About half an hour later, the sound of the bell tingled open as I thrust the door of a familer shop that was located a few miles from fairytale's market place. Looking around the beautiful atmosphere I sat on one of the largest cushion chairs fitted across the entrance.
I gently removed my white mask and let lose my red hairbun swaying it in exahastion.
The lovely medicinal aroma that filled the place really was relaxing. The green herbs and the dry roots that were fitted across the roof and the windows of the shop not only acted as a decoration suited for window shopping, but also equiped the interests of strong Mages to become the shops regular customers.
My eyes scanned around the one and only best ancient yet creepy Alchemist market in the entire Fairytale and looked for interesting things that I could buy for my survival.
"Welcome to-.. Oh, its you again.." started the cranky old lady as she met my silhouette, but, then twisted her lips with a scorn as she got a proper look at me.
"Why hello granny! Think you have some interesting stuff other than a few magic beans" I teased the shopkeeper who had recently decided to be an Alchemist after selling her precious beans to Jack, the giant slayer.
She bit her lips in irritation and I grinned cheekily. She hated being the supporting character.
"You! Rotten Girl! You must understand that I am only tolerating you because you are acquainted to Mary, my most loyal assistant. And, if it weren't for her... "
"I am back. Granny... "
The door suddenly flung open and a girl of thirteen entered it, humming cheerfully with her little lamb before staring at my figure with jaws opened.
"Wait.. Lady Anastasia..? "
A bright smile twists my lips as I see my favourite acquaint after many long months.
And, my knees abruptly felt a thick warm hug when my short friend shoots her charming grin at me.
"Anastee! You are back! You are finally back!" cried my childhood friend with delight and flushed cheeks as I smiled back in a tight embrace.
"Yes, Maryjun. I am finally back!"
________
After A While Later:
"And.. That's what happened."
.
.
.
"Hahahaha.." laughed Mary when I had finished filling her with everything that had happened after my step sister disappeared.
" You are such a Cinderella, Anastasia-chan."
She mocked gently moving her rocking chair and her lamb bleeted in agreement.
I groaned in objection.
.....
Maryjun Heartfilla, was a little kid of thirteen with a mind smarter than a thirty year old. Her interest to relaxing and taking things slowly very slowly.. like an old man, can often be considered as her laziness, just like me.
Though, she has a natural charm being the heroine of her nursery rhyme and could laugh off any criticism as a good positive joke making others involuntarily get attracted towards her. (URGH, And this is one of the reasons, I really am envious of the main characters.)
But, one of the most remarkable talent in her is her special way of convincing people and could turn "black into white" through her persuation skills.
And, this cute heroine with platinum white hair, red eyes, elegant blue peasent frock and long white pantaloons that perfectly syncs with her bright red bow, is the acquaint, I have come searching for to the old lady's Alchemy cabin.
...
I immediately thrust forward the broom stick that stood beside the dressing screen, near her neck as threat, through the curtain that hid my half naked body and hissed.
"Do not call me that!"
"Oh-Ohkk.." She abruptly stopped rocking her chair and corrected.
"..Ms Villaness of the Cinderella story.. I am just saying your lives are so similar now..."
"Haha, it's ironical, Maryjun.. but No. I certainly swear, I am nothing like a Cinderella!" I stated with complete seriousness as I hear Mary's comical face palm.
I rolled my eyes and looked at my new borrowed clothes.
"And...Mary.. why am I wearing Cinderella's pyjamas..?"
Mary chuckled.
"They are not pyjamas, Anastasia. They are her maid clothes.
"Maid clothes..? But she.. "
"The Working dress! She used to wear them during her last recarnation, remember!? " she chided me as I scratched my wild hair.
"Huh..? Oh..ya.. My mother being recarnated with memories of last life failed to bully her this time. While I on the other hand was too lazy and Drizzella was too young to bother about Cinderella's whereabouts to taunt her.
The only thing that had happened according to the story was her being not allowed to go to the ball. But, that was solely because mother thought she had delicate health issues."
I recalled the past events.
"Y-yes.. " agreed Mary.
She knows, the summary of my fairytale just as I do her's. That's because even though in this world, our tales are recarnated frequently, they do not happen at the same time. This was why I could share almost every single changes that happen in my story to this loyal acquaintance.
I walked out of the dressing slide and aggressively pushed aside the changing curtain surrounded by an air of bashfulness.
"Oh my, Eeeeeek! you look so beautiful, Anastee-chan.!"
I bit my lips doubtfully feeling my cheeks burning and fixed my eyes on the stony tiles with my fingers elegantly lifting the long gown.
"No! I am not. Seriously, Stop teasing me, Mary.. "
I cried again awkwardly but I am fortunate Mary decided to ignore me. It would be too embarrassing and break my pride if she caught my beet-red face especially when, I perfectly knew very well that she was just doing some lip service, just like she does every single time I borrow clothes from her shop.
It's called advertising her products.
But, still looking at this gown through this mirror..
I can't believe my body was in her exact same size. A long white gown embraced by an British-style short sleeveless overcoat now, hung loosely on my body. It was such a peasent-ish wear, and that was the reason, I had made the bottom more poofier at the bottom by wearing a petticoat, just like my other nobel dresses. The designes of the dress were scattered with handknitted little white frills and roses in a random manner. Cute, you can call it.
As expected of the story's heroine.
I soon fastened a hazel green fresh robe that almost matches the hazel color of my eyes, around my neck and tied in two loose plaits with the ribbons, I had borrowed from Mary, which made few of my bangs roll down on my face. .
Then, I tried fitting Cinderella's shoes but.. surprise, surprise... They wouldn't fit. So, I wore my big black boots again.
"The dress fits you perfectly, Anastasia-chan.." complimented Mary scanning my appearance and resulted in making me feel more awkward.
"W-What!? Perfectly..? O-on me..?.. Y-You must be out of your mind, Maryjun Heartfilla! Cuz, T-There is no way the heroine's dress would fit a person like me!! "
I cried in embarrassment and immediately let out an artificial, mean, devilish laugh at the spark of a new idea.
"I am the villaness, gifted with the power of threads and I make my own dresses even if I get a piteous material!" I declared boldly.
Mary abruptly banged her head on the wall as my fingers twindle with the enchanted thread magic and make the already-knit white flowers more bigger with it's shiny fleets decorated with beautiful green creepers twirling around, gracefully.
"All done!" I patted my hands budding with a sense of great accomplishment.
"That.. Looks exactly like the orginal version, Anastasia!" she commented as I blinked my eyes in startlement. "..Only more fancier.. I guess