The next couple of weeks passed by in silence. Mrs. Tremaine would tutor her girls in their respective activities while Cinderella cleaned the house, did the dishes, cooked, and did their laundry. By now, their respectively assigned roles were starting to settle, and Cinderella was being slowly alienated from the family. Categorized as other. Anastasia would sometimes seek her our for small talk, but would not really address her dad nor raise her voice in Cinderella's behalf in front of Mrs. Tremaine. At first, Cinderella resented Anastasia's apparent hypocrisy, but then she noticed a small hint of fear register in Anastasia's eyes every time she spoke with Mrs. Tremaine. Cinderella understood then that Anastasia didn't dare go against her mother's will, and defending Cinderella would apparently be just that. For someone who pretended to stand so tall, Cinderella thought, Anastasia surely looked small.
'Look what I got in the mail!' said Drizella as she entered the dinning room that morning. Cinderella had just finished serving breakfast, and she got a glimpse at the golden colored envelope before heading back towards the kitchen. 'It's the invitation for the Prince's ball! I mean, surely every family unit with daughters our age got one too because all bachelors are invited, but that doesn't make me feel any less special.' At that Cinderella stopped exiting the dinning room, and decided to linger in order to hear the rest of the conversation. Anastasia eyed her, noticing this, then looked back at her other sister.
Mrs. Tremain extended her hand, gesturing Drizella to give her the envelope. 'Finally' she said ' i was wondering what took them so long. It's only a couple of weeks away.'
'Does that mean I'm also invited?' Cinderella asked from afar. Mrs. Tremaine stopped moving, noticing Cinderella for the first time that morning. She paused as she scanned her in a reflective manner. 'Yes' Mrs. Tremaine answered in a relaxed manner - the calm before the storm - 'yes you are invited, and you should go. Just make sure to finish your chores by then.' At that Cinderella smiled, but was taken aback to see an annoyed expression on Anastasia's face. It made her feel attacked - this ball was the one thing she had. Why would the only person who seemed enjoy her presence resent her participation in it.
Drizella started fizzling with her hands with excitement. 'I wanna wear green. It'll make my eyes pop-up' she added with a grin. Anastasia smiled - the kind of smile that doesn't show the teeth - like sharing an inside joke. 'Green and silver?'
'Green and silver' Drizella confirmed.
'I'll go red. I wanna go bold'
'You won't go red - It's too aggressive. Pink or purple are the closest two I'll allow for.'
'Pink. I'll be a completely different vive, but I'll go pink.' So pink it was.
Cinderella wanted to ask if she could borrow a dress, but she resettled with her pride in doing so. She stood there gathering the courage to speak when Anastasia addressed her directly. She seemed to have read her. 'Surely you now wish you asked for something better than a twig.' she attacked.
'No. My twig's worth a thousand nightgowns' she said, and left for the kitchen.
It wasn't until later that evening that Anastasia went find Cinderella, who was cleaning the windows.
'you do know she is not planning to actually let you go to the ball, do you? It's annoying but that story of - when you finish - is a complete cover up. I don't think you'll finish, and I think she knows you won't finish.'
Cinderella blinked as she turned back to face her half sister. So that's why she had looked annoyed.
'If I were you, I would get rid of my pride and beg - if this is something you are really interested in. Be a tad more persistent. Why are you interested in this though?'
'Why are you?' she returned the question.
'Isn't it obvious? I want to marry the prince.'
Cinderella arched an eyebrow. 'You don't know him though'
'No, but my mother will likely arrange my marriage anyway - so I may as well try to get the best.'
'you asked me if I would ever want to marry anyone? i don't. why would I? People are dumb and rotten. But I would marry for money. I guess I need some useless idiot to pay for my expenses given I'm not allowed to work' she said simply.
'Okay' replied cinderella arching her eyebrows. 'would you like to work?' she asked simple.
Anastasia rolled her eyes.
'I would like to do something better than just being nice and playing the flute' admitted Anastasia annoyingly.
Cinderella laughed condescendingly. 'You mean something better than playing the flutes. Nice you are not.'
Then something weird happened. Anastasia smiled. A simple genuine smile, and then she rolled her eyes. However, Cinderella caught her and smiled back.
'Anyway I found the perfect idiot to want to marry me and pay for the diamonds I will ask him to get me'
'why diamonds?'
'because diamonds are the best, obviously. And I can only have the best. This guy is also the best - technically - on paper at least. He is nothing less than a prince.'
Cinderella raised her eyebrows 'those will be some expensive diamonds' she said.
'you better believe it. And don't worry, once I live in the palace I will let you work there as well. 'm sure our big bedroom will continue to need some cleaning to do.'
Cinderelal shrunck her shoulders. 'I pass'
Anastasia smiled again. 'good' she said. 'next time, stand up like that to our father as well. I hate him, and it would not do him bad to hear it from you how much he failed you.'
Cinderella looked at Anastasia confussed. Not sure what to make of her. 'Anyway, if you are talking about the King's festival, I'm also invited. It is for allo beautiful young women.'
'I think we had established you are not beautiful.'
'I thought only you established it'
Anastasia rolled her eyes. 'Do you think you stand a chance against me wining the hand of the prince?'
'I do as long as you open your mouth in front of him'
'fair'
'I'm not after your rich prince though. I just want a husband who can love me and I can love back.'
Anastasia smiled. 'You know' she said. 'You are so naive is adorable. That which you describe does not exist'
Cinderella shrunk her shoulders. 'whatever you want to believe Anastaisa.'
'No, no. I think its cute what you say. really. I don't think mom will let you either though.'
'You call hopes 'cute'?'
'seriously? that's what you get out of what I just told you? You deserve to be a housekeeper if that's the case. Beg. Beg my mother every day. She might then let you. And you can meet your stupid true love guy and live happily ever after for three years before you both separate.'