Cinderella is... the Male Lead? - Chapter 18
As the day of the attic search faded from memory, a chef joined the mansion’s staff. Susan and Rona began their morning with a hearty breakfast prepared by the new chef. No longer having to eat greens and undercooked meat that seemed ready to escape from their plates, Rona was overjoyed.
Rona savored the roasted veal with butter, her face glowing with delight as the rich juices danced in her mouth. She had also instructed the chef to serve Cinderella the same meal, making sure to mention that it was Rona who requested it. She imagined Cinderella enjoying the delicious food right now, possibly even smiling.
While enjoying her meal and thinking of Cinderella’s smile, Rona glanced up to see Susan looking gloomy. Susan’s hesitant movements with her spoon seemed worrisome.
“Susan, is something wrong?”
“Rona, I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately.”
“Really? Why?”
“I told you before, didn’t I? I keep hearing strange cries at night… Now I’m hearing things even during the day. A few days ago, I couldn’t stand it anymore and flung the door open, only to nearly faint when a statue suddenly fell over.”
Rona was taken aback. She had stopped making ghostly noises after they hired the servants, but it seemed Susan’s mind had truly weakened, leading to hallucinations. Rona’s ghostly noise tactics had indeed contributed to Susan’s fragile mental state.
‘Oh dear… Is she really hearing things?’
Rona bit her lip. Susan stirred her soup, her parched lips moving slightly.
“What could it be? Even the servants have no idea.”
“Hmm… I don’t know. Oh!”
Rona’s mind raced. This was a perfect opportunity. If she played her cards right, Susan might change her mind and start getting along with Cinderella.
‘This is all for Susan’s sake. Staying here won’t do her any good.’
Rona shivered theatrically and leaned in close to Susan, whispering.
“Could it be Cinderella’s father’s ghost? Maybe he’s punishing us for deceiving his kind daughter…”
“Ugh, no way…”
“No way? How else do you explain the hallucinations? Haven’t you heard the story from the next village? A ghost of a wife tormented her husband every night after she died. Turns out he had been cheating on her.”
Having spent her life as a con artist, Rona was skilled at spinning tales. As she spoke, she moved her hands like a ghost, making Susan’s face grow paler. Normally, such a story wouldn’t be convincing, but with the nightly hallucinations eroding her reason, Susan seemed to find it plausible.
‘I feel a bit guilty for lying… but it’s the only way for both of us to survive.’
It was a white lie. If Susan stopped tormenting Cinderella and Rona got closer to Cinderella, they could avoid a disastrous future.
Susan shivered and looked around suspiciously. Rona’s smile widened with satisfaction. Susan pressed her hand to her forehead, looking confused, before narrowing her eyes.
“Is that so… But Rona, why do you sound like you’re talking about someone else?”
“Does it seem that way?”
“Yes, it does…”
It seemed even a fellow con artist could see through her. Susan, despite being frail, was suspicious of Rona. Rona swallowed hard and spoke cautiously.
“Well, you probably guessed, but I’ve been feeling uneasy and started helping Cinderella. That way, she won’t hold a grudge against me. But you, Susan…”
“I see. But… Wait, Rona, you’ve been helping Cinderella?”
“Yes. I felt guilty and pitied her…”
Susan seemed completely unaware that Rona had been assisting Cinderella. It seemed that Susan, being so preoccupied, hadn’t noticed. Plus, the constant hallucinations must have left her mentally exhausted.
Rona braced herself for a scolding, but to her surprise, Susan slumped her shoulders and sighed.
“Maybe we really are being punished. We never should have started this.”
“Well, then… It’s not too late to make amends.”
Surprised by Susan’s reaction, Rona spoke soothingly, trying to comfort her. The plan to fake ghostly noises had caused an unintended side effect—hallucinations for Susan—but compared to their lives, it was a small price to pay. Everything was falling into place more easily than expected, making Rona’s lips curl into a slight smile.
‘A little more persuasion, and Susan might change her mind.’
At that moment, Susan anxiously drummed her fingers on the table and glared at Rona.
“Not make amends. We need to escape, Rona. The hallucinations every night are terrifying.”
“Escape? Well, that’s…”
Escape together? If they could, they would have done so already. Rona bit her lip, choosing her words carefully. Susan pressed on, impatiently.
“That’s what?”
“Instead of running away, why not treat Cinderella well? If her father’s spirit is indeed vengeful, being kind to her should appease him.”
“I suppose… But Rona, what if we took the gold and silver from the mansion’s storeroom and ran away during the night?”
