Cinderella: Ninja Warrior Read Online Free PDF Page B

Ashamed of her outburst, Cinderella cast her eyes down at the floor. He didn’t know his suggestion was ridiculous. In fact, he couldn’t know why it was, or he’d turn to stone. “Do you need our responses right now?” she asked. “Because I can call up to my stepsisters and—”
    “That won’t be necessary.” He returned the cap to his head and tucked all his loose golden curls back under it. “But I do hope you’ll come.”
    Cinderella stammered. “I-I’m not sure that’s possible.”
    “What’s not possible?” her stepmother said from the top of the stairs.
    A chill invaded the room and Cinderella backed away from the messenger. There was no need to drag him into whatever horrible punishment her stepmother might have in store. She braced herself.
    “Good morning, Madam.” The messenger bowed again, this time toward her stepmother. “I am here to extend invitations from the palace for you and your three daughters.”
    Her stepmother smiled, and Cinderella cringed. “For my three daughters, you say?”
    “Yes,” he replied. “I understand there are two other lovely young women at this residence?” The messenger’s expression had changed, and so had his voice. It had grown more formal and distant. It was almost as if he could sense the danger that lurked behind her stepmother’s smile and upturned lips.
    Fighting to keep her hand from shaking, Cinderella climbed a few steps and extended the invitations toward her stepmother. She regretted that she hadn’t tucked the fourth one inside her apron. Even if she could never go to the ball, it would’ve been nice to keep the invitation to serve as a reminder that the possibility of something better lay outside the grounds of her home.
    Her stepmother took the envelopes and fanned them out. As she watched and waited to see what the woman might do, it felt to Cinderella as if hours passed. She didn’t fear for herself. She was accustomed to her stepmother’s cruelty. It was the young messenger she worried about. He didn’t deserve to be punished for delivering an extra envelope.
    Her stepmother raised her head. “Thank you,” she said, her tone making it clear that the messenger was dismissed.
    When he bowed a second time to her stepmother, he tossed a quick glance at Cinderella and winked. She raised a hand to her mouth to cover her smile.
    As soon as he was out the door, her stepmother dangled one of the invitations between her index finger and thumb, as if it were poisonous. “Well then, Cinderella,” her stepmother said, an evil glint in her eye. “It seems you’ve been invited to the ball. Would you like to attend?”

    If you were Cinderella, what would you do?
     
     
    OPTION A: It must be another of her stepmother’s tricks, but what has she got to lose? And on the long shot that her stepmother’s question isn’t a cruel tease, there’s a chance the prince might choose Cinderella to be his bride—her ticket out of servitude. Besides, marrying a prince sounds dreamy. If you think she should say yes, go to section 2: Crystal Clarity (page 39).
     
    OPTION B: Even if her stepmother is serious, what is there to gain from going to a ball? How boring. Not to mention, even if marrying the prince would get Cinderella out from under her stepmother’s spell, she’d be trapped in a royal marriage with all its pretentious customs and ceremonies. When she chooses a husband, it’ll be for love, not money. If you think she should say thanks, but no thanks, go to section 3: Hard Work Rewarded (page 73).

Section 2
     
    CRYSTAL CLARITY
     
    2
     

    C inderella tapped her foot on the foyer’s inlaid wood floor, anxious to go into the village for the first time in over a decade and feeling as if she’d entered some kind of parallel universe. One where she was allowed to leave the house anytime she wanted, one where her stepmother was more like an actual mother, one where Cinderella was free.
    Such a universe was not likely to exist. In this