all night, was swept away by tiredness and sleepiness, but had to support herself to continue to bathe and sleep with her vicious stepmother and mean sister. Compared to the physical torture, the despair in her heart is the real source of her pain.

Cinderella's hatred for the three of them deepened, and even some thoughts popped up in her mind that frightened her.

The next night, it was business as usual.

The Vicious continues to enjoy the, and the good-natured Cinderella picks up more black beans.

Tonight's black beans seem to be more cunning and more difficult to identify.

The begging traveler came to Cinderella again, "Can you give me a small piece of bread and a bowl of milk?"

His pity allowed Cinderella to fulfill his begging once again.

Then the third night, the fourth...

The same pain continued every day, the voices of viciousness and mockery grew louder and louder, and the black beans became more and more numb, and little by little Cinderella's heart sank towards the dark place.

"A loaf of bread, and a bowl of milk, oh yes, the milk better warm it for me, I can't drink anything too cold. The traveler had a commanding attitude on his face, and there was no hint of begging at all.

Did you even omit words of gratitude this time? A deep sense of disgust welled up in Cinderella's heart.

"No, I'm not going to give you anything more, not even a little crumb. Please leave immediately. ”

Cinderella's indifference provoked the traveler to frustrate, and he jumped up in anger, pointed at Cinderella's nose and said, "Damn, why did you reject me?" You lowly maid, dirty and ugly woman... You should live in the ashes forever, that's where you belong."

Cinderella's face turned pale with anger and her lips trembled.

Why is it that his kindness and strength are exchanged for viciousness and abuse? Why are those who killed his father and plotted to steal the family property to attend the prince's dinner party in the beautiful dress that should have belonged to him? Why did he not even have a chance to see the person he loved, and could only look for the damn black beans in the soot every night?

Why?..

"Die, you insatiable one. Cinderella finally broke out, slamming the black beans and wooden bowl in her hand into the traveler's face.

The traveler was hit in the forehead, and the blood flowed down, and Cinderella took a step back in fright, and suddenly woke up, what had I done?

However, the injured traveler seemed to be unconscious, but calmed down, and a bright smile bloomed on his face.

"Cinderella, my dear son, I can grant your wishes. ”

Under Cinderella's horrified gaze, the traveler's body melted like wax, and in her place a young man as handsome and graceful as the night appeared before her.

"Of course, you need to trade something else. ”

The boy smiled, his words full of bewitchment, and Cinderella stared at his cold and deep eyes, unconsciously indulging in them.

"I do. ”