Volume 1: The Poor Charming's Tower Gamble
Prologue Arc: Poor Charming's Last Shot
Chapter 7: Stepsisters Chase "The Real Prince Charming" – Hilarious Royal Chase Begins
Elodas Charming strolled through the bustling village square with the same calm, slightly lazy half-smile he had worn since stepping out of the portal. The Royal Charming Swordsmanship and its transcendent realm now hummed quietly beneath his skin like a perfectly sheathed blade, but on the outside he still looked like nothing more than an ordinary traveler in patched clothes. No one could guess that a single sword swing had turned him into a master whose skill already surpassed every guard in the kingdom.
The excitement for the royal ball had reached fever pitch. Colorful banners fluttered from every lamppost. Servants rushed back and forth carrying trays of pastries and flowers. Musicians tuned their instruments on a wooden stage near the fountain. Everywhere he turned, people were talking about the same thing: the prince choosing his bride tonight.
Elodas kept his pace casual, hands in his pockets, observing everything while pretending to be mildly lost. So this is how the story starts accelerating, he thought internally, keeping his face neutral. The ball is tonight. The stepmother and her daughters are already at the castle for fittings. Somewhere nearby, the real Cinderella is probably sweeping ashes and dreaming of a miracle. My job is simple on paper—defy the original fate enough to clear the trial. But with these cheats awake, I can do it while everyone thinks I'm just a lucky peasant who practiced a bit in secret.
He turned a corner near the bakery and nearly collided with two finely dressed young women stepping out of a carriage that had just arrived from the direction of the grand manor on the hill. They were the stepsisters—Anastasia and Drizella—both wearing elaborate gowns that looked freshly fitted but still somehow garish. Their faces were painted heavily, and their expressions screamed entitlement.
Anastasia, the taller one with fiery red hair, stopped dead in her tracks the moment her eyes landed on Elodas. Her mouth fell open in a perfect O of surprise.
"Look at him, Drizella!" she gasped, pointing with a gloved hand. "Golden hair, those perfect blue eyes, that jawline… He looks exactly like the prince! But… younger? More charming?"
Drizella, shorter and rounder with dark curls, squinted, then her eyes widened like saucers. "You're right! He's practically glowing. And did you hear his name earlier? Someone called him Elodas. Elodas! That sounds so close to 'Charming' it has to be fate! Mother always said the prince might have a secret younger brother or a cousin from a distant kingdom!"
Elodas blinked once, maintaining his deadpan calm. Here it comes. The surname strike. I haven't even introduced myself properly and the chaos is already starting. He gave a small, polite nod. "Just passing through, ladies. Enjoy the ball tonight."
He tried to step around them, but Anastasia darted forward and grabbed his sleeve with surprising strength. "Wait! You can't just walk away! You look exactly like the real Prince Charming! What if you are him in disguise? Testing the common folk or something romantic like that?"
Drizella squealed and latched onto his other arm. "Yes! Come with us to the ball! We'll introduce you to everyone. Mother will be thrilled! Imagine the look on that wretched stepsister's face when she sees us arriving with a real prince!"
Elodas felt a vein twitch in his forehead, but his expression stayed perfectly relaxed. This is going to be a problem. He gently tried to disentangle himself. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm not—"
"Prince Charming!" Anastasia interrupted, already dragging him toward their carriage. "Don't be modest! Your hair, your face, that effortless grace when you walk… it's obvious! The ball needs a prince, and you're perfect!"
Before he could protest further, the two stepsisters had him halfway to the carriage. Villagers nearby began to stare and whisper. A few pointed. "Is that the prince?" "No, but he looks just like him!" "Did the royal family send a decoy?"
Elodas's internal monologue kicked into high gear. Hilarious royal chase activated. Stepsisters think I'm the actual prince or at least a charming noble. If I let them drag me to the ball like this, the real prince is going to lose his mind when he sees me. The original Cinderella plot is about to derail in the most comedic way possible. But I can use this. Defy fate by turning the ball into pure chaos instead of the romantic fairy-tale ending. All while keeping my cheats hidden. No one sees the transcendent sword master or the guy who can comprehend magic the second he sees it.
He allowed himself to be pulled along for a few steps, then planted his feet with casual strength—strength that came from his newly mastered sword realm making his body far more balanced and powerful than it looked. The stepsisters stumbled slightly but didn't let go.
"Come on, Prince!" Drizella cooed, batting her eyelashes. "One dance! We'll make sure you get the best seat. And if you're not the real prince, well… you're still the most charming man we've ever seen!"
Anastasia nodded vigorously. "Exactly! Mother will faint when she sees you. She's always complaining that the real prince is too distant. You're much more… approachable!"
Elodas sighed inwardly. Approachable? I'm a poor reincarnator from the slums who just comprehended god-tier swordsmanship from watching one guard swing a sword. This is going to escalate fast. He gently pried one hand free. "Ladies, I really am just a traveler. My name is Elodas Charming, but that's just a family name. Nothing more."
The moment the full name left his lips, both stepsisters froze, then exploded with even louder squeals.
"Charming?! Did you hear that, Drizella? His name is literally Charming!"
"It's destiny! The prince's long-lost charming relative! Quick, get him in the carriage before he escapes!"
They renewed their assault, grabbing both arms again and practically lifting him off the ground in their excitement. Elodas could have broken free easily with his new mastery, but he chose not to. Not yet. Let the chase begin. The more chaos I create, the easier it is to defy the original fate. The real Cinderella might actually get a break if the ball turns into a comedy show instead of a romance.
The stepsisters dragged him toward their ornate carriage, drawing a growing crowd. Children pointed and laughed. A baker dropped his tray of rolls in surprise. Guards at the edge of the square started whispering among themselves, unsure whether to intervene or salute.
"Make way for Prince Charming!" Anastasia shouted dramatically.
"He's here to save the ball!" Drizella added.
Elodas kept his face calm, internally face-palming. This is the kind of misunderstanding that could fill an entire arc. Stepsisters chasing the "real" Prince Charming while the actual prince is probably practicing his dance moves somewhere in the castle, completely unaware that a poor kid from another world with his exact name is about to crash the party.
As they reached the carriage door, Elodas finally planted his feet more firmly and gave a small, polite bow. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I must decline. I have… important traveler business to attend to."
Anastasia pouted. Drizella stamped her foot. "You can't refuse! We'll tell Mother! She'll have the guards bring you if necessary!"
Before the situation could escalate further, a new voice cut through the commotion.
"What is all this noise?"
An older woman with a sharp face and an even sharper gown stepped out from a nearby shop—Lady Tremaine, the evil stepmother herself. Her eyes narrowed the instant they landed on Elodas. For a brief second, even she looked taken aback by his appearance.
"Who is this?" she demanded, voice dripping with suspicion and sudden interest.
"Mother!" the stepsisters chorused. "It's Prince Charming! Or at least a Charming! He must come to the ball with us!"
Lady Tremaine's calculating gaze swept over Elodas from head to toe. A slow, predatory smile crept onto her lips. "Well, well… a Charming. How interesting. Perhaps you should join us after all, young man. The ball could use… fresh entertainment."
Elodas met her eyes with the same calm half-smile. And now the villainess is interested. Perfect. The royal chase has officially begun, and I haven't even reached the castle yet.
He bowed lightly, voice steady. "Perhaps I will make an appearance. But on my own terms."
With that, he finally slipped free of the stepsisters' grasp using a subtle shift in balance that came straight from his mastered swordsmanship. The movement looked effortless, almost accidental. The sisters gasped in delight at his "grace."
Elodas turned and walked away at a measured pace, the sound of the stepsisters' excited chatter and Lady Tremaine's scheming whispers following him down the street.
The hilarious royal chase had begun in earnest.
And somewhere in the background, the real Cinderella's fate was already starting to crack under the weight of one poor boy with a very dangerous name and two completely hidden, utterly broken talents.
Elodas kept walking, internally chuckling. Let the comedy begin. and sudden