Cindered

Chapter 11

The decision Cinderella made to change employer had not been a hard one, and the full realization of that dawned on her with the rising sun of the next day.

She awoke not to the ear-piercing demands of her step relatives, but to the sun shining in through her windows and a gentle knock at her bedroom door. Beyond that door stood Constance, with a wide smile and a bowl of oatmeal with fresh berries on top. "We would like to officially welcome you to the palace staff!" She held out the bowl, which Cinderella took appreciatively. Then Constance laughed as she stepped inside and shut the door behind her. "Don't get used to it. We let you sleep in because it's your first day working as one of us. Starting tomorrow you'll be up with the sun!"

Cinderella smiled. "I won't mind that." She took a bite of oatmeal and closed her eyes. "This is delicious!"

"Well eat it all because you have got a long day ahead of you. They put you with me since we're already comfortable together."

"That's wonderful!"

"I didn't even have to request it, either." Constance gave a quick grin and then laughed again, "But believe me, when the King asked for me, I thought I was in trouble. I had no idea that he had signed you on to be a royal servant."

"It was not anything that was planned. To be honest, I was surprised that the King even offered." Cinderella answered, thinking. "I'm curious... What did he say when he told you?"

Constance frowned and sunk down onto the edge of the bed next to her. "He said you were being mistreated... I mean, I already knew that from seeing how those women bully you around... But it seems to have a bigger impact when it's the King who is talking about it." She shook her head after a moment. "Hurry up and finish your breakfast. We've still got to get you a uniform."

The uniform was something Cinderella was looking forward to. Step Mother did not care what Cinderella wore, which meant she was usually left with only clothes that weren't too far from being just burlap sacks to work in. The palace, however, supplied beautiful uniforms for the women servants—brown flowing skirts that reached just below the knees, shirts that were such a pale green one would almost think them white. And what's more is that the clothes were comfortable and functional to the tasks that needed completing. Compared to what she was used to wearing, the uniform would be like the fine clothes Cinderella saw the ladies of the court wear to the Queen's tea parties.

The oatmeal was almost gone when the door burst open with a loud crack that made both girls dump. Step Mother walked in, trailed by Drizella and Prunella, all looking angry. While the daughters were dressed, Cinderella was surprised to see Step Mother still in her sleeping gown. Normally she didn't leave her room until she was fully dressed and made up. Step Mother took in the sight of the two servants sitting on the bed and glared. "What on earth do you think you are doing, Cinderella? We have been up for almost an hour and here you sit, eating, while we wait for you to bring us our clothes!"

Constance's demeanor changed as she stood and faced the woman standing there in her night gown, which Cinderella was grateful for as she had suddenly forgotten how to speak. She suspected, though, that if she could have spoken, she wouldn't have known what to say. Constance on the other hand knew exactly what to say.

She began with a small polite bow. "Good morning, madam. Did you sleep well?"

Step Mother, who until now did not seem to know who to look at, turned her icy stare directly onto Constance. "I was not talking to you. I was talking to that insolent girl." She pointed at Cinderella. "I would like to know how someone that works for me came upon the conclusion that it was perfectly fine to shirk her responsibilities and stay in bed so late!"

Constance was quick. "Oh, but surely you have heard?"

If it was possible, Step Mother's eyes narrowed even further. "Heard what?"

"As of last evening, Cinderella now works for his royal highness, the King. She is now a palace servant."

Cinderella watched as the news of her new employment hit her three step relatives. Step Mother, as expected, was simply enraged. Her face became a shade of red Cinderella had never seen, and she looked like a fish gasping for air as she opened and closed her mouth, looking for anything to say.

Drizella's reaction was also what Cinderella had thought it would be. Ever since the two girls had met many years ago, any time Drizella did not get her way or had been discovered doing something wrong, she played the victim. And though no one would even mistake the reason she got away with this as a result of being beautiful or even cute (because she most certainly wasn't), it was the fact that Drizella had always been a superb liar. So superb in fact that she had once managed to steal a chocolate pastry from a shop in the village, and talk the man that owned the shop into believing Prunella had taken it... even though the man had seen the entire thing with his own eyes, and even though Drizella was the one with chocolate smudges on her face. Even now, Drizella's acting was on par as she clung to one of her mother's arms and had a pained look on her face. "Cinderella, why? We love you! We don't want to lose you." She lied.

Cinderella ignored her.

Prunella stood the farthest away from all of them. She stood just inside the doorway, as if any moment she might need to flee. Cinderella did not know what to make of her reaction. She did not look angry or upset. She only stood there with a dark gaze in her eyes. And, Cinderella thought, she almost looked like she had been expecting this.

After allowing a moment for the news to sink in, Constance began speaking again. "As a servant of the palace, from now on Cinderella will only be taking orders from the palace staff and their royal highnesses. Until Miss Drizella's marriage to Prince Edmund is sealed, you three are considered guests and have no authority in ordering Cinderella to do anything.

"B-but..." Step Mother sputtered.

Constance nodded to her. "Madam, I definitely understand the suddenness of the change and that you had been counting on having your personal servant for longer than this..." She paused, the corner of her mouth tipping into a mocking smile. "But I do see your daughters were capable of picking out their outfits this morning... Surely, as their mother, you are capable of dressing yourself as well. If not, I can have someone come up and assist you."

Step Mother sputtered again. "Cinderella--"

"Can do nothing for you until the wedding has ended." Constance interrupted in a tone that meant the argument was closed.

Drizella stepped forward now, panic filling her eyes as she looked at Cinderella. "I don't care who you serve. You stay away from Prince Edmund. He is mine."

Again, Constance was the one who responded. "With all due respect, Miss Drizella, but if Cinderella is requested to accompany or serve the Prince, there is nothing that you can do to stop her."

Cinderella watched, amazed, as Drizella and Step Mother silently left the room after a long pause between all of them. Prunella stayed a moment longer, her dark expression never changing. Then she, too, left.

Once the two servants were alone again, Cinderella jumped from the bed, throwing her arms around Constance and knocking them both to the carpeted floor. "You are amazing!" Cinderella laughed.

Constance laughed as well and replied, "Did you see the looks on their faces?"