Cinderella did as Anastasia said, and begged their mother multiple times to let her go the festival. it was no use.
"No, Cinderella, you have no proper clothes, and you do not know how to dance, and you would be laughed at" she would say.
'bet you wish you didn't ask your basked case of a dad for twig instead of a nice dress now, don't you?' asked Anastasia between greeted teeth. Cinderella didn't reply. However, Anastasia had just given her an idea. That tree. it had doves that answered her. Answered her wishes - almost anything she asked for.
When both of the step sisters left to go to the ball, and there was no one left in the house, Cinderella wne to the her mother's grave, and asked the birds to help her. Before she knew it, a dress was dropped into the ground in front of her. A dress that had likely been stolen from one of her step sisters. Cinderella put it on and when to the festival.
As the two sister stood in the ball, Anastasia looked for the prince. She needed to cause an impression.
'why do you care about him?' asked Louis.
'Because he has money, and he can maintain me' answered Anastasia.
'If that's all it takes, then I have money. Come with me' he said.
'Yeah, but you are not a prince.' Anastasia said.
'So you are going for titles then'
'No, Louis. I'm not going for titles. I am going for what I think its best, because I know I deserve best.'
'Do you? I'm just saying it is very likely he won't chose you. I advice you to go for something more at your reach. Whatever -whoever- comes your way, that is suitable, take it. Its better than nothing.'
Anastasia laughed mockingly. 'what a terrible advice. Is that it? jsut take it'
Louis face seemd solemn then. 'yes' he said.
'If I wasn't a lady, I would throw my drink at you' she said. 'You, your mentality, is everything htat is wrong with this society.'
'this society is all there is.'
'only if we live in this bubble' with that Anastasia walked away to find the prince. Or anyone, really, that could help her forget that conversation happened. As she walked, she was able to see something her eyes could not believe. She saw Cinderella in one of Drizella's dresses. A dress her Dri had wanted to throw out last spring. It looked beautiful on her step sister.
'whatever you do, don't take off the mask you are wareing' she told Cinderella. Cinderella turned to see a proud Anastasia. Don't worry, I really doubt mother will recognize you, but Dri might remember her dress. I'll keep them on the left side of the room. You, I need you to revolve on the right side of the room if you don't truly want to run any risks of being found.
'Thank you. Why are you helping me?'
Anastasia rolled her eyes disgusted again. 'Is it really that weird for someone to want to help you. Jeez, believe in yourself a little' she said condescendingly and left.
Cinderella stood there perplexed, and then a smile overtook her face. She finally knew what to make of her step sister: a twisted soul that wanted to be good, but did not have the means to be so.
As the night advanced, Mrs. Tremain, Drizella and Anastasia looked for the prince. A couple of hours later it was Drizella to spot him. 'Look, he is over there, dancing with some lady'
Anastasia looked to where Drizella was pointing and saw a very happy Cinderella dancing with the prince she had set her goal on to. It stung, but she didn't know how to feel or what to make of her emotions.
'who is she? I don't think I've see her before' said Mrs. Tremaine.
'I can say I for sure haven't.' Anastasia covered for her. 'She either looks like a naive idiot who would marry only for love or smart lady who for sure knows how to lie about it.' Anastasia answered condescendingly and took a sip of her wine.
Anastasia was counting on an interesting ent to their evening: when the sisters where to return home, and find Cinderella still wearing Driezella's dress. However, to their surprise, they found Cinderella still wearing her gray uniform, as she dusted the ceiling.
'Good evening' Mrs. and Mr. Tremaine greeted as they passed by in a withdrawn manner alongside Drizella. Anastasia, though. eyed Cinderella and lingered behind, wanting a word.
She looked at her step sister without knowing where to begin.
Cinderella starred back, waiting for Anastasia to start the conversation if she needed to have one.
'How did you mange to change so quickly?'
'I escaped through the pigeon-house. He wanted to come see where I lived, so I dodged him and left.'
'good call. Good call on being quick too' Anastasia answered.
The tension in the air was palpable. This tension, the forever tension that Anastasia was used to live with was what she recognized as ice - as frozen. As the thing that prevented any warmth to protect her soul against the harhness that the world offered. Anastasia decided to drop it, as she didn't really have much else to say. However, as she was about to leave the room she turned.
'why him? she asked abruptly.
Cinderella shrunk her shoulders. 'he showed interest' she answered. At that Anastasia remembered Louis' words 'whatever - whoever - comes your way, that is suitable, take it. Its better than nothing.' She looked at Cinderella and wondered if this is what she was doing. 'Hmm' Anastasia answered pensively. She couldn't judge her step sister, but she also could not feel like those were the best reasons.
'Someone today adviced me to marry whoever offered that to me because there were not that many options available, and it was better to have something than to have nothing' she said.
'Okay' answered cinderella simply.
'Is that what you are doing?'
'I don't have to answer that' answered Cinderella disappointed on her step sister for making such comment. 'I just gotta say that I'm not you Anastasia. My mind operates differently, so please stop pretending you are actually capable of making up or understanding what my motifs or priorities are.'
Anastasia nodded respectfully. 'Fair' she said, then continued to leave the room. That night Anastasia made a promise to herself: she would let go of the idea of the prince as he belonged to her step sister now. She would respect that. Its not like she actually wanted him anyway. She wanted what he represented - not him. She was now understanding that, truly, it all had previously boiled down to what Louis pointed out: whatever it is you can reach, just take it. Because she was so afraid of being an expense. So afraid of not having a future that would hold her ego as high as her own behavior had done all those previous years. She wanted that status because she did not think she could have love. But maybe. Maybe there could be a corner of the world where things were not as frozen as rotten as she had always known them to be.