chapter 26

Father liked harmony between sisters. If Bella really complained to him, she would inevitably be punished.

Tu Nan had no choice but to temporarily give up searching for Cinderella and turned to comfort Bella.

The Castle was vast; if Cinderella truly wanted to avoid her, there was no way she could find her. However, it wasn’t long before Cinderella appeared again at the Ball.

The Prince was deeply enamored with her. As soon as he saw her, he immediately invited her to dance again.

The Prince was not safe now, but whether he would hurt anyone before midnight, Tu Nan did not know. Even if he might, facing the Prince’s invitation, she could not refuse.

Cinderella lifted her gown, smiling as she stepped onto the dance floor with the Prince once more. The people around them also began to dance gracefully, as if the dead girl never existed at all. The place was still filled with music and laughter.

Everything felt strange.

Time passed quickly, and the clock in the hall was about to strike twelve.

Cinderella’s gown would revert to its original form at midnight. She hurriedly bid farewell to the Prince and, ignoring his attempts to stop her, left the Ball.

Bella did not receive an invitation from the Prince all night. She was gloomy and resentful, and when Tu Nan pulled her away, she was very reluctant.

If she weren’t afraid of being blamed by Father for not bringing Bella home, she would have left her there.

Tu Nan endured it, finally managing to get Bella into the Carriage. They rushed home and arrived just before midnight.

She didn’t know exactly what Father considered staying up late, but no matter how she looked at it, anything after midnight definitely counted.

When the Carriage stopped at the door, the lights on the first floor were still on. Tu Nan hurried inside and saw Cinderella picking beans. At the moment she entered, Cinderella placed the last bean into the bowl.

Father’s snoring was thunderous and clear.

“Sister, you’re back,” Cinderella greeted her.

Tu Nan glanced at her with a look of disgust, ignored her, and went straight upstairs.

Nighttime in this house was dangerous. Every extra second spent outside was another second of risk.

She returned to her room and quickly washed up. Before bed, she habitually walked to the window to see what Cinderella was doing.

Cinderella’s yard was clearly visible under the moonlight. Tu Nan frowned slightly and soon noticed something odd.

There was a new Tree in the yard, with many Birds perched on it, chirping and singing.

In the fairy tale, Cinderella planted the branch her father brought back. It grew into a Tree, and as Cinderella wept before it, she attracted the Fairy Godmother, who brought her a beautiful Gown and Glass Slipper.

But this was the world of Strange Tales. Was the Fairy Godmother… really still a Fairy Godmother?

Tu Nan returned to her bed and lay down, planning to check out the Tree tomorrow.

*

The third day.

Sunlight pierced through the window right on time. Tu Nan opened her eyes, quickly got ready, and went downstairs.

Everything was the same as yesterday morning.

Serenity sat on the sofa, reading a book. When she saw Tu Nan come down, she put the book on the table and got up to give her a hug.

“Good morning, my Sweetheart.” She kissed Tu Nan on both cheeks. “Breakfast will be ready soon.”

Tu Nan instinctively glanced at the book Serenity had placed on the table.

Bella got up early today and didn’t stay in bed. Father was very pleased and praised her at the breakfast table.

“My dear daughters, how was the Ball last night?” Father’s voice was loud. “I drank last night and went to bed early, so I couldn’t wait for you to come home.”

“It was wonderful,” Tu Nan replied after some thought. “The Prince invited me to dance.”
“The Prince didn’t dance with me at all.” Bella was extremely aggrieved. “He danced several times with some girl who came out of nowhere.”

Tu Nan stared intently at Cinderella, but saw her looking perfectly calm as she took a natural sip of the hot milk by her hand.

“Why don’t you reflect on your own issues?” their father asked gruffly. “Why did the Prince invite Layla, but not you?”

Bella hung her head in dejection and did not say another word for the rest of breakfast.

After breakfast, Layla found an opportunity to go to Cinderella’s yard.

Cinderella lived here alone. The yard was kept spotlessly clean by her, with beautiful flowers planted in the corners, and a newly appeared Tree now stood in the middle of the yard.

Layla walked over and stood under the Tree. At this moment, there was nothing outwardly special about it, except that more birds than usual perched on its branches.

“Sister Layla, what are you doing here?” A sweet female voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Tu Nan turned around. Cinderella was standing behind her, watching her with a slightly nervous expression.

She snorted, casting a haughty sidelong glance at her. “This is my house. I can be wherever I want.”

Cinderella lowered her head. “I was just afraid you might get your dress dirty here.”

Tu Nan deliberately tested her, saying fiercely, “When did this yard get a Tree? Who allowed you to plant it? This Tree blocks the sunlight from my window, and I’m going to cut it down.”

This was completely unreasonable; the Tree didn’t block her window at all.

Cinderella looked up in a panic, her eyes reddening. “Please don’t. This Tree is very important to me.”

“I think you did it on purpose, you wicked woman!” Tu Nan caught sight of a Saw in the corner and immediately moved to take it.

What a classic case of a thief crying ‘Stop thief.’

Cinderella was frantic. Seeing that Tu Nan had really picked up the Saw and was about to cut down the Tree, she covered her face and started to cry, “Sister Layla, if you insist on doing this, then I’ll have to call Father to judge what’s right.”

Tu Nan’s hand paused slightly, still holding the Saw.

This sentence seemed ordinary, but it struck right at her sore spot.

If Father found out the sisters were at odds, that would be considered breaking the Rule.

Tu Nan grew even more suspicious of Cinderella.

Having achieved her goal of testing her, Tu Nan threw the Saw aside and continued, saying fiercely, “The Prince fell in love with me at first sight last night. I’m about to become the Princess Consort. Whether this Tree is here or not, your schemes will come to nothing.”

She tossed out these words to save some face, then hurriedly left Cinderella’s yard.

Back in the hall, she saw Serenity watering a Potted Plant, in which a small green seedling was growing. It was hard to tell what kind of plant it was.

“Mother, what are you doing?” she asked.

Serenity turned to see her, then naturally set down the watering can in her hand and gave her a dignified glance. “You went to Cinderella’s yard?”

“Yes.” Tu Nan nodded, her face perfectly composed. “The Tree in her yard is blocking sunlight from my room, so I wanted to cut it down.”

Serenity lightly shook her Mother-of-Pearl Fan, lazily tapping Tu Nan’s head with it. “Your father is home right now. Some things aren’t urgent. If you make him angry, not even I can save you.”

“I understand.” Tu Nan nodded obediently. “I’ll go back to my room to prepare for tonight’s Ball.”

Serenity nodded.

Tu Nan walked up the stairs. Looking back, she saw Serenity carrying the Potted Plant into the house.