Fairy Tale: With Sin Of Pride

"This is my dress for the ball!"

A sharp, almost piercing voice echoed from inside the manor.

Even from this distance, the owner's anger was palpable.

Rhodes' hand, poised to knock, hovered mid-air.

Listening to the furious tirade from within, his expression shifted slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Cinderella?

Was this fate's idea of a joke? Right after leaving Sleeping Beauty, he runs into Cinderella? The thought amused him as he pressed the doorbell.

It didn't take long before the manor's lights flickered on.

A figure slowly approached, grumbling curses under their breath. The door opened, and a dust-covered face peeked out, eyes narrowing with impatience.

But as the figure's gaze landed on Rhodes, their expression froze in shock.

Under the dim glow of the oil lamp, Rhodes stood tall, like a perfectly sculpted statue. His short, blond hair gleamed under the light, and his sharp features gave him a striking, almost regal presence.

His tailored suit, clearly made from the finest materials and crafted by a master tailor, clung to him perfectly. A single glance at the outfit suggested it was worth hundreds of gold coins. Only nobles or the wealthiest merchants could afford such luxury.

Cinderella's initial irritation melted away, replaced by a sweet, inviting smile.

"Sir, how may I help you?"

Rhodes frowned slightly as he took in the woman's appearance. Despite the dust and grime, it was impossible to hide her beauty.

Yet, something about her rubbed him the wrong way.

Compared to the gentle and innocent Sleeping Beauty, this Cinderella gave off a different vibe—scheming, manipulative. She radiated an energy that screamed "green tea bitch," a term he had picked up during his travels.

But he had to admit, her appearance and figure were flawless.

"I'm just a passing mage. I was hoping I could stay the night."

Rhodes extended his hand, and with a casual flick of his fingers, a weak flame sparked into existence, illuminating the space between them.

Night had already fallen, and the sun had long since disappeared below the horizon.

For someone of Rhodes' abilities, conjuring a simple flame was effortless. Yet, in this world, being a mage was often more convincing than any title of nobility.

As expected, Cinderella's eyes brightened at the sight of the flame. Her smile softened, growing even more welcoming.

However, an awkward expression soon flickered across her face.

"My stepmother and sisters... well, they have... difficult personalities. I'm afraid they may not be very welcoming."

Her clothes were plain, her face dusty, and her demeanor pitiful—playing the part of a downtrodden servant to perfection. She presented herself as an innocent, wronged girl, while subtly painting her family as cruel villains.

Anyone unfamiliar with the world's darkness would immediately feel sympathy for her and disdain for her stepmother and sisters.

"Please wait here a moment."

With a slight curtsy, Cinderella lifted her tattered skirt and hurried back inside the manor.

As she disappeared, Rhodes turned toward the carriage and called out to Yulia, who sat lounging inside.

"Didn't you say you knew the Water Mirror spell?"

"Hmm?" Yulia raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Cast it for me. I want to see what's happening inside the manor."

Although Yulia was a legendary fire mage, she had some proficiency in low-level spells from other schools, including the Water Mirror. It was a basic water magic spell that allowed the caster to reflect images of nearby areas.

"I'm not exactly an expert with it. If someone inside is skilled in magic, they might notice. And, well, the picture might be clear, but the sound will be fuzzy."

Even as she explained, Yulia traced a circular ripple in the air. A watery surface formed before them, displaying a scene from inside the manor.

Cinderella, still dusty from her chores, strolled casually into the villa.

Inside, a mature, elegant woman sat at a dining table, sharing a meal with two strikingly beautiful young women—Cinderella's stepsisters.

The table was set with four plates, each carrying similar dishes.

"Cinderella, who was at the door?" the middle-aged woman asked as she cut into her food with grace.

"Just some travelers seeking shelter for the night."

Cinderella lowered her head, conveniently omitting the fact that Rhodes was a mage.

"Travelers, you say?"

The woman, Mrs. Termani, frowned slightly.

"Are they nobles or wealthy merchants?"

"Neither," Cinderella answered promptly. Technically, she wasn't lying. Rhodes had introduced himself as a mage, not a noble or merchant.

Of course, she neglected to mention that the status of a mage often surpassed that of nobility.

Hearing that the guests weren't of noble or merchant status, Mrs. Termani relaxed. If they were nobility, slighting them might invite trouble. But if they were mere travelers, there was little reason for concern.

Still, it was wise to remain cautious. There was always the possibility that the travelers were dangerous criminals.

"Prepare the guest wing for them and offer some food," Mrs. Termani ordered, wiping her mouth delicately with a napkin. Though their family's finances had seen better days, decorum was non-negotiable.

This was the upbringing she had always instilled in her daughters.

As she glanced at the dust-covered Cinderella, Mrs. Termani frowned.

"I only asked you to handle a few chores around the house. Why do you make yourself filthy every day?"

"It's my own clumsiness," Cinderella replied meekly, lowering her head.

Internally, though, she scoffed. How else was she supposed to evoke sympathy if she didn't look a little disheveled?

Though Mrs. Termani wasn't cruel to her, Cinderella knew she wasn't her real daughter. Even her father had been a second-rate figure in this household. If she wanted to rise above her station, she needed to craft the image of a pitiful, yet determined woman.

She was beautiful—a beauty destined for the arm of a great nobleman.

"Honestly, you've stained my dress with all that dirt," Antasia, the eldest sister, sneered, clearly displeased.

"Tomorrow morning, we'll go to town and have your outfit tailored for the baron's banquet. Our budget is tight, but you must make an impression. If one of you can catch the eye of a noble, all of my efforts won't have been in vain," Mrs. Termani said, her tone calm but firm.

For commoners like them, even with their exceptional beauty, it was difficult to rise in status. This was why she had spent so much money on custom gowns for her daughters.

Cinderella stood by, her expression pitiful, as she removed half of her meal from her plate and stored it away in the kitchen, leaving only a few measly vegetables on her plate.

"I'm not that hungry. This is enough for me," she said softly before leaving the dining room.

As she passed by her sisters' rooms, she slowed her pace, eyeing the luxurious dresses with envy.

Why should they get to wear such beautiful clothes while I'm stuck in these rags?

Marry a nobleman? Hah, dream on!

No one in this family would have a better life than her, Cinderella swore to herself.

As she thought about the mage waiting outside the manor, her heart raced.

If I could marry him... I'd be a phoenix risen from the ashes.

"No way I'm letting them ruin this for me."

Cinderella bit her lip, deep in thought.

The three Termani women were all beautiful and came from a better background than she did. Their ancestors had once been nobles.

But her mother? A commoner. And her father? A man with little to offer besides his looks—a useless bum.

All she had inherited from her mother was beauty... and the knowledge of how to seduce men.

Cinderella's eyes narrowed as she schemed. She needed to find a way to make the mage loathe the Termani women.

"What a conniving little fox," Rhodes muttered, watching the scene unfold through the Water Mirror spell.

He had always thought fairy tales were full of purity and beauty.

But reality had a way of teaching harsh lessons.

From Little Red Riding Hood to matchstick-selling girls to cursed Sleeping Beauties, these stories masked cruel truths.

The manor door creaked open, and Cinderella, wearing her mask of innocence, stepped out cautiously.

"Dear Master, I've spoken with my stepmother, but she has only agreed to let you stay in the guest wing. Please don't be offended by her lack of courtesy."

She completely ignored the fact that she had never mentioned Rhodes was a mage.

Looking pitiful and fragile, she acted as though she was pleading for mercy on her stepmother's behalf, despite the risk of offending him.

But Rhodes, who had witnessed her entire performance, wasn't playing along.

"That's fine. I don't mind the guest wing."

His smile was calm and indifferent. "However, I think it's only proper that I thank this kind lady in person, don't you?"

Cinderella froze, taken aback. This was not going according to plan.

She had expected the mage to be insulted, to demand punishment for her stepmother and sisters. Then she would play the part of the humble, self-sacrificing girl who begged for their forgiveness, cementing her image in his heart.

Once she got close to him, it would only be a matter of time before she used her charms—those secret tricks her mother had taught her—to win him over.

After all, men were men, mage or not.

But now, everything was going off-script.

This mage's character seems to be a bit too good.

"Then…then, okay!"

Cinderella, whose plan failed, didn't know how to refuse.

She could only lead Rhodes and his group into the manor in an uneasy mood…

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

Support the Translation! 🌐✨

20 Advanced Chapters are currently available in Patreon, make sure to visit and support our team.

patreon.com/Immortal_author

https://ko-fi.com/immortalauthor

https://discord.gg/KscfBegBPT