Seven-year-old Irene was in her bed dressed in her pink pajamas and surrounded by all her dolls and stuffed animals. Her mother sat on the side of her bed reading Cinderella, the Grimm Brothers’ version to be specific. 

“And so, they were condemned to go blind for the rest of their days because of their wickedness and falsehood. The End.” Irene’s mother smiled as she closed the book. 

“That’s horrible!” Irene said horrified. 

“What is, my dear?” Her mother asked. 

“Those sisters got their eyes poked out!” the little girl said with shivers down her back from the idea of birds poking her eyes out. 

“I admit it is rather cruel, but the Grimm Brothers were trying to teach a lesson,” Irene’s mother explained. 

“What do you mean, Mommy?” Irene asked. 

“Well, the stepsisters were not only cruel to Cinderella, but they also tried to lie and deceive the prince when he went looking for Cinderella,” Irene’s mother continued. “And as a result, they were punished. Remember, what you put out into the world will return right back to you.”

“Like Cinderella, because she was kind and always tried to remain happy despite her family being cruel, she earned the love of the prince and became a princess,” Irene spoke up, getting the message. 

“Exactly!” Irene’s mother smiled, proud that her smart daughter got it. 

“But why does it work like that?” Irene then asked. 

“I’m not sure. Some call it destiny, fate, or karma. Others believe it’s the will of God. Whatever it is, it’s how the world works,” Irene’s mother guessed as she closed the book. 

“Can I see the prince again?” Irene then asked. Irene’s mother smiled and opened the book to the illustration of Cinderella in her pretty dress dancing with the prince who had white hair and wore a white military uniform with a cape. Irene looked at the prince in the book dreamily, imagining she was in Cinderella’s place. 

“Will I ever find my prince, Mommy?” she asked her mother.

“You will one day, dear.” Irene’s mother smiled. “But remember, search for a prince that makes you feel safe,” 

“Feel safe?” Irene asked curiously.

“Someone that is reliable, who would not hesitate to protect you from a dragon,” Irene’s mother explained in a way her daughter would understand. 

“Like Daddy?” Irene asked. 

“Yes, like your daddy,” Irene’s mother smiled before hugging her daughter. 

“I promise, Mommy,” Irene said and she embraced her mother back. Irene’s mother then tucked her daughter in bed and kissed her goodnight before leaving the room. Once Irene was sure her mother was gone she got the book out again and turned the pages to see the prince once again. 

“Someday, I’ll find you and live happily ever after with you,” Irene smiled as she started imagining dancing with the prince again.

…

Irene was grinning from ear to ear upon the arrival of another of her best friends, the crown prince Dimitri, who surprisingly looks like the prince from that old fairy tale book she once had. He was the first friend she ever made after arriving in this world and who also helped her out when she was scared of almost everything.

“Dimitri, it’s good to see you!” Irene smiled practically jumping and bowing to the crown prince. She wanted to hug the guy but remembered that they were in public and restrained herself. 

“I’m glad you came, Irene,” Dimitri smiled and bowed back. 

“I trust you are doing well, your Majesty?” Zetian bowed. 

“Very well, Ambassador,” Dimitri bowed back. 

“What do you think you're doing here?” Anabelle asked, looking annoyed. 

“Making sure no one dares to kidnap my dear little sister,” Dimitri joked while patting his sister’s head like a dog, much to her annoyance. 

“I’m fine brother, you can stop that,” Anabelle said. 

“Aww, but you're as cute as a puppy!” Dimitri joked, only for Anabelle to slap his hand away. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop,” he laughed sheepishly.  

"Brothers," Irene giggled a little. 

"They annoy you but you can't help but love them" Zetian added while giggling too.

"But in all seriousness, I've come to see how Irene was doing,” Dimitri confessed as he turned towards Irene. “I’ve heard about the incident with Archduke Owen’s son and I was wondering if you were alright.” 

“Don’t worry, I’m a big girl,” Irene reassured her friend. “Besides, Adrian got what he deserved for trying to get me to break my chastity with him. I’m just trying to wrap my head around what my mother was thinking, pairing me with that perv.” 

“Wait, what happened with Archduke Adrian?” Anabelle asked. 

“Yes, what exactly transpired? Because I heard that the Archduke's son was disowned and banished,” Zetian asked as well, remembering the rumors. 

“Well, basically my mother and Archduchess Katherine arranged a visit where Adrian and I could meet and take a walk together” Irene began. “When we were alone he tried to convince me to do the deed with him but I refused since I remember seeing him with multiple women and I didn’t want to, let alone marry a guy who will be unfaithful to me. He got mad and tried to attack me, but I got away thanks to my hidden dagger in my shoes.” 

“A dagger in your shoes?” Anabelle asked, surprised. 

“Yeah, Nigel and I came up with the idea so I could be able to defend myself,” Irene explained. 

“In fact, all my shoes have hidden daggers in them” she said as she showed her dancing shoes and in a second a small knife appeared at the tip of the shoes surprising her friends. 

“All you need to do is know where to kick and your foe is down,” Irene smiled slyly. 

“Thinking and preparing ahead saved me that day, and now the former Archduke Adrian will never have children.” 

Poor Prince Dimitri got scared of the idea of what Irene did and hid his hands covering his parts behind the cape he draped over so no one would see him like this. Anabelle was horrified by what that Archduke did. Sure, the guy was a casanova, but she never thought he was capable of such evil. As for Zetian, a smile grew on her face. 

“Poetic justice, Irene,” she simply said. “How did you come up with such an idea?” 

“Something I remembered when my birth parents were watching TV. It was some spy movie, I think,” Irene guessed as she remembered seeing something like that in her world. 

“TV? You mean that box that can show you anything, anytime?” Anabelle asked remembering what Irene told her about her homeworld. 

“Kind of, think of it as your personal theater where it can show you anything you like from the comfort of your home,” Irene explained the best she could. “One show I remember my birth parents watching was about a spy and he had that handy little device for when he was in trouble. Mother wouldn't let me carry a knife out as she says it’s not ladylike and I remember that shoe blade. I talked to Nigel about my idea and with the help of his engineering friend, the three of us came up with this beautiful but deadly shoe,” Irene smiled as she retracted her blade inside her shoe. 

“I do like the idea of how it hides the weapon, deceiving your attacker into thinking you're defenseless,” Dimitri admitted. “Don’t suppose that dark elf and his friend can make some for the military?” he then asked Irene. 

“Hmm… not a bad idea, I’ll have to ask the two when I get another chance” Irene promised, liking the idea, while at the same time mentally beating herself up for not coming up with that idea sooner. 

It was at that moment that the very small orchestra that was playing music for the ball began to play a lively waltz melody that caused Irene to sway to the music. Dimitri, noticing this, held out his hand and asked, “May I have the honor of this dance, Duchess?” 

Irene smiled, but looked at the floor and saw a big crowd of people and got nervous but didn’t want to sound rude. Dimitri, however, noticed this and said, “Don’t worry I know the perfect place to dance” as he grabbed Irene’s hand. 

“Uhh…where? There are too many people around,” she asked, confused. 

“You’ll see,” Dimitri smiled as he led Irene away from the crowd and out to the balcony outside where there were no people around. Just a lot of red roses all over leading towards the royal garden. 

“Is this better?” Dimitri asked. There wasn’t that much noise outside other than the music. No one but her and the prince were outside, and the roses were all around. Irene always loved roses as they reminded her of her old home as her birth mother took care of a lot of roses in the garden.

“You didn’t have to do this,” Irene smiled, feeling a little embarrassed. 

“I know, but I’ve known you for a long time. I know big crowds make you uncomfortable. Besides as a guest in my palace, I feel it’s my job as the host to make my guest comfortable,” Dimitri smiled as he looked at Irene who decided now to hug the prince. 

“You're the best friend I ever have,” Irene smiled back, feeling very lucky. 

“You mean besides Anabelle?” Dimitri half-joked. 

“Yes, but don’t tell her” Irene laughed as well. “My lips are sealed” Dimitri promised. “Now how about that dance?” he then asked. “I’d be honored” Irene smiled as she let Dimitri lead.