Not only Prince Ashton is confused now, but my eyes also widen as I gaze at him, unsure of what to say. I can't even fully comprehend what's happening.
No. I’m just in denial.
I understand what's happening, but I don't know why it has come to this point.
Why doesn't the shoe fit me, the owner of it?
That's the question I ask myself, and it's the same question I see in Prince Ashton's expression right now. There can only be one reason for this... manipulation.
My gaze swiftly shifts to Anastasia. She's nonchalant, looking at my shoe and listening to the whispers of the people around us. I tilt my head, studying her closely.
Is this why she brought me here? To embarrass me?
"What are you staring at? Move aside! The shoe obviously doesn't fit you!" she scolds me before pushing me aside. Afterward, she sweetly smiles at Prince Ashton. "Put  it on me, my prince."
The prince raises an eyebrow, puzzled by her sudden behavior, and I share the same confusion.
Why is it so sudden? Has she planned all this meticulously, which is why she seems so confident now?
Prince Ashton takes the shoe and proceeds to put it on Anastasia. He grins widely as it fits perfectly. Anastasia effortlessly wears it, making all of us, the audience, gasp.
Anastasia lets out a shriek before scanning the surroundings. "I'm the princess you're looking for, my beloved prince!"
The guards trumpet loudly, and one of them approaches Anastasia to drape her with a red robe, signifying her as the princess.
"Rejoice!" the guard announces, with people clapping, including some palace attendants.
Prince Ashton hesitates for a moment, still perplexed by the unfolding events. Eventually, he stands and walks toward Anastasia.
"At last, I've found you," Prince Ashton says and kisses Anastasia's hand.
"I never had any intention of hiding from you, my prince," she playfully replies, which causes the guards to approach.
One of the guards seems like he wants to reprimand Anastasia for her actions, but Prince Ashton quickly raises his hand, stopping him.
However, I can't accept it. How can she just take what should rightfully be mine? Those glass slippers should be mine...
I can't accept this. How can Anastasia block my path to the prince?
"Are you jealous?" 
The demon Anastasia herself appears. Her grin is infuriating. At this moment, it feels like I want to cut her tongue out to make her stop speaking.
"I brought you here to humiliate you. Does it hurt?" She grins even wider. "Go home and tell Mama and Dasha the great news, okay?"
As Anastasia speaks, I can see Prince Ashton just gazing at us—me. If before, his eyes showed emotion, now his expression is cold.
I clench my fists and quietly walk away from them. I don't want to cause a scene here and lose the prince's trust.
But I won't just let something that's rightfully mine be taken away. Not without a fight.
As I walk back to the house, I overhear the whispers of the people passing by... Or should I say, their not-so-subtle remarks?
"Lucky Anastasia!"
"Her life is going to be so much better because of the prince!"
I can't help but grin. Do they really need a rich man for their lives to improve? Useless.
"Cinderella, on the other hand, is hilarious. She has the nerve to try on those beautiful shoes when she's unworthy!"
"Exactly! She's just a maid, no matter how much she tries to deny it."
I raise an eyebrow. If I'm the one who's claiming I'm beautiful, what does that make them? Hopeless gossipers?
"She thinks that just because everyone here likes her, she can deceive everyone—Ouch!"
I burst into laughter when the woman suddenly stumbles. These gossipers really are something else!
"Are you laughing at me?" she snaps before getting up and dusting her knees. She's annoyed because others also see her clumsiness.
"Well, karma is a bitch. Good for you." I grin and raise an eyebrow.
I glare at her from head to toe because I want to insult her. How can someone as ugly as her call me ugly?
"What did you say, you little..."
She was about to charge me, but I just walked past her. I won't let my anger get the best of me now. I might just end up piled with even more trouble because of them.
LATER IN the evening, Dasha and Anastasia were overjoyed. They were practically worshiping Anastasia because someone would finally lift them out of poverty. They even had a drinking session, even though they needed to go to the palace the next day.
I felt frustrated. I sulked in my room because I couldn't accept that Anastasia immediately succeeded in taking my dream. I should have been the one to go there, not her!
"Argh!"
Out of irritation, I grabbed a doll in the basement. I also took a knife, and while imagining it was Anastasia, I slowly pushed the knife into her head, her chest, and her thighs.
I couldn't help but cackle as I imagined blood flowing from different parts of her body, along with a surge of strange energy in my own body. It was incredibly hot and dizzying, but I felt like I was getting stronger.
"I'll make sure it's not just my imagination, Anastasia..." I muttered in a crazed tone as I repeatedly stabbed the doll's chest.
I didn't stop poking holes into the doll until it was completely destroyed. I was so engrossed in the act that I didn't realize I had fallen asleep, and I didn't even eat dinner that night.
I woke up when someone suddenly kicked me, causing me to fall off the bed. It was none other than Anastasia. This girl always manages to irritate me.
"Wake up, servant," she said as she circled around me. "Look at this gown. It's exquisitely made, isn't it? Just like the one you had."
"Are you so desperate to copy even what I wore that night?" I rolled my eyes at her, showing her that I wasn't envious. "Fine, the prince is all yours. You can even eat him up if you like."
I really don't care about the prince. Sure, he's handsome, kind, and helpful, but that's where it ends. He's not my goal in the palace, and I always remind myself of that.
"You're such a beast!"
She was about to pounce on me in anger, but I quickly grabbed her pulse. She was surprised by what I did. Perhaps she thought I would just let her hurt me like before.
"You-You! Let go of me!" she screamed.
Since I’m easy to talk with, I released her quickly when she pulled her hand away. She stumbled to the floor, and I couldn't help but grin. I realized that like last night, a strange energy was suddenly coursing through my body.
"Seek revenge..."
That was what the voice in my head kept whispering, and I felt like I had to obey it. I looked at Anastasia for a long time, and I suddenly saw that black smoke was moving toward her.
Soon, she screamed... because she could no longer feel the lower part of her body. I didn't know how that happened, but I didn't care. I liked the fear in her eyes now.
"You won't be able to stand there, Anastasia," I said with a smile. "If I could, I'd paralyze you for good."
"W-What did you do to me?!"
"Relax. I haven't done anything to you yet." I chuckled. I bent down to bring our faces closer. "You should be the one I'm asking. What did you do to my shoes?"
"My shoes?" She rolled her eyes. "Are you going mad? Those are mine—"
She didn't finish her sentence because I suddenly slapped her. She winced in pain, and I winced as well due to her foundation. Disgusting, her thick makeup even stuck to my palm.
"Answer me properly if you want to get to the palace." I raised an eyebrow. She shouldn't be challenging me.
"Are you just acting stupid? Or are you really that dumb?" She snarled. She was starting to cry. "The shoes are mine, and the prince is mine! No one can take him away from me!"
"No one's trying to take him away from you." I sat in front of her. "Now, tell me how you executed your plan."
"Plan? I didn't have a plan." Anastasia grinned at me. "Didn't you notice the shoes I wore that night?"