The bells rang waking Ella from her fitful sleep. She wanted to weep when she opened her eyes to stare at the now cold, dark fireplace and not at the prince. It was all a dream.

The bells chimed again. Time to serve, time to clean, time to stop dreaming. Ella met her step-mom and step-sisters in the dinning room and gracefully served them their breakfast. “Good morning,” she said meekly without reply. She had gone accustom to their icy silence but obliged them non the less. She after all was raised to mind her manners.

“Mother can you believe it? The prince has chosen his bride.” Miranda the eldest and rudest of the steps sisters proclaimed breaking the silence.

“ Yes, my dear, I have.” Carlotta replied. “He’s chosen poorly. The Duke’s daughter is all airs and no brain.” Ella retreated for the kitchen where she would eat her breakfast alone.

Her prince was not going to marry her. Ella pondered on that as she began to eat her cold porridge. “Ahm.” A gruff cough startled Ella out of her thoughts. She looked over at the doorway which revealed Gerald the stable master. “Good morning Gerald, care for some breakfast?” Ella rose from the table. Gerald nodded and sat across from Ella seat. He watched her as she fixed his breakfast. “ Thank you my princess,” Gerald smiled. Ella giggles at her nickname. “Must you call me princess, I am not royalty.” Gerald shrugged in reply and took a bite of porridge. He grimaced. “I’m sorry it’s cold.”

“No matter, i have a feeling it will be hot today. Mine as well eat something cold before the day’s work.”

“Gerald you’re too kind.” Ella giggled.

“No!” Gerald snapped making Ella jump.”

“No,” Gerald said again slowly. He stood up then and came to Ella. He towered over her. He took her hand in his, “ you, you are the kind one. I’ve been watching how you take orders from your step mother and her brats. Always serving them while they treat you cruelly, you are your father’s daughter! You have every right to be treated equally- I have half a-“

“Shh, Gerald, it’s alright, it’s alright. When my father died I knew I had to stay and help them. They are so helpless without my father. My father taught me well.” Ella kissed the back of Gerald’s hand in friendly comfort.

“Cinderella!”

“I sorry Gerald I must go now. Thank you for accompanying for breakfast.”

“I hate that name they call you.” Gerald sneered. He held onto Ella a bit longer not wanting her to go back to them.

“Gerald if I don’t go now then they’ll-“

“ meet me in the stables when you are done.” Gerald released her. Ella nodded.

Ella chores had seemed relentless but she was finally done. She was heading to the stables when she passed the sitting room where her step mother and sisters sat. “When will we rid ourselves of Ella mother?” Patricia asked.