Levine introduces the reader to the protagonist, Ella, who lives in a manor with her mother, Eleanor, their beloved cook, Mandy, and a number of other servants. Ella’s father, Sir Peter, is an ambitious merchant; he is usually absent from the family home on trading expeditions. A meddlesome fairy named Lucinda cast a spell on Ella at her birth, forcing her to be obedient; Ella must obey all direct commands. Lucinda intended it as a gift, but it hinders Ella and can have dangerous consequences. At Ella’s fifth birthday party, Mandy instructs her to eat her birthday cake. Ella is frightened and sickened when she cannot stop eating slice after slice. Later, she confides in her friend, Pamella, about the curse; Pamella exploits her by ordering Ella around. Frustrated, Ella eventually punches Pamella in the face. Ella’s mother instructs Ella to never tell anyone about the curse.

Eleanor and Ella both become sick. Mandy prepares a healing soup for them both. Ella is directly instructed to (and therefore must) eat the unicorn hairs floating in the soup, but Eleanor removes them. Ella recovers, but Eleanor becomes feverish and unwell.