The Wizard of Fairy Tale World

Chapter 98: Cinderella—The Dragon King Returns

Prince Eric and his new bride, Ariel, stepped down from the carriage.

The distinguished crown prince and his newlywed wife greeted the nearby onlookers with warmth, showing not the slightest air of superiority.

Then, the two of them headed toward Cinderella’s house.

At that moment, Cinderella had already gone back inside to continue her chores, while her stepsisters remained under the shade, chatting.

When they saw the handsome prince and his stunning wife approaching, they were momentarily stunned before panic set in.

"Oh my god! Isn’t that Prince Eric of the Western Asia Kingdom and his newlywed wife? They just had a grand wedding a few days ago—the whole kingdom knows about it!"

"They’re the future King and Queen of the Western Asia Kingdom! Why on earth would such important figures suddenly visit our home?"

The two sisters scrambled back inside to inform their mother.

Cinderella’s stepmother thought they were joking.

"What nonsense are you two spouting? The ball isn’t until tonight. Why would Prince Henry come looking for us?"

As a well-off family in town, they had received an invitation to Prince Henry’s ball, but it was just one of many that had been mass-distributed.

"It’s not Prince Henry—it’s his elder brother, Crown Prince Eric!" The two sisters frantically gestured toward the window.

"Prince Eric?"

When the stepmother looked outside, she was immediately taken aback. Sure enough, there was a luxurious carriage, and Prince Eric and Ariel were walking toward their courtyard.

She was so startled that she hastily changed into her finest clothes, rushing so much that she ended up putting her shoes on the wrong feet.

Then, she hurried out the door to greet them.

"Oh! Your Highness! What an honor! What brings you and your beautiful wife here?"

She knew full well that this man was the future ruler of the Western Asia Kingdom—far more powerful than his younger brother, Prince Henry, who was merely hosting the upcoming ball. Everyone in the kingdom wanted to get on Eric’s good side.

For such an important figure to visit in person… what could be the reason?

Prince Eric smiled.

"I’m here to find a beautiful and kind-hearted girl and personally invite her to my brother Henry’s ball."

Cinderella’s stepmother was stunned but quickly nodded.

"Oh! I do have two beautiful daughters. I wonder which one you’re looking for? I’ll have them come out right away!"

The two stepsisters wasted no time dressing in their finest gowns, preparing to step outside.

Before leaving the house, they were already arguing over which of them the prince had come for.

"Sure, I’m gorgeous, but am I really beautiful enough for Prince Eric to come all this way just to invite me?" the older sister mused.

"Sis, stop being so full of yourself! Of course, he’s here for me!" the younger sister retorted.

"Oh, for heaven’s sake, my foolish daughters! Stop daydreaming!"

Their mother couldn’t take it anymore and voiced her own speculation.

"I think Prince Eric must have the wrong house. Why would someone so important personally invite you two? Once he sees you’re not the girl he’s looking for, this will all be cleared up."

Inside, Cinderella had been sweeping the floor. Seeing the commotion from her stepmother and sisters, she realized the prince had arrived. Just as she was about to say something, her stepmother snapped at her.

"Cinderella! Stay in the house and don’t you dare come out! We can’t let the prince see you in your filthy state!"

With that, the stepmother and her daughters rushed outside, leaving Cinderella standing there, feeling even more wronged and heartbroken.

The moment Eric saw the two stepsisters, he spoke plainly.

"No, the girl I wish to invite is not one of them."

Then, he pulled out an exquisitely crafted invitation—one that was vastly different from the mass-produced ones. The golden-etched lettering shimmered brilliantly.

"The girl I’m looking for is named Cinderella. She lives here, doesn’t she?"

The stepmother and her daughters were completely dumbfounded.

While they stood there in stunned silence, Prince Eric and Ariel walked past them and directly into the house.

Inside, they immediately saw Cinderella, dressed in soot-stained, tattered clothes.

"You must be Miss Cinderella, correct?" Prince Eric greeted her warmly, as if he didn’t even notice the dirt and ash covering her.

"Y-Yes… that’s me," Cinderella answered nervously.

"Wonderful!" The prince looked absolutely delighted.

"Miss Cinderella, I came all the way from the capital just to find you! I would like to personally invite you to my brother Henry’s ball. Will you accept?"

Cinderella trembled as she nodded, unable to believe what was happening.

Am I dreaming?

The crown prince of the Western Asia Kingdom… personally traveled here… just to invite me?

The shock was so overwhelming that she stood frozen, unable to respond.

Seeing Cinderella hesitate, Ariel suddenly looked anxious.

"Oh no, Eric! It seems like Miss Cinderella doesn’t want to go!" Ariel said with a troubled expression.

"That’s terrible! If Miss Cinderella refuses to attend, His Majesty will surely be furious!" Eric exclaimed, clearly worried.

Without hesitation, the prince grasped Cinderella’s arm—completely unbothered by the dirt and grime—as if she were draped in the finest silk.

The crown prince of the Western Asia Kingdom earnestly pleaded:

"Please, Miss Cinderella, I beg you—attend my brother’s ball! I assure you, it will only take one evening of your time!"

Ariel also chimed in, pleading with her.

"Yes! If Miss Cinderella refuses to attend Prince Henry’s ball, then the ball itself might as well be canceled!"

Cinderella was utterly dumbfounded. She had no idea how to respond.

W-Wait, what is going on here?!

No, that’s not it—I never said I didn’t want to go!

"N-No! That’s not what I meant—!" Cinderella frantically waved her hands.

But she wasn’t the only one who was in complete shock.

Her stepsisters and stepmother, who had been eavesdropping on the entire conversation, were just as bewildered.

"I must be dreaming," the elder stepsister muttered blankly. "I must’ve eaten too much before bed."

"You idiot! If you were dreaming, why would I be dreaming too?!" the younger sister snapped. "Wait—so you were the one who stole my pastries last night! I knew it!"

"You’re the idiot! Obviously, we’re both having the same dream!"

"You two fools!" their mother hissed, dragging her two bewildered daughters outside.

Once in the courtyard, she poured a bucket of cold water over each of their heads.

Dripping wet, the two sisters looked at their mother in shock.

"This is not a dream!" their stepmother declared. "Listen to me—your sister, Cinderella, is definitely not an ordinary girl!"

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