
Fall had barely settled in when Ella was born, Eleanor for her mother’s middle name. Her mother had hoped for a summer child like herself but in summer came and went until Ella was ready to make her appearance. Ella grew to know her mother and a mother’s love, her father also doting on the two as if they were his queen and princess but when Ella turned three her mother's health started to fail her. No cure could be found. Every night Ella would pray for someone to make her mother better, she believed there was someone out there that could, but her mother slipped into death one night and the next day was buried. Her father was devastated. They had loved each other more than anyone could have known. For the sake of his daughter he did remarry a year later. Lady Termaine was not the same as Ella’s mother but she was happy to have sister’s her own age, hoping they would like the same things as her.
Ella was her father’s jewel, even if he did treat his new family with respect and kindness; he wanted the best for Ella. It was her resemblance to his late wife that made him so protective, often going with her when she learned to ride a horse or when she would go to the public gardens he would always be near her. Not too many years later, after a horse riding lesson from her father on how to handle a spooked horse, he had gone for a ride by himself, that he took a fall. His saddle hadn't been tightened and was thrown from the horse, striking his head on a boulder. He had died instantly leaving Ella at Lady Termaine's cruelty. It wasn’t too long before Ella was forced to be a servant in her own home, often going to bed with dirt and cinders on her skin from cleaning which earned her the name Cinderella from her family.

Through the years Ella did her best to like her family and not be harsh towards them. She did have angry thoughts about them but never did she act on them, knowing it wasn’t what her mother or father would have wanted. When the letter about the ball arrived she was just as excited as her sisters, she wanted to go, remembering her mother tell her of stories of when she had gone to a ball. It was where her mother and father had met. Ella did everything she was told but when she didn’t have her gown ready she was resigned to stay home, no matter how much she really wanted to go, even after her sisters tore apart her mother’s gown. After her family left for the ball Ella’s fairy godmother helped her because of Ella’s kindness in her life.
After the clock struck midnight she fled from the castle, almost forgetting her fairy godmother’s warning of everything turning back as it were for her. Taking her chance to be free of her family she ran off to another town in France but close enough she would be able to go back home if she wanted. She knew she was a talented seamstress and found a shop with a loft above for living space. She was not a big help to her family being bullied and doing the chores, this way she could split the money with her family, keeping some to keep her fed and her shop running and the rest she would sneak back to her family.

It was by chance that Ella was commissioned for a set of gowns by a woman that used to know Cinderella as a little girl. The woman barely recognized her until she had given her name, upon which she received an invitation to have tea with the woman and her husband. Ella accepted gratefully, picking her finest gown for the following day. Upon arrival she found the woman’s husband had been her father’s lawyer who had written up his will. During the luncheon Ella learned she was to inherit her father’s shipping business, all the years he had been alive were to help hone Ella to inherit. It took months but with patience and time Ella soon had her Father’s will, something her step-mother had kept from Ella, naming her the owner.
Everything was depleted when she went to inspect her wares, it didn’t keep her spirits down, slowly, with the help of her father’s lawyer, she was able to open up an account for the repairs it would take and to have a crew for the first ship. She kept up with her boutique to help pay for a few of the repairs, though the pouches she sent to her step-family were substantially smaller than before. After nearly a year, a few times she thought it was a wasted effort, the ships were repaired and she had a full-fledged crew ready to make her father’s business soar. For the first few trips Cinderella went along, wanting to see how things worked, often hearing her father’s words in her head.
“The best way to learn is with hands on experience.”
The crew didn’t like it, a lady didn’t belong on a ship, but over time both parties grew accustomed to her presence. It took longer than a year but she soon had more crews sailing out on the other ships toward other countries and with her knowledge of the world she was able to expand on her shop, shipping out gowns ordered from royalty and the likes while she imported for her shop and for the market in the town. It didn’t take long for her to decide she needed a home rather than to live above her shop, especially as she was soon entertaining the company of other merchants, dukes, lords, all wanting to do business with her.
She chose a chateau just on the outskirts of town, similar to the one she had grown up in, a staff of her own – which she treated kinder than her step-mother had – all the while still having the freedom of doing as she pleased.
Three years – by the time of the ball – had passed and while she still dreamed of the night, she had resigned herself to thinking she would never see the mystery man she had danced with, until she was at a function for the upper class, she had been invited as the world known tradeswoman and the fashion forward woman. She was flanked with woman wanting to know her new line while men asked either for her imports or her hand. Dancing, a favorite of hers, helped her to escape most of them until one particular gentleman asked her to dance, a familiarity about him, even as they danced. Just as she had entranced the prince at the ball she entranced this stranger, who wanted to meet her again.
The following week the two met for a luncheon in her home, often, when she was nervous, she would help with the setup of a meal or clean as she used to. She helped the maids polish from ceiling to floor and every cranny in between until she had to ready herself. The meal went smoothly; even Bruno was on his best behavior while Cinderella entertained her solitary guest. When they adjourned to the sitting room he revealed the real reason for his visit, to find someone he had met three years ago, so sure Cinderella was the one he had brought the glass slipper left behind, asking her to try it on.

She knew it would fit as she still had the other in her room, her foot sliding in perfectly. Even after their wedding she continued her trading business, making the prince the richest monarch in the southern parts of Europe. When a skirmish on their borders broke out he went to the homestead himself, leaving Cinderella in charge as she had proved to be an accomplished businesswoman. She holds out hope that he will return soon, keeping all of his orders in place until then.

Years have passed and it was finally confirmed that her husband had died in the long run. Those on their borders didn't want peace, they felt threatened by the kingdom's prosperity and felt they might invade them. They chose to invade first before letting another take them. In desperation to make sure his kingdom would be well looked after, the king - her father-in-law - named Cinderella as successor to the throne and any she wished to marry would be her king regent and all children able to inheirit if she were to concieve. Shortly after the proclamation he too passed away, a combination of his blood pressure often skyrocketing and the loss of his son took its toll, leaving Cinderella to fight a war she never wanted, and to do it alone.