“So when do you plan to give that shoe back, Prince?” Pixie asked out of curiosity as I held the girl’s shoe.

“Today,” I responded with a serious face. “Can you use your magic to locate her house?”

“Well, I can do that, but I will be out for the entire night once again. Are you fine without me in this one?” she asked, somewhat worried.

“Yeah, leave the rest to me.”

“Then, here goes!” Pixie said with a smile and swung her wand around. After that, lots of glitters formed on the road that will lead to the said destination.

“Thanks, Pixie,” I said with a smile.

“You’re welcome. Good luck and see you tomorrow,” Pixie replied with a yawn and fell on my hand, asleep. Then, I placed her inside my breast pocket and followed the glitters.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

“You’re kidding me,” I whispered with a surprised face after I arrived at the end of the glitters. What I saw was a humongous mansion enclosed in an enormous white gate. “So that girl is crazy rich?”

I looked around and saw a girl in a maid outfit, turned around. She was sweeping the surroundings with a broom as she hummed in a good mood. She didn’t notice my presence.

Being a maid, she works in this house, right?

“Uhmm...” I called after I approached her.

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“Eeek!” she immediately reacted in a surprised yelp and slid away. She covered three meters in an instant and left a cloud of dust in a straight path.

This girl... there’s no doubt about it. She’s…

“Cinderella...”

“Cinderella?” she repeated, confused. She then looked on top of my head.

Wait... I just called her Cinderella. what am I doing? I have to change the topic.

“Is something wrong?” I asked with a forced smile.

“I-It’s nothing!” she answered bashfully.

“I see. Anyway, you’re the girl from earlier, right? You forgot this,” I said and brought out the black shoe.

“That’s—” she reacted and squirmed right after she saw her shoes.

“Uhmm...” I said and lessen the distance between us so she could grab it from my hand. But she only held her broom as hard as she could while her eyes were closed. “This is yours... right?”

“Yes. Thank you very much,” she whispered shyly and took it from my hand. After that, she looked at my eyes, wary.

“My name is Prince. Nice to meet you,” I said with a smile.

“Uhmm...” she mumbled and averted her gaze. “I’m... Cindy. It’s nice to meet you too.”

“...”

“...”

What should I say now?

“Uhmm...” she said and looked straight into my eyes in a somewhat determined face. “How can I thank you?”

“Thank me?”

“For... bringing my shoe... all the way here.”

“You don’t need to. I didn’t come here to get a reward anyway,” I answered in a serious look.

“Please let me. That’s all I can do for your effort.”

I don’t want a reward for that, but I think this is a chance to get to know her. The curse didn’t disappear when I returned her shoes, so I have to do more things. But wishing for something out of the line would be weird. I should go for something simple but will lead to our next meeting.

“Then, tomorrow lunch... can you treat me a drink?” I asked after I looked away. I tried my best to be bold for a change.

When she heard that, she gave me a warm smile and responded, “Okay.”

Hidden, a girl watched us from a window on the mansion’s second floor. She then smiled mischievously.