"WHAT is that? A rag?" Anastasia asked me, raising an eyebrow.
She looked me up and down, as if she was assessing my clothing and appearance. I couldn't blame her for calling my outfit a rag because it was extremely simple.
She was wearing a lilac gown that reached down to her ankles. Anastasia was beautiful, and her makeup and her hair pulled back enhanced her appearance, giving her a doll-like look. 
A malicious doll, that is. I couldn't help but be amused by that thought.
"This is a dress, Anastasia. A dress," I replied sarcastically.
I grabbed the fabric of my dress and showed it to her, which made her frown because it was obvious that I was teasing her. It was so satisfying when she got annoyed. I don't know why, but when she's angry, it's like my energy levels spike a lot.
"Are you being sarcastic?" She asked with irritation in her voice. She looked like she wanted to hit me with her shoe.
"No, not really. What else should I answer to that?" I replied, feigning innocence. It was enjoyable to see her nose crinkle in annoyance.
"Fool," she snapped, rolling her eyes. She seemed like she wanted to kick me. “Don’t tell me that you’re going to the palace looking like that?”
"Alright, I won't tell you," I replied nonchalantly, shrugging my shoulders. I'm quite easy to talk to.
"Stupid!" she said, frustrated, before slapping me. “Mom, Cinderella is going to do something stupid again!” she reported to Elizabeth, who was going down the stairs.
I couldn't help but wince from the strength of the blow. She was fuming. However, I couldn't help but wince more when I saw the furious look on Elizabeth’s face. 
If Anastasia wanted to hit me, it looked like Elizabeth wanted to devour me alive.
"Wait for our ride outside. I'll take care of this," Elizabeth said as she turned her gaze towards me.
"Yes, mom."
As Anastasia left, I faced Elizabeth. I felt no fear right now. Curiosity seemed to have the upper hand because I wanted to know what she was going to do to me.
"Useless, stupid, or foolish. Which one are you?" she asked sharply, as if trying to hurt my feelings. "You're really going to the palace? Are you beautiful? Are you even rich? You don't belong in that place!"
I lowered my head and grinned. I even saw the surprise in her eyes when she heard my soft laughter.
"I may not be rich, but I'm beautiful. You can ask Dasha if you’re having doubts." The tone of my voice is polite, but my words aren’t.
"You're a wicked woman!"
What I said seemed to have completely worn out Elizabeth’s patience. She grabbed my hair and pulled it, and she was so good at it. It hurt my scalp so much!
"You forgot what I told you when you returned here, didn't you?" There was a hint of frustration in her voice. "You should know your place!"
"Ouch!"
I could barely maintain my facial expression when she abruptly let go of me. I thought I would fall to the ground due to the speed of events, but she quickly grabbed the fabric of the dress on my chest.
"What are you doing?!"
Just like when she grabbed me, everything happened too fast. Only the sound of her tearing my dress echoed throughout the room.
She wasn't content with ripping the upper part of my dress; she also tore the hem of my dress.
"No!" I could hardly move. It seemed like all the anger in the world was coursing through my body as I looked at my ruined dress.
Still, I couldn't help but be amazed. How do they manage to smile while destroying my dreams?
"Perhaps, you've come to your senses now?" Elizabeth smiled as she gazed at my appearance, seemingly delighted with my reaction.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself, but it didn't work. Instead of calming down, I just got more annoyed. How was I supposed to go to the party now that my dress was ruined?
Damn.
"What do you think you're doing?"
In an instant, I pushed Elizabeth against the wall. My hand was gripping her neck, and I held her firmly. She immediately held my wrist, trying to catch her breath because she couldn't breathe.
"Answer, Elizabeth!" I shouted again when she didn't respond.
She couldn't speak and only asked for help. It was annoying! I didn't like that, so using the unusual energy coursing through my body, I lifted her.
It was as if I had become stronger. It was as if we had become one with the darkness I felt.
"Are you going crazy?! Have you completely lost your mind since you ran away?!”
I winced when I heard Dasha's voice. She rarely raised her voice, so I was amazed. But I couldn't stop her when she pushed me away from Elizabeth.
However, of course, I wouldn't let Elizabeth escape from my grasp so easily. She had ruined my dress. It wouldn't be unfair to hurt her, right?
"Mom! Oh my God, mom!" Dasha yelled in tears before running to her mother.
I raised an eyebrow because of the sadness in her voice. Elizabeth wouldn't die from just being thrown, and I wouldn't allow her to die that easily. Life would be too simple if people could die that easily.
They would all have to experience the pain I was going through.
"Our ride is here," Anastasia said. She had just entered the room and was surprised to see her mother sprawled on the floor. "Oh my gosh, Mom! What happened here?"
Elizabeth couldn't answer right away. I think she needed to regain her strength first before she could speak.
And I was right. After a minute, she stood up, straightened her clothes, and faced me as if nothing had happened.
"Follow me." She held my hand, but I immediately removed it.
"I don't want to," I replied firmly.
I knew what was coming next. They would lock me in the basement. She already ruined my dress, and now she wanted to lock me up? I wouldn't agree to it!
"Why are you so defiant?" She asked with annoyance. "I told you, follow me."
"Leave her here, Mom. We're going to be late," Anastasia interrupted. "She can't attend the party with that appearance, or she'll look even more pitiful."
She gave me a disdainful look and even smiled. "Right, Cinderella?"
Anastasia knew exactly how to infuriate me. That's why I didn't answer her because I was scared of what I was feeling. I felt like I wanted to stab her in the neck with the pencil I saw nearby.
No, Cinderella. It's not the right time for that.
"Go clean up, alright?" Anastasia teased me, then ran her hand over the torn part of my dress. "That's really your purpose here, as a maid."
After that, they left. I just heaved a sigh and kept myself busy with cleaning. I actually liked cleaning the house, but I just didn't like it when they ordered me around, making me look lazy.
"Cinderella..." Elton called me while he stood on the table. Hades and Tristan were also looking at me.
"I'm okay, three musketeers," I replied to them and tried to smile. "Don't worry about me."
There was nothing I could do if I couldn't attend the party. I was sure there would be another opportunity. For now, I would make the most of this day without them.
I was startled when an envelope fell, while I was cleaning a flower vase. I was about to return it to the table when I noticed something written on the side.
It had the palace seal, right? The design was the same as the locket that Prince Ashton gave me back then.
December 25, 2016.
Trevor Fortelle was killed. He was not killed because someone had a grudge against him. There was another reason for his murder. I wanted to tell his child, so they could grieve in the palace.
"The old man was right..." I muttered as my tears flowed.
Elizabeth knew everything, but she didn't bother to tell me. Moreover, it seemed like she didn't care that her husband was killed.
I felt like I was about to explode, but I couldn't. All I could do was cry. Why was it like this? Why couldn't the pain in my heart go away?
I quickly ran outside. In the dark sky, where the stars were twinkling, I prayed.
"Whoever is listening to me, grant me the power to seek vengeance!" I cried.
I chanted it repeatedly like a ritual until I felt lighter, and there were no more tears left.
I was about to go back inside to rest when someone suddenly spoke behind me. "Are you sure about what you're asking for?"