Cinder

Cinder hobbles home from the market to Adri and Pearl readying themselves for the ball. Pearl’s insults continue, and she complains about the length of time it took for one-footed Cinder to walk home. She asks for Cinder’s opinion about what shoes to wear—another jab at Cinder’s current lack of two working feet.

The conversation between Cinder and Pearl spirals as Pearl apprises Cinder of her plan to expose Cinder to Prince Kai. Peony’s name enters the conversation, at which point Pearl blames Cinder for Peony’s death. Adri interrupts the argument by assigning Cinder the job of washing the hover for the ball, a task she is happy to complete in order to avoid watching Prince Kai’s coronation with her stepmother and stepsister. 

Cinder watches Kai’s coronation while washing the hover. She fantasizes about being with Kai on this important day, but knows their separation is the best thing for everyone. During the coronation, Kai speaks of the effects of letumosis and the hopes of a cure. He also expresses his thoughts about the ongoing attempts to find peace with Luna, a goal of his father’s that he will carry forward. He ends his speech with an important statement: “I will do whatever needs to be done to ensure the well-being of my country. I will do whatever needs to be done to keep you all safe. That is my promise” (312).

Cinder finishes her remaining tasks for her escape: “Both Iko’s personality chip and Peony’s ID chip were tucked safely in her calf compartment, where they would stay until she found a more permanent home for them” (313). While sifting through the many stored parts, she notices her old, too-small foot; Iko never threw it away, as Cinder had instructed. She is grateful that Iko didn’t listen.

Cinder hears a sound indicating communication from the D-COMM chip she found in Nainsi, Kai’s android. On the other side of the D-COMM is a Lunar girl, similar in age to Cinder, insisting “to speak with someone at New Beijing Palace right away” (318). Cinder learns that Sybil forced this girl to program chips and spyware in order to surveil Emperor Rikan and other leaders.

The Lunar girl needs to pass along a warning to Prince Kai. Due to the implanted chip, Queen Levana knows all of the information contained within Nainsi, knowledge that she will use to harm Kai and all of those in the Eastern Commonwealth: “Once she’s in control of the Commonwealth, she intends to use her army to wage war on the rest of Earth” (322). The queen also intends to kill Kai once he is no longer needed. Knowing she is the only person who can convey the queen’s intentions to Prince Kai, Cinder eschews escaping and instead heads for the ball, in order to warn Kai and save the Commonwealth.

Due to Iko’s previous decision to save Peony’s gown and store it in the workroom, Cinder now has a dress to wear to the ball, albeit one that is wrinkled and feels all wrong to Cinder. She attaches the too-small mechanical foot and slides on the dirty silk gloves gifted to her by Kai: “She was a walking disaster and she knew it. She’d be lucky if they let her into the ball at all” (325). Cinder drives the gasoline-powered car to the palace. It’s raining hard. When she attempts to use the car’s brakes, the vehicle surges forward, hitting a cherry blossom tree.

Cinder gets out of the car and walks in the rain. She arrives to the ball wet, disheveled, and awkwardly walking on an uncomfortable foot. Inserting herself among the crows, she looks for Kai, whom she finds alongside Queen Levana. Cinder plans to inform him about what she’s learned and then quickly leave, but realizes Kai is talking with Pearl. Fear flows through Cinder at what Pearl is likely telling him: “Yes, I am the girl from the festival this morning. No, Cinder is not coming. We wouldn’t disrespect this momentous occasion by allowing my ugly cyborg stepsister to attend. Oh—didn’t you know she’s cyborg?” (333).

In the midst of Cinder’s fear, a servant approaches her with the need to scan her ID to ensure she is allowed at the ball. To the servant’s surprise and Cinder’s displeasure, her ID indicates she is a personal guest of Emperor Kai, an honor in need of announcement to the entire ball. 

The announcement means all eyes are on Cinder. Kai watches her with surprise; Adri and Pearl view her with embarrassment. Cinder ascends the grand staircase with a resolve to warn Kai, despite the questioning looks and whispers from the crowd.

Adri stops Cinder, offended that Cinder is wearing Peony’s dress. Pearl shudders when she sees Cinder wearing her boots. Adri demands that Cinder put an end to the embarrassment of the family and return home, Cinder, however, stands up for herself, saying, “I have as much right to be here as you do” (339). Adri winds up to slap Cinder but is stopped by Kai. He orders the festivities to resume and leads Cinder in a dance of their own.

As they dance—movement that is particularly difficult due to Cinder’s incomplete attachment of her foot and resulting lack of sensation—they discuss her stepmother, and the secret Pearl shared with Kai. Cinder assumes Pearl told Kai that she is cyborg, but she comes to realize that her secret remains hidden. He instead believes that she kept the loss of Peony from him, not the fact that she is cyborg.

Cinder tells Kai about the message from the Lunar tech-expert girl, including Queen Levana’s plans to kill him Torin interrupts, saying, “It is time” (346).