Cinderella is Dead

Sophia was supposed to meet her mother at a seamstress’s shop for a gown fitting, already bathed. However, she is dirty from hiding in the forest, so she heads home. She notices the guards are on high patrol, which she assumes is due to a recent incident in the northern city of Chione, where a statue of Prince Charming, Mersailles’s “savior,” was blown up.

Sophia makes it home and is alone, as her father’s still at work and her mother’s already at the seamstress’s. King Manford has ordered every household to display his portrait and a copy of his decrees at all times, so they’re up in Sophia’s house as well. The decrees state that every household must have at least one copy of the palace-approved version of “Cinderella.” The annual ball is required for all girls beginning at age 16, and if they are not chosen by a suitor after three trips, they are “forfeit” (as are those who participate in unlawful unions). All households are required to designate one male as the head of household, who is held responsible for any activities others in his household commit. A curfew is imposed on women and children for eight o’ clock each night (except for the ball itself).

Sophia goes to her room to get cleaned up and notices her copy of “Cinderella,” which her grandmother gave her. Before attending the ball, girls reread the section about the fairy godmother, hoping their devotion will summon a real fairy godmother to help them prepare for the ball. Rumors of fairy godmothers have dwindled in recent years, and Sophia wonders if the story is completely true. However, this type of doubt is considered blasphemous, so she must be careful about what she says around others. She rereads her invitation to this year’s bicentennial ball, which is two days away. Failing to attend will result in imprisonment of one’s family and seizure of their assets.

Sophia leaves for the seamstress’s shop, noticing crowds preparing for the ball. Shops sell palace-approved replicas of objects from Cinderella’s story, such as glass slippers, and Helen’s Wonderments sells love and beauty potions. People spend excessive money trying to make their daughters appealing for the ball, as the consequences are dire. However, not everyone has money, which is why some especially hope for visits from fairy godmothers.

Sophia continues through the market. Girls recite passages of “Cinderella” and play games where they cry if they lose and are equated with the evil stepsisters. Near a wishing fountain with a statue of Cinderella, Sophia sees her friend Liv, who is thrilled to have won a replica of the fairy godmother’s wand at one of the booths.

Erin appears, and Sophia resists the urge to embrace her. Sophia questions if magic truly exists, but Erin and Liv tell her not to question it in public. Liv is hoping to earn a fairy godmother’s favor and mentions Cinderella’s tomb being open to the public in the past. However, no one has seen the tomb in ages. Sophia worries about Liv because if she shows up to the ball without a gown fit for a princess, her safety will be at risk. This will be Liv’s second trip to the ball, and a third trip is shameful, although permitted. Liv makes a wish at the fountain.

Sophia again asks Erin to leave Mersailles before the ball. Erin says that she wishes Sophia would accept the way things are and then leaves. Liv tells Sophia to give up because those who try to resist are killed, and there’s no way to escape the heavily guarded borders of the city. Sophia is especially concerned about leaving now because of recent rumors of dead young women found in the woods.

Finally arriving at the seamstress’s shop two hours late, Sophia gets fitted for her gown. While her mother fusses over details, Sophia notices the seamstress’s bruises and dreads her own future. She doesn’t want a husband and especially not an abusive one, which is common in Lille. Sophia privately shares with her mother that she wished this day didn’t come, and her mother agrees.

Luke Langley, the son of Sophia’s father’s friend, comes by carriage to pick up Sophia and her mother. Sophia’s mother tries to convince her that Luke’s handsome and could choose her at the ball since he’s “half-decent,” the best they can hope for—but Sophia isn’t interested. The carriage travels through Eastern Lille, where high-ranking members of the aristocracy live, and then to western Lille, where Sophia’s family lives, and drops them off.

Sophia’s mother recounts that she was picked by Sophia’s father the first time that she attended the ball. She believes it was a good pairing because Sophia’s father is a land baron’s son and has always been kind. She tries to convince Sophia that it would be terrible to not be chosen since those who are forfeit end up in workhouses or servitude—and in recent years, have started disappearing altogether. Sophia thinks it’s unfair that girls are required to attend the ball at 16 and are forfeit three years later, whereas boys can wait as long as they want to attend or never attend at all as long as they don’t participate in unlawful unions.

Sophia’s mother knows Sophia is “different” (a lesbian) and wants to be with Erin but tells her that she must hide how she feels. Sophia’s father is working longer hours to afford special trinkets for the ball, in hopes of securing his daughter’s safety. Her parents feel that safety is the priority, whereas “happiness” is a “bonus” to which no one is entitled. Sophia feels her parents are asking her to deny everything about herself.

The next morning, Sophia’s mother sends her (via Luke’s carriage) back to the seamstress’s shop because they forgot some hair ribbons there. Luke knows Sophia is a lesbian. He himself is 20, has never been to the ball, and doesn’t plan to go because he, too, is gay. Sophia doesn’t understand what he’s telling her, and when he brings up Erin, she’s afraid to speak.

Sophia goes into the seamstress’s shop alone and sees her ribbons but also a small boy crying with no adults around. Yelling and smashing sounds come from upstairs, and the child says his father is always yelling at his mother. Although the general rule is that what a man does in his own house is his business, Sophia creeps upstairs to investigate. The seamstress’s husband is angry about money: Everything the seamstress makes belongs to him legally, and since her income was light this month, he suspects she’s withheld money from him. The seamstress says everyone is having a hard time right now, so customers can’t buy as much.

Sophia interrupts. The seamstress’s husband is furious but allows his wife to help her. The seamstress comforts her son and then tells Sophia that she doesn’t need pity. Sophia asks what she does need, and the seamstress says she hopes Sophia isn’t one of those girls looking for a way out because there isn’t one; she asks her to leave.

Back in the carriage, Sophia and Luke both lament how often husbands abuse their wives in Lille. She’s suspicious he’s going to try to hurt her in some way, but Luke says he just wants to get to know her better. She thinks Luke might be a “good man” like her own father, Liv’s father, and others, but she knows good men aren’t the ones making laws.

Sophia and Luke run into Luke’s classmates. A wealthy boy named Morris tries to flirt with Sophia, who insults him. Morris asks if Luke plans to claim Sophia at the ball and says that she doesn’t seem like Luke’s type. He asks what a certain man’s name was again, and Luke punches him. The bullies then leave.

Luke tells Sophia that he would rather be with a prince than a princess and asks if she would prefer a princess over a prince. The reason why he knows about her and Erin is because he overheard their mothers talking. When Luke was 17, he fell in love with a boy named Louis, and they planned to flee. However, Morris and his brother Édouard found out about them and told Louis’s parents, who forfeit him. Luke’s sister convinced their own parents that his relationship with Louis was a “phase,” so they didn’t forfeit him. Neither Luke nor Sophia has heard of many others like themselves, but they assume more exist in secret. He empathizes with her since she can’t simply avoid the ball like he can.

Luke says they should work together and look for an escape, but he doesn’t have a detailed plan yet. He gives Sophia back the coins her mother gave him for the carriage ride in case she might need them.

The morning of the ball, Sophia’s mother and some other women help her prepare by bathing, dressing, fixing her hair, and applying makeup. Sophia resents having no choice in what she wears. Her dress is blue like Cinderella’s, and the women lament the tragedy of Cinderella’s early death. These women also believe the rumors about Cinderella’s tomb existing somewhere and that people used to leave gifts for her.

The women give Sophia a good-luck potion from Helen’s Wonderments, which she saves for later. Sophia’s father gives her a necklace from her grandmother, who was rebellious like Sophia and said too much to the wrong person, resulting in her forfeiture. He acknowledges that it feels wrong to ask her to deny who she is. She pleads with him to not make her go, but he refuses. The carriage to the ball arrives with Erin inside. Sophia’s mother thought this would give the girls a chance to find closure before the ball.

Erin laments that she and Sophia are out of time. Sophia again asks her to run. Erin doesn’t want to, as her parents will forfeit her if she puts even one foot out of line, and she’s hopeful that the results of the ball could be wonderful. She doesn’t want to live away from her family or as an outcast. The girls split the supposed good-luck potion as the carriage approaches the palace.