Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a beautiful and gentle girl named Cinderella. Her mother had passed away, and her father remarried. But Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters were cruel-hearted. They made Cinderella do all the housework and treated her badly every day. Despite their harshness, Cinderella remained kind and patient, never once wishing ill on anyone, but her heart was always sad.
One day, a royal decree arrived from the palace. The royal family was hosting a grand ball! All the young girls were invited, for the Prince was searching for someone to capture his heart. Cinderella, as excited as she was, was forbidden by her stepmother and stepsisters to attend. They made her stay behind, telling her that her place was in the house doing chores.
But Cinderella’s heart was filled with hope, and just as she was about to give up, a fairy godmother appeared before her. The fairy smiled warmly and said, “Don’t worry, dear girl. Everything you wish for can come true.” And with a wave of her wand, she turned Cinderella’s ragged clothes into a beautiful gown, sparkling like the stars, and her worn shoes into sparkling glass slippers.
But the fairy godmother gave her a warning: “By midnight, all the magic will vanish, and everything will return to what it was before. So, you must leave the ball before the clock strikes twelve.” Cinderella thanked her fairy godmother and set off for the palace.
When she arrived, everyone in the palace was enchanted by her beauty. No one could recognize her, for she appeared like a vision of grace and elegance. The Prince, captivated by her charm, asked her to dance, and they danced together for hours. Time seemed to fly, and neither of them noticed the clock ticking away. But suddenly, the clock began to chime, and Cinderella, remembering the fairy’s warning, rushed to leave the palace. In her hurry, one of her glass slippers slipped off and fell on the steps.
Cinderella ran back home, leaving the slipper behind. The Prince, determined to find the girl who had stolen his heart, sent his servants all over the kingdom the next day. They traveled from house to house, trying the glass slipper on every young maiden they could find. Finally, they arrived at Cinderella’s house. The stepsisters tried the slipper, but it didn’t fit. Then, Cinderella, with a shy smile, stepped forward. When she tried on the slipper, it fit her perfectly.
The Prince’s heart leaped with joy as he recognized Cinderella, and he immediately asked her to marry him. Cinderella, with a heart full of love, said yes, for she, too, had fallen in love with the Prince. And so, despite the cruelty of her stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella found true love and began a life of happiness.
From that day on, Cinderella and the Prince lived happily ever after, knowing that love, kindness, and hope can overcome any obstacle.