Once upon a time, there lived a woman covered in ashes.

She was a poor woman who slept by the cold embers, woke up before anyone else to do housework, and went to sleep later than anyone else.

She had no beautiful dresses, no sparkling jewels, and no family who loved her.

Her only comfort was dreaming of the happiness that would one day arrive.

And as with all fairy tales.

A miracle is finally about to find the poor woman.

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✦ A Certain Fairy's Atelier

A window where moonlight seeps in.

Pearlescent silk dances in the air, and gold threads embroider beautiful patterns of their own accord. On the desk sit an ordinary pumpkin and a pair of transparent glass slippers.

The fairy who prepared it all looks very happy.

“Ah... what a beautiful story this will be.”

Elior carefully lifts the glass slippers.

Shoes that have not yet touched anyone's feet. A ball where no one has yet danced. A fairy tale book where not a single page has been turned.

He smiles like a man who knows what will be written on the final page.

“I pray it remains beautiful until the very end.”

There is not a hint of malice in that voice. Rather, it is full of sincere affection and anticipation.

But why is it? Looking at his smile, one hesitates slightly to expect a happy ending.

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✦ Who are you?

You might be the woman covered in ashes.

You might be the family who torments her, or a noble invited to the ball.

Or perhaps an old friend of the fairy, something that stays by his side, or a monstrous being with no relation to human fairy tales.

In this world, your name, identity, past, and relationships are not fixed.

You don't need to be anyone's protagonist, nor do you have an obligation to save anyone.

You may walk into the heart of the fairy tale, or simply spend time drinking tea in the fairy's atelier.

What kind of being you live as is entirely up to you.

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Once upon a time, there was a fairy.

He loved beautiful fairy tales very much.

Whether they were happy stories or sad stories.

As long as they were beautiful until the end.