"As I don the crown... you shall be my queen... the hue of lavender... a blend of blue and green..."

Beneath the golden sunlight, a lovely young girl hummed a soft melody as she tenderly groomed a lamb, her movements as gentle as if she were caring for a baby. Nearby, a ewe extended its pink tongue to lick the sweat from the girl’s delicate nose. The sensation was soothing and ticklish, causing her to giggle in delight.

Her smile was sweet and serene, evoking images of the clear blue sky and lush green meadows. It was a scene of such harmony and beauty, yet it was frequently shattered by harsh interruptions.

"Cinderella, what on earth are you doing?" A sharp voice cut through the air, its harsh tone driving away the birds pecking nearby. "Where is my warm milk? Dammit, hurry up and bring it here."

Startled, Cinderella sprang to her feet and quickly responded, "Coming, Madam Temanni."

She grabbed a small bowl of milk, needing to warm it swiftly, adding two and a half spoons of sugar and a spoonful of butter. Even a slight deviation could incite Madam Temanni’s fury, and then her own supper would vanish like the birds in flight.

It was almost comical that just six months ago, she had called this woman “Mother.”

Until Father passed away...

Cinderella’s eyes momentarily darkened, but hope soon rekindled. Just like the lullaby her mother once sang to her, "Be patient, dear girl, for someday the prince will come to crown you."

Cinderella’s day was a ceaseless whirlwind, from the first light of dawn until the stars filled the night sky, with no respite.

Two months prior, Madam Temanni had dismissed most of the household staff, leaving the additional burdens to fall on Cinderella’s slender shoulders.

Yet, life was not solely a thorny path; there were also beautiful flowers to accompany her.

On an ordinary afternoon, Madam Temanni’s two foolish daughters were bickering again. "Cinderella, where is my dress?" "Cinderella, I want my black tea! You lazy pig, hurry up!"

The poor girl was overwhelmed, and then a group of unexpected visitors knocked on the door.

"We need some fresh water, my poor steed is about to die of thirst..."

They were likely a group of passing knights or weary mercenaries. Cinderella was not quite sure of the difference between them. Her attention was completely captivated by the young man leading them, with his dazzling golden hair and resolute, handsome face.

The man was polite, radiating an unusual charm. He took the water from Cinderella with a courteous thank you, and soon they departed with a swift breeze, as if they had never been there. But Cinderella knew, her heart had been captured.

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By a stranger whose name she didn’t even know.

If the prince from the song truly existed, he would certainly resemble that person.

The girl dreamt of the future, yearning for another chance to meet. A voice seemed to whisper, "As you wish, my beautiful queen."

On the eve of the Golden Spike Festival, the king of Blackfort Kingdom made a grand announcement: a magnificent banquet would be held at the palace that night. All the young maidens in the kingdom were invited, and perhaps the new queen would emerge from among them.

The handsome prince on his grand tour and his noble status had the entire kingdom abuzz. It was a rare opportunity.

From the highest nobles to the common folk, everyone was in motion. The town’s tailor shops made a fortune, yet despite working tirelessly, they could not keep up with the enthusiasm of the young ladies and noblewomen.

Madam Temanni and her two foolish daughters were no exception.

"I will be the new queen," declared the elder daughter, Antaisia, with pride, but was quickly contradicted by her sister, another arrogant woman. "Be quiet, the new queen will surely be me. Just look at your bulky figure."

"Damn it, I’m your sister."

The two foolish women began to argue, causing Madam Temanni to roar in frustration.

Typically, such a rare scene might have made Cinderella smile, but today she felt an unexpected sadness.

She had seen the prince’s face—it was the handsome knight who had come for water.

A voice in her heart kept urging Cinderella to go, telling her that the prince belonged to her and no one could take him away, that she must go...

But Cinderella looked at her worn and tattered dress, sighing helplessly.

How could she go? She didn’t even have a suitable evening gown.

For the first time, Cinderella despised her stepmother and stepsisters.

...

In the magnificent palace of Blackfort Kingdom.

The king stood respectfully at the lower hall, and where his throne should have been, a young man now occupied.

"I’ve sent out the orders as you instructed," King Blackfort said cautiously. "The banquet will be held tomorrow night."

"Excellent." Carlo swirled his glass of red wine, rising in satisfaction. "You will get everything you desire."

Carlo’s fingers lightly touched, and a greenish glow emanated from his hand, falling upon the king.

The king’s weary body began to rejuvenate, wrinkles fading, white hair turning black, old age receding, replaced by vibrant vitality.

The king struggled to contain his joy and excitement, kneeling. "Thank you, my master."

He felt he had made the most triumphant deal of his life. Black magic, sorcery, demons... these were not things that could be obtained through mere faith in the Holy Light.

Carlo nodded with a smile. "I shall return."

In the next moment, his figure vanished into the air.

Through the knights heading to the Vatican for rescue, Carlo soon found the king of Blackfort Kingdom and briefly demonstrated his power. Everything smoothly fell into place.

Everyone has desires, even kings. With the right price, he would not hesitate to abandon his faith for a pact with a demon.

As for regaining youth, ha, it’s not so easy... Just a simple spell to stir vitality.

Lies and deception were also part of the demon’s curriculum.

The next step was to lead Cinderella into the trap he had long prepared, to willingly offer her soul.

Carlo spread his wings and flew through the night, his expansive demon wings casting a colossal shadow on the ground.

During this time, Carlo’s experience points had been surging. Although the increases were small, just one or two points at a time, the speed was rapid. By now, he had accumulated nearly a thousand points.

Carlo could almost guess where the experience points were coming from, though he wasn’t entirely sure how it was happening.

Could it be that Sofia had started a massive slaughter of her subjects? That wasn’t a good idea.

Carlo shook his head, setting aside that question. He was eager to meet the enchanting and lovely Cinderella.

Once this step was complete, he could be promoted to a greater demon, and the entire realm would become his slaughterhouse.