Chapter 5

Chapter 5

In the next second, the Prince’s smile froze on his face.

My face was covered in soot, my eyes were crossed, and I bared my gums as I asked him, “Hey there, buddy, who are you looking for?”

The Prince: “…”

The Prince took a large step back in disgust.

“Who are you?”

“I’m the maid, Cindy. You sure are a handsome one, aren’t ya? Hehehe-”

I reached out to touch the Prince’s face, but he knit his brows tightly and swiped my hand away.

“Someone, bring her up.”

Two guards jumped down into the Cellar and hauled me out. Thanks to my Stepmother’s abuse, I was dressed in old, patched-up clothes, my hair was full of straw, and there were several bright red handprints on my face. I certainly fit the image of a lowly maid.

Lord Rode looked utterly disappointed.

“Your Highness, this girl shouldn’t be the one.”

Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, I heard the Prince give a cold command: “Put the shoe on her.”

Dammit, he still suspects me? Where is the basic trust and respect between human beings?

I was pinned to a chair by several guards. Lord Rode knelt on one knee and presented the Crystal Slipper. The moment he lifted my long skirt, Rod turned his head away in revulsion.

My feet were pitch black, covered in grime, and my five toes were spread wide with effort, looking like a sea anemone.

The Prince let out a cold sneer.

“What’s wrong with your feet?”

I gave a fawning smile. “My toes are deformed. They’ve been like this since I was a child.”

“Is that so?”

The Prince paused for a moment, then suddenly reached out and gave my calf a vicious pinch.

“Ah-!”

I let out a blood-curdling scream. Due to the pain, my toes instinctively curled inward.

The Prince scoffed.

“Look at that. Healed.”

“Thank you… You’re such a nice person…”

I wanted to cry but had no tears left as I watched Rod shove my foot into the Crystal Slipper.