From Hearth to Heart (Male Cinderella X Reader)

Chapter 1: Dreams in the Dust

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a tiny kingdom, peaceful, prosperous, and rich in romance and tradition

Here, in a stately château, there lived a widowed gentleman and his little son, Evander.

Although he was a kind and devoted father and gave his beloved child every luxury and comfort, he still felt the boy needed a mother's care. And so he married again, choosing for his second wife a woman of good family, with two sons just Evander's age, by name, Augustus and Darian. 

It was upon the untimely death of this good man, however, that the stepmother's true nature was revealed: cold, cruel, and bitterly jealous of Evander's charm and quiet beauty.

She was grimly determined to forward the interests of her own two awkward sons. Thus, as time went by, the château fell into disrepair, for the family fortunes were squandered upon the vain and selfish stepbrothers, while Evander was abused, humiliated, and forced to become a servant in his own house.

And yet, through it all, Evander remained ever gentle and kind—for with each dawn, he found new hope that someday, his dreams of happiness would come true.

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Two small bluebirds fluttered toward the high tower window, their feathers catching the first golden rays of dawn. With a tug and a flap, they drew open the thin, faded curtains, letting morning light spill across the modest attic room.

Tucked beneath a neatly patched quilt, Evander stirred. The birds chirped softly, hopping closer to the bed where the boy lay, still caught in sleep. One leaned forward and nudged its tousled hair with its beak.

A hand shot out and gently flicked the bird back, followed by a low chuckle.

"Well, serves you right," Evander said with a sleepy smile. "Spoiling people's best dreams."

The birds chirped in protest, flapping their wings in lighthearted scolding.

"Yes, I know it's a lovely morning," he said, sitting up slowly, rubbing his eyes. "But... it was a lovely dream as well."

The birds tilted their heads inquisitively.

"What kind of dream?" he repeated. "Mm-mm. Can't tell. If you tell a wish, it won't come true."

He rose from the bed, moving toward the window. Sunlight caught in his dark curls as he opened it wider, letting the breeze and birds fill the room with life.

"And after all..." His voice softened into song.

"A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep..."

More birds fluttered inside, perching along the bedpost and rafters, listening closely as his voice danced through the room.

"In dreams, you will lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep...
Have faith in your dreams and someday..."

Down below, tiny squeaks echoed from behind the walls. A family of mice began to stir. One by one, they poked their heads from the cracks and corners, blinking away sleep. Two of the older female mice busied themselves immediately, gathering thread scraps and smoothing out wrinkles in Evander's clothes. The younger males, however, were still curled in a matchbox when they were shooed out with squeaky grumbles.

Evander smiled gently and continued to sing.

"Your rainbow will come smiling through
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing..."

He walked over to a chipped pitcher on the vanity, splashing water into the basin as he began to wash up for the day.

"The dream that you wish
Will come true..."

Just then, the distant toll of a clock echoed through the château. Six chimes. Morning had arrived in full.

Evander sighed, his soft expression turning wry.

"Oh, that clock. Old killjoy. I hear you!" He looked up at the ceiling, addressing the sound as if it were a nagging master. "'Come on, get up,' you say. 'Time to start another day.' Even he orders me around."

He straightened his shoulders, a small, defiant smile tugging at his lips.

Well, there's one thing... they can't order me to stop dreaming."

He reached for his shirt, humming the tune once more under his breath as the mice helped him prepare for the day.

"And maybe someday..."
He glanced out the window again, eyes filled with quiet longing.
"The dreams that I wish... will come true."

He hummed softly, the room glowing in the light of both morning and hope.

"Out of the way! Shoo! Shoo! Hurry up now!" came the sharp, squeaky voice of an older female mouse as she bustled about the room. She flapped her paws at the younger male mice who were still dawdling around Evander's drawer-turned-closet.

The birds chirped in rhythm as they flew down to assist, carefully dipping a sponge into the water basin. Two of them held it steady and pressed it gently to Evander's neck and shoulders as he stood shirtless, humming the last few notes of his morning song.

He leaned forward with a grin and gargled a mouthful of water, lifting his voice in a playful flourish.

"No matter how your heart is grieving...
If you keep on believing...
The dream that you wish will come... truuuuuue!"

The birds trilled their approval as they patted him dry with a bit of cloth, while the mice below scurried about, pulling out the day's outfit they'd prepared during the night.

It was simple, but lovingly cared for: a soft linen undershirt, freshly scrubbed and faintly lavender-scented; a pale sage green vest with mismatched wooden buttons; and a pair of deep brown trousers, neatly stitched and slightly rolled at the cuffs. A faded teal scarf—Evander's favorite—was draped around his neck, tied loosely like a reminder of gentler days. His boots, worn smooth from years of work, were freshly brushed and patched with little bits of tan fabric.

Evander smiled as he slipped into his shirt. "Thank you all. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Suddenly, two small male mice came skidding in through a gap in the wall, chattering over each other in a panic.

"Wait a moment! Wait a moment!" Evander said, crouching down to their level with raised brows. "One at a time, please!"

He looked toward the one with the red cap. "Now, Jaq, what's all the fuss about?"

Jaq puffed up, babbling. "New mouse in the house! Brand-new! Never saw before! Visitor, visitor!"

"A visitor?" Evander repeated, surprised. "Well, she'll need a dress—"

"No, no, no!" said the second mouse, shaking his head.

"Not a she—it's a he!" Jaq added.

"She's a he!" the second clarified.

"He, he!" Jaq insisted, nodding vigorously.

Evander blinked, then laughed. "Oh! That does make a difference. He'll need a jacket, maybe some—"

"No time!" Jaq shouted. "Gotta get him out!"

"Out!" echoed the second.

"In a trap-trap!" Jaq cried.

"Trap-trap!" the other repeated, trembling.

Evander's smile faded instantly. "Where? In a trap? Well, why didn't you say so?"

Jaq pointed frantically toward the hallway. The second mouse tugged on his bootlace.

"Lead the way!" he said, scarf fluttering behind him as he dashed after them.

Down the stairs they went—Evander light on his feet, heart already racing—not for chores or orders, but to save a new life from danger.