"Papa!" The voices of two girls were heard in Liona's ears who had just arrived in the living room. The maids and knights lined up in front of the mansion making Liona's eyes hurt. The situation was probably too crowded because Liona really didn't like crowded places. She just stood behind the maids because she knew now was not the time to show up.
"Welcome home, sir," All bowed except 3 girls and one woman.
"Papa! Have you bought anything for us?" Asked the girl red-haired as well as the girl next to her.
"There, papa bought a lot of presents for the two of you," Some neatly wrapped gifts were brought. What Liona was sure of, was clothes and expensive jewelry.
"Hahaha, it's troublesome dear buy a lot like this, "said the woman with a meaningful smile. Her children were already running towards the gift they had brought.
"It's not hard at all. Oh, yes! Where's Cinderella? " The Marquess's question made all the maids look sharply at Liona who was just standing. Suddenly the girl's shoulder was held tightly by someone and apparently, that person was the head maid, Miala. The woman was also a person close to Cinderella's stepmother and always insulted and abused Cinderella.
"Go into your room," Miala whispered to Liona. The girl pressed her face to Miala's ear and said something.
"I don't want to," Miala frowned and suddenly her hand seemed to move on its own and slapped Liona not too hard but still left an impression.
"Ah!" The 13-year-old girl's scream echoed and everyone looked at Miala and Liona.
"What happened?" Asked Marquess Arthur.
"That..sir, this bast- I mean Young Miss Cinderella she--"
"Miala slapped Cinderella!" Said Liona with a sad face and fake tears. Her face was closed slightly to prevent her evil smile from appearing.
"What?" Everyone looked at Miala who was stuttering.
"Cinderella didn't do anything then she suddenly slapped and called Cinderella an illegitimate child!"
"What? How dare you do that to my daughter? Guards! Lock up this cheap maid and force her to do the labor work!" 2 guards obeyed and pulled Miala's hand to the dungeon. Miala was already screaming in self-defense but was ignored by anyone including Cinderella's stepmother and two step-sisters. No one could stop Marquess Arthur's order in this mansion. All his orders are absolute.
"Are you alright my daughter?" Asked Marquess Arthur and held his daughter's body. Liona was shocked and just realized that if she wanted to compare Cinderella's body and her father's body, it might be 2 times smaller.
"Isn't Cinderella 13 years old? But her body size is like a 9 to 10-year-old child. Strange' Liona muttered before answering Marquess's question.
"Yes, thank you, father,"
"Did Papa do something wrong to you? Why did you call me that?" Marquess Arthur's face became like a kitten.
'Should I call him papa? How do I know when Cinderella's father isn't always at home!'
"Cinderella means, thank you, papa!" Marquess smiled and lowered Liona. The man gestured to one of his guards and a large box was placed by the guard in front of the girl. It's 3 times bigger than Cinderella's step-sisters.
"It's papa's gift for Cinderella. Sorry for always being busy without having time to spend with you," Liona just kept quiet and didn't respond to Marquess's sentence. Then, she smiled and tried to hold back her cries. In her previous life, Liona was just an orphan. Her family's estate was stolen by relatives and she lived in an orphanage. People around her ignored her and sometimes she wondered, why did she live. The fantasy storybook became an interesting imagination for the girl and of course, the happy ending of the story was her dream.
"It's okay papa. Cinderella knows papa is busy," The conversation between the two of them was very disliked by the 3 people who were watching from earlier.
"Honey, why don't we go eat. A lot of food is already available," Cinderella's stepmother, Ilinia Kirsha, or her current name, Ilinia De Arthur, embraced the Marquess's arm and walked along to the stairs. The knights gathered in front of the mansion started moving to their training area.
Liona just watched and realized there were two more pairs of eyes looking at her sharply. Aura of dissatisfaction with herself was clearly felt. Anastasia De Arthur and Drizella De Arthur, are twins and also Cinderella's step-sisters who always wanted luxury. The same hair as their mother and blue eyes like Marquess Arthur added to their haughtiness.
The twins' extravagant attitude made Liona want to vomit. In addition, in the book that Liona read, Anastasia is a person who likes to spend time with men and Drizella likes to gamble and is always in debt. Their age difference with Cinderella is only 3 years but even Cinderella is senile, Liona feels that Anastasia and Drizella are more stupid than this golden blonde girl.
'I want to rest' Liona walked into the room through an alley, ignoring the views of all the maids and the two girls.
PAK!
Liona's shoulder was hit but the person who hit her fell. The golden blonde girl tried to keep her laughter from escaping.
"Ah!" Anastasia screamed a little and her voice was very squeaky. Drizella immediately got her twin and helped the girl up.
"What are you doing Cinderella? Maid! Take her to the room now! "A maid tried to hold Liona's hand but she quickly pushed away loudly and the maid moaned in pain. Drizella and Anastasia were shocked and took a few steps back. Liona walked towards them with a sweet smile.
"Cinderella didn't do anything. Why are you angry like that? And ... papa is here, Tasia and Ella shouldn't do stupid things, understand?" Liona's last sentence was said slowly and only heard by the twins. Liona was still on her lips and she walked to her room.
'If you want to defeat the devil, you have to be the devil too to defeat it'
CONTINUED...