《Cinderella: A Tale Reimagined》


 The Fallen Prince

    Bong... bong... one after the other; the deep, resonant sounds echoed through the night, marking the tenth hour. The silvery glow of the moon softly lit the old, dilapidated part of the city. The shadow of a lone person on the street this late at night seemed especially forlorn. The person dragged his body, which seemed bruised, and stopped in front of a small house, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. Thump... he fell into the lobby too tired to get up and planned on just sleeping there. The only son of Ronan Rizae¡ªuntil he found out he was just a stepson; discardable, unlovable, and overly compliant.


    His stepfather, a nouveau riche businessman, had fled with his wife and two daughters when fortune turned against him. Nolan''s mother, who had never wanted this reminder of her abusive ex-husband, seized the opportunity to abandon the child who bore his father''s features: blond hair, deep blue eyes, and sharp jawline. In the following weeks, Nolan''s routine became a blur of part-time jobs and debt collector encounters. Freshly graduated, relentlessly pursued by the loan sharks, Nolan had no time to search for a good job, and the only option left was to take on various part-time jobs. He had been subjected to violence by the debt collectors twice, each encounter leaving him with wounds and pain.


    He abruptly woke up from his slumber, wincing in pain due to sudden movement. Nolan slowly sat up, pushing aside his blond hair that covered his sweaty forehead. Shaking hands and distorted expressions when he picked himself up using the wall as support and walked inside. Slowly limping to the kitchen, he grabbed the hard, dry bread, took a few large bites, and downed it with water, followed by a painkiller and more water. Not an ounce of expression on his face, as if it had become his usual routine. Nolan took off his green shirt, dirtied by the footprints on it, and flung it in the basket; he inspected his torso, haphazardly applied some ointment, and went back to bed. Surviving each passing day was his life. If fairy godmother was real, it was her cue to appear now... were his last thoughts before entering deep sleep. The bell chimed; it was midnight. Perhaps there was magic in the air, for it was the best sleep he had since his so-called family¡¯s betrayal. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    The sun rays settled on his face; his eyes fluttered a little before opening. He looked at the clock¡ª10 o¡¯clock¡ªhurried off from bed, and flinched in pain at the sudden movement. He left the house after splashing water on his face and changing clothes. He had missed the first part-time job and was almost late for the second one. The whole day was even more messed up than the previous one; wishing for a respite was what the universe probably deemed as transgression. He came home, all sluggish, and had just sat down when the persistent ringing annoyed him further. Frowning, Nolan picked it up; an informal notice of his dismissal was coldly conveyed to him. Before he could object to it, the line cut off. His stomach grumbled as he hadn¡¯t had anything to eat since morning, and it was late in the afternoon. A deep exhale as he silently placed his phone on the table and looked up, biting his lower lip, trying to keep tears at bay. His jaw clenched as he made his way to the kitchen, silently grabbing food and nibbling it down.


    Finally, it seemed that the heavens had taken pity on him and delivered him a good opportunity. A week later, the chance to serve at a high-end party. Fortunately, the signs of his violent encounters with the loan sharks were no longer visible. But it was his looks that made him conspicuous, even in the workers'' uniform. A few intense gazes followed him as he walked, causing him to keep his head low on purpose. He looked around in sheer astonishment at the lavish setting on entering the hall; a tiny part of him internally mocked his situation. His task was to serve drinks to the guests; after the initial serving to people, he positioned himself near the round table that was set with a champagne tower.

 A Chance at Dawn

    Freya Elysian was the youngest daughter of the Elysian household, a renowned hotel conglomerate. The hotel where the party was being held was under her management, and she too was an important guest at the party. The cherry blossom-coloured gown complemented her fair skin and chocolate brown hair, adding warmth to her aura and her charismatic hazel eyes. A light frown on her face as she somberly talked to two elderly men. A while later they excused themselves; she took a deep breath; clearly the conversation wasn¡¯t that pleasant. Her eyes gazed around until she spotted a client with whom she had been working recently and softly stepped towards him when a tipsy guest bumped into her. She lost her footing and stumbled slightly; her hand hit the nearby round table. The champagne glasses shook; she saw it in a blur as her eyes immediately closed in response, and consciousness waited for an impact.


    A violent clatter of glass shards was heard in the hall. She opened her eyes as a painful groan reached her, but it wasn¡¯t her own. They became the focus of the hall, a few murmurs, and the workers briskly walked towards the commotion. However, Freya seemed to be cut off from the surroundings; her gaze did not falter from the young man who saved her. He was tall, his body proportions highlighted by the uniform as it stuck to him after getting wet, the champagne trickled down from his hair, tracing his face and neck, ultimately absorbed by the clothes. She noticed the deep blue of his eyes, which were full of astonishment. ¡°Are you alright, ma¡¯am?¡± His deep voice broke her trance. ¡°I¡¯m completely fine; oh, you... you are hurt.¡± Her hand lightly touched his cheek, which was scratched by the glass shard. He flinched at her touch, and before he could respond, they were disturbed by the manager and a waiter, who politely wanted to escort her away. Freya took a last glance at the blue-eyed guy, lightly thanked him, and walked away. The manager stood there gazing at Nolan before he ushered him away too.


    Nolan was positioned nearby and witnessed this charade. By the time Nolan realised what happened, he was drenched in champagne and had prickly pain in his back. He clenched his jaw to muffle the groan. The soft touch of the lady made him flinch; she was a stranger, and the gesture was over-intimate. The interaction was cut short by the concerned workers, and he saw the lady walking away after thanking him. The manager led him out of the hall; he was handed a new set of clothes, a place to wash up, and then told to leave the premises with a wad of cash as his payment. Nolan frowned at the envelope in his hand; at the end, he was just a disruption in the event. He shook his head helplessly and desolately reached home. Silently went through the envelope and counted the money. It was enough for him to pay off the debt for that month; he expressionlessly put it away.


    The moonlight enveloped Freya in a silvery halo as she lay in her bed, finally able to clock out for the day. A person flashed in her mind as she closed her eyes, drenched blond hair and deep blue eyes while the deep voice reiterated in her mind. Unbeknownst to her, a soft smile graced her lips, and her ears tinged a soft shade of pink. She raised her hand in the air as if stroking away something. The vibrating phone shifted her attention; she lazily picked it up. It was a text from her secretary explaining that the party¡¯s accident was premeditated to embarrass her in public. She ordered him to find the orchestrator before tucking herself in, ready to sleep.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Nolan¡¯s day-to-day survival kept him busy; the incident from the party was completely forgotten until he received a call from the event cuisine company that the young lady wanted to meet him. He was informed of the time and place, and initially sceptical about the meeting, he finally decided to go at the end. The oversized white hoodie snuggly settled on his body, blue jeans highlighting his long legs while the blond hair rested on his forehead. He took a last look in the mirror as he sprayed some perfume. He nervously stood outside the high-end caf¨¦ that was a masterpiece of modern architectural elegance, its sleek lines and geometric contours blending seamlessly into the urban landscape. Towering glass windows offered a glimpse of the stylish interior, where warm lighting and minimalist decor exuded sophistication. The ambiance radiated a classy, upscale vibe. People sat in pairs or groups, exuding an air of confidence, their poised mannerisms and subtle gestures radiating a sense of importance. He took a deep breath and entered, scanning the space for a familiar face until a familiar figure came into view; it was that young lady he saved at the party. The evening light doused her wholly, giving a magical vibe. The last time he saw her, she radiated elegance, while the current her oozed warmth. Be it her muted pastel cashmere sweater paired with a pleated midi skirt or her hair styled in soft curls. As she surveyed the area, she spotted Nolan gazing at her. A soft smile graced her lips as she lightly nodded towards him.


    Nolan took measured steps and settled opposite her. Freya lightly introduced herself and expressed her gratitude subtly after they had ordered some food. Nolan calmly observed her, his nervousness long gone. ¡°So, Mr. Rhizae, what field of study have you pursued?¡± she asked him casually. ¡°You can just call me Nolan, ma¡¯am. I did a bachelor''s in business administration.¡± She nodded as she took a sip of her juice. ¡°That¡¯s a good degree, then why were you serving at the party?¡± Freya questioned. ¡°I didn¡¯t get the time to look for a good job due to some personal reasons.¡± He cautiously replied to her with a small frown settled between his eyebrows. Freya hummed in response; she paused for a while, her next words slightly jolting Nolan up. ¡°Would you be interested in working for me, Nolan?¡± Nolan looked surprised, even uneasy, questioning her motive. He frowned slightly, putting the drink back on the table. ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer me now; give my offer some thought.¡± She softly spoke as his demeanour changed. She handed him a card, telling him he could contact the number when he reached a decision. They continued to talk for a little while; afterwards, Freya paid the bill and bid him farewell with a small smile. Nolan picked up the card; it was black while the writing on it was gold. Freya Elysian was printed on it in the flowery script below, which was a number. He carefully placed it in his wallet and left the caf¨¦ lost in contemplation.

 Learning to Fly

    Nolan went through his nightly routine and went to bed. A small child ran on the dirt road; big trees grew on either side, the entangled vines making them into a canopy. He had stumbled in the forest while trying to catch fluttering butterflies. He bumped into a middle-aged woman; Nolan looked up. The woman was looking at him kindly, her blond hair swayed with the wind, and the green eyes twinkled at him. Her translucent wings fluttered behind her. She picked up tearful Nolan and dropped him at his house. She dropped a soft kiss on his forehead before leaving. Nolan''s eyes opened slowly; he touched his forehead in a daze. A smile crept up his lips, and he shook his head slightly.


    While he was getting ready for his part-time job, he got a call that his workplace was temporarily closed as the owner was sued. He carried out his other part-time jobs, and he came home in the evening tired and with an additional worry on his shoulders from morning¡¯s call. Finally, he took out the card; after gently tracing the edges, he dialled the number. He didn¡¯t expect Freya herself to pick up the phone immediately. His hand clenched slightly on hearing her voice, which at this moment, unlike their previous meeting, was cold and monotone. He explained his willingness to accept her offer, and Freya asked him to meet at the office the next day and gave him the address. Her tone felt like she was occupied, but when she ended the call, Nolan felt like he heard her say, ¡°Goodbye, Lan.¡± It seemed like he was hearing things. However, when he looked up, the mirror reflected the figure, who was stunned and had red ears.


    The next day he woke up early and was overtaken by the dilemma of what to wear. His wardrobe didn¡¯t have many formal clothing options. At the end he decided to wear a black turtleneck with charcoal jeans and a charcoal tote bag. He reached the office by bus, rubbing his hand at the sides as he entered inside. The workplace had a sleek interior; he went over to the receptionist and introduced himself. She had been informed about him beforehand, asking him to sit in the waiting area as she contacted someone. A while later a man came down to escort him. Nolan observed the man; he wore a black suit, his hair meticulously styled, and a poker face. The elevator ride suffocated him with silence. His reflection in the polished doors showed a man trying to contain his nervousness¡ªfingers unconsciously smoothing down his black turtleneck, heart drumming against his ribcage. They got off the elevator on the top floor, passed through a lobby, and came in front of a large brown door.


    The man knocked at the door; the subtle scent of leather and jasmine welcomed him as the doors opened to Freya''s office, where sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden halo around her figure. Nolan silently followed him; it was a spacious office, with a sitting area on one side, a floor-to-ceiling window, and a desk chair set up on the other side. A crystal nameplate with laser-engraved text looked particularly eye-catching. Freya looked up at them; she was in formal white attire, flicking through some documents. She nodded at the man and then saw Nolan softly gazing at her. She set aside the document; Nolan lightly greeted her. Freya then introduced Nolan to the man standing next to him; he was her secretary, Soren. Now that the Elysian household was thinking of expanding their business abroad, Soren was going to work on the project with her brother. Freya then ordered Soren to help Nolan learn the ropes since he would be taking over his position later. As autumn painted the city in amber hues, Nolan found himself stepping into a new chapter of his life. The transition from serving drinks to becoming Freya''s secretary wasn''t just a job change¡ªit was the beginning of his metamorphosis. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ***


    Nolan had been working hard, absorbing all the knowledge that Soren imparted to him; even Soren acknowledged his fast progress. Nolan¡¯s interactions with Freya were not a lot, but he noticed that she was a strictly professional person, a tad bit of a workaholic, and the warmth she exuded in the first one-on-one meeting wasn¡¯t the part of her personality she often showcased. He gradually got used to working there, forming good relationships with his other colleagues, though his looks would sometimes leave them dazed. At one point, Nolan had to accompany Freya on a business dinner since Soren wasn¡¯t available. It was a big hotel, lavishly adorned, employees dressed to the nines, and the guests were prominent figures. Freya had a dinner with three business leaders; there were a few rumours about their colourful lifestyles, but she couldn¡¯t cancel the dinner. A while later, Nolan noticed that those old men were subtly making Freya drink. He was agitated at their rudeness but had no idea how to interject on her behalf. They stepped out of the hotel; the slightly cool air aided in clearing the suffocation he felt inside.


    His gaze settled on Freya, who was walking haphazardly, a little giggly, and her face was flushed. He hurried after her, trying to reason with her and help her to the car. But she pushed him away as she started to walk in the opposite direction. Nolan ruffled his hair in frustration, his meticulously combed hair messed up, adding a little element of boldness to his looks. He took a deep breath and carried her in his arms softly. Surprised, Freya looked at him, her eyes blinking softly, then she put her arms around his neck, followed by a warm smile. ¡°Um... I... You are drunk. Let me help you settle in the car,¡± he said sheepishly while stuttering. She ignored his words; the cool night air carried the faint scent of cherry blossoms as Freya''s fingers traced his features. Her touch was feather-light, leaving trails of warmth across his skin. The street lamps cast a soft glow on her flushed cheeks, while hazel eyes sparkled. Her hands found their way to his cheeks, pinching them softly.


    ¡°Handsome,¡± she giggled. ¡°Um... Miss Freya!?¡± he spoke only to be ignored once again as she continued her ramblings. Each giggle that escaped her lips sent shivers down his spine, making his heart accelerate in his chest. ¡°Beautiful... I love your eyes,¡± she smiled and then touched his hair, ¡°how soft,¡± she exclaimed. Poof! Nolan blushed visibly, and his heartbeat raced. He hurriedly placed Freya in the back seat and shut the door, taking deep breaths. He dropped Freya off at her house and took the bus back home, still getting flustered as his mind kept replaying the earlier scene.