The time in Evendelle was now 3:30 PM.
Back at the food stall in the village square — the same square that had just been shaken by chaos — sat Ryo, Fairy Greatmother, and the animal agents. The echoes of confusion and disbelief still lingered in the air like fading thunder.
And above them, far in the sky, Petyr Pann had just rocketed himself into the horizon, cackling with twisted delight, already scheming how to sabotage Ryo's investigation at any cost.
But down here… things were quiet now.
At the table sat Ryo, Fairy Greatmother, and the animal agents.
But no one spoke.
Fairy Greatmother hadn't said a single word since.
Her face was pale, almost ghostly, as if her spirit had been knocked loose by what they'd just witnessed. She sat leaning forward slightly, her hands resting stiffly in her lap, her eyes unfocused, not quite here.
Ryo stayed quiet out of respect.
He let her sit in silence, gave her time to process it all. But as the minutes passed, and her trembling only deepened, he leaned in gently from across the table.
His voice was soft, cautious. "Ma'am… are you okay?"
Fairy Greatmother gave a slight nod — barely noticeable.
Her lips trembled.
"Y… y-yes…" she replied, though it didn't sound very convincing.
Her eyes fell to the small wooden cup of goat milk in front of her. She reached toward it… only for her hand to stop mid-air, trembling.
She pulled it back into her lap.
Her concern for Cinderella was no longer just worry. It had become dread. Something was deeply wrong. And it was unraveling fast.
Because not only had the court forgotten Cinderella — the very princess of Evendelle — but they acted as if she had never existed at all. As if her presence in the castle had been nothing more than a dream.
As if there was…
No engagement.
No royal kiss.
No love story to remember.
It was as though Cinderella had been erased from reality.
When the Royal Herald announced the royal ball and declared Prince Vaelric was seeking a bride, he spoke with strange confidence. Too formal. As if it were the first time he'd ever made such a proclamation — or had no memory of doing it before.
But Fairy Greatmother remembered differently.
She remembered the day clearly. Four months ago.
And told Ryo that Prince Vaelric had walked hand in hand with Cinderella right here in this very square, in front of the grand fountain, beneath the soft golden light of spring. The whole village had gathered. The streets overflowed with laughter and petals. Children perched on rooftops. Old women wept with joy. The crowd clapped and cheered.
And there, in front of them all, Prince Vaelric had proudly declared that he had fallen in love with Cinderella. That he would be marrying her. And that, in three months' time, a grand wedding would be held at the castle — a ceremony that would welcome not just nobles from far and wide, but also the common folk of Evendelle.
The Prince had looked so sure of her. So devoted.
He had even knelt before her, right here in the square, and kissed her hand with warmth in his eyes.
Cinderella had blushed deeply, overwhelmed by the moment.
Fairy Greatmother had watched it all unfold. She had smiled that day. Truly smiled. For once, she believed the kingdom was changing — that love had finally triumphed over status.
She had looked at Prince Vaelric with admiration.
But now…
After hearing that hollow announcement from the Royal Herald…
After the confused faces of the villagers, and the dismissive indifference of the court…
After seeing how easily everything was forgotten…
Fairy Greatmother's expression darkened.
The tremble in her hands turned to stillness.
Because for the first time…
She wasn't just suspicious of the castle.
She was starting to feel suspicious…
…Of Prince Vaelric himself.
Fairy Greatmother suddenly looked up, her voice firm despite the worry in her trembling hands.
"We need to go to the castle," she insisted. "I've snuck in before… but this time, we ask for permission. No tricks. We investigate, and we question the court ourselves."
But Ryo wasn't so sure.
He leaned back in his seat, arms folded, brows furrowed. Something about this whole situation smelled too clean — too deliberate.
Even though the strict lockdown was no longer in place, Ryo had a gut feeling that walking in openly as investigators wouldn't end well. Either they'd be kicked out… or silenced in the grimmest way possible.
Especially if the court was pretending Cinderella never existed.
That was just a theory for now… but they could be real.
"Ma'am…" Ryo began, careful, analytical. "What if instead of strolling through the castle waving questions around… we attend the royal ball the day after tomorrow?"
Fairy Greatmother's breath hitched.
"But… But isn't that too late?" she stammered. "Cinderella is forgotten by the court—and I'm growing more worried by the hour. We need to find her now, not dance in ballrooms two days from now!"
The desperation on her face only deepened — trembling lips, clenched fists, glistening eyes. Ryo could see it clearly. Two days was long, and every moment wasted felt like a thread snapping away from Cinderella's hope.
But Ryo had learned something during his years on Earth, long before he ever became a detective.
Time was a luxury he couldn't afford.
Back then… he solved cases within hours as a cop, despite his physical flaws, never even waiting for daylight to break.
Now, as a detective… it wasn't about taking time. It was about BEATING IT.
But instead of solving this case within hours, he'd need at least a few more days — this was the Fairytale World, and cases here could take a bit longer than the ones he used to crack swiftly back on Earth as a cop.
Rather than feeding her fears, he made a bold declaration.
Without a word, Ryo stood up, walked around the table, and gently placed a hand on Fairy Greatmother's shoulder.
He looked straight at her, voice calm… but ironclad.
"Ma'am… I swear."
Fairy Greatmother blinked in confusion.
"You swear? What do you mean by that, Mr. Detective?"
A small smirk tugged at Ryo's lips, his sharp gaze gleaming with that signature spark of impossible confidence.
"I swear that in two days… at the Royal Ball… when the Clock Strikes Midnight…"
He leaned in.
"…I'll reveal everything. Especially where Cinderella really is."
Fairy Greatmother gasped and shot to her feet.
"DO YOU ALREADY KNOW WHERE CINDERELLA IS, MR. DETECTIVE!?"
Ryo raised both hands defensively, sheepishly chuckling.
"Easy, ma'am. Not yet."
Fairy Greatmother tilted her head, puzzled.
"Then… why do you sound so confident? You speak like you already knew where dear Cinderella is…"
Ryo's smirk faded into something more serious. "Almost."
"Almost?" she repeated, her brows drawing in.
He nodded. "Yeah. There are just a few more pieces to this puzzle I need. Two or three clues left. And the last one…"
His voice lowered, gaze narrowing like a hawk locked on its target.
"…It'll be waiting for me at the royal ball."
He raised a single finger with purpose.
"And I did say 'I swear'. So that's a promise I'm keeping. Just hold onto that promise."
Fairy Greatmother just stared at him — part disbelief, part awe. His confidence was unlike anything she'd ever seen.
It wasn't arrogance… it was certainty.
A certainty born from something he hadn't yet told her.
Because if you're wondering why Ryo was this confident, this bold, this razor-sharp in his declaration… it all traces back to what he found in the attic yesterday.
Cinderella's diary.
On the very last page… lay a lead.
A clue so specific, so personal, and so disturbing… it nearly unraveled the entire web. That one page alone had pulled the thread on this mystery — and now, Ryo was 90% to the TRUTH.
All the evidence — from the interrogation, the villagers' testimonies, the diary, the workplaces, and finally, Aurelia herself — pointed to one thing…
The finish line was close.
All that remained… were a few more pieces.
And by MIDNIGHT, in that ballroom beneath the glittering chandeliers…
Ryo would solve it all.
Fairy Greatmother sighed in defeat, her shoulders heavy.
"Alright, Mr. Detective… I shall give you two days up until midnight… no more than that. Since you sounded absurdly confident, I will hold onto your promise."
Ryo made a casual peace sign gesture.
"Noo problemo, ma'am."
But the moment Ryo made his bold declaration, two familiar voices rang out as two children came dashing from the village crowd toward the food stall.
"MR. JOKESTER!" they shouted in sync.
Ryo and Fairy Greatmother turned their heads. It was the same kids from yesterday—the tiny volunteers from his magical coin trick. Wide-eyed and full of excitement, they skidded to a stop right in front of Ryo.
Ryo looked down with a warm grin.
"Oh hey guys, what's up?"
The boy's eyes gleamed with hope.
"Mr. Jokester, did you come visit our kingdom to find Princess Cinderella? We heard you said you would!"
Ryo froze.
The girl, eyes twinkling, hopped adorably.
"I knew you didn't just come here for other things! Your clothes look all strange and cool, so you must be here to save our princess!"
Ryo, panicking, quickly raised a finger to his lips in a hush gesture—because the fact that he's searching for Cinderella was supposed to be an absolute secret.
"Guys—ssshhh! This is a secret!"
The two kids tilted their heads in unison and asked.
"Secret? Why is it a secret?"
Ryo crouched down, whispering dramatically.
"Listen here, you brats…"
The brats blinked, listening.
Ryo explained, trying to phrase it in a way a child could understand—without giving away too much.
"Like I told you yesterday, after my grand magical coin performance, when I said the King shouldn't know about my trick."
He leaned closer, eyes narrowing.
"Well, here's the thing. I'm on a super-secret mission to find Cinderella. But if too many people hear I'm looking for her… a wicked witch might find out!"
He glanced over his shoulder dramatically, then turned back to the brats.
"Once she hears it through the village whispers, she might start hunting me down!"
He wagged his finger.
"Because she could be the one who kidnapped Cinderella!"
He added with flair, making a slightly over-the-top spooked face.
The kids gasped in horror and nodded—quickly—five times.
The boy bowed like a little gentleman.
"Of course, Mr. Jokester! We will keep quiet!"
The girl zipped her mouth and mimed throwing away the key.
"Oh yes! We won't tell anyone, so no bad witches will find you while you're rescuing our kind and lovely princess!"
Fairy Greatmother chuckled warmly.
"You can count on your best friend, Mr. Jokester, my little students."
The kids raised their hands high in the air, cheering.
"YAAAAAAYYYY!!! Our best friend Mr. Jokester will find Cinderella!"
Then the children spotted the animals behind Ryo and Fairy Greatmother.
"Ah! Look!" the girl pointed. "Those animals are so cute!"
The boy turned to Fairy Greatmother.
"Are these your animals, teacher?"
Fairy Greatmother shook her head with a soft smile.
"Oh no, my dear. These are Cinderella's best friends."
The two kids' eyes sparkled.
"WOOOAAAHHH! CINDERELLA'S BEST FRIENDS!"
Without another word — or permission — they dove right in, playing joyfully with the animals. Barkface was spun in a circle, Barkzilla got ear scratches, and Whiskers purred from chin rubs. Captain Nutso, panicked by the playful chaos, scrambled to commander Ryo's shoulder. Meanwhile, a confused McPecker and McDrama now sat nobly on the girl's head.
Ryo raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Alright, you brats. What are your names anyway? And how old are you two?"
The children paused their chaos, turned to him, and hit him with a bombshell like it was nothing.
The boy, now cradling the puppy in his arm like a royal squire, removed his cap and placed it proudly over his chest.
"My name is Hansel. I'm eight years old."
The girl gave a curtsy with the doves still perched atop her head.
"I'm Gretel. I'm six! We're brother and sister!"
Ryo's face darkened. Their names hit him like a bolt of lightning.
He knew those names.
Hansel… and Gretel.
These two were the protagonists of a fairytale straight out of the horror section. And they were standing right in front of him—eager, innocent, and likely completely unaware of their grim fate in a certain gingerbread house.
Ryo slowly crouched again, placing a trembling hand on Hansel's shoulder and the other on Gretel's.
He warned them in a trembling voice, fearing for their lives, like a reader spoiling the ending to fairytale characters before they walk into disaster.
"Y…you brats… if you ever see a house… made of candy, chocolate, gumdrops, or bread…"
He swallowed.
"Don't walk toward it… don't sniff it… just turn around and go home to Mommy and Daddy, alright? That yummy-looking stuff is a trap! That sweet house is EVIL! And if a granny in that house invites you in… just say you have to go potty and run home."
The real Hansel and Gretel stared at him, confused for a second…
Then their faces turned serious, and they saluted like tiny soldiers.
Hansel, saluting. "Yes sir, Mr. Jokester!"
Gretel, saluting. "Of course, Mr. Jokester!"
Then, from the center of the village square, their parents called out.
"Hansel! Gretel! Time to continue shopping! Playtime's over!"
Hansel and Gretel looked adorably disappointed.
"AWWWWWWWWWW!"
They gently placed the animals back down, patted them goodbye, and ran toward their parents—turning back only once to wave.
"Bye-bye, Mr. Jokester! Bye, Teacher! You too, animals!" they called out as they rejoined their family.
Ryo stood up straight, adjusted his trench coat, and turned to Fairy Greatmother.
He said with resolve.
"Ma'am, we stick to the original plan. We'll head back to Madam Rosalind's store to continue our investigation there."
Fairy Greatmother stepped forward, leading the way, but the worry still lingered in her voice.
"Why yes, Mr. Detective… but I truly hope we'll discover where Cinderella is being held — especially by midnight during the Royal Ball, once you find those last two or three clues."
And so, the group made their way back to the stepmother's elegant store:
La Rose de Ravenswood.
After a five-minute walk through the cobblestone lanes, they arrived.
A store employee greeted them warmly. As before, the animals were told to wait outside — again — due to the store's high-end cosmetics. Apparently, nothing was more terrifying than Cinderella's friends near premium perfume.
Ryo and Fairy Greatmother stepped inside.
Staff bustled around, carefully arranging perfumes, powders, and shimmering glass jars. But one thing stood out…
It was empty.
Not a single noblewoman in sight.
Unlike the morning rush, the shop now felt quiet. Almost too quiet.
Up ahead, Ryo and Fairy Greatmother spotted Stepmother Rosalind deep in conversation with her two daughters.
The stepsisters' backs were turned, apparently too absorbed in themselves to notice anyone else.
"Weren't they supposed to be at their workplaces?" Ryo thought.
Then what were they doing here?
He and Fairy Greatmother walked toward them.
Ryo called out casually. "Hey, Madam Rosalind. We're back!"
The stepmother perked up and looked over at them, her tone smooth and welcoming.
"Ah, welcome back to my store, both of you."
The stepsisters froze.
They scrambled to fix their hair, suddenly desperate to look "irresistibly beautiful" in front of "sherlock".
Clarisse turned slowly, flipping her hair like she'd just stepped off a shampoo commercial and got a round of applause from the TV crew, as she batted her lashes dramatically.
Still deeply in her own delusions, she purred.
"Oh! My dear handsome Sherlock Holmes… what divine fate it must be to see you again, darling~"
She said it like she was starring in a play so bad, critics would flood YouTube with dramatic rants and sarcastic reaction videos to milk it dry — and yet, somehow, people would still defend it as a guilty pleasure… and the actress would still land more roles, win awards, and get invited to talk shows like she just saved a struggling magic mouse empire.
Then Seraphine turned, also still in her own delusions — one hand over her chest, the other outstretched like she was channeling a Shakespearean heroine.
"Oh my… Sherlock, my husband — you've returned to me!"
She said it with a sniffle, as if they were forbidden first loves in a K-drama, cursed to reunite beside luxury fragrance… just before the episode ends in a slow-motion hug and tragic piano music.
Ryo and Fairy Greatmother stood frozen.
And then… it happened.
The stepsisters completed their dramatic spin—faces fully revealed.
Just like in Chapter 35, Ryo and Fairy Greatmother's jaws dropped. Their eyes widened like saucers.
It was worse than before.
It was Round 2.
The makeup… had gone beyond borrowing tips from a clown villain in a superhero comic — it looked straight out of the Queen of Hearts' morning routine.
And once again…
Ryo and Fairy Greatmother stared… in utter horror.
But somewhere beneath the RIDICULOUSNESS of it all…
Tick…
Tock…
Tick…
Tock…
Tick…
Tock…
DOOOONG…
The village clock's bell howled through the bones of the kingdom.
Its chime cracking the sky like a scream swallowed by the wind.
The time in Evendelle was now 4 PM.
Markets bustled. Children laughed. But beneath it all…
Something was whispering. Watching. Waiting. Its eyes fixed on the detective.
The wind froze mid-whisper.
The trees stood still as statues.
The doves scattered, fleeing from the fountain in the Village Square.
5 HOURS.
That's all the time Ryo had left…
…Before the shadows began to slither through the roots…
Crawling out from the mouths of forgotten fairy tales.
Their teeth inked in curses.
Their eyes stitched with clocks.
They weren't coming to kill him.
They were coming to erase him…
From a story he was never meant to be part of.
…Just as planned.