(Bl) Transmigration: Seducing and making Cinderella's prince mine

"What was that?" Zolan questioned Mira when the thundering noise came once again from inside. Mira, who was at the courtyard of the castle with both her daughters, bowed and smiled while trying to make Zolan comfortable.

"It's nothing—just some livestock quarreling," she assured him. But in the process, her hands clenched in rage. After this, she would make sure his death was nothing short of horrible.

How dare that moron try to land her in trouble.

Zolan, who regally got out of the carriage, had a look of disapproval. While scanning the environment, he heaved an exasperated sigh.

He was exhausted already, and thank the gods this was the last line. But unfortunately for him, a fine maiden hadn't been found, and he didn't know whether to rejoice or not—because he wasn't ready for marriage.

With a look that screamed annoyance and anger, he eventually made his way to the courtyard, with his butler Clyde tagging behind as usual. Clyde was supposed to carry the gold slipper, and seeing that he left it in the carriage, Zolan halted.

"What is it, Clyde? Can't you see you're wasting my time?" Zolan's irritation was spiraling out of control, and his butler here was adding to it.

"My prince, it's just that I forgot the maiden's slipper in the carriage. Permit me to get it," Clyde bowed.

Sighing, Zolan gave the order, and Clyde ran to retrieve the slipper while he stood there waiting.

Mira stood at the doorstep, ready to usher the prince in, and with a glare, she forced her daughters to do the same—despite their protest of aching feet from the countless ball dances they had endured the previous night.

"You girls should respect yourselves. This is the moment we've been waiting for—make the most of it." Instantly, Lydia nodded. Chloe reluctantly smiled while gawking at the devilishly handsome prince who stood several feet away.

His hair was combed to the side, and the raven color shone under the glistening twilight. He was a stunning creature, and his swag was another feat that made girls drool. No one in the castle could compete with such a specimen—that was their belief. But if only they knew…

"Clyde, what's taking you so long? I never knew slippers could give birth in there," Zolan sarcastically rebuked, glaring at the carriage. After a minute, he frowned.

"Clyde, don't make me come over there!" he called, and finally, his words paid off. Clyde came rushing back, his face as pale as white sand—but not with the slipper. Zolan instantly noticed his hands were bare and was ready to question him to hell.

Clyde bowed and began, "My prince, the slipper is gone." Now it was Zolan who stood gawking.

"Are you out of your mind? What do you mean gone?" Zolan couldn't believe his ears. They had just used it in the previous household a few meters back—how could it vanish?

Clyde bowed his head in shame. This was probably his fault, but he was sure he had held it. Were there thieves? No, that couldn't be right. Apart from the carriage rider who was in front, and the both of them, no one else had been in the carriage.

"Clyde, that isn't an explanation. What happened to the slipper?" Zolan pressed on, now completely losing it. Mira, seeing the tension, decided to keep quiet—perhaps this was the time to stay out of it.

"Your Highness, believe me—I don't know. I was with you in the ride, and I'm pretty sure I kept the slipper beside me. I don't know what went wrong," Clyde's face was turning red. He was terrified of the emperor's wrath. He might not only lose his head or a body part today, but his family might suffer for it as well.

Zolan eyed him but couldn't say anything further. Yes, he had been with him in the ride—and he clearly saw Clyde place the slipper beside his seat. Now it was tagged missing.

Could this be sorcery? But he didn't believe in such.

"Well, since we can't find the slipper, I guess our work here is done. Clyde, prepare the carriage—we're heading back to the castle. I don't know what we're going to tell the Emperor, but traveling around the empire has stressed me out. I need rest."

Bowing to the prince's request, Clyde rushed off to prepare the carriage.

Zolan then turned to the anxious ladies who had just watched their streak of luck pass them by.

"Sorry for wasting your time, ladies, but I believe this visit is over. I'm taking my leave now."

Without further explanation, Zolan walked back to the carriage with a grim expression.

Strange… he thought silently.

********

Meanwhile, through the woods, a figure was seen running for his life. He was panting and sweating, even starving.

He hadn't had a proper meal since his arrival, and he might collapse anytime soon—but he couldn't risk fainting. The thought of Mira and her malicious deeds made him tremble.

Then, a flash of memory struck him. While attempting to escape the high walls of High Wing Castle, he saw something that made him shudder.

Hanging from a rope—dead—was Cinderella, brutally stabbed in several places. The rope was tied to an iron hook swinging furiously at the backyard.

Color drained completely from his face as he stood helpless.

No doubt he had loathed the girl previously, tagging her a conniving bitch—but come to think of it, she was just surviving.

It wasn't her fault. She had been raised in a terrible household, forced into slavery at a young age—not to mention being betrothed to a superficial prince who probably didn't give a damn about her.

He hated that prince. And it didn't help that he looked a lot like the madman who had been his rival back in the modern world.

But over time, he had come to like her. And seeing her dead did something to him.

"Promise me you won't let anything happen to me…"

Her innocent voice echoed through his thoughts.

He shuddered, thinking of the malicious things Mira must've done to her, and how her body was now left open for unclean animals to feast on. He gnashed his teeth as the memory played on.

Only if he hadn't entered that manuscript—or whatever the hell it was—if he had stayed away… maybe Cinderella would've been alive.

Fuck it.

He needed to survive.

No more obsessing over a dead girl. Now, he had to keep himself safe.

Suddenly, he stumbled upon a clearing and noticed a figure up ahead—and from the looks of it, the person was taking a piss. Wanting to see clearly, he peered—and lo and behold, it was a man.

And goodness—his dick was massive. In his hand... was the golden slipper.

Kayden didn't know whether to scream or cry. Right now, his mind was running wild. Who carries something like that while pissing?! And as if it wasn't enough—he fondled it. Kayden gulped, hiding behind a tree.

With a sharp maneuver, the figure turned—and revealed a familiar face he had seen at the ball.

Oh no.

One of the princes.

Yes—it was Thane Nightshade.

"Who's there?! Come out right now unless you want to turn into a corpse!"

Kayden didn't know how it happened—but everything turned blank as he collapsed, hitting his head hard on the tree.