Before the Slipper: The Prince

Before the Slipper Book One of the Ever After, Unbound Series By Freya Collins Ella was never waiting to be rescued. Long before the glass slipper became legend, she was the daughter of a royal advisor—a woman raised to understand power, law, and the quiet machinery of kingdoms. But after her father’s death, Ella finds herself trapped in a household balanced on appearances, burdened by debts the crown ignored and a future shrinking by the day. Then the king announces a three-night ball to choose his queen. Edmund remembers the girl who once challenged magistrates at ten years old and saw people where others saw spectacle. Ella remembers the boy who listened. When they meet again beneath the chandeliers of the palace they both once called home, what begins is not a fairy tale rescue, but a reckoning. As hidden petitions surface and old loyalties are tested, Ella and Edmund must decide whether love can survive inside the systems that failed them—or whether they are strong enough to remake those systems together. Elegant, emotionally rich, and deeply human, Before the Slipper reimagines Cinderella as a story about recognition, partnership, and the quiet courage of people who keep their promises. Perfect for listeners who love: literary fairy tale retellings slow-burn romance emotionally intelligent characters political and court intrigue grounded fantasy with mature emotional depth A beautifully crafted short-form audio story perfect for a single immersive listening session.