Cinderella is... the Male Lead? - Chapter 15
After that, Rona frequently helped Cinderella with household chores. Cinderella remained aloof, but unlike before, she no longer refused Rona’s assistance. Thanks to the new servants, Cinderella could manage the housework more leisurely. Her once-pale face now had a healthy glow.
They had also hired a cook, so she was eating well, gaining some weight, and looking healthier overall. (In reality, it was because the magic’s effect was gradually weakening, and she was returning to her original form, but Rona had no way of knowing that.)
Rona ignored Susan’s constant complaints about needing to harshly deal with Cinderella. After all, Susan mostly stayed in her room and wasn’t even aware of what Rona was doing, let alone tormenting Cinderella.
‘It’s a relief that Susan is staying put. The ghost cries really worked. It’s pitiful that she’s so haggard, but it’s a hundred times better than dying. At this rate, I might be able to avoid the events of the original story.’
In the original story, the mother and daughter’s harassment would intensify at this point. They would uproot all the flowers in Cinderella’s cherished garden and push her down the stairs, among other heinous acts. Readers would often drop the story at this stage, seeking relief from the frustrating developments.
But now, a few servants had been hired, and Rona wasn’t doing anything to Cinderella. Susan, worn out by the ghostly incidents, only talked about tormenting Cinderella but didn’t actually do anything. This raised the possibility that the future might change.
‘Phew, I’ll have to leave this house eventually… It feels uncomfortable to keep up this con.’
According to the story, Cinderella’s father never appears. But Cinderella does awaken her magic. If it’s discovered that they conned her, there’s no way she’ll just let it slide. (Also, in truth, Cinderella and her father do meet at the ball, but Rona had no way of knowing about the underlying plot details not depicted in the novel.)
Rona pondered. Unless she escaped, she might not be able to avoid revenge. Given how Cinderella always caught her during her escape attempts, it seemed like she was being watched. What could she be thinking?
As Rona mulled over this, a passage from the novel suddenly came to mind.
[Driven to the attic by her stepmother’s abuse, Cinderella grits her teeth and starts writing a revenge diary for the future….]
‘That’s right. There was a diary. The diary’s contents weren’t mentioned in the novel. If I read Cinderella’s diary, I might find out what she thinks of me and Susan.’
Despite their growing closeness due to daily household help, that was it. Cinderella still hadn’t smiled genuinely at her. Sometimes, she even threw sharp words that chilled the atmosphere, as if drawing a line.
Maybe the belief that they were getting closer was her delusion. Cinderella might find Rona, who tormented her and now pretended to be friendly, utterly detestable.
Feeling uneasy, Rona decided to check the diary. After a month of following Cinderella around, she knew her schedule by heart. Now, Cinderella would be watering the garden. After that, she would clean the lobby, giving Rona enough time to search her room.
Rona cautiously climbed the stairs, nervously glancing around the empty hallway. If Cinderella caught her, the trust she had built would crumble. Even if that trust was tiny, it was something. Getting caught with impure intentions would ruin any chance of mending their relationship.
‘Huu, this is it.’
Rona paused in front of a worn-out wooden door, taking a deep breath. This was the attic where Cinderella stayed. When reading the novel, it hadn’t struck her as odd, but now, the idea of making someone stay in a dingy attic in such a large house seemed too cruel.
‘I should ask Susan if we can move Cinderella to a better room. She’ll probably say no, but…’
‘There’s a saying, ‘Make it happen if it’s not happening.’
Rona smirked. Just like with the ghost trick, she could come up with another plan. Susan fell for the last trick, so this one should be easy too.
‘It feels a bit wrong to torment Susan instead of Cinderella… No, this is our way to survive. No need to feel guilty.’
Shaking her head firmly, Rona turned the doorknob. Since no one else came up here, the door wasn’t locked.
