Summary
Highlights
Cinderella lived a happy life with her loving parents in a beautiful manor. Her kindness extended to the animals in the garden. However, her mother fell ill and passed away. Years later, her father remarried a cruel and selfish woman with two vain and greedy daughters, Anastasia and Drusilla. The stepsisters, envious of Cinderella, forced her to wear peasant clothes and made her work tirelessly, mockingly calling her 'Cinderella'.
An invitation arrived from the palace, announcing a ball for the King's son to find a wife. Every maiden was invited. The stepsisters were ecstatic and ordered Cinderella to make them look beautiful for the ball. Cinderella, after preparing them, bravely asked if she could also go.
Her stepmother cunningly replied that Cinderella could only go if she completed an immense list of chores that would take a week to finish. Despairing, Cinderella was surprised when the house mice and garden pigeons came to her aid, helping her clean the manor until it sparkled.
Upon seeing the sparkling manor, the stepmother cruelly refused Cinderella again, stating she was too filthy to attend the ball. Left alone and weeping in the garden, Cinderella was visited by her Fairy Godmother, who promised to make her dreams come true for one night.
With a wave of her wand, the Fairy Godmother transformed Cinderella's dress into a beautiful gown with glass slippers. She also turned a pumpkin into a golden carriage, mice into horses, and a rat into a coachman. The Fairy Godmother warned Cinderella to leave the ball before the final stroke of midnight, or all magic would disappear.
Cinderella arrived at the ball, enchanting everyone, especially the Prince, who danced with her all night. Lost in the moment, she forgot the time until the clock began to strike midnight. She fled in a hurry, leaving behind one glass slipper, despite the Prince's pleas for her to stay.
Desperate to find the beautiful princess, the Prince declared that every girl in the land must try on the slipper, and whoever it fit would be his bride. After many failed attempts, including by Anastasia and Drusilla, the Prince arrived at Cinderella's house. Upon discovering Cinderella, her foot perfectly fit the glass slipper.
The Prince announced Cinderella as his princess, and they were married the next morning, living happily ever after.