It had been a long day for the Grand Duke. He had traveled around the kingdom trying the glass slipper on every maiden. He was asleep in his coach as it approached his next stop. With each bump in the road, his head wobbled from side to side. He held a royal blue velvet pillow with gold trim and tassels on his lap. On the pillow was the glass slipper. A small purple blanket covered it for protection. But the blanket slid off of the pillow due to the bumpy ride.

The driver called for his horses to halt and the coach came to an abrupt stop. The footman sounded his horn, announcing the arrival of the Grand Duke. Startled, the Duke jumped from his seat and the pillow went flying off his lap, along with the glass slipper. But the sleepy man managed to catch the slipper in midair. He let out a huge sigh of relief and covered his face with one hand while he held the delicate slipper in the other. His daylong search had worn him down. He was exhausted, but by the King’s orders, he had to continue. He was at his next stop—the Tremaine house.

Meanwhile, Gus and Jaq had run to the window when they heard the coach approach. The Grand Duke had arrived! The mice had to retrieve the key tucked away in Lady Tremaine’s pocket, and they had to do it quickly. Once Cinderella got out of her room and put that slipper on, everyone would know the truth: she was the Prince’s true love.

Anastasia and Drizella ran to a window. They were dressed in fancy gowns.

“Oh, Mother, he’s here, he’s here!” cried Anastasia.

“The Grand Duke!” cried Drizella.

Anastasia ran to the vanity for one final primping of her hair.

“Oh, I’m so excited, I just don’t know what else to do!” said Anastasia, fluffing her dress in the mirror.

Drizella came charging to the vanity for a final primping of her own and shoved Anastasia out of the way. She admired herself in the mirror and then powdered her nose. Anastasia came rushing back and jolted Drizella out of her way for her turn to powder.

“Girls!” warned Lady Tremaine. “Now, this is your last chance. Don’t fail me.” Holding a tall black cane, she walked to the front door with her head high. She opened the door to welcome their guests.

The Duke’s royal assistant stood in the entryway and blew his brass horn. In his other hand he held the glass slipper atop the blue velvet pillow protected by the purple cover.

“Announcing His Imperial Grace the Grand Duke!” he declared. He then stepped aside.

The Grand Duke walked up the stairs wearing a tall blue hat with a red feather on top. He removed his hat upon entry and was greeted by Lady Tremaine.

“May I present my daughters, Drizella, Anastasia,” said Lady Tremaine pointing to each girl. The girls each curtsied and batted their eyelashes awkwardly.

“Your Grace,” Anastasia greeted him. She smiled wide and stuck her finger under her chin to appear sweet and coy. But there was nothing sweet about her, and it was quite obvious to the Grand Duke.

“Oh, yes, charmed, I’m sure,” replied the Grand Duke, cringing at the site of the unattractive sisters. He tried his best to maintain his composure.

The assistant then announced that the Grand Duke would read the royal proclamation. He uncurled the long scroll. The still-drowsy Duke began to read it out loud.

While the proclamation was being read, Gus and Jaq climbed up to the top of the coffee table. Lady Tremaine was standing near the table and the key was sticking out of her pocket. They wanted to get as close to her as possible. They needed to grab that key! The Duke kept reading. When he came to the part about the glass slipper, the assistant lifted the cover off the plush pillow. He held it up with pride as the slipper sparkled on top. But the Duke’s speech was interrupted.

“Why, that’s my slipper!” shouted Drizella.

“It’s my slipper!” yelled Anastasia.

The assistant was surprised by the girls’ boldness. He tried to keep the slipper away from them.

Gus and Jaq were hiding in a teacup on the table. Gus got mad when he heard the sisters. “No, no, no! That’s Cinderelly’s slipper!” he yelled, climbing out of the teacup. Jaq pulled him back down. He covered Gus’s mouth with his hat. They couldn’t risk being discovered now, no matter how angry they were.

The stepsisters make a mad dash toward the assistant, trying to grab the glass slipper. He ducked and ran out from under them with the slipper intact. Then he hid behind the Grand Duke, away from the unruly girls.

“Girls, girls,” said Lady Tremaine. “Your manners.” She spoke to them calmly but glared at them with her most withering stare. “A thousand pardons, Your Grace,” she said to the Grand Duke. “Please continue.”

The Duke was quite annoyed by girls’ behavior and the interruption, but he continued to read the proclamation.