Cinderella 's step sister… come back

I am facing the puzzled look of my younger sister who I haven't seen for half a year. We are not close but are still called family. And I need a house to live in.

“Sister, you know I have no choice. Now everything is over. Can you give me a chance to fix things?” I looked at my “step” sister with the saddest eyes possible.

There was no response. No, I can't let this relationship end so quickly.

“Ela, what do I have to do to make you forgive me? Please tell me.”

This time the girl hesitated but also spoke up. She sighed and said. “Sister, I never blamed you, but what happened... I can't forget it easily. Everything takes time.”

I immediately took my dear sister's hand and said earnestly. "Then let me do something to help you. I'm not very good at cooking or housework, but I can clean up. If you need someone to clean it, then..."

"Stop, stop, dear sister, please slow down." The girl thought something and said. "You can stay here with me without doing anything. You don't need to be as messy as you were just now."

"Oh, I see. Thank you, sister. I won't make any more mistakes again." Never. A smirk crossed his mouth slightly, but I hid it as quickly as it came. And my dear sister, soon, everything will be as it should be.

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I come back my room. This is a lavish room with a high, delicately carved ceiling, green-painted walls. It's perfect, and it'll be even more perfect when it's mine.

What's the plan now? It caused me, my mother and my sister to be kicked out of town. We had to wander for many days and then lost each other while passing through the northern forest. At that time we were being chased by wolves like lucrative prey, and now I don't know what happened to my mother and sister. I went back to that forest and waited for 10 days and asked anyone who came out of that forest but there was still no news. But no matter what, I will find them out soon and find a way to make the person who put us in this situation pay the price. It costs what it has.

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The candles were gradually lit, and dinner was ready.

I was wearing an expensive dress with blue lace straps and sleeves. On the other side of the room is my dear sister. Ela.

“Ela,” I smiled towards my sister. If called correctly, it must be step-sister. “You’re beautiful tonight.” She is wearing a lavender dress, her favorite color. Her blonde hair is styled in a simple but noble and elegant enough. She also doesn't use much jewelry, which is very different from my sister. She always liked shiny things and blends herself in with them.

“Does everyone here dress so formally every time they have dinner?” I asked.

"Yes, dear sister. This is the rule. Although I have to admit that it's quite cumbersome, it's also a rule to have.

"I understand. Rules, principles, rules, we have all kinds of things to follow. How tired."

“It's not so bad, dear sister. When we also benefit from it. But... I'm here so what about aunt and sister Claura...? Are they okay?” The girl spoke up but saw that I still hadn't answered so she quickly continued. “Even though I still can't forget what they did to me, I don't want anything to happen to them either."

I smiled softly, a smile that this sister of mine better not to see. “They are fine, my dear. They are now living in a distant relative's house, although the conditions there are not very good, but compared to before, they have changed a little."

“That's good. Maybe I'll visit them sometime. I think I can let aunt and sister Claura... here. After all, this place is big enough for everyone.”

“Aren't you afraid the prince will disagree?” I asked in uneasy. A vague uneasiness that I don't know where it comes from. “Besides, mom and my sister... used to treat you badly, don't you care?”

“The prince will agree. As for me, I really still haven't forgiven them, but after all, they are family members, I don't want anything to happen to them. Although if they live here, it might be a bit difficult for me.”

“I understand.” I didn't say anything more, nor did I express anything. Even though my prey today didn't seem worth dying for, but everything needed to return to its place. The plan must continue.

My younger sister seemed to misunderstand my expression as some kind of melancholy and quickly comforted me. “Don't be sad, I'll welcome aunt and Claura here soon.”

Soon… Oh, that should be early enough.

Soon, everyone in the palace had gathered. All were seated at the table. A good start. I thought to myself. Maybe in just a little while, everything will fall into place.

Everyone started the party and then served the course. Then comes the main course. Here it is. I wonder how many people this prey will take with it.

Everyone began to eat the main course that had just been served. It's a very popular dish. And of course, both the prince and Ela also eat.

I waited for everyone to swallow the poisonous food one by one and started counting down the seconds. 5… 4… 3… 2…1! IT'S TIME!

I waited for people to gradually fall down and... Nothing, NO ONE. What happened in the end, did I miss a step? I looked up at Ela on the other side, she met my eyes and smiled softly in response. A smile that makes me chills. No, things must have gone wrong somewhere? What should I do?

My thoughts swirled as I quickly closed my eyes, then opened them, continuing to eat this meal as if nothing had happened until something smelly and slimy appeared in the my bowl and it smelled like it was coming from an old garbage pit. I vomited and staggered to my feet.

“Dear sister, are you okay?” Ela across the table was looking at me with concerned eyes. “Does that dish not suit your taste? Let me ask someone to give you something else.”

“No. No.” I repeated as if to make sure. “I think I should rest. Sorry everyone.” I quickly left under everyone's unfriendly looks.

“Let me go with you.” My annoying step-sister is starting to act like a babysitter, again.

“I'm okay. You don't need to go with me. Sister…” Unfortunately, before I could finish my words, I was dragged up the stairs by a small hand and headed for my bedroom. The door slammed shut as soon as it opened, and I was pushed towards the bed with my aching arm.

“I think it is necessary, dear sister.” With a sharp voice, Ela - the younger sister who has always been known to be gentle, gentle, and shy, was now standing in front of me with a stiff face, bright eyes and hands clenched at her side.

“You… What do you mean by that?” I intentionally didn't understand or even if I guessed her intentions, I'd rather pretend I didn't know.

“How long are you going to pretend?” Ela walked towards me, her expression full of anger, as if I had committed some heinous crime.

“I don't. I don't... Ah…” She squeezed my chin painfully. Is this really the Ela I know?

“If I don't let people pay attention to you, maybe I will never know what you're going to do today. Do you think we are all your prey? What did those people down there do to you that you want to harm them? Answer.” She raised her voice. Underneath her clenched arms, my chin ached and my head began to pound. The taste of that disgusting dish just now made me feel sick.

“Answer. What should I answer? I am also a victim. I was kicked out of the village because of someone and now I don’t know if my mother and sister are alive or dead, while that someone is living happily, being loved and pampered. Tell me, if you were me, what would you do? Will you forgive the man who was the cause of your family's misfortune?

Ela was stunned for a moment and then laughed a not-so-friendly laugh. "So is it my fault? Am I the one who got you kicked out of the village? Am I the one who caused you to lose your family? It's me... make you so inhumane, poison to harm the people down there?"

“Yes.” I said without hesitation. It's true, everything that happens is because of this girl, without her, nothing would happen.

"You must be thinking that without me in this world, your life, your mother, and your sister's life would be easier." Seeing that I didn't say anything, she continued. "It's ridiculous that people choose to blame others instead of acknowledging their own mistakes."

“So you, yourself are not at fault? You always seem gentle and kind, but what did you do just now? It's so unlike you.”

“At least I would never poison an entire banquet because I wanted to harm one person.” I flinched at those words. Because I don't really want to harm those people except for one person. Absolutely.

She seemed to realize my vicious gaze was directed at her but instead avoided it, she smiled contemptuously again, then walked around the room and found a small pair of scissors I had left in the embroidery basket on the table. “You want me to die, don't you? Go ahead. This is your only chance.”

I looked at the scissors and then back at her. Yes, I couldn't miss this opportunity. I picked up the scissors and went straight to her heart and stabbed her, but... My hands are shaking so much, I... I can't get my hands on it. The scissors fell to the ground.

The whole room suddenly fell into unusual silence. Finally, Ela's gaze softened. “You see, you can't hurt anyone. Because it's obvious that you still have a heart, if that's the case, you shouldn't turn yourself into a devil, keep your sincere, pure heart, sister. I will pretend that nothing happened today, but you won't be here anymore. I will say someone to help you find your mother and sister, but the relationship between us should probably stop here. Avoid injuring both sides. I will find you, aunt and Claura a good house in town so the three of you can live there. Okay, you can pack up your things."

The person I hated the most calmly walked out of the room, leaving me behind with my thoughts. Could it be that I was wrong? You shouldn't turn yourself into a devil. Those words kept haunting my mind and I couldn't let go. This moment is so long. I also don't want to become a devil. But I also don't want to return to that village, where there is nothing but hate. My mother and sister also disappeared there. That place only brings me sadness. Where should I go?

I tried to focus on thinking of a possible place. Not far from here, there was a bakery that still needed workers. Maybe I could go there. I'll leave a note telling Ela that I won't be going with her people, that's the least courtesy I'll do before I go. And also my last greeting to my step-sister after what happened.

Goodbye, Ela.

This step-sister will return to where she needs to return.