First stop, the stepfamily's manor. The Fairy Greatmother led Ryo east, towards the outskirts of the village. The manor wasn't too far from the village, and the path to it was peaceful, bordered by trees with golden leaves fluttering in the autumn breeze.
As they walked along the trail, the Fairy Greatmother let out a soft sigh.
"I really don't know what to do..."
Ryo, curious, glanced at her. "What do you mean, ma'am?"
She looked down, her expression filled with uncertainty.
"I mean, I'm really not sure what to say to those dreadful stepfamily members. What if they turn us away? After all, they've always had such a harsh attitude toward Cinderella."
Ryo smirked reassuringly. "Don't worry, ma'am. That's exactly why I'm here. As a detective, I've got my ways of getting through to people, even if Cinderella's stepfamily tries to turn us away."
Fairy Greatmother, still looking a little worried, nodded.
"I truly hope so, Mr. Detective. I'm counting on you."
At last, they arrived at the manor and stood before the striking front door. The manor itself was grand, with ivy creeping up the stone walls and large windows adorned with delicate curtains.
It was exactly as Ryo had imagined from the fairytales, though slightly weathered with time. The front door stood heavy and unmoving.
Fairy Greatmother gestured to the manor. "Here it is, Cinderella's stepfamily's manor."
Ryo took a moment to examine the place, his eyes lingering on the old stone. He had read about this manor in storybooks as a child, and now here he was, standing in front of it.
But knowing the painful history Cinderella had endured here, Ryo couldn't help but feel a deep sense of unease.
Ryo muttered nervously, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"To think I'm really about to meet some of the main characters from Cinderella's story—the antagonists, no less... well, here goes. Guess I've got to do the detective work."
Taking a deep breath, Ryo stepped forward to knock on the door. But before he could raise his hand, Fairy Greatmother gently stopped him, her hand wrapping around his wrist.
Ryo looked at her, his brows furrowed in concern. "What's wrong, ma'am?"
She gave him a nervous smile, her eyes darting to the door as if she wasn't sure she was ready.
"Oh, it's just... I'm not sure I'm prepared to face them. I don't know how to deal with them, or what to say if they turn us away."
Ryo smiled reassuringly, his tone calm and confident.
"Don't worry, ma'am. I'm here as your representative. You don't need to say a word. I've dealt with difficult people before, and I know exactly how to handle them. Just leave it to me."
Fairy Greatmother let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mr. Detective. That is reassuring."
Ryo nodded with a smile and lifted a finger.
"Also, let's pretend that you're the owner of a tavern, and I'm your very talkative assistant. After Cinderella got engaged to Prince Vaelric, she helped revive our struggling business, bringing in more customers, and stopping by once a week to eat. But now... now she hasn't been around, and we're worried about her disappearance. How does that sound, ma'am?"
Fairy Greatmother, though still uncertain, nodded slowly. "That sounds fine. I think it might work."
Ryo hesitated for a moment, rubbing his chin. "One more thing, though. I want to confirm if you're well-known around here. You're a teacher, after all, and we wouldn't want any misunderstandings."
Fairy Greatmother sighed softly. "Unfortunately, the stepfamily does know about me being a teacher. One of the step-sisters once dropped off her 6-year-old nephew, and I happened to be there to receive him. They know my face."
Ryo rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then crafted another plan.
"I see. Well, how about this? Let's say you're a teacher I ran into who happened to guide me. I'm just an assistant at my family's tavern, but I got to know Cinderella when she helped revive our business. Lately, though, she hasn't been stopping by, and I started wondering why. I happened to come across you, and as a teacher, you kindly offered to help me find directions to this manor. How does that sound?"
Fairy Greatmother, after a moment of thought, nodded. "I suppose that will work. It's a bit of a stretch, but it should do."
Ryo grinned confidently. "Alright, then. Let's go with that story."
And so, they turned to face the manor's door once more.
Ryo gave the door three firm knocks.
No answer.
He tilted his head. "Hmmm… nobody's home?"
He knocked again, a little louder. "Hello? Anyone home—?"
Suddenly, two excited voices echoed from inside the manor.
"IS THAT A HANDSOME GENTLEMAN? BY THE HEAVENS, I'M COMING!"
"OH BLESS THE STARS, MY SUITOR HAS ARRIVED AT LAST! FETCH THE RIBBONS—I SHALL BE A BRIDE BY SUNSET!"
Ryo and Fairy Greatmother both blinked in utter confusion.
"Huh…?" they muttered in unison.
Then—BANG! A loud smack hit the door from the inside, making both Ryo and Fairy Greatmother stumble back with a jump.
"Move aside, Clarisse! That man is mine!" shouted one voice.
"Nonsense, Seraphine! You've already scared off a market vendor and a blacksmith this week! It's finally my time to shine!"
The arguing continued behind the door like two cats locked in a cage.
Ryo squinted, slowly piecing it together. "Wait a second… two girls who can't stop bickering… and names that aren't in the original book or the old animated film…"
He stiffened. "Ma'am… I think we'd better brace ourselves."
Fairy Greatmother's voice tightened with worry. "Oh goodness… I have to agree with you, Mr. Detective."
Then the arguing stopped.
A final shout from Seraphine. "YOU'RE A PLAGUE UPON MY LIFE, SISTER!"
Clarisse shouted back. "OH, STUFF IT! THE GENTLEMAN WILL SWOON OVER MY ROGUE-INSPIRED MAKEUP!"
"ROGUE?!" Seraphine shouted. "MY BEAUTY COULD MOVE MOUNTAINS! EVEN THE GODS WOULD DESCEND FROM THE HEAVENS TO KISS MY SLIPPERS!"
Clarisse scoffed. "IS THAT A CHALLENGE?! FINE THEN! LET THE MAN DECIDE WHO'S THE REAAAAL GODDESS AMONG US!"
Ryo's face drained of color. "They want me to judge?! Why me?!"
Creeeeak...
The door slowly opened.
Ryo and Fairy Greatmother both gulped.
Then… they emerged.
Two young women—the infamous stepsisters—stepped out in grand 17th-century bodice dresses, their skirts twirling with every dramatic motion.
But what left Ryo and the Fairy Greatmother frozen in place… wasn't the gowns.
It was the makeup.
"OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS..." Fairy Greatmother whispered in absolute terror.
Ryo and Fairy Greatmother's eyes widened like saucers. Their jaws dropped. For a moment, it seemed like they might just faint on the spot.
Clarisse's face was painted a ghostly white. Her eyes were encircled in monstrous violet shadow, like bruises done with a paint roller. Her lips stretched across her face in hot pink chaos, like a child's attempt at drawing a smile… with a crayon.
Seraphine, not to be outdone, had lips so glossy and purple, they looked like two shiny plums. Her cheeks were aggressively blushed in mismatched orbs of coral red, and her eyebrows had been drawn in so high, they practically reached nirvana…
The two of them looked like someone had borrowed makeup tips from a villainous clown in a superhero comic book, dumped an entire glitter factory on them, and then asked, 'How do we make this even more ridiculous?'
Ryo whispered in horror. "Holy moly... what in the circus-tent-of-nightmares are those things? Is this what 'once upon a time' looks like after a hangover?"
Fairy Greatmother gave a nervous, dainty laugh.
"Ahahaha… I believe we may have knocked on the wrong door, dear…"
The sisters gasped in outrage and pointed at Ryo like they'd just discovered he'd stolen their last cookie.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING 'THOSE THINGS'?!?"
Seraphine tossed her wild curls, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
"Oh, my dashing sweet dove! You've finally come to whisk me away, haven't you? I knew I was impossible to resist!"
Clarisse clutched her chest dramatically, eyes wide as if she were auditioning for a soap opera.
"Heavens! You've come all this way to rescue me from my tragic, lonely life, haven't you? Unlike my hideous sister here."
Ryo stood frozen, unsure whether to run, cry, or beg for divine mercy.
He dramatically pointed at them, stunned.
"I know in the original book you two were called the 'Ugly Stepsisters'... and trust me, you fit the bill. But this? This is BEYOND ugly! You two look like someone tried to turn a pumpkin into a princess and gave up halfway through!"
Seraphine clutched her chest in offense. "HOW DARE YOU! We are the kingdom's rarest gems! Even the gods themselves would kiss the dirt beneath our slippers!"
Clarisse crossed her arms, puffing out her cheeks like a disgruntled hamster.
"And what is this 'book' nonsense you're spouting?! Do you think we're characters from some story? How dare you! We are very much real—and VERY much single!"
Suddenly, both of them leaned forward, faces too close for comfort.
Ryo held up his hands like someone who accidentally wandered into the wrong fairy tale.
"Whoa whoa, ladies! You're leaning in like a glass slipper just lost its shine—this isn't the place for a close-up, and definitely not a nightmare I signed up for!"
Clarisse batted her eyes.
"So then… shall we begin? Our wedding chamber awaits, darling. KYAAAA~ I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO RUIN MY DRESS AND MY EXPECTATIONS ON THE FIRST NIGHT—LIKE A PRINCESS WHO'S LOST HER WAY!"
Ryo clenched his teeth. "Uh… lady, you're moving faster than a ball gown losing its sparkle at midnight…"
Seraphine stepped in with a horrifying grin, folding her arms like royalty.
"Don't be absurd, sister. He's clearly mesmerized by me. Even the gods would envy my beauty. So, handsome stranger—LET US MAKE CHILDREN WHO WILL TURN HEADS AT THE ROYAL BALL!"
Ryo snapped, shouting with both fists clenched behind him at his sides.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO?! I'M NOT SOME MYTHICAL GOD WHO'S GOING TO GET CAUGHT UP IN YOUR DELUSIONS OF A 'HAPPILY EVER AFTER!'"
Off to the side, Fairy Greatmother stood silently.
She blinked.
Twice.
And then slowly, she took one graceful step back, folding her hands with a calm expression.
"...He did say he'd handle everything."
And so, she watched quietly, letting Ryo get swallowed by the ridiculous whirlwind of blush, glitter, perfume, and overwhelming flirtation.
She simply whispered to herself, in a gentle tone. "Good luck, Mr. Detective."
Then suddenly, a commanding voice echoed from deep within the manor—sharp, cold, and unmistakably unimpressed.
"WHAT'S WITH ALL THE RUCKUS OUT THERE!?"
Everyone outside flinched in place, stiff as statues. Even the wind seemed to pause.
The click of heels approached—slow, measured, deliberate. Someone was tiptoeing toward the front door.
And then, she appeared.
Ryo's eyes widened. His breath caught in his throat.
He gasped.
There she was. The very woman whose name, whose cruelty, had once been inked in every version of Cinderella's tale. The root of her pain. The master of the manor.
The Stepmother.
Her presence was like a cold gust slicing through the warm sunlight—elegant, composed… and absolutely chilling.
She stepped out like a queen without a crown, her posture regal, her eyes sharp enough to cut glass. The same glare from the old tales—the one that made Cinderella's childhood a quiet war—was now aimed directly at Ryo.
She said nothing for a moment.
Then, without so much as blinking, she turned to her daughters and asked.
"Who is this man?"
Seraphine spun around, flipping her hair and fanning herself as if in a dream.
"Oh Mother, it's just that a handsome man has arrived to put a ring on me~!"
Ryo deadpanned, barely blinking. "…No."
Clarisse, voice shaky but full of misplaced confidence. "W-we're about to get married now…"
Ryo, face twisted in disbelief, pointed at both of them.
"Seriously? You two should stop jumping the gun like it's a freakin' proposal speedrun!"
Then… Stepmother turned her gaze to Fairy Greatmother.
Fairy Greatmother let out a soft sigh, her expression falling slightly. That gaze—it was like being caught skipping class by the school principal who definitely didn't like you.
Stepmother's tone, cold as ice.
"Ms. Roselia, I believe you are a schoolteacher. So what, pray tell, are you doing here with this… strange-looking young man?"
Fairy Greatmother gently placed a hand to her chest, voice trembling politely.
"Oh, this young man is lost and—"
But she was cut off by stepmother's frostbitten tone, a hint of doubt flickering in her eyes.
"Silence. I've changed my mind."
Her gaze swung back to Ryo like a blade on a hinge. "I shall ask you instead, strange foreign man."
Her words carried the weight of judgment, sharp and unforgiving.
"I am Rosalind De Ravenswood. Now tell me—what business have you with the Ravenswood family?"
Ryo's thoughts raced. "So she has a name too… Rosalind. Just like her daughters. A surname too? So this world is bending even deeper into its own version of the story."
He straightened up and placed a palm to his chest. "Yes, Madam Rosalind. My name is Mr. Jokester. I work at a tiny tavern as an assistant wor—"
But—
"ENOUGH!!"
Rosalind's voice snapped like a whip. Her glare burned straight through him.
"TELL ME WHO YOU REALLY ARE! NO STUPID NAMES. YOU ARE CLEARLY NOT FROM THIS KINGDOM, NOR ANYWHERE NEAR IT. AND YOU MOST CERTAINLY DO NOT WORK IN A TAVERN! WHO DO YOU TAKE ME FOR? A FOOL?! I WILL NOT TOLERATE NONSENSE IN MY MANOR!"
Everyone jumped. Even Fairy Greatmother jumped so hard her sparkles briefly flared into visible stars.
Ryo knew—there was no talking his way out of this. His strange clothes alone gave him away.
He let out a sigh. "Okay, madam."
He couldn't give her his real name, not yet. But he could give the name Fantasy-chan gave him… one with power.
He closed his eyes… then slowly opened them with a confident smirk and a sharp, calculating gaze.
"The name is Sherlock… Sherlock Holmes…"
"…I'm a detective."
The wind seemed to hush at that moment.
Clarisse and Seraphine gasped, their eyes sparkling like two crystal slippers on a velvet cushion, hearts bursting out of their eyes like glowing pink fireworks at the sight of Ryo's sharp, intense gaze.
"Oh my…" they sighed in unison, clutching their chests, their voices nearly breaking as they whispered. "Is this the night our story begins, sister?"
Fairy Greatmother was surprised, but also felt a bit of admiration, even though she didn't want to admit it.
"My, my… quite the charmer when he wants to be."
Ryo continued, rubbing the back of his head casually. "As for where I'm from… I can't say yet. Got my reasons.
Rosalind's expression didn't change—but her eyes narrowed sharply, watching him like a panther about to pounce.
"Is that so… Mr. Sherlock Holmes."
Her voice dripped with skepticism. "I don't know what a 'detective' is… but very well. Tell me, then—what business do you have here?"
Ryo's expression hardened. The moment had come.
Fairy Greatmother held her breath.
Ryo took one step forward and dropped the bomb "I'm here to ask… about Cinderella's disappearance."
The words crashed through the manor like thunder.
Rosalind gasped. Clarisse and Seraphine froze, their faces pale. They didn't expect to hear that name again.
But now… the past they tried to bury was clawing its way back.
And Cinderella's name—like a ghost—hung in the air.
Unmoving. Unforgiving.
Stepmother grit her teeth and flung her arms out in denial.
"CINDERELLA IS NO LONGER HERE!" she snapped.
Seraphine nodded dramatically. "Yes! What makes you think she's here? The prince took her away after that little glass slipper matched her foot!"
Clarisse blinked, baffled. "She vanished at the palace! Why would you even think she's here? Wait—are you suspecting us?"
Stepmother folded her arms, voice sharp. "And there you have it. It would be wise if you left this property at once. We have no business with Cinderella anymore. She is no longer part of this family."
With that, the stepfamily turned toward the manor's entrance, ready to leave this conversation behind.
And truth be told… they had valid points. Cinderella did disappear at the palace. They were right.
But Ryo already knew—this disappearance wasn't just some random vanishing.
It was too quiet. Too convenient. And he suspected the stepfamily may have had help… someone hired to do their dirty work in the shadows, fueled by petty revenge after the prince chose Cinderella over either of the step-sisters.
So now, it was time for a little psychological nudge—Ryo's tactic to open the door.
Ryo raised a hand. "Hold on."
The stepfamily paused mid-step, and turned slowly back toward him.
Ryo smiled warmly. "No, no—I'm not suspecting any of you. Actually… I want to prove you're all innocent."
Everyone looked confused—including the Fairy Greatmother.
Fairy Greatmother leaned in, whispering in his ear, baffled.
"What do you mean you want to prove they're innocent?"
Ryo whispered back with a grin. "Don't worry. I got a plan."
Stepmother narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by 'proving us innocent'? We've done nothing wrong."
Ryo adjusted his trench coat. His tone light, but his words loaded.
"I heard from the villagers... that you three used to treat Cinderella rather harshly."
The stepfamily flinched. Their faces twitched. Silent.
Ryo continued, voice still calm. "And with the prince choosing Cinderella over Clarisse or Seraphine… some folks started wondering if maybe… just maybe… the Ravenswood family decided to take revenge. Maybe you had her kidnapped. Maybe you had someone do it on your behalf. Or maybe..."
He paused, letting the tension hang like a blade over their heads.
"...maybe it was you yourselves."
Stepmother's face darkened. A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek.
She had been cruel to Cinderella—she knew that. But now the whole village was whispering about her?
Would anyone actually believe she wasn't involved?
Clarisse stammered, trembling. "Wha... wha... That's—"
But Seraphine stayed silent. Her gaze dropped to the floor. She looked... conflicted.
Then, slowly, Seraphine stepped forward, standing beside her mother.
"Mother. Let's clear our name."
Stepmother turned toward her. "What are you saying, my child?"
Seraphine stared straight ahead, her face unreadable.
"We don't want the villagers to keep suspecting us. That could destroy our reputation. And honestly..."
Her voice dropped. "...we did mistreat Cinderella. Way too much."
Fairy Greatmother blinked, her eyes wide with surprise.
She whispered to herself. "Is she... regretting her actions?"
Clarisse looked over, startled. "Are you sure about this, Seraphine?"
Seraphine nodded, eyes half-lidded. "Yes. You should regret it too. We were jealous of her, and we let that jealousy turn into cruelty."
Clarisse looked down, her guilt finally catching up to her.
It was clear now—of the three, Seraphine was the one carrying the most regret.
Stepmother finally sighed, the weight of the conversation sinking in. She looked at Ryo with narrowed eyes.
"Very well, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. You may come inside. You have thirty minutes."
Ryo gave a respectful nod. "That's all the time I need, Madam. Thank you for your cooperation."
Looks like his 'make-them-feel-guilty' tactic worked like a charm.
Just as they were about to head inside, Stepmother paused, turning to Fairy Greatmother.
"Do you really need to be involved, Ms. Roselia?"
Before she could answer, Ryo stepped forward.
"She guided me here. And after all that walking, it'd be heartless to send her back out now, wouldn't it? Besides..."
He gave a cheeky smile. "…She's an old lady. Let her sit."
Stepmother exhaled. "...Fine. You may come in too, Ms. Roselia."
Fairy Greatmother gave a small bow. "Thank you, Madam Rosalind."
And with that, Ryo and Fairy Greatmother followed the Ravenswood family inside, where the real interrogation would begin—quietly, subtly, and with just the right amount of pressure.