Elizabeth's lips trembled when she saw me. Weariness was evident in her eyes. It seemed like she had just been crying because her eyes were still watery.
Well, who wouldn't cry if I cut off her tongue before I killed Dasha during that time?
Instead of feeling sorry for her, I felt even more delighted. In fact, it wasn't enough because she was still alive. It would be better if she were gasping in pain and anguish from what I would do to her later.
The scattered blood still smelled in the small space as I descended. It was an intense, pleasant scent, as if it seeped into my nose.
"Come here," I pulled her up.
I cut the rope around her feet, but her hands were still tied. She struggled at first, but when I gave her a sinister look, she moved immediately.
"I'll take you to your children; don't worry. Just follow me if you don't want me to change my mind, okay?" I said and smiled sweetly.
She nodded quickly, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wanted to speak but couldn't because her tongue was already severed.
If only she didn’t spew all those hurtful words at me when she woke up; she would still have her tongue. The harshness of her words irritated me from time to time.
"We're here!" I opened the door.
Anastasia was startled when she saw me, but her fear disappeared as soon as she saw Elizabeth behind me.
"Come on, hug each other," I teased before pushing Elizabeth to Anastasia's side.
I chuckled because she ended up sitting on Dasha's dried vomit. It was disgusting, but it didn't seem to bother them.
"Mom!" Anastasia cried. She wanted to hug Elizabeth but couldn't. She was tied up too. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"
"Hmmm!" That's all Aunt Elizabeth could say.
I burst into laughter before looking at my things on the table. She was crazier than me. Where else can you find someone talking to a person who can't speak?
"Mom?" Anastasia frowned. She stared at her mother closely, and she nearly burst into tears when she saw what her mother had become. "You're an animal, Cinderella! How cruel are you?!”
"I'm the princess of Corohelia now. Show some respect," I said firmly before showing her the finger with the diamond ring given to me by Ashton. "Isn't it beautiful? It could have been yours if you had executed your plan properly."
Anastasia screamed in frustration. I just laughed at that.
"You're such a beast! After you killed Dasha in front of me, this is what you did to Mom now?!" she yelled. "You're heartless! After we dressed you and fed you, this is how you repay us?!"
I tilted my head before grinning. I also cleaned my ear with my index finger. "You're really annoying with what you're saying."
"Why? It's true, isn't it?" She retorted. My head only grew hotter because of it. "If we hadn't let you stay in this house, you'd probably be dead like your parents!"
I sighed before my vision darkened. I took a deep breath and raised an eyebrow. Anastasia was really dumb. Didn't she know that she should keep quiet now?
"Hmmm!" Elizabeth looked at me with fear in her eyes.
"Your mother is trying to stop you. Listen to her," I said with a grin as I stared at the ring on my finger. "Do you know why? Because I cut off her tongue for trying to talk too much." My gaze shifted to her after that. "What if yours is next?"
"Hmmm!" Elizabeth quickly positioned herself in front of Anastasia, but nothing would change even if she did that.
"Don't worry, Elizabeth. I won't do that." I picked up the saw on the table. "I have different plans for her."
I approached Anastasia. I pushed Elizabeth aside to keep her from interfering. After all, I cut off her tongue for a reason; she should only be a spectator.
"Listen, Anastasia. If anyone should be thankful here, it's you." I held one of her feet. "You dressed and fed me, but it comes with a price. And do you really think, had I known everything, I would have stayed in this hell?"
I pressed the saw against her skin. I couldn't help but smile as the blood started to flow.
"No," I answered while slowly cutting her foot. "Because I could never stand being around heartless people like you."
Her muffled screams sounded like music to my ears as I slowly moved the saw and cut her foot. I just pretended I was slicing meat; after all, they always ordered me to cook.
"Help! Can anyone hear me?!" she screamed in a somewhat hoarse voice. "Help us! Please!"
Her neck veins were almost severed as she screamed in pain, and her cries grew louder when I finally cut off one of her feet.
"Your feet are so pretty, aren't they?" I taunted before moving the saw to her other foot. "But it ruined my plans. So, I'll take your feet as well."
"I swear, Cinderella! I'll kill you!" Anastasia screamed in a pained but determined voice. "Even if I have to sell my soul to the devil just to kill you, I'll do it!"
"To the devil?" I grinned and rose, my eyes turning red. I could feel a strange power coursing through my body. It was even stronger than before. “Are you sure about that? Because we are one with the demon, Anastasia. Will you sell your soul to me?"
"W-What-"
I didn't let her finish. I grabbed the knife from the table and buried it in her abdomen, causing her lips to part, and a rush of blood to gush from her mouth.
"This is what you should have done to me a long time ago, Elizabeth," I grinned wider as I pushed the knife even deeper. "You should have told me that my father was dead and my mother needed help."
"Hmmm!" Elizabeth struggled while tears streamed down her face. She saw how Anastasia trembled until her breath was gone, but she couldn't do anything.
In this game, I make the rules.
And they are next in the game I've created.
"It should be like this..." Anastasia was already dead, but I still slit her throat.
I tasted her somewhat salty blood. I immediately grimaced because I didn't like the taste. From her blood alone, I could tell just how evil her conscience was.
"Unlike you, I told you that your daughter is already dead," I said, looking over at Dasha, who was in the corner. "My mistake. I actually showed it to you. I'm so kind, aren't I?"
"Hmmm!" She hissed, glaring at me.
"And you're next."
I didn't waste any more time and stabbed Elizabeth in the head. Repeatedly. Every flesh was separating from her skull, but I didn't stop.
I was furious at her. She should have been in the palace at that time. She should have been the one to die, not my mother!
"Ella?"
I froze and blinked twice when Ashton called me. I suddenly remembered that I was in the palace, in the midst of a wedding.
In the midst of the happiness I felt yesterday, I kept remembering how I killed those three even at the very moment of my wedding.
"I repeat," the priest said in front of us. "Do you accept Prince Ashton Corohelia as your wedded husband? For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?"
"Yes, I do," I smiled and tightly held Ashton's hand. I had to make an effort not to let my thoughts wander.
After a few more ceremonies, the priest declared us as husband and wife.
Afterward, Ashton swiftly pulled me closer and gave me a deep kiss. I could hear the clapping and cheering of the other people, but I also heard the envy in some.
They couldn't do anything because the prince chose me. I'm the only one the prince loves.
"Thank you for marrying me, Ella Cinderia..." Ashton whispered before he moved his face away from me. He caressed my cheek, making me smile.
"I should be the one thanking you, my dear prince," I replied, holding his hand. "Thank you for everything."
Thank you, because thanks to you, I fulfilled my plans.
That night, my connection with Ashton became hot and passionate once again. After our intimate lovemaking, I made sure he was sleeping soundly. After that, I left the palace.
I went to the cemetery where my parents were buried, and I couldn't help but smile when I saw my mother smiling in front of her grave.
Her appearance was radiant. The blood that had surrounded her body was slowly fading away. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, but it was clear that they were tears of joy.
"This is the justice I've prepared for you," I told her, causing her to look at me. "You can finally rest, Mom, and be with Dad. You don't need to worry about anything anymore."
I closed my eyes and let tears roll down my cheeks. Along with that, I heard the sound of a trumpet.
A sign that the demon in the Corohelia palace is dead—the very king who defiled this place.