The time in Evendelle was now 1 pm.
Behind them, the animal agents played in the snow to pass the time.
Ryo's mind was racing. His detective instincts kicked into overdrive as he processed the bombshell Aurelia had just dropped about the cracked glass slipper resting on the branches of the Hazel Tree.
Four suspects.
All wearing Volto masks, matching the same kind reported by villagers. And the worst part? One of them was Kaj… Aurelia's former husband. Ryo had suspected Kaj's involvement in Cinderella's disappearance earlier. But now it was confirmed.
Even more disturbing was Aurelia's mention of a man—no, a boy—floating above the ground, leaving behind trails of purple sparkles and black miasma. It immediately triggered a connection in Ryo's head.
Villagers had spoken of a boy in black flying across the skies, trailing that same eerie aura. And now it turns out he wasn't just a rumor—he was involved in Cinderella's kidnapping.
But what chilled Ryo the most… was how cheerful this boy sounded. Like a child playing games. From Ryo's years as a police officer, he'd learned that criminals who treat cruelty like playtime are always the most dangerous. They don't fear consequences—they enjoy chaos.
The boy in black had also revealed something crucial: that Cinderella was locked in 'a high, dark place.' That one phrase might just be the first real clue about her location. Somewhere tall. Somewhere shrouded in darkness. A tower, perhaps? Ryo wasn't certain yet. But it was a lead.
And now, a woman was added to the list.
The boy had referred to her as 'Your Grace', a formal title reserved for someone of noble rank in this 1701 fairytale realm. That most likely meant she was a Duchess. Whether she resided in Evendelle or hailed from another kingdom, Ryo didn't know. But her presence raised even more red flags.
One of the suspects had also casually mentioned how Cinderella often spoke about her late mother—Aurelia. He even said he almost fell asleep during those talks. That detail struck Ryo hard.
No one in this kingdom had ever told him that Cinderella liked to talk about her mother, let alone so lovingly. And now some man, who clearly had regular access to her, remembered those conversations, and mocked them.
Ryo's suspicion sharpened. This meant someone close to Cinderella, someone possibly inside the castle, was part of the conspiracy.
Then came the most tangled thread of all…
Edmund.
Cinderella's stepfather.
Ryo had long held suspicions about him too, but with Aurelia naming four suspects—Kaj, the floating boy, the noblewoman, and someone connected to the castle—he now wondered:
"Was Edmund one of the four? Or just an accomplice on the side?
He needed more answers.
Then came the part that truly rattled both Ryo and Fairy Greatmother to their core.
Aurelia said that aside from the flying boy, the other three suspects radiated black miasma. That could only mean one thing in Ryo's mind…
Vrakuls in human form.
Ryo had faced a Vrakul in human form before. Malakar. And he had barely survived. Malakar alone nearly killed him during the events in Al-Munira. Now, there were four.
Four possible Vrakuls in human form, working together. If they ever crossed paths, Ryo knew he couldn't fight them alone. He'd need every ounce of magic Fairy Greatmother could offer… and backup from his trusty furry agents too.
Since Aurelia was curious about the common enemy shared by Ryo, Fairy Greatmother, and herself, Ryo began to explain. But the moment she heard everything about the Vrakuls—and the dark magic Kaj once used—her face darkened. The resemblance was undeniable. They were just like him, back when he murdered her. And now… there were four suspects with ties to the Vrakuls. That only made things worse.
And then came the part that hit like a slap across Cinderella's face.
They weren't just neutral about her. They despised her. They were relieved she was gone. They mocked her. One even gleefully described how they knocked her unconscious and dressed her in a gray gown while she was out cold.
A gray gown.
Ryo's eyes narrowed. He had seen a record of that very gown—pre-ordered—in the registry book at Clarisse's workplace. Two individuals, masked, had come in and placed the order. That tied at least two of the four suspects directly to that location.
But why gray? What did the color symbolize? It wasn't royal. It wasn't celebratory.
It was… grim.
Almost like they were trying to erase Cinderella's light.
And then… Kaj.
Ryo had assumed that Kaj was manipulated by the Vrakuls when they were lurking in the kingdom of Glacindor nineteen years ago. But after hearing what Aurelia said, after hearing Kaj admit he was glad he murdered her, saying she had always been a burden, Ryo now questioned everything.
That didn't sound like a man under mind control.
That sounded like…
Hatred.
Personal.
Deep.
Long-held.
Now, how did these suspects knock Cinderella unconscious? Was it a physical assault… or something else?
That's when Ryo remembered something—the perfume bottle he saw earlier at the Stepmother's store.
The label read: "Never Grow Up." It wasn't just on the perfume.
That same phrase appeared on the locket featuring Cinderella with her stepfamily… and even in the registry book. The phrase kept looping back, like a thread tying everything together.
Back on Earth, when Ryo was still a cop, he had encountered criminal cases involving dangerous chemicals and illicit substances that could put victims to sleep in seconds.
He began to wonder. "Could that perfume contain a sleep-inducing compound? Something strong enough to knock Cinderella out just by inhaling it during a struggle?"
That might explain how she lost her slipper. Maybe she wasn't struck unconscious. Maybe she collapsed during the struggle, drugged by the scent, causing her right foot to slip out of the slipper before it cracked.
Ryo clenched his jaw. He needed to confirm it.
Next stop: Back to the village. Back to Stepmother's store.
He was going to march back and boldly question her… and he was going to examine that perfume.
But just as he was about to say something—
"HACHOO!!!"
Ryo sneezed hard, rubbing his nose immediately. That's when it hit him. Right…
The grove was still covered in snow because of Aurelia's earlier misunderstanding trope meltdown.
She thought Ryo and Fairy Greatmother had kidnapped Cinderella. Hurt, furious, and emotionally wrecked, she deliberately unleashed a snowstorm on them. What used to be an autumn grove was now a snowy landscape.
Fairy Greatmother chuckled and raised her wand. "We are in the snow," she said, and with a soft flick, summoned a handkerchief into her hand before passing it to Ryo.
Ryo blew his nose—HARD—into the handkerchief.
Aurelia bowed in apology, her ghostly form floating low.
"I'm really sorry for misunderstanding you both. Especially you, strange foreign man."
Ryo finished wiping his nose and gave a dry laugh.
"Seriously, Madam Aurelia? No need to call me 'strange foreign man.' Just call me Ryo."
Aurelia nodded sweetly… then smiled mischievously.
"I absolutely will, strange foreign man."
Ryo squinted, annoyed.
"Oi… You DEFINITELY did that on purpose. Is my simple, easy-to-pronounce real name really that hard to remember?"
Then Ryo paused. Something clicked. Earlier, before Aurelia appeared, they had run into a girl—a strange, sad-looking girl standing in front of the grave, who introduced herself as… Sneewittchen? She had also called Ryo 'strange foreign man.'
He turned to Aurelia, struggling to say the name.
"Madam Aurelia… earlier, there was this girl named… Snii… Sneew-something. Schneewafflen? Schneebuttchin? Look, I tried."
Aurelia let out a soft laugh. "You mean Sneewittchen?"
Fairy Greatmother perked up as she suddenly remembered.
"Oh yes! What is your relationship with her? She said you're like a mother figure to her."
Ryo rubbed his temple.
"Yeah… and she said Cinderella is her stepsister. What's THAT all about?"
Aurelia folded her translucent hands, gaze cast downward for a moment before meeting theirs again, her expression solemn.
"Unfortunately… I can't tell you anything. You've seen how protective her knights are, haven't you? I've seen it too. I want to respect their efforts to keep her safe." She paused, then sighed softly. "She's… going through something difficult right now. She told me everything when she mourned for me — she broke down at my grave, couldn't stop crying, couldn't hold anything in. But I can't share it."
She drifted a little closer to Ryo and spoke softly, her voice almost hopeful.
"Ryo… since you're helping me find my daughter, then…"
Ryo blinked. "Then… what?"
Aurelia made a sad smile. "May I… touch your right hand?"
Ryo, confused but curious, lifted his right hand. He was still holding the cracked slipper in his left.
Aurelia gently cupped his hand with both of hers—she couldn't fully touch it, being a ghost, but she mimicked the gesture as if she could.
"If you ever run into Sneewittchen again… and she needs help…"
Her voice trembled. Her lips, her eyes, everything about her looked on the verge of breaking.
"Please… help her. She may not be my flesh and blood… but to me… she's like a real daughter."
A cold wind swept through the grove. Ryo's trench coat flapped gently. Fairy Greatmother's robe billowed slightly. His hair tousled softly under the snowy breeze.
He stared at Aurelia, speechless.
She knows Sneewittchen… and she's asking him to help her?
But that girl already had seven sworn guardian knights — each of them half his size, dead serious, and radiating pure menace. They looked like they'd slice down an enemy without blinking, just to protect her.
Why would she need him?
Ryo groaned internally with full sarcastic flair, like she'd just handed him a fruit… and forgot to mention it was cursed.
"Great… it's one of those tropes. The kind where I get some mysterious foreshadowing I never asked for, and despite doing everything in my power to avoid it, I still end up smack in the middle of it. Yup, totally normal. Absolutely not a setup. Nope. Just another day in my life ever since Fantasy-chan foreshadowed I'd be neck-deep in magical nonsense before I even became a detective. Yep. Great. Wonderful. Normal!"
He exhaled in defeat.
"Alright, Madam Aurelia… if I do run into her again and it's got anything to do with a crime or mystery…" He sighed. "…maybe I'll help. If it involves an investigation, that is."
Aurelia smiled gently and slowly let go of his hand.
"Thank you so much." She bowed her head slightly. "I leave her in your hands… the day you meet her once again."
Then Aurelia slowly raised a hand over the cracked glass slipper in Ryo's left hand and cast a spell. A gentle sky-blue glow shimmered from her palm, and, as if kissed by time itself, the glass slipper began to mend. The cracks sealed themselves, vanishing without a trace, until it gleamed once more — flawless, as if it were brand new.
Ryo and Fairy Greatmother both blinked in surprise.
Aurelia turned to him with a solemn gaze.
"Ryo… if my daughter were to ever lose control of her ice magic again… please have her wear this right slipper."
"The left one, I assume, is still with her."
Ryo looked down at the restored glass slipper in his left hand. A heavy weight settled on him. Deep down, he knew there was danger waiting, growing stronger the closer he got to Cinderella. He tightened his grip on the slipper with renewed determination.
He raised his gaze back to Aurelia, eyes sharp, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Don't worry, Madam Aurelia," he said, narrowing his eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to find your daughter with my crew here. And I'll make sure to put this slipper on her foot… if she ever loses control of her ice magic."
Aurelia's ghostly heart skipped a beat.
Her face flushed red, and she smiled sheepishly—clearly flustered.
Ryo had absolutely no idea he had just made Cinderella's mother fall for him with a single intense look.
Aurelia turned slightly, internally scolding herself.
"Aurelia, please, no! You're already dead… and you already have a daughter. So please… don't fall for him!"
Fairy Greatmother blinked, noticing the dreamy look on Aurelia's face.
Then she turned slowly to Ryo, her expression shifting into something only a disappointed mother would wear — like she was looking at her son who didn't realize he'd just accidentally charmed a high school classmate.
"He keeps charming women… surprisingly, even a ghost, Cinderella's own mother, and he doesn't even realize he's doing it? What kind of person is Mr. Detective?"
Ryo, still oblivious to the flustered ghost in front of him, casually continued.
"And Madam… your daughter, Cinderella, remained pious and good. She followed your teachings to be a kind lady."
He smirked faintly. "It even earned her a storybook adaptation."
Aurelia's fluster vanished, replaced with total confusion.
"My daughter got… a storybook adaptation?"
She paused.
And Aurelia would never know that her daughter wasn't just the star of some dusty fairytale book… but also the face of a multi-billion-dollar empire, all under the watchful eye of a suspiciously cheerful rodent overlord back on Earth.
Complete with an animated musical so iconic it brainwashed generations, mass-produced gowns in every princess aisle, each one drenched in her signature color, theme parks where animatronics sing at you on loop, and a questionable remake so lifeless it left audiences scratching their heads and mourning the original.
Ryo carefully slipped the now-fixed glass slipper into his bag and turned back to the ghostly woman before him.
"Madam Aurelia, we have to get going now," he said. "Gotta resume our investigation."
Aurelia gave a graceful nod. "Very well, Ryo."
She turned to the fairy beside him.
"And you too, Ms. Roselia. Please be safe on your journey in search of my daughter. I shall pray that you both have a safe investigation."
As Ryo and Fairy Greatmother were about to depart—furry agents trailing behind them—Fairy Greatmother raised her palm, halting them gently.
"Wait… before we leave," she said with a composed smile, "allow me to do a little cleaning for the grove."
She gestured calmly at their surroundings.
The grove was a battlefield—snow blanketed every inch, trees were shattered, debris lay scattered across gaping craters. All thanks to one ghost's passionate 'classic misunderstanding.'
Aurelia chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her transparent head.
"Ahahaha… my apologies for the damage, Ms. Roselia…"
Fairy Greatmother placed both hands on her hips and shook her head slowly, wearing the expression of a fed-up mother who just walked in on her daughter's glitter-explosion art project.
Then she raised her wand high into the air.
It shimmered—first soft, then brighter—as she cast her spell.
And then… the grove came alive.
Ryo and Aurelia's mouths were wide open at Fairy Greatmother's so-called 'little cleaning.'
Light bloomed outward in a golden ripple, and suddenly…
The earth trembled, lifting debris up into the air like time reversing itself. Earth and soil reformed, craters sealed, and wildflowers burst back into bloom, dotting the land like nature's confetti.
The broken trees stood tall once again, splinters flying and branches reattaching in flawless whorls of bark and leaf, like watching the forest breathe in reverse.
The snow evaporated in gentle wisps, dissolving midair like mist in morning light, until not a single flake remained.
And with one final swirl of autumn wind, golden-orange leaves cascaded back into the grove, nestling where they once fell.
It was as if the entire grove had been rewound back to its peaceful, glowing, autumn self.
A warm wind stirred.
The shimmer faded.
Fairy Greatmother gently lowered her wand, her voice calm and proud.
"There we go. Looking nice and neat like before."
Ryo's mouth was still hanging open as he spun slowly to take in the perfection around him.
"…Holy moly," he breathed. "What beautiful enchanted fantasy nonsense did I just watch."
The animals stared too, equally speechless.
But Aurelia… Aurelia was trembling.
Not from the cold—but from the sudden realization that shook her spooky core.
Fairy Greatmother hadn't even used half her magic when dueling her earlier… yet she had just rewound an entire battlefield like it was nothing more than a spilled cup of tea.
Aurelia's ghostly form shaken, her face pale (well… paler), eyes wide in dread.
She stared at Fairy Greatmother like she was the hidden DLC boss disguised as a sparkly grandma.
A whisper escaped her lips. "I… I will become a good girl… just like my daughter…"
She shivered.
"Just like Ryo said… she got a storybook adaptation," she murmured, almost believing it now.
Fairy Greatmother quietly decided it would be best to return to the village on horseback.
Ryo gave a casual shrug. "Yeah, sure. Why not."
Without another word, Fairy Greatmother turned toward Barkzilla and Whiskers. She raised her wand and, with a soft shimmer of magic, the tiny dog and kitten began to glow—stretching, reshaping.
In seconds, they transformed back into the tall, sturdy brown horses they once were.
With her usual elegance, Fairy Greatmother climbed onto Barkzilla's back.
Ryo hopped up onto Whiskers, just like before—easy, practiced.
Captain Nutso, ever the loyal lookout, scampered up and reclaimed his post on Ryo's shoulder.
Barkface leapt neatly into Fairy Greatmother's lowered right hand and settled in front of her saddle, wagging softly.
Ryo turned to McPecker and McDrama. "You guys wanna ride this time?"
The two doves stared at him… and then, in perfect sync, shook their heads.
Still the same answer. Still the same preference.
Wings only.
Ryo and Fairy Greatmother then turned their heads back toward the grove's center.
There stood Aurelia, her translucent form illuminated by the light filtering through the restored trees.
She raised her hand and gave a gentle, hopeful wave—her expression bittersweet. Her daughter was still missing. But now, there was trust in her eyes. She believed.
Ryo and Fairy Greatmother smiled and waved back.
And with that, they departed.
The enchanted grove disappeared into the distance behind them as they made their way back to the village of Evendelle.
The leaves quietly moved in the breeze as the path led them back toward the village, and by the time they neared the familiar hills overlooking it, the sun had already shifted.
The time in Evendelle was now 2:30 pm.
Just before reaching the village entrance, they dismounted quietly.
Without hesitation, Fairy Greatmother flicked her wand.
A soft glimmer swept over the horses, and in an instant, they turned back into their original selves—Barkzilla, a cheerful dog again, and Whiskers, once more a fluffy little kitten.
Best not to let magic be seen.
With their animal companions at their sides, Ryo and Fairy Greatmother strolled toward the village entrance.
As they passed by the familiar old constable, Fairy Greatmother gave a polite wave.
Ryo gave a casual salute.
The constable returned it with a knowing grin, watching them as they passed.
No words were needed.
Before returning to the Stepmother's store to resume the investigation, Ryo and Fairy Greatmother made a detour to the village square. The sun hung lazily in the sky—it was well past lunchtime—and their stomachs had made their protest known.
They stopped by a local street stall where Fairy Greatmother purchased meat pies, dried fruits, and goats' milk. Everyone—human, fairy and animal—sat together under the awning of a merchant's tent, joyfully munching away.
Mid-chew, Ryo let his gaze wander across the vibrant Village square.
Villagers walked around. A pair of wandering minstrels played a happy tune on lute and fiddle, puppet shows made children laugh, and an old woman sat on the central fountain, telling stories to wide-eyed little ones.
A few children saw Ryo and waved enthusiastically.
"It's Mr. Jokester!" one of them pointed at him.
"Hi, Mr. Jokester!" another shouted.
"When will you show us a magic trick again?!"
"Those chocolates were delicious! I gave the other two to Mommy and Daddy, and they loved it sooo much!" a little girl added with a hop.
Ryo grinned and waved back.
They remembered his coin trick from yesterday—and more importantly, the chocolates he'd handed out.
But then his smile began to fade.
Because he remembered.
This village square. This exact patch of cobblestone.
It was a crime scene.
Nineteen years ago, this was where Aurelia was murdered.
And now, here he was—sitting on the very spot where her blood had been spilled… finishing a meat pie.
Suddenly—CLIP-CLOP—hoofbeats echoed. From the road that curved down from the castle, a group of men in royal clothes rode into the village square and stopped beside the fountain.
Ryo blinked, tension snapping back into his limbs.
"Ma'am… what's going on?"
Fairy Greatmother furrowed her brow.
"Wait a moment… What are they doing here?"
Ryo turned toward her. "Who are they?"
With concern sharpening her tone, she answered.
"That's the Royal Herald and his guards."
Ryo nearly choked. "WHAT?!"
And rightfully so. Because in the original tale, the Royal Herald was the one who announced the royal ball—where Cinderella's story began.
But… the castle was on lockdown. No one in, no one out.
Why was the Herald here now?
Villagers gathered, drawn toward the regal men as if pulled by gravity. They formed a semi-circle around the Herald, whispers buzzing as the man unfurled a golden scroll.
The Royal Herald—dignified atop his horse—lifted his chin and declared in a voice that echoed across the square:
"Hear ye, hear ye! Let it be known across the lands of Evendelle and beyond… His Highness, Prince Vaelric, is now seeking a bride — with the full support of Their Majesties, the King and Queen."
Both Fairy Greatmother and Ryo froze—eyes wide with shock.
The crowd exploded in stunned murmurs…
"But… wasn't he engaged to the princess?"
"You mean Cinderella?"
"I thought they were to be married!"
"Is this some kind of mistake?"
"Has the court forgotten?"
"She's been missing for three months now…"
"Does this mean she's… dead?"
"Surely they wouldn't move on so soon…"
"Why act like she never existed?"
Fairy Greatmother's voice trembled. "…Why…?"
Ryo clenched his jaw and whispered.
"The hell is going on? What about Cinderella?"
Prince Vaelric had been engaged to her for three months. She vanished a little over a month ago. So why was the kingdom's prince suddenly announcing a search for a new bride… as if she never even existed?
Without warning, Fairy Greatmother stood up and dashed forward, pushing through the stunned crowd.
"WAIT! PLEASE!" she cried.
Ryo stood frozen with the animals.
"MA'AM!" he shouted, arm reaching helplessly toward her.
Fairy Greatmother broke through and stopped before the Herald, breath heavy.
The villagers all turned to stare at the schoolteacher.
"Why is Ms. Roselia acting like that?"
"Is she upset about the prince's decision?"
"What's gotten into her?"
"She's usually so composed…"
"Maybe she knows something?"
The Royal Herald peered down at her from atop his steed.
"Ah. Ms. Roselia of the village school, is it? You appear rather… distressed."
She looked up at him, tone firm.
"What is this announcement about Prince Vaelric seeking a bride?!"
The Herald perked up, as if he'd almost forgotten.
"Ah yes! allow me to finish."
He cleared his throat with ceremonial flair, turning his gaze back to the crowd.
"In two days' time, a Royal Ball shall be held within the Grand Ballroom of the castle. ALL are welcome—nobles and commoners alike. And during this event… the Prince will choose his bride."
Ryo, still back with the animals, blurted, "WHAT THE F—!"
(The two dove agents dove in and flapped over his mouth just in time to censor him.)
A second royal ball. A new search for a bride. But… that only happened once in the tale. Why now—when Cinderella had disappeared?
Fairy Greatmother lost her composure. She lunged forward, only to be stopped by two guards grabbing her arms.
She shouted, enraged.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! WHAT ABOUT CINDERELLA? SHE'S THE PRINCE'S BRIDE-TO-BE! SHE VANISHED—AND I THOUGHT THE ENTIRE COURT KNEW THIS!"
The Royal Herald blinked, bewildered. "Ms. Roselia… what are you saying?"
Her voice cracked with disbelief.
"I'm talking about Cinderella! The princess of Evendelle! Prince Vaelric's fiancée—his future wife!"
The Herald leaned forward in his saddle, brows knitting with what seemed like genuine confusion.
Then, with the final, devastating blow, he asked…
"…Ms. Roselia…"
"Who is this Cinderella you speak of?"