Born to the lower class of the society, Alya wants to try her luck to marry Prince Ashton, the descendant of Cinderella and her prince charming. Everything clicks perfectly. But there is one problem. The glass slippers don't fit!
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In a far far away land, the land of an enchanted forest, a beautiful kingdom and magic, there lives a girl. That girl is known to be uniquely beautiful, breaking every beauty standards in the kingdom. Her skin is olive instead of pale white like the snow. Her hair is silky brown like the fresh wood on spring days. Her eyes are deep hazel with a golden circle, framed with a thick layer of eyelashes. With a visual like that, the girl catches everyone's attention at first glance.
The girl's name is Alyana Aurelia. Although she is better known as Alya.
Alya, like any other girl in this kingdom, loves the idea of marrying a prince. These girls are lucky that in their generation, there is indeed a prince. In the previous generation, there was only one princess in this kingdom. Her name is Ashella, the daughter of Cinderella. Queen Ashella married a prince from a neighbouring kingdom and gave birth to a baby boy, Prince Ashton.
Alya, however, is not so lucky. She is not the daughter of an aristocrat or a princess of a neighbouring country. In fact, Alya is the daughter of a carpenter. Every day, she goes to the forest to cut trees with her father. Every day, she is covered in dust and dirt.
"Good Morning, Alya! You are going to the forest alone today?" asked one of her neighbour, who is also her best friend, Fei.
"Yup! Dad is out of town! Want to join me?" asked Alya.
"Well, I don't have anything else to do today. So I guess I'll join." Fei smiles and follows Alya. The two girls are walking side to side to the enchanted forest.
"I need to greet my family once in a while," said Fei.
"Ah, you're right! Your grandparents live in the enchanted forest, aren't they?"
"They sure do!"
Fei is a descendant of the fairy godmother. She is the famous fairy's grand niece to be exact. While her family resides in the enchanted forest, rebellious Fei ventured to the city and decided to make a living from fortune telling. The city people love fortune telling and Fei is making a pot of money!
"So tell me! Have you heard about the latest gossip?" asked Fei.
"What gossip?"
"Wait until we get into the forest and I'll tell you. I don't want people to hear this gossip and spread it," whispered Fei.
Alya laughs at her best friend's behaviour. Fei always thought she is the socialite of the city, knowing hot gossips before anybody does.
It does not take long before the girls reach the entrance to the forest. The entrance is like any other entrance of the enchanted forest that you may have heard in a fairy tale. It is an enormous gate made of black metal. When you open the door, there will be a scary humming and screeching sound.
The girls entered the forest with no problem.
"Okay, now. I think it's safe for you to tell me this hot gossip."
"Ugh, I have been waiting for this moment! You.. will. not... believe what you will hear!"
Alya keeps walking as she waits for Fei to spill the gossip.
"So the palace is planning to release an announcement soon."
"Announcement? What kind of announcement?" asked Alya, confused by the information that Fei just told her.
"They are opening a ball for every girlsin the city! They are finding a wife for Prince Ashton!" Fei could barely hold herself from screaming at the last sentence.
"NO WAY!" Alya agapes at that shocking news.
"So you're going or are you not going?" asked Fei in full blownexcitement.
"You kidding? Of courseI am going!"
"Oh my God!" both girls scream in unison.
"We are going to a ball!" screamed Alya.
"Bruh, this is ain't no ordinary ball! It's THE ball! It's the royal ball!" Fei corrected her best friend and the two girls hug each other.