Cinderella Junior Novelization Read Free Page A

cold, just like the woman who slept in it. Cinderella stood awaiting her fate as evil eyes glared at her.
    â€œNow, it seems we have time on our hands,” began Lady Tremaine. Cinderella tried to explain but was quickly shushed by her stepmother. “Time for vicious practical jokes,” Lady Tremaine continued. “Perhaps we could put that time to better use.”
    She began to give Cinderella a long list of additional chores. She even ordered Cinderella to give Lucifer a bath.
    Cinderella and Lucifer sighed. Neither of them was looking forward to that.

N ot too far away, the royal palace grounds seemed peaceful and calm. White doves flocked to a window ledge singing a sweet song. But they were quickly disrupted when a crown came crashing through the window!
    Inside the palace, things were not so peaceful and calm. Broken statues and vases were scattered across the dark hardwood floors. The King was mad, and he wasn’t holding back his anger. He was short and plump, with a long white mustache that curled up on the ends. He also had quite a temper. He was loud, demanding, and over-the-top, yet he was also a bit of a softy. He longed for the day when the sound of children’s laughter would fill the castle. He wanted grandchildren and he wanted them immediately. The only way for that to happen was for his son, the Prince, to find a bride and get married.
    â€œMy son has been avoiding his responsibilities long enough!” he yelled, banging his fist on a long marble desk. “It’s high time he married and settled down!”
    â€œOf course, Your Majesty,” responded the Grand Duke, peering out from behind a large shield hanging on the wall. He was trying to avoid being hit by flying objects. He was the King’s most trusted advisor, and even though he supported the King in every way, he felt marriage was sacred and shouldn’t be forced upon anyone—not even the Prince. “But we must be patient!”
    â€œI am patient!” hollered the King. Quickly his demeanor changed. He sank into his big chair and became melancholy. “I’m not getting any younger, you know. I want to see my grandchildren before I turn over the kingdom to the Prince.”
    â€œI understand, sire,” the Duke replied quickly—and solicitously.
    The King walked the Duke around the enormous room. He pointed to the gigantic pictures on the walls. They were like a shrine to his beloved son. One picture was of the Prince as a happy baby, sitting on the King’s lap. Another was of the King giving a toddler Prince a piggyback ride. The third picture was of an older Prince riding his horse, with his father in the distance. The last picture was the biggest. It was a huge portrait of the Prince on his majestic white horse—but without his father. The Prince was grown now, and the King was proud of him—but he also missed the days when the Prince had still been his little boy.
    â€œI’m lonely in this desolate palace,” the King said, whimpering. “I want to hear the pitter-patter of little feet again.” He rested his head on the Grand Duke’s chest and sobbed.
    â€œNow, now, Your Majesty.” The Grand Duke began patting the King’s head. “Perhaps if we just left him alone…”
    â€œLeft him alone!” the King bellowed.
    The Duke went flying behind a desk. From this safe position, he tried to explain that it was best not to interfere when it came to matters of the heart.
    But the King wouldn’t listen. The Prince would soon return from a long trip, and the King had an idea. “What could be more natural than a ball to celebrate his return?” asked the King. “And if all the eligible maidens in my kingdom just happen to be there, why, he is bound to show interest in one of them, isn’t he?”
    The Duke was scared, and quivered in his chair as he listened to the King rant. The King grabbed the Duke by his shirt and