A Cinderella Demon Tale: Sukuna and Cinderella

Chapter 15: The Invitation

As Cinderella gracefully moved about the kitchen, the tantalizing aroma of her culinary creation wafting through the air, a resonant knock echoed through the corridors of her modest home. Her heart quickened its tempo at the authoritative voice that followed, declaring itself in the King's name. With a quick and cautious stride, she approached the door, curiosity intermingling with apprehension.

Unveiling the heavy wooden door, she was met by a scene both surprising and regal. On the doorstep stood the Royal Herald, resplendent in his official attire, bearing a bag brimming with sealed envelopes, each one an emissary of the palace's secrets. His voice resonated with an undeniable urgency as he handed her a single missive, embossed with the royal seal that gleamed brilliantly beneath the caress of the golden sunlight.

Cinderella, her inquisitive gaze now fixed upon the parchment cradled in her hand, offered the Herald a polite expression of gratitude, her mind a whirlwind of curiosity and trepidation. She had been on the precipice of asking about the contents, but before the words could leave her lips, the Herald, with an air of haste, made his departure, leaving her alone with the unopened decree, its purpose shrouded in mystery.

Cinderella, clutching the royal decree to her chest, moved through the house's echoing corridors to reach the music room where her stepmother and stepsisters were engrossed in their practice. A polite knock preceded her entrance, but the cacophony of the piano's notes and the sisters' shrill voices made it clear they were oblivious to her presence. Determined not to disrupt their performance, she cautiously pushed open the door, its hinges betraying her presence with a faint creak.

Before she could utter a word, her stepmother, upon noticing her intrusion, sprang up from her piano bench. Anger flashed across her face as she chastised Cinderella for her perceived interruption. Yet, her ire swiftly transformed into astonishment as Cinderella revealed the royal letter.

"The King?" Her stepmother's gasp conveyed not only surprise but a sense of triumph. It was evident that her alliance with Sukuna had borne fruit. The invitation to the grand ball was a testament to her cunning, ensuring that their family's status and wealth would soar to unparalleled heights. A diabolical grin crept across her lips as she relished her schemes coming to fruition. Her chilling laughter rang out, briefly startling all in the room, save for Anastasia and Drizella, who were too enraptured by the promise of the impending ball to be deterred by their mother's sinister mirth.

Anastasia and Drizella's ecstatic screams filled the room as they peered over their mother's shoulder to catch sight of the invitation. Concern flickered across Cinderella's face as she took a hesitant step back, worried about the sudden commotion.

"Are you alright?" she inquired with genuine concern, her voice laced with apprehension.

Anastasia, ever eager to assert her triumph, snatched the invitation from Cinderella and rapidly scanned its contents. "Of course, we're more than alright!" she exclaimed with a smug grin, thrusting the letter close to Cinderella's face. Pointing to the text, she continued, "The letter says we've been invited to the ball! Prince Charming himself is in search of a bride!"

Drizella, her eyes alight with daydreams of grandeur, chimed in, gazing at the ceiling with a far-off expression. "We're going to be so exquisite that His Majesty will be compelled to ask for our hands," she declared dreamily.

The Stepmother, never one to be left out of the spotlight, interjected with a smile. "Indeed, this ball promises to rival even the King's own search for a bride, perhaps even exceed it," she mused as she retrieved the invitation from Anastasia and perused its contents. She deftly folded the letter and tucked it away in her dress, her thoughts far more ambitious.