As I waited at the bleachers of the gymnasium, a certain thought came to my mind.

She said that she will only go to the ladies’ room but I’ve been waiting here for half an hour now. Even if Cindy is a girl, I doubt that she’ll take this long without a reason.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” I whispered to myself and went to the girl’s toilet room.

It’s not like I want to peak, you know. I’m only worried now because her allotted time will soon finish.

With that reasoning, I entered the forbidden room. Inside, the white-tiled room was full of cubicles with no urinal fixed on the wall. It was also much fragrant compared to the men’s restroom.

“Cindy? You there?” I called, but no one answered. “It looks like no one is here anymore.”

Then, I saw a glass-like shoe on the floor.

“Isn’t this...” I whispered and grabbed it. “It’s Cindy’s shoe!”

I immediately ran as fast as I could towards the gate of the school. Then, I saw the human size Pixie in a butler outfit. She was in a standing position beside a limousine.

“Pixie!” I shouted and arrived before her.

“Prince? Where is Cindy? Did something happen?” she asked, worried.

“She’s missing,” I said while I panted in exhaustion.

“What?” Pixie reacted, astounded. “Do you know why?”

“I don’t know, but I have a hunch on where to find her,” I responded with a serious face.

“Where?” Pixie asked nervously.

“In her house.”

“So a family member caught her?”

“I’m not sure too, but that’s the only possibility I could come up with.”

“Then, what should we do?”

I made a determined expression and answered, “Go to her house.”

With that decided, we rode the limousine and Pixie drove towards Cindy’s house. After both of us exited the car, Pixie looked at me with a stern face.

“Are you planning to save her now?”

“I can’t leave her and do nothing,” I responded in a serious look.

“It’s only one minute before 1 AM meaning I will lose consciousness after that and won’t be able to help you in this one.”

“I have a feeling that if I don’t save her now, I might regret it later.”

Then, she smiled at me and replied, “Then, I’ll believe in you, Prince. Save our princess.”

As my answer, I nodded with a smile and drew out my fist. After she saw my action, she got a little stunned. But after a second, she smiled and bumped fist with me.

When the time reached exactly 1 AM, the limousine disappeared. Also, Pixie transformed back to her original form. I then caught her on my hands while she was asleep. I placed her in my breast pocket and brought out the glass-like shoe of Cindy.

“Only the prince can find the whereabouts of Cinderella using the shoe,” I muttered as I stared at Cindy’s house. Then, I looked at the shoe I was holding. “Then, that also means that this shoe is the key so I could see her again.”

After saying those words, I closed my eyes and imagine Cindy’s whole appearance. Then, our memories with each other flashed before my eyes. Memories from the first time we met to the last conversation we shared. After that, the shoe emitted light, and it transported me to a certain place.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

“I brought her home, Mom,” Rizelle said with a smile. She was standing with Cindy (now wearing her school uniform) after they arrived in the living room. There, Maine (Cindy’s step-mother) and Anna were waiting while seated on the sofa. “You can now leave.”

When the bodyguard heard that from Rizelle, he nodded and went upstairs.

“Didn’t I say not to attend that Ball, Cindy?” Maine asked with an intimidating tone and glare. Because of that, Cindy’s shoulder twitched.

“That’s...” Cindy said in a nervous tone but immediately made a serious face after. “That’s because that’s what I want to do.”

Maine then stood up and muttered, “That’s strange. That’s not something you could do.”

“What do you mean?” Cindy asked, confused.

“You can never disobey Mother. Didn’t you realize that?” Anna followed with a grin.

“Right. I found her actions strange before going to bed. So I observed her and what do you know, she went to that Ball for real,” Rizelle said in an evil smile.

“Then, let’s try if I can still use my powers on her,” Maine whispered and made a devilish smirk. “Dance like a chicken, Cindy!”

“What?” Cindy reacted in a surprised look and after a second, her entire body froze. Then, her arms folded without her consent. “My arms... moved?”

Her arms then made a flapping motion, and her hips also shook in rhythm.

“What is this? What’s happening to me?” Cindy asked in panic as her body moved according to Maine’s will.

Because of Ci9ndy’s strange dance, all three of them laughed out loud.

“Y-you can stop now,” Maine ordered as she tried her best to stop her laughter. Cindy then stopped her motion.

“Wh-what have you done to me? Why can’t I disobey your orders?” Cindy asked in desperation.

“Because it’s your destiny to become our slave as long as you live,” Maine answered cruelly.

After Cindy heard that response, she became baffled so much, her eyes stretched wide.

“You’re... kidding me...” Cindy whispered, still couldn’t believe what was happening.

“Do we look like we’re kidding?” Maine asked.

Confused on how to react, all Cindy did was to accept those words.

“What... did I do... to deserve this?” Cindy whispered with all her reasons lost.

“Because you were born in this world!” Maine shouted and laughed out loud right after. Tears then fell from Cindy’s eyes.

“She’s right, Cindy,” Rizelle followed with an evil smile.

“So blame yourself for that fate,” Anna followed with a smirk.

“No. The three of you are the ones who should not be in this world,” I retorted with a glare. I was near the doorway, standing with both my fists clenched out of anger.

Anna asked stood up with a bewildered face and asked, “Wh-what are you doing here?”

“How did you enter this house?” Rizelle questioned with furrowed eyebrows.

“I’m only here to find my princess,” I responded and showed them the glass shoe.

“That crown and that shoe...” Maine reacted, stunned too. “So you’re the prince of this world.”

Then, I walked towards the confused Cindy and knelt before her.

“What’s happening here, Prince?” Cindy asked as she stared at me from above.

“Well, wear this first. It’s hard to stand up with only one shoe, right?” I asked with a smile.

“Okay...” Cindy somehow agreed, and I placed the shoe on her free feet. Then, I stood up and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

“I’ll put an end to this, so don’t worry,” I whispered to her.

“Prince...” Cindy whispered and a smile finally appeared on her face. “Okay.”

After that, I looked at the three with a pissed expression.

“So the three of you are the embodiment of Cindy’s curse.”

“That’s correct,” all three of them answered in unison.

“I found it strange that those sisters confessed their love to me. But thinking about it, that’s the reasonable step to make her life miserable. By stealing away her prince,” I revealed and looked at both Rizelle and Anna.

“It’s our purpose to make her life like that. It took a while to find you, but we successfully discovered your identity. It was thanks to that crown on your head and the fairy that always follows you,” Anna explained with a grin on her face.

“So don’t get full of yourself. We only confessed to you because we have a purpose to fulfill. It’s not because we like you,” Rizelle followed and looked at me while grossed out.

“Now that hurts, all right,” I retorted with a smile.

“So how are you planning on putting an end to this?” Maine asked like they already won.

“By taking Cindy with me! Cindy, let’s run away from here!” I shouted and pulled Cindy into a run. Cindy then followed me as her trust in my judgment.

“No, you don’t! Cindy, stop!” Maine ordered and Cindy stopped from her tracks. That order made me unable to pull Cindy away.

“And that’s the most troublesome part of this curse,” I whispered in agitation.

“See? You can’t save her anymore! So give up, prince!” Maine yelled and laughed in victory, followed by the two.

What should I do? How can I save her now?

As I tried to find an answer, I looked at Cindy and saw her smile.

“Cindy?” I reacted, stupefied.

“I believe in you,” Cindy muttered with her eyes still full of life.

I can’t give up here. I’m before the girl I like. I can’t afford to show any weakness. I have to save her no matter what happens because she believes in me!

“I will save you, I promise,” I replied with a smile. As her response, she gave me a nod.

“Are you sure you can give a promise that you can’t fulfill?” Rizelle asked with a mocking smile.

“That guy is an idiot, you see,” Anna followed and snickered.

Think! How can I defeat the curse? I’m the prince of this world. Meaning I am the only one who can put this to an end. Anything is fine! Remember something! Something I know that will defeat the curse!

“Cindy... your step-mother ordered you to not attend the Ball, right?” I asked with slightly widened eyes.

“That’s right...” Cindy answered in a serious look.

“But you opposed that. How?”

“That’s...” she responded and paused. She then became astonished. “I think it’s because you said that I can.”

I can? That’s it!

“Cindy, move!” I shouted, loud enough to reverberate throughout the living room.

“What?” Maine reacted with furrowed eyebrows.

“I... can now move my legs!” Cindy reacted happily. She jumped up and down to feel her freedom of motion.

“Seriously?” Rizelle and Anna reacted in a dumbfounded look.

“So that’s your power as the prince,” Maine muttered in agitation.

It looks like I have more power than the curse in this world. So if the curse can force its will to the princess, the prince can overpower that with another order.

“I guess it’s my win, curse,” I said with a grin.

So if I have more power than this curse, then I can also force my will on it!

“Nooooooooooooo!” the three of them shouted and tried to jump me.

“Curse, vanish, and return to the book!” I shouted, and the three screeched in pain as they glowed.

‘Uhmm... what’s happening to me?” Cindy asked me in nervousness as her body emitted light too.

“It’s fine. Wait for it to disappear,” I answered with a smile and held her hand. Then, after five seconds, the light around all of them faded.

Soon after, the three fell on their knees, somewhat conscious yet with low spirits.

“What have I done?” Maine whispered with a devastated face. She remembered all her previous cruel actions that got influenced by the curse.

“Why did I say those horrible things...” Rizelle also murmured with a similar expression as her mother’s.

“Did I do that for real?” Anna muttered, confused.

“Uhmm... is everything fine now, Prince?” Cindy asked in a worried expression.

“Yeah,” I said with a smile. “The curse that’s possessing your family is not there now, so I’m sure they’re now back to normal.”

Then, Maine, Rizelle, and Anna stood up, with their eyes full of regrets. After that, I let go of Cindy’s hand and made a few steps backward.

“Cindy!” Maine called and hugged Cindy tight with a cry.

“I’m sorry...*sniff*... I’m very sorry...” she apologized in sadness. “I only want to become strict so I could support the three of you on my own. But...*sniff*... I did all those cruel things to you...”

Cindy hugged her back and made a relieved smile. “Everything’s okay now, Auntie...”

“Don’t call me like that anymore. I don’t even know why I ordered you to do that... and even made you a maid... so you can stop doing all that. Just call me Mom, just like usual...”

“Okay... Mom,” Cindy followed and tears welled up in her eyes.

Next, Rizelle also joined and hugged the two of them.

“I’m very sorry too, Cindy. I don’t know what possessed me, but I didn’t want to steal Prince away from you and say those mean things earlier. Please forgive me,” Rizelle added in a cry too.

“You don’t have to worry about that anymore, you two. I’m fine. The important part is everything is back to normal now,” Cindy responded with a smile.

As for Anna, she only watched the three, hesitant about what to do. When Cindy looked at her with a smile, she became startled.

“I... I won’t apologize to you,” she muttered with a pout and looked away. She paused for a few seconds and followed, “But... I’ll admit that I said too much earlier so... I’m sorry.”

“I see...” Cindy replied with a warm smile.

“I did it, Pixie...” I whispered to the fairy, asleep with a smile inside my breast pocket.

With that conclusion, the story of Cinderella of the modern world finally ended.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

The next day, Sunday, I met up with Cindy outside so I could tell her the whole story. We met at the park and strolled around as I told her everything. I filled her in about the book I opened, the fairy called Pixie, the eight princesses, and the curses that I need to get rid of. She listened to everything in silence.

“That is why I still need to save six more princesses. So I could return the remaining curses to the book,” I continued in seriousness. Behind, Pixie followed us through her flight.

“I see...” Cindy responded with a smile and stopped her walk. She then made a serious expression and asked, “So... did you help me only because I’m one of those cursed princesses?”

I paused for three seconds. After that, I made a serious look and answered, “Yes... but that’s only at first.”

When Cindy heard those words, she became surprised.

“Before I know it, the one I want to help now is the girl named Cindy and not the cursed princess Cindy. Even if you’re not a princess, I would’ve still saved you,” I answered in honesty.

She then gazed down with a smile. Soon after, she looked back at me and asked, “So… we’re still friends?”

”Of course,” I responded with a smile and Cindy hugged me after that. She was taller than usual because she was wearing the shoes that Pixie made for her. That is why the top of her head could almost touch my nose. That made me smell her familiar floral scent once again.

“Friends...” Cindy whispered and a sad smile appeared on her face.

When the sun got near to the horizon like usual, ready to call it a day, Cindy and I said our goodbyes to each other and went separate ways. After taking Cindy back to her house, I started walking back towards my house.

“Is it fine to end it like that?” Pixie asked me with a worried face as she flew next to me.

“What do you mean?” I asked with a sad smile with my eyes straight on the road.

“You... like Cindy, right? Aren’t you going to tell her that?”

I looked at Pixie and responded, “That would only be unfair to her. You know that I also like Arian, right?”

“Prince...” Pixie whispered, gloomy.

“That is why I won’t tell it. I want to choose between her and Arian. I don’t want it to be a decision that I would regret later, so I’ll decide only after I saved the remaining princesses. I will only tell Cindy my genuine feelings if I chose her after all this.”

“I see...” Pixie replied with a warm smile.

“I’m a scumbag, aren’t I?” I asked her with a forced smirk. “Liking two girls at the same time...”

“No,” Pixie responded, her smile unchanged. “You’re planning to choose one after everything comes back to normal, right? So take your time and learn more about your feelings. Because I think that’s the best action to take.”

After I heard that, I became stunned and stopped my walk.

“Pixie...” I whispered as I looked at her. My action made her stop too.

“Let’s hurry and go home. I’m hungry already,” Pixie said with a smile and flew ahead of me right after.

“Jeez, wait for me,” I responded with a smile and advanced forward.

Thank you, Pixie.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

When I arrived at my house, I became surprised by the unlocked front door.

“Wait. Did I forget to lock it?” I asked to myself and opened the door. “But I need to take a leak first.”

“Prince, can I have a yogurt in the fridge?”

“Sure. I’ll go to the bathroom first,” I responded and walked towards the toilet.

“Thanks,” Pixie replied in happiness and flew towards the kitchen.

After I reached my destination, I immediately opened the door. But there, I found a naked girl, younger than me in appearance.

“Wha...” I reacted with widened eyes.

She looked at me in slight confusion as she held a hair blower near her sopped hair. She was only wearing panties, but there was a towel around her neck with each end covering her chest.

“Ms. Bella?” I whispered as we locked eyes with each other. Distracted, I failed to notice the crown’s light.