Once upon a time, a young man named Jin de Rella lived with his stepmother and two stepbrothers. Poor Jin had to work hard all day long so the others could rest. It was he who had to wake up each morning when it was still dark and cold to start the fire. It was he who cooked the meals. It was he who kept the fire going. The poor guy could not stay clean from all the ashes and cinders by the fire.

Aside from doing all the household chores, Jin also had to bear the constant bullying from his lazy stepbrothers, Bruno and Pancho.

"Look at him, brother. Do you really think someone will be crazy enough to marry a mess like him?" exclaimed Bruno.

The two mean brothers were doing some push ups in the frontyard to show off their toned biceps to the innocent passerby. And also to annoy Jin, who is almost done with the laundry.

Pancho laughed and cast Jin a mocking glance. "The only woman he can attract is another dirty slave like him."

Jin stayed quiet the entire time. The two mean brothers thought that they won that round, not knowing that Jin already had a plan in mind.

Few more hours, and it's lunchtime already.

Pancho and Bruno smiled greedily when they arrived at the dining room. They smelled the aroma of Jin's mouth watering dish all the way from the living room.

The two huge men started to eat immediately. They didn't even wait for their mother to settle in her chair.

"Boys, next time you should at least wait for m---" the mother's sermon was cut off by her son's screams.

"JIN DE RELLA!!!!!! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU PUT IN THIS DISH?!!!!!!!"

Pancho and Bruno rush to grab the pitcher of water. They scramble to get the water they badly need to quench the fire in their mouth.

Jin can't help but laugh while cleaning in the kitchen.

"What's the point of having those huge muscles if they can't even take the combination of a few chilis and spoonfuls of pepper?" Jin whispered while staring at the mouse who constantly visits the kitchen area. "I'm such a smart guy, right, Micey?"

"And do you really think that I'll let you get away with this?"

Jin's back stiffened upon hearing his stepmother's stern voice. "Stepmother, they started it. I just------"

"I don't care about your reason! A slave like you doesn't have the right to disobey or speak against your masters!"

"But I'm not a slave, stepmother. This is my house also. We're a family."

"You're not my son. And your late father gave me the full rights to this entire estate. If you don't agree with that, the door is open! No one is forcing you to stay here!"

Jin lowered his head and tried his best to control his emotions. He doesn't want to endure their awful treatment, but he no longer have any family left who can help him. There's nowhere else for him to go to.

"I'm stuck in this place." he thought.

His silence made the stepmother smile triumphantly. Of course, she doesn't want Jin to leave the household. Who would want to lose such a valuable slave?

The punishment for Jin's little revenge is to spend another evening without eating dinner.

His stomach grumbles , but Jin can't do anything but sighs.

Micey looked up at him.

"Don't worry, Micey. No matter how hungry I am, I won't eat you or your friends. You're safe with me because I'm a nice guy. And to be honest, you don't really look tasty, my small friend."

Micey decided to ignore him and followed the other mice who went inside the hole that they call home.

Jin sits near the window. His room is located in the attic, and one of his little happiness in life is to have a window that allows him to view the majestic palace from afar. It allows him to escape and use his imagination.

"I wonder how it feels like to live and work in the palace!"

Jin's dream is to become a royal chef, but his stepmother forbids him in continuing his education. All they want him to do is to work for them.

"I hope that I will be able to pursue my dream someday."

One day, big news came to town. The King and Queen were going to have a ball! It was time for Princess Eunice to find a groom. All of the young men in the land were invited to come. The entire kingdom brimmed with excitement and joy!

At Jin de Rella’s house, he now had extra work to do. He had to make two brand-new suits for his stepbrothers. Apparently, being an in-house tailor is now part of his job description.

“Faster! You still need to shine my shoes after that!” Bruno shouted.

“This coat doesn't emphasize my body properly! The princess won't notice me if I wear this trash! Fix this, Jin de Rella!" Pancho screamed after throwing the coat at him.

Jin closed his eyes and prayed for more self-control.

"How about you just attend the ball without anything on? I'm sure the princess will definitely notice you!" he whispered.

"Are you saying something, Jin de Rella?" his stepmother raised an eyebrow.

“Oh nothing, stepmother!” said Jin. “I'm just wondering when can I–“

The stepmother marched closer to him. “When can you WHAT?”

“Well,” Jin gulped before continuing, “when will I have time to make my own suit for the ball?”

“You?” yelled the stepmother. “Who said YOU were going to the ball?”

“Is that a joke, Jin de Rella?!!!” Pancho said.

Bruno pretended to touch Jin's forehead as if checking his temperature. "Mother, I think our poor slave is sick. He's delirious and getting hallucinations now."

All of them laughed at Jin.

"You can daydream all you want Jin de Rella, but keep in mind that a slave like you doesn't have the right to step into the palace," his stepmother said with a condescending tone.

The words they uttered hurt Jin so much, but as always, he doesn't have a choice but to remain silent. For now.

"Someday, I will definitely escape this place and pursue my dreams." he thought to himself.

Soon, the time came for his stepmother and stepbrothers to leave for the big party. Their fine carriage came to the door. The three hopped inside excitedly. And they were off.

Jin remained on his spot, unable to turn his gaze away from the disappearing image of the carriage. Sadness is visible on the young man's face. He said aloud, “How I wish I could go to the ball, too!”

Then - Poof!

"Of course, you can!"

The unfamiliar voice startled Jin. All of a sudden, in front of him stood a weird, smiling lady. Her dress, wings and wand are all purple.

Wait, wings and wand?!!!

“What... I mean, who are you?” Jin asked.

“Why, your Fairy Godmother, of course! I know your wish. And I have come to grant it.”

“But…” Jin hesitates. "My wish is impossible."

“Excuse me!” said the Fairy Godmother in a huff. “Did I not just show up out of thin air?”

“Yes, you did,”

“Then let me be the one to say what is possible or not!” Fairy godmother declared confidently.

“Well, I think you know that I want to go to the ball, too.” Jin looked down at his dirty clothes.

“But look at me.”

“You do look a bit of a mess, child,” said the Fairy Godmother.

“Even if I had something nice to wear," said the young man, "I would have no way to get there."

“Dear, all of that is possible,” said the fairy. With that, she tapped her wand on Jin’s head.

"Ouch!" he shouted.

"Oops, sorry dear! I forgot to control my strength. Haha! Let me try it again."

Jin eyed his fairy godmother suspiciously. "Are you really going to help me, fairy godmother, or are you trying to give me a concussion?"

She only smiled at him innocently before tapping her wand again on Jin's head, gently this time.

At once, Jin de Rella's appearance became clean. Not a single trace of dirt or ashes can be seen on his beautiful face. His old clothes were replaced by an elegant white suit fit for a royal prince.

“This is wonderful!”

“Who said I was done?” said the fairy godmother with a smug look. She tapped her wand again. At once, a beautiful carriage came to be, with a driver and four white horses.

“Am I dreaming?”

“It is as real, as real can be, Jin de Rella." the fairy godmother answered. "Now, you have everything you need to attend the ball!"

"Oh, but fairy godmother... I think I need one more thing!"

The fairy frowned. "What is it?"

"Can you please bring out a full-length mirror?"

The fairy obliges and Jin screamed upon seeing his reflection on the mirror.

"Wow! Who is this beautiful creature? Where have you been hiding all this time?!! I'm so perfect...."

"Now, Jin de Rel-----"

"Can you turn my hair into purple? I think that colour will suit me perfectly." he requested.

He squealed upon seeing his new hair colour. "I knew it! Everything looks good on me! How about----"

The fairy rolled her eyes. "Child, do I need to remind you that the grand ball is about to start?" She waved her wand and at once, the huge mirror disappeared into thin air.

"Oh, okay. I should go now."

“But wait, there is one thing you must know.”

“What is that?”

“All of this lasts only until midnight. Once the clock strikes twelve, it will be over, and everything will go back to how it was before.”

Jin sighed. "Awwww... so my fairy godmother's power has an expiration. Well, I guess you need to train more, my fairy godmother to improve your powers. Please, don't slack off."

Fairy godmother looks like she's about to have a migraine, so Jin decided to bid her farewell.

“Then I must be sure to leave the ball before midnight!”

“Good idea,” said the fairy godmother. She stepped back. “My work is done. Why am I so tired? I guess, I need a vacation after this.” And with that, the fairy godmother was gone.

Over at the ball, Princess Eunice is about to lose her patience. She lost track of how many princes and nobles tried to approach and impress her. But no one was able to capture her interest. All of them are the same. They only view her as a prize to be won. Not a single one tried to know the woman behind the crown.

“Why do you have that sad look on your face?” the Queen said to her beautiful daughter. “Look around you! You could not ask for finer suitors than these.”

“I know, mother,” said the princess. "Maybe, I'm just hungry. Let me ask the maid to bring me food."

The Queen Mother's expression was filled with shock. "But you already had your dinner earlier, princess! What would the other people say if they see you eating again? They might think that we have a glutton for a princess! No, you should not do that!"

Princess Eunice sighs. This is the part that she hates about being a princess. There are so many rules and social etiquettes that she needs to follow. They said that she should be more lady like, demure, quiet, and submissive. But that's the total opposite of her personality! She loves adventures. She loves to eat a lot. She's interested in travelling, sword fighting, martial arts, and politics. She wants to be the one to rule the kingdom and not just sit quietly in a corner like an expensive decoration.

But no one seems to understand that.

"I think I need a quick break, mother." the princess said before leaving her bewildered queen mother. She immediately went to the garden.

Because of her sudden departure, she did not witness the arrival of Jin de Rella.

"Look!" Someone pointed to the front door. “Who is that?”

All heads turned. Who is that breathtaking gentleman stepping down the stairs? He held his head tall and looked as if he belonged in the palace but no one knew him.

“There is something about him,” said the Bruno to his brother, who's busy eyeing the other guests. "He looks familiar, but I can't pinpoint when and where did we meet."

"Perhaps you're just imagining things." Pancho answered.

"Instead of gossiping like two middle-aged women, how about you try your best to make the princess notice you?!!! Don't waste this opportunity to become part of the royal family!" their mother said in a hushed voice.

"Yes, mother."

Meanwhile, Jin de Rella is having the time of his life. He can't believe that he's finally few steps away from his dream.

"Is this for real? Can I really have you now?" he thought while staring at the buffet table with dreamy eyes.

Unlike the other attendees, he did not come to the ball with hopes to marry the princess. He really just want to enter the palace and taste their food since his dream is to become a palace chef someday. That's the reason why he ignores the ongoing party and just proceeds to fill his plate with all the food that they can offer. Then, he decided to look for a quiet place where he could eat without anyone disturbing him.

His search brought him to the garden where Princess Eunice is currently hiding.

"I hate this life! I'm hungry, and I can't even eat a single slice of cake!"

Jin was surprised to see a beautiful lady stomping her foot angrily while ranting about being hungry.

"Have mercy on the poor pavement, lady. If you keep on stomping like that, they might need to fix that spot soon."

Princess Eunice threw a surprise look on the stranger who dared to disturb her moment.

"Who are you?"

"Just a mere guest who wants to enjoy his food. Would you like some?" Jin offered.

"Do you recognize who I am?"

"You're wearing a crown, and you don't look old like a king or queen should be, so I'm guessing that you're the princess. Hello, your Highness." he calmly said before starting to taste his food.

Princess Eunice was taken aback by this stranger's action. He acts as if he's not interested in impressing her and having a princess for a wife.

This fellow piqued her curiosity.

"Didn't you come here to ask my hand for marriage?" she asked.

Jin stared at the princess wide-eyed. "Why would I do that? No offence, your highness, you're really beautiful, but not all men in this kingdom want to marry you. I came here to taste what kind of food the palace has to offer."

Princess Eunice was shocked. "You... you came here for... the food?!!"

"Yes!" Jin's bright smile made her heart skip a beat.

"My dream is to become an excellent chef and perhaps work here in the palace someday. How about you, your highness?"

"What do you mean?"

"What's your dream?" he innocently asks while enjoying his food.

"This is the first time that someone asks me that question." she whispered.

"Seriously? Here, take this and tell me more, please." Jin gave the princess an extra spoon and urged her to share food with him.

The princess didn't know why she felt so comfortable speaking to this strange fellow, but she ended up pouring her hearts out while eating.

"I want to be free to act the way I want to be. I want to rule the kingdom and fight for it if needed. I want to travel and discover more about the life of my subjects."

"That's a nice dream. What's stopping you from doing them?"

Princess Eunice rolled her eyes. "Duh! Royalties have rules to follow. My parents and the entire court will be in chaos if I tell them what I want to do. They expect me to be an obedient princess, marry a suitable prince, and let him manage the kingdom. Then, I'll just sit prettily and wave."

"Why would you let them stop you from pursuing your dreams? You're a princess, not a mere puppet."

"You don't understand. I have obligations to the crown."

"Maybe, I don't really understand how complex the palace life is. But what I know is that you should never apologize for your dreams. And besides, you look the most beautiful when you are talking about those dreams. It will be such a waste if you don't pursue them."

Princess Eunice's cheeks turned red.

"You... Do you really think I'm beautiful?"

"Of course, you are. It's just that I'm more beautiful than you, Your Highness."

Instead of being offended, the princess laughs at his confident remark.

“You're really different, and I am pleased to meet you. If you're done eating, can you please dance with me?” Princess Eunice didn't know why she asked that. She only wants to spend more time with the only man who captured her interest.

"If you're so insistent, I guess I have no choice but to say yes. Hah... the curse of being this beautiful." Jin pretended to sound annoyed but ended up laughing with the princess afterwards.

“I feel as if I've known you before,” said the princess while they were dancing in the grand ballroom surrounded by curious onlookers. “But of course, that is impossible.”

“Many things are possible if you wish them to be true.” Jin said, thinking about his own encounter with magic.

The princess looks at him in a different light. When the song was over, they danced again. And then they danced again, and yet again. Soon, the other male guests at the ball grew jealous.

“Why is she dancing all the time with him?” they said. “How rude!”

But all the princess could see was Jin de Rella. They laughed and talked, and they danced some more. In fact, they danced for so long that Jin lost track of time.