Shadowing Practice: Cinderella Story For Adults - Learn English Speaking with Video

In Grimm's version of the fairy tale, apparently my sister and I weren't even worth naming.

But at least we were rightly described as beautiful.

In Disney's version, our names are mentioned, but can you recall them?

No. I bet all you can remember are two pugnose sisters with terrible hair, the nasolabial fold of a 70 -year -old,

annoying voices, and very big feet.

The thing is, we really weren't ugly.

Especially me.

Honestly, I was kind of a looker from the right angle.

No, no, move to the left.

That side is prettier.

Like, sure, I could have benefited from a nose job if it was a thing back then.

But I've got great hair, a banging body, and deep eyes that look like dark pools you could drown in.

Or so I've been told.

No, the problem wasn't us.

The problem was her because next to her, anyone would look like a gnarly potato.

You know how one day you feel you're looking really good, the skin is skinning, the hair is herring,

the outfit's outfitting, and then you see some celebrity on Instagram

and feel like you two can't even be creatures from the same planet?

Yeah, that's what the Cinderella effect was, making everyone around her look like E .T.

And you know what the biggest joke is?

She was never a victim or forced to be our maid.

She was very OCD, so scrubbing everything like a maniac all the time is entirely on her.

No one asked her to do that.

I guess she didn't love being a nobody, because slowly, very slowly, she started spinning her story.

And before we knew it, we were the villains.

She was the poor mistreated servant girl, and I was the bitter hag trying to steal her man.

But he was my man first.

My name is Drizella, and I'm here from the dead to tell you the true

story of how Cinderella pulled off one of the greatest cons in history.

She got the name, the ball, the prince, the animated pigeons, the march, the eternal adoration.

And it's built on lies.

All of it.

Well, except for the part about me having really big feet.

Like, I was told most of my life to shop from the men's section of the shoe store.

I bet that's half the reason I've ended up being a villain in every version.

Because how dare I imagine myself as a worthy princess with my US size 11 feet?

I digress.

I must stay on track.

And even though my version of events is no charming fairy tale, I must begin the story the right way.

Once upon a time, there was a man with a family, a fortune, and a functioning household.

So naturally, he had a midlife crisis and ran for the hills.

Gone to figure myself out.

Don't wait for me.

And tell your mother, it's not me, it's her.

I hope I figure out you suck big time.

Yeah, I wasn't shocked because honestly we'd be idiots if we hadn't seen this coming.

I crave adventure.

This provincial family life is suffocating my soul.

Someday I'll leave to seek my higher purpose.

Marriage and fatherhood can't be it.

I have to find myself and I really don't think I can do it while married to you specifically.

But Mother was still blindsided, shocked, bamboozled.

Why had he left?

Was it because she wasn't pretty enough or young enough or hadn't plucked her eyebrows properly since 1823?

Maybe her elbows were too pointy.

Maybe her eyes lacked emotional depth.

I tried to explain that it was more about him being a spineless lizard running away from adult responsibility.

But she just kept sinking in the depths of her despair.

And the couch.

And without a husband around, she went into full damsel -in -distress mode.

Oh, how I crave pickles.

If only I had a man with strong arms to open this jar for me.

Never mind that she had servants to open all the jars in the world and two perfectly decent daughters.

Okay, fine.

She had one decent daughter.

Because the other one was Anastasia.

Let's just say that we didn't know back then that excessive glue sniffing causes brain damage.

And that kid always had her head stuck in a pot of glue.

Anastasia, focus!

With father gone and mother officially losing her mind, you and I have to run this household.

Mother has plenty of money.

But we need to start budgeting!

Why?

Mother is always telling me to stop budgeting when I'm around horses, because it makes them nervous.

Like, hello lady, I'm the nervous one here, I'm the one who got kicked by a horse in the head!

No, she's telling you to stop fidgeting!

Those are two completely unrelated things!

Are you sure?

They sound a little related.

They're not!

Look, budgeting just means that we need to keep track of our expenses.

For instance, how much do we spend on candles per week?

Oh, candles?

At least eleven.

Eleven what?

Candles.

I meant money.

What about it?

How much money do we spend on candles?

We spend money on them?

No, Anastasia.

They just grow on trees and we pluck them like fruit.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

Candles are free.

What's the next item on your fidgeting list?

Yep, this was my partner in responsibility.

Her loyalty was unwavering, as was her misunderstanding of absolutely everything.

She had a heart of gold and the usefulness of a fork in a soup bowl.

Okay, okay, I'll stop roasting my poor sister now.

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Despite all her flaws, she was my rock.

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Heavy, useless, and mostly in the way.

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Hahaha, bazinga!

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But we soon had a much bigger problem at hand.

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Mother was dying for attention from men.

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And word of her wealth and desperation spread fast, sending every gold -digging bachelor within a hundred miles our way.

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And I figured out how to get rid of them fast.

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Of course, my sister slowed me down.

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Okay, Anastasia, are we ready for afternoon tea?

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Absolutely!

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I ordered those fancy pastries Mother loves, fresh lilacs, lemon curd...

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No, Anastasia, not the actual tea!

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The plan!

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Are we ready for the plan?

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Oh, the plan.

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Right, right.

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Let me just quickly cancel the musicians.

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You ordered musicians?

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This isn't an actual date, it's an ambush!

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Do you remember the strategy or not?

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Not really, but I'll think of something on the spot.

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You know I'm very quick on my, uh, you know, my...

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Did you just forget the word feet?

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Quick on my feet?

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No, that doesn't make sense.

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You know I run slower than a duck.

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I have yet to beat a duck in a race.

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Oh my god, focus on the tea!

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Fine!

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I'll spill tea on his thighs.

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No, that's not what we...

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Actually, you know what?

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You do that.

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Leave the rest to me.

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Great.

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And afterwards, we can eat the pastries.

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Yes, we can eat the pastries.

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And the lemon curd?

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Yes, fine.

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The lemon curd, too.

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I had discovered that the fastest method to drive off unwanted suitors was to casually mention Dad,

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and then watch Mother spiral into all five stages of grief.

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Well, four.

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Acceptance was off the table.

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Mother, you look lovely today.

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Isn't this the dress you were wearing the day Father left?

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No, that was the lavender one.

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Oh, yes.

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The one Father said made you look washed out.

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He.. he said what?

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Madam, you look absolutely radiant today.

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I cannot understand why any man would leave you.

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Of course he didn't leave me.

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He just relocated temporarily.

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I'm sure at this very moment he's thinking about how much he misses me, and he's making his way back home.

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Oh, I didn't think this was something temporary.

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You're right.

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I'm such a fool.

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Because honestly, what is there to miss?

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Just the woman who gave him the best years of her life.

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I held this family together, I cooked, I cleaned… When you ironed a napkin once, and I'm the one who holds anything together.

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But if he'd just communicated properly, I could've changed.

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I could have sent my daughters to finishing school and gone with him to find himself and slept under the stars.

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I could have been free -spirited and spontaneous.

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Do you think if he knew this, he'd come back?

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I really can't say, madam.

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Oh, there's no point thinking about it.

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He's gone now.

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But you're here to mend the pieces of my broken heart, right?

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You have good, strong shoulders to cry on.

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I'm going to cry on them so much.

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Ah, it's getting kind of late for my horse's dinner.

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This has been lovely.

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Are you running away from me too?

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No, I mean, yes.

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But it's not you, it's me.

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He was leaving anyway, genius.

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Tea is expensive.

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You're all crazy.

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As he ran off and Mother sobbed into the tablecloth, we high -fived.

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I thought I was so smart.

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Chasing off mom's suitors and taking charge of the household. But then...

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I made the biggest mistake of my life.

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Yeah, bigger than letting Anastasia give me a haircut once.

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I hired a gardener.

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Ma 'am, thank you for the position.

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If it pleases you, my daughter Ella will also be staying with me in the servants' quarters.

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I'm sure she can make herself useful to you.

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A girl my age emerged from behind him and I will never forget the first time I saw her.

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Her hair was like honey catching sunlight,

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her skin like porcelain, and her patched -up linen dress looked better than any silk I owned.

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Her eyes were the kind of blue that would make painters cry into their palettes trying to replicate it.

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Every feature on her face was in perfect harmony.

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And then she smiled.

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We didn't know it yet, but the entire trajectory of our lives was rewritten at that moment.

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Oh my.

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Just look at you, child.

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Like something out of a dream.

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You're perfect.

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You're too kind, ma 'am.

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I'm so grateful to you for letting me stay.

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She's glowing.

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Should people glow?

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Do you use some kind of special shampoo made from unicorn tears and fairy dust?

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Haha, you're funny.

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I like you.

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Did you hear that, Drizella?

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She likes me!

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As mother led her father away to show him their living quarters, and...

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I don't know, Anastasia went after a butterfly, Cinderella stayed back and looked directly at me.

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Drizella, isn't it?

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Yes. And you're...

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Ella?

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Yes.

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But my late mother nicknamed me Cinderella, because I'd always sleep by the fireplace and get covered in ashes.

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You know how nicknames stick.

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You don't have one?

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No, but you can call me Miss.

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You hired my father, Miss.

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That means you changed my life.

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And I'll be sure to return the favor.

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I felt a chill down my spine that had nothing to do with the weather.

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As she walked away, I just knew I disliked her intensely.

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Part of me thought it was because I was jealous, and yeah, of course I was.

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But I just had a feeling that beneath that flawless facade was someone calculating and dangerous.

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And oh, how I wish I wasn't right for once.

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At first, she just helped.

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She polished the silver, dusted the bookshelves, organized the pantry.

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But then she started having ideas for everything.

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She rearranged the furniture, suggested new colors for the curtains, and started embroidering tablecloths and crocheting bedspreads.

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It's like watching angels knit.

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Even I couldn't deny her taste was impeccable.

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And soon, Mother wanted her opinion on everything.

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And then, she was suddenly instructing all the maids, the butlers, and even the cook.

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The cook!

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That toad never listened to anything I said.

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The house sparkled, the cutlery gleamed, the food actually had flavor, and I could see my reflection in the floors now.

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How could I complain about that?

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But I couldn't help being bothered by how she had Mother and Anastasia wrapped around her little finger.

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She would make them face masks and hair oils, play the piano for them like she was Mozart's daughter, and sing like a nightingale.

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And then there was the dancing.

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There was a celebration as always at the end of the harvest season.

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And as the servants gathered to dance, Cinderella joined them.

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She didn't dance like a girl raised in servant quarters.

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She danced like the air was conspiring to hold her up.

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Like the music was written just for her.

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Like she'd spent her whole life rehearsing her steps to perfection.

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Everyone was mesmerized.

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She's so graceful.

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Not like my girls.

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That was the first time I heard her say it.

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Not like my girls.

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But it wasn't the last.

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Soon, Mother was drawing comparisons between her and us all the time, telling us how we could try to be more like her.

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And I swear, I would have given up and accepted her perfection and superiority if it wasn't for the bird incident.

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Come here, Gisela, look!

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A robin's nest right outside Ella's window.

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Isn't it sweet?

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It's gonna have babies soon.

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Yes, lovely.

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But I bet it won't be so sweet when they're all screeching at dawn.

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The two of them continued to look utterly enchanted, and I lost interest soon and left.

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But the next morning, I ran outside to Anastasia screaming.

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I found her standing under the tree, and the nest lay on the ground completely destroyed.

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The eggs and the robin were gone.

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Anastasia cried half the day, wondering if it was the work of an evil squirrel, or an evil raccoon, or an evil eagle.

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Later that evening, Cinderella walked into the living room, holding something behind her back.

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Mother, I made you a gift.

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Mother?

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Since when did she...

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Then I saw the gift, and my blood ran cold.

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It was a delicate comb, woven with tiny blue -gray feathers twisted through gold thread.

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Oh my dear, it's exquisite.

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Mother kissed her on the cheek.

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Anastasia clapped, while I just stared, stunned.

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This couldn't just be my imagination running away with me, right?

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Still feeling uneasy.

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I was going up to my room for the night, when I found Cinderella polishing the stairs' banister vigorously.

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Still cleaning?

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You really love it, don't you?

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Oh yes, it really helps me think.

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And all the work makes me sleep soundly at night.

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You should be sleeping well tonight anyway.

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You know, without all that chirping right outside your window.

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Yes, such a noisy little thing that Robin was.

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I wonder what happened to it.

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And we both know it wasn't an evil squirrel.

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Cinderella straightened and met my gaze, smiling.

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Please, Drizella, do I look like the kind of girl who murders birds?

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No, but looks can be very deceiving.

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People only see what they want to see.

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Luckily for me, they always want to see an angel.

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Without a shadow of a doubt then, I knew this girl was a psychopath.

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I just stayed away from her as much as possible.

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I was also glad that Mother was spending less time with her since she'd recently found gardening

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and spent hours outside taking interest in dirt and compost.

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I was happy she had a healthy hobby.

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Until I walked into the living room one afternoon to find her and Cinderella's father sipping tea and holding hands.

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Uh, what's going on here?

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What does it look like?

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I'm hoping he's about to flip your palm over and read your future because no other explanation will make much sense.

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Drizella, I know it's been hard on you since your father left and you miss him.

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Nope, not even a little, not even at all.

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Speak for yourself.

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Honey, a woman needs a man in her life.

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His companionship, his strong hands, his opinions.

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What I'm trying to say is, Mr. Rivers and I, we're...

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No, no, no, no, no, no, no. If your next words are, in love, I'm throwing myself out the window.

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Will you just let me finish?

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Fine. In love.

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Great.

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Fantastic!

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Open the window with your strong hands, Mr. Rivers, so I can throw myself out!

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Why would you be so upset, Drizella?

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And then, to always make things worse, Cinderella walked in!

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It's a beautiful thing for two lonely widowers to find love again.

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My father isn't dead.

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We don't know that.

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Oh my god, had she found a way to get rid of him too?

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No, she was just saying things to irk me.

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Cinderella put her hand on my arm.

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We're like family already.

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This just feels like it was meant to be.

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I really thought I might gouge Cinderella's blue eyes out with a fork.

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So I stormed off, grabbed a horse, and rode furiously, not even sure where I was headed.

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I just had to get away.

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I remembered an old estate on the hill that had burned down decades ago.

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It had never been rebuilt, but the library had survived.

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I'd sneaked in there a few times before, and I definitely needed abandoned ruins to rage in right now.

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I pushed open the creaky library door, grabbed a book randomly from the shelves, and plopped myself onto the couch next to a pile of dusty blankets.

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But then the pile moved.

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I turned around, terrified, to see a boy emerge from under the blankets.

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Oh, wow, it's just one girl.

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I thought an army of banshees had descended upon me.

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H -Are you.. a ghost?

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No, but that scream should have woken all dead people within a five -mile radius.

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Ow!

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What was that for?

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If it had passed through you, it would have meant you're a ghost.

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I was just checking.

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Did you miss the part where I specifically said no to that question?

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Why would I expect a ghost to tell the truth?

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Then why even ask?

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Okay, fair point.

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What are you doing here, blending into the furniture?

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Exactly that.

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I just wanted to disappear for a while.

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What about yourself?

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This isn't the most obvious hangout spot for a girl like you.

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A girl like me?

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Well, you don't look homeless in your silk gown.

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You're not exactly some local goat farmer yourself.

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How dare you!

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I'll have you know I milked a goat.. once.

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It ran away crying, but still.

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My name's Henry.

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Henry what?

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Just Henry.

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First name, Just.

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Okay then.

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Just Henry.

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Countess Dracula.

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Charmed to make your acquaintance.

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Now, is there any chance we could both disappear here together for a while?

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We don't have to talk about what we're running away from.

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I like the sound of that.

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And somehow, after that, Henry and I started meeting at the old estate.

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Not often, maybe once every week.

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We didn't ask why the other was there.

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We didn't even ask real names.

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Of course, a part of me was growing curious, but not knowing also felt weirdly nice.

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Like we were two fugitives, hiding out here and talking about books, ideas, the world.

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Anything but ourselves.

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But one afternoon, as I rode back home after meeting him, I came upon a scene of chaos.

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Mother was wailing like someone had died, Anastasia was blocking out the sound with pastries, and Cinderella was on the floor at Mother's feet.

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A picture of despair.

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It turned out that Mr. Riffers was a greasy rat who had run off with Mother's jewels.

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And he'd left Cinderella behind.

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Man, I would have given him the jewels myself if he'd just taken her.

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He took advantage of me.

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He played with my heart and threw dirt in my eyes.

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I will never forgive him.

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I will tear out every flower he planted with my bare hands.

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For a moment, I felt hope.

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Surely, Mother would toss Cinderella out after this.

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She would be a constant reminder of his betrayal.

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Please don't send me away.

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Please don't send me away.

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This is the only place I've ever felt safe.

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I will do whatever you ask of me.

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Please.

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I love you.

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I love our home mother.

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Ugh.

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Oh, my poor precious child.

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How could I hate you?

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You're betrayed and abandoned just like me.

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Of course you will stay here and we will heal together.

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Anastasia and I were abandoned too, and Mother never paid attention to OUR healing.

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As Cinderella sobbed into Mother's lap, she shot me a sideways glance that clearly said, Checkmate!

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Mr. River's betrayal just cemented Cinderella's place in her home more firmly.

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Now she wasn't just beautiful, she was tragic too.

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She needed love and care and everyone from the servants to the house cat wanted to give it to her.

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Mother now referred to her as my precious girl, while Anastasia and I were quietly downgraded to the other two.

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And I just found being around Cinderella unbearable.

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It's not like I was even needed around the house anymore.

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So I started slipping away more often to Henry.

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One afternoon, we decided to explore the woods near the estate.

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And barely 20 minutes in, there was a loud snap,

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a startled yelp, and I turned around to see Henry dangling upside down from a tree in a hunter's trap.

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I couldn't help laughing as he flailed around, trying to reach up and unhook himself.

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Oh, a little help before I pass out, maybe?

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I was just waiting for you to ask.

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I started tugging at the trap rope, but Henry kept giving the instructions non -stop.

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You're doing it wrong!

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Step to your left, pull tighter, then twist.

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No, not like that.

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Oh, you'll break it!

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Do you think I'm a helpless little girl who can't possibly figure out a rope trap for herself?

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Have you ever seen a rope trap before in your life?

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Of course not, because all I do is embroider cushions and sigh dramatically.

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I bet you don't even know how to embroider.

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You're right.

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I hate it.

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My threads get so tangled up that I want to poke someone in the eye with my needle.

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Violent and unladylike.

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You're a real catch.

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I yanked hard at the rope, and his face swung towards mine.

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Suddenly, we were too close, and his lashes were longer than any boy's head had a right to be.

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Your eyes are really pretty.

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Flattery isn't going to make me help you faster.

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No, really.

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They're dark and deep like pools one could drown in.

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That's just the blood rushing to your head.

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I quickly move to brace the rope again, when suddenly I noticed his shirt had slipped to reveal his belt, which had a silver crest.

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The royal crest?

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Wait, are you from the palace?

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Define from.

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Define it before I drop you straight on your head.

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Technically, yes.

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Are you the court jester?

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The guy who polishes the king's shoes?

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Something like that.

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Yeah, I'm gonna need better answers before I help you.

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I pushed him hard and sent him swinging like a pendulum.

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Oh, come on, Lady Dracula, just let me down.

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That's when I heard boots thundering through the woods.

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And before I could react, a pair of soldiers in armor grabbed me roughly by the arms.

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Another two swooped in, expertly cutting Henry down and catching him before he face -planted into the dirt.

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Endangering the crown prince is a punishable offense, girl.

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Endangering the who now?

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Stand down, men.

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She's harmless.

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Unless she has a needle and thread in her hands.

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I just gaped at him.

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You're the Crown Prince?

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Yes, first name, crown, second name, Prince.

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You told me just Henry!

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Well, I am just Henry sometimes.

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You never asked follow -up questions.

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You will say nothing of this to anyone, men.

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Same as you.

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Keep quiet about my visits here.

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Is that understood?

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Yes, your highness.

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Your highness?

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Your highness?

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Your highness?

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You look like you're both spiraling and want to murder me.

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No, that's just my normal expression.

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Now, since we're being honest and going for full disclosure...

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Uh, you're a liar who got forced into telling the truth.

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How about you tell me your real name, too?

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Drizella.

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That's pretty.

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Dracula suits you better.

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Lots of names are coming to my mind for you, but I shall refrain from using them since I know who you are now.

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Good day, your highness.

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Hey, don't let this change things between us.

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But I kept walking without turning to reply.

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How could it not change things between us?

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The boy I'd been sneaking off to meet, regularly insulted, hit a couple of times, and maybe, possibly, definitely liked,

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was the freaking Crown Prince.

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I didn't go back to the estate for days, still finding the truth about him too overwhelming.

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But eventually, I cracked, so I wrote back to the old estate one afternoon, and my heart skipped a beat to find him already there,

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throwing pebbles into a broken fountain.

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Well, well, look what the cat dragged in.

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I was beginning to think you died, or got married.

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Sorry to disappoint you, but still alive and unwed.

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You know, I was this close to going around town

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and knocking on random doors to inquire after a girl with violent tendencies and great hair.

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I just rolled my eyes.

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But inside, I was smiling stupidly.

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We just sat in silence for a while.

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I come here sometimes because it's all just too much.

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The title, the expectations, the spotlight.

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I don't even get along with my father mostly.

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I know I'm gonna sound like an ungrateful brat, but sometimes I just don't want to be the prince.

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I come here for quite the opposite reason, I suppose.

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I feel invisible in my own house, completely replaced by my stepsister.

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My pride wouldn't let me say the gardener's daughter.

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She's perfect.

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Everyone admires and adores her.

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It's not hard to see why.

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Come on, no one's perfect.

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Oh no, she really is.

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I'm sure this sounds like some petty sister jealousy, and it doesn't compare to your royal problems.

507

But honestly, they don't sound so bad.

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No one expects anything from me.

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Well, except maybe being more ladylike so I can marry some stuffy lord one day.

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But you could do so much with your life, Henry.

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And people expect things from you because you're important.

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Because you matter.

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Henry reached across the space between us and slipped his fingers through mine.

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You matter to me.

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As my heart tripped over itself, he leaned in and kissed me.

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It was clumsy at first.

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Our noses bumped, my hair got stuck in his stupid jacket, and we started laughing.

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But it was so sweet and real.

519

And for a while, I forgot Cinderella.

520

I forgot he was royalty.

521

I forgot about everything.

522

It was just.. me and Henry.

523

I floated through the next few weeks like some lovesick idiot.

524

Of course, like any self -respecting lady, I didn't show it.

525

You're grinning like you've got a clothes hanger stuck in your mouth.

526

What is so funny about my art?

527

Ahem, uh, I wasn't grinning.

528

And what art?

529

The one you're staring at, my masterpiece.

530

I made this cat sculpture from old socks and glue.

531

Ah, that art.

532

The one cleverly disguised as garbage.

533

It's the loveliest duck I've ever seen.

534

Cat.

535

It's a cat.

536

Yes, that's what I said.

537

It was the happiest I'd ever felt in my entire stupid life.

538

Which naturally meant the universe had to kick me in the teeth soon.

539

One afternoon at the estate, Henry sat me down with a serious look.

540

I didn't like one bit.

541

I have to leave for a while.

542

What, running away to join the circus?

543

No. Father is sending me across the sea for an official royal delegation.

544

It could be months, even a year maybe.

545

I forgot how to breathe for a few seconds.

546

Grisilla, you made me realize that I need to take my position and privilege more seriously instead of whining about it.

547

So, yeah, I'm really trying.

548

I'm really proud of you, Henry and I just know you're gonna be brilliant.

549

But a small, selfish part of me wanted to scream, don't go, just stay.

550

We promised to write regularly, no matter what, and for a while, his letters were the only thing keeping me sane.

551

Of course, I always picked them up from the post office.

552

I didn't want to draw anyone's attention to our correspondence.

553

Dearest Countess Dracula, you will be thrilled to know that the local delicacy here is fermented fish eyeballs.

554

Guess who had to eat three?

555

Smiling all the while.

556

I cannot sleep at night because I keep imagining those eyeballs swimming around my gut winking at each other.

557

Send help!

558

Dearest one -time goat milker, I regret to inform you that my life is way more exciting than yours.

559

Just today, Cinderella invented chamomile soap and taught her cat to fetch her ribbons.

560

Anastasia lost an intense staring match to a goat.

561

Mother tried flirting with the milkman, and he fled on the aforementioned goat.

562

I am so close to faking my own death.

563

P .S.

564

I miss your face and your insults.

565

Mostly your insults.

566

Fine, also your face.

567

P .S.

568

I miss insulting you two.

569

I'm forced to practice my skills on vendors at the market, but it's not the same.

570

They cry too easily.

571

Of course, it wasn't ideal, but every letter kept him close, and for now, it was enough.

572

But then, the letter stopped coming.

573

At first, I told myself it was all fine, there could be a million reasons for delays.

574

But when two months passed by with no word, I started to feel a bit crazy.

575

Still nothing for you, same as earlier this afternoon.

576

You want me to save you a trip and scream no at you from across the street every morning?

577

You might consider picking up a hobby.

578

How about embroidery?

579

I wasn't getting any letters, but I didn't stop sending them.

580

Pages filled with jokes, questions, news, bad drawings.

581

But weeks and weeks went by, and still, there was no reply.

582

By now, my heart was filled with dread.

583

What if something had happened to him?

584

But if that was the case, the news would be everywhere.

585

And then finally, finally, a letter arrived one morning.

586

My hands were trembling so much, I almost ripped the letter trying to open the envelope.

587

Dear Drizella

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Cinderella Story For Adults”. This video has 587 sentences and 5110 words to shadow. The speech runs for 33:07. The speaker talks at a natural 154 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 78% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
servant noun	/ˈsɝvənt/	One who is hired to perform regular household or other duties, and receives compensation. As opposed to a slave.
highness noun	/ˈhaɪnəs/	The state of being high.
candle noun	/ˈkæn.dəl/	A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin.
goat noun	/ɡoʊt/	Any ruminant of the genus Capra.
rope noun	/ɹoʊp/	Thick strings, yarn, monofilaments, metal wires, or strands of other cordage that are twisted together to form a stronger line.
pastry noun	/ˈpeɪstɹi/	A baked food item made from flour and fat pastes such as pie crust; also tarts, bear claws, napoleons, puff pastries, etc.
scream verb	/skɹiːm/	To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, sharp outcry, or shrill, loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain; to screech, to shriek.
curd noun	/kɜː(ɹ)d/	The part of milk that coagulates when it sours or is treated with enzymes; used to make cottage cheese, dahi, etc.
glue noun	/ɡlu/	A hard gelatin made by boiling bones and hides, used in solution as an adhesive; or any sticky adhesive substance.
abandon verb	/əˈbæn.dən/	To give up or relinquish control of, to surrender or to give oneself over, or to yield to one's emotions.
lemon noun	/ˈlɛmən/	A yellowish citrus fruit.
crave verb	/kɹeɪv/	To desire strongly, so as to satisfy an appetite; to long or yearn for.
embroider verb	/ɪmˈbɹɔɪdɚ/	To stitch a decorative design on fabric with needle and thread of various colours.
endanger verb	/ɛnˈdeɪnd͡ʒɚ/	To put (someone or something) in danger; to risk causing harm to.
eyeball noun	/ˈaɪ.bɔl/	The ball of the eye.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Meaning
figure out verb	To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce.
run away from verb	To avoid or shirk a problem or consequences; to rush to back away from or disclaim responsibility for something.
burn down verb	To cause (a structure) to burn to nothing.
come back verb	To return to a place.
drive off verb	To force to leave or go away.
end up verb	To bring to a conclusion.
follow up verb	To take further actions remaining after an event; to continue, revisit, or persist; especially, to maintain communication or verify.
get away verb	To move away (from).

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

How much money do we spend on candles?
We spend money on them?
What's the next item on your fidgeting list?
Are we ready for the plan?
You really love it, don't you?

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result	if he knew this, he'd come
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	are mentioned · I've been told · was told
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	I've been told · I've ended · could've changed
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing	one who got · woman who gave · one who holds

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 142 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “sh” and “zh” sounds: perfection /pɚˈfɛk.ʃən/, musician /mjuˈzɪʃən/, expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/, instruction /ɪnˈstɹʌkʃən/, reflection /ɹɪˈflɛkʃən/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like servant, highness, candle.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Cinderella Story For Adults - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Sentences worth repeating

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?