Cinderella felt the warm tears run down her cheeks and instinctively backed away from the scene. She felt her feet carry her up the attic stairs so she could fling herself onto her bed. She felt the straw poke through her blanket and scratch her wet cheeks. Most of all, she felt the ache of a broken heart. If anyone had bothered to check on Cinderella that night, if they had listened at her door, they would only have heard the muffled sobs of crushed hopes and shattered dreams.

Elizabeth was whisked off to the castle and brought before the Prince immediately.

“Such a pleasure to meet you, your majesties,â€? said Elizabeth politely to the King and Queen.

“The pleasure is all ours, Miss Elizabeth. My son will be down in a moment’â€? said the Queen.

Just then the Prince’s footsteps echoed down the grand staircase and his gaze fell upon Elizabeth in her fitted yellow gown. Prince Eric easily forgot all thoughts of the girl with glass shoes. A spell was cast, it was love at first sight.