Yet Another Ball
The next day too, Cinderella’s sisters chose their best clothing and got ready for the ball. Cinderella assisted them voluntarily and dressed them up appropriately for the occasion. In the heart of her hearts, she herself w as wondering what she would wear for the evening to come.
As soon as her family left, Cinderella quickly ran to her mother’s grave, stood beneath the Hazel tree and called for her Godmother, the fairy.
The moment the fairy appeared, she pleaded, “Dear fairy! Please turn me beautiful and dress me up as splendidly as yesterday.” Granting her wish, the fairy, touched her with her wand and there she stood in a glittering dark brown dress, which was as brown as the earth.
The dress was embroidered with silver flowers that made her look more beautiful than the previous evening. She was also given silver shoes to wear. Before she could put them on. the carriage, coachman and the footmen too were ready by her side, waiting for her to ascend. Again the fairy cautioned her to return home before midnight and waved her goodbye.
By the time she reached the palace, Cinderella saw that the whole gathering was desperately waiting for her arrival, including the prince. The prince quickly ran forward to welcome her and took her hand, leading her to an honorable seat.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the prince asked her for a dance and since then, he would dance with none except her. the entire evening. Refusing to notice any other lady, the prince kept gazing at her beautiful face continuously, which only made Cinderella turn pinker.
Having decided not to miss his unknown beauty that night, the prince instructed his men to pour honey all over the stairs so that her shoes would get stuck in it, thus preventing her to escape from him that evening, even if she wanted to.
But Cinderella who remembered her Godmother’s caution that day too, jumped from one stair to another and made her way through the door, without getting stuck in the honey.
Soon, she reached home, called out her Godmother and changed in to her usual self. She couldn’t thank her enough for her help. As she stood there narrating the evening’s events to the fairy, she heard the knock of the door and ran inside to open the door.
That day too, her sisters spoke of nothing but the beautiful princess and told her that the prince had declared yet another ball with a hope that the unknown princess would attend it. “Guess she won’t make it to the ball this time. We stand a chance with the prince only if she doesn’t turn up,” they said sighing, as they left to their rooms.