Ugly: A Faerie Tale Retold

Epilogue

Of course Charles brought the glass slipper Ella had left at the castle. And of course Claudette wanted to try it on. And of course it only fit Ella.

But Charles wasn't the only member of Jean's bodyguard, and, as fate would have it, a young soldier named Gaspard happened to cast his eyes on Claudette, and fell irretrievably in love. In the following weeks, as Jean and Charles called on us several times, Gaspard joined them. And that worked a miracle on Claudette. Seeing her truly happy was the last piece I needed to feel wholly comfortable with Jean's professions of love.

Within a month—a glorious, beatingless, shimmering month—all three of the men proposed. For the first time in my life, Mother treated me civilly. So civilly, in fact, that Jean and I promised her a place on the castle staff.

And within another month, I found myself married to a prince.

It was almost a scandal in the eyes of the people. They'd never seen an ugly princess before. And unfortunately, Charles, Gaspard, and the king were the only members of the royal court who supported our marriage. Even the priest who married us looked sour when he said "man and wife."

I won many of them over. Eventually, most realized beauty isn't everything. But not all of them. Most notably, the scribe, responsible for chronicling the events of the kingdom.

History favors the beautiful. It's a matter of human nature. So when you hear the story of poor, lovely, mistreated Ella who overcame her poverty and married the prince, don't be shocked. When they vilify me and tell you stories about my eyes being plucked out by doves, remember that some people have very vivid imaginations, and our castle scribe is no exception.

And when they tell you to hide behind a veil, don't, because the ones who matter can see straight through it anyway.