chapter 23
…
Tu Nan even felt a bit sorry for Bella.
Bella had been slapped, holding her face and not daring to speak, tears welling up in her eyes.
Serenity appeared out of nowhere. Seeing her daughter slapped again, anger flashed across her face.
“You hit her like this, how is she supposed to attend the Ball tonight?”
Father shook his hand, as if just remembering, and slapped his forehead in annoyance. “I forgot.”
He glanced at Bella again. “But the Prince probably won’t fancy her anyway. I think it’s better to let Layla and Cinderella go. They still have a bit of a chance.”
Bella panicked when she heard this, but still remembered not to raise her voice. She pleaded softly for herself, “No, I want to go. Please, Father, let me go.”
Father’s face darkened. “This is already your second mistake!”
Tu Nan keenly caught the word “second”.
Could it be that if you anger Father a certain number of times, there will be some kind of punishment?
“Let’s eat first.” Serenity gently stroked Bella’s swollen cheek, feeling sorry for her. “Father is just joking with you.”
Father snorted coldly.
After breakfast, Serenity took Tu Nan and Bella to buy Evening Gowns, but the news that the Prince was holding a Ball had already spread throughout the city. All the Gowns in the shop had been sold out, and the soonest new stock would arrive was tomorrow.
Bella had an Evening Gown brought back by Father, so she didn’t care much, but Tu Nan had to care.
She wasn’t interested in the Prince, but the Rule clearly stated that to attend the Ball, one must wear a beautiful Gown.
And she didn’t have one.
Getting a beautiful Evening Gown before the Ball became Tu Nan’s top priority.
On the way back in the Carriage, Serenity comforted her, saying it was fine not to have a Gown. If it really didn’t work out, she could attend the Ball tomorrow instead.
But the Ball must be attended.
Tu Nan glanced at Bella, who sat there with a swollen face, silently mocking her.
-She was holding a grudge against Tu Nan for not waking her up that morning.
Tu Nan did consider Bella’s Gown for a moment, but quickly dismissed the idea.
Bella was too fat; her Gown wouldn’t fit Tu Nan, and even if she found a Tailor to alter it, there probably wasn’t enough time.
She thought of the Gown Cinderella had sewn last night.
Cinderella, forced by Serenity to do all sorts of chores for years, was slender and about the same height as Tu Nan. Her Gown would be the best choice for Tu Nan.
Tu Nan glanced at Serenity sitting across from her, deciding to make reasonable use of the Rule.
Mother loved her, so she could be willful.
Even if she had to snatch it, she would get a Gown to attend the Ball.
Once Tu Nan made up her mind, she immediately pinched her own thigh hard, and burst into loud sobs.
“I must attend the Ball! If I don’t go, what if the Prince chooses someone else?” She squeezed out two tears. “If I can’t go to the Ball tonight, I’ll just die!”
Serenity sighed. “But all the Gowns in the city have been sold out.”
Tu Nan wiped her tears and choked out, “I saw Cinderella with a beautiful Gown last night.”
The meaning was obvious.
Serenity understood at once. She stroked Tu Nan’s head lovingly and said, “If that’s the case, why are you still crying? Cinderella is so kind, she will surely be willing to lend you her Gown.”
She put extra emphasis on the word “borrow.”
Only then did Tu Nan break into a smile through her tears, gently shaking Serenity’s hand.
“Thank you, Mother.”
As soon as they returned home, Serenity called Cinderella out from her room.
“Is there something you need, Mother?” Cinderella’s eyes were an enchanting shade of green, like a pool of spring water, captivating when she looked at someone.
Unfortunately, the three people she faced were each more cold-hearted than the last.
“Do you have an Evening Gown?” Serenity got straight to the point.
Cinderella was taken aback, instinctively glancing at Tu Nan.
Tu Nan, caught by those watery eyes, felt a rare pang of guilt, but to maintain her persona, she lifted her chin arrogantly and glared at Cinderella.
“That was left to me by my mother…” Cinderella said softly.
“All the Evening Gowns in the city have been sold out. Layla still doesn’t have one. Give your dress to her,” Serenity smiled as she took Cinderella’s hand, morally coercing her. “Without this dress, Layla can’t attend the Ball. She’ll be so miserable she might die.”
A conflicted expression appeared on Cinderella’s face as she tried to resist. “But…”
“Don’t tell me you don’t want to give it up?” Bella scoffed, “Look at yourself in the mirror. With how filthy you are, you don’t deserve to go to the Ball.”
Cinderella seemed struck by her words, her body trembling slightly, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
“Bella,” Serenity’s voice carried a hint of authority, “How can you speak to your sister like that? Have you forgotten what your father said? Sisters should live in harmony and help each other.”
She then looked at Cinderella, her voice softening, though her words were merciless. “So you must be willing to lend your dress to your sister to make her happy, right?”
Cinderella lowered her head, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.
“I am willing to lend my dress to my sister,” Cinderella said, enunciating each word.
Her voice was very quiet, her head bowed low.
“That’s my good daughter,” Serenity patted her hand. “Go fetch the dress now.”
“Yes.” Cinderella finally lifted her head. As she turned, she glanced at Tu Nan, her eyes flashing with a barely noticeable anger.
Tu Nan keenly noticed her gaze and frowned slightly.
Is she a Player?
But if she was angry because her mother’s dress was being taken away, that was understandable.
Cinderella soon returned, holding a beautiful white Evening Gown.
Tu Nan immediately took the dress. She hadn’t gotten a good look at it last night because she was too far away, but now, up close, she saw it was unexpectedly exquisite and beautiful.
“Sister, you must… remember to return it to me,” Cinderella said, looking at her. “After all, it was left to me by my mother.”
Tu Nan deliberately glanced at her impatiently and replied perfunctorily.
With her goal achieved, Serenity no longer pretended to be the loving mother. She took out a handkerchief and wiped the hand she had just held Cinderella with, lazily saying, “Go try it on. If anything doesn’t fit, there’s still time to call the Tailor to alter it.”
“…As for you, Cinderella,” Serenity looked at the dejected Cinderella, a vicious smile curling at her lips, “Since you can’t go to the Ball, you can help me with some chores.”