Warning: More sad stuff ahead.
"They threw themselves at her feet to beg pardon for all the ill treatment they had made her undergo. Cinderella took them up, and, as she embraced them, said that she forgave them with all her heart, and wanted them always to love her."
"Cinderella, who was no less good than beautiful, gave her two sisters lodgings in the palace…"
-Cinderella; or The Little Glass Slipper by Charles Perrault
~Chapter Four~
Cinderella had arranged for a plain, middle class coachman to drive her, Anastasia, and Aubin to the church. They didn't want to attract any attention. The princess looked out the window of the carriage at the clear blue sky and the children happily running through the streets and wondered how everything about this day could look so perfect when there was such sorrow. But then, there surely must be someone dying every day. All three were so lost in their thoughts, they didn't notice when the carriage stopped.
"Ahem," the coachman cleared his throat.
"Oh," Cinderella said, "Thank you."
"Thank you, Monsieur," Aubin and Anastasia said in unison.
Anastasia led the group to the graveyard in the back of the church. There they found Drizella and the priest garbed in black, along with the men who would lower the casket into the ground. The two sisters hugged each other quietly before Drizella noticed who else was with her.
"Cinderella?" she gasped in shock.
Cinderella said nothing, only walked to Drizella and hugged her. The unexpected embrace brought the raven haired woman to tears.
"I'm sorry, Cinderella," she whispered, "I'm so sorry. I was such a monster!"
"Sshhh," the princess hushed her, "It's in the past now. It's all in the past."
Anastasia, meanwhile, walked to the open casket and gazed at her mother's lifeless corpse. Her hair was a pasty white and her skin a bluish grey. She reached out to touch her and she felt cold and hard, just as she had been a cold and hard woman throughout her life.
"Anastasia?" Aubin said as he walked up to her, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Anastasia shut her eyes tightly, but tears fell regardless. "She's really gone."
"I know dear," he said, wishing there was something more he could say to offer comfort to his wife.
Cinderella and Drizella joined them at the casket. The princess looked down upon the body in the casket, still somewhat unable to believe that this woman who had controlled her life for so long, who had beaten and humiliated her for so many years, was gone. That she had left this world before the two of them could ever have a chance to really have a mother-daughter bond. Like her stepsister, she reached out to touch the dead woman.
"I forgive you, Stepmother," she said softly.
"If everyone's ready, we'll begin now," said the priest.
The four attendees gathered around as the priest made his usual speech. It had been many years since Cinderella had heard any sermon from him, having been banned from church services after the death of her father. Her stepfamily had stopped going shortly after as well, only returning on holidays. Her father had loved this church, and being separated from it felt like further salt in the wound of losing him.
As the casket was lowered into the ground, Drizella's silent tears turned into choking sobs. Cinderella held her close and, much to her surprise, Drizella leaned into her embrace. It felt surreal to the princess. Even when her father was still alive, Cinderella was never able to form a bond with her stepsisters. They always left her out of their games unless her father was present.
Drizella was finding the experience odd as well. Who would've thought the girl she'd always envied would be the one she sought comfort in? But who else could she turn to? No one else she knew had experienced as much loss as her younger stepsister. When her father had died so many years ago, her mother had ordered her to mourn in silence and never to let Anastasia see her tears, determined to harden them both to tragedy. What would she think if she saw her daughters crying over her grave now? Drizella wasn't sure, but she didn't really care. Her mother was gone now, and she was all alone. No husband, no family, and soon no house, she was sure of that. Her stepfather's fortune was completely squandered, and her mother had left little more than a few precious jewels of sentimental value. The chateau would not sell. It was far beyond her means to repair it and no one would buy it as is. So yes, she would cry, appearances be damned.
After the priest had left, all was silent in the graveyard, save the toll of the church bells and the sound of muffled tears. Aubin broke the silence.
"What killed her?"
Drizella breathed in shakily. "She started showing signs of consumption about a year ago. I tried to get her as much help as possible, but we just didn't have enough money for stronger medicine or well trained doctors."
"Is there nothing left from my father?" Cinderella asked.
"Unfortunately, no," Drizella answered, "Mother never gave up on trying to mold me into a proper lady."
"Yes, that sounds like her," Cinderella thought with a sigh.
When she really thought about it, her stepsisters seemed to have their own slaving to do. It was in the form of constant lessons of all things considered upper class: Etiquette, languages, geography, art, music, and so on. She could scarcely recall a time when they were simply left to their own devices.
"Do you need a ride home, Drizella?" the princess asked.
"That's very kind of you, but I can walk."
"Are you sure? It's rather cold out today," Cinderella said, not feeling alright with Drizella walking the long trek home with only a tattered and torn cloak to shield her from the elements, especially with the germs of consumption still lingering in the chateau.
"Please, Drizella," Anastasia said, feeling much the same, "Let us take you home. It's really no trouble at all."
"Very well," she said, "Thank you."
As the carriage was pulled down the road, Cinderella decided to take a moment to catch up with her stepsister.
"Drizella," she said, "How long have you and Stepmother been struggling with your finances?"
Drizella sighed. "Pretty much since Anastasia left."
"Really?" Anastasia said, feeling guilty.
Drizella nodded. "If you'll remember, Anastasia, you were always better at cleaning than I was. Mother eventually gave up on me and tried to hire servants again, while still spending money on my education. We eventually had to start selling some of our nicer things, though Mother was reluctant to sell the jewels Father had gotten her. Now that this has happened though," she sighed, "I don't think I'll have any other choice."
Cinderella's heart broke for her stepsister. She knew what it was like to have nothing left of one's parents to remember them by. Her stepmother had taken away everything but her mother's dress, which was now gone as well. She hated to see her stepsister go through the same thing.
The carriage halted in front of the gate of the chateau. Cinderella, Anastasia, and Aubin all gasped at the sight. The property had never looked worse. The wrought iron gate had rusted beyond recognition. Weeds and browned grass spread throughout the yard like it never had before. Large, gaping holes covered the rooftops and several windows were missing their glass. Cinderella wanted to weep at what had become of her family's cherished estate.
"Drizella," Anastasia said, "What happened to this place?"
"Like I said before, we haven't had much luck financially," Drizella explained, "A few bad storms took their toll on the house and we could never afford to fix it. I've never been very good at gardening. I'm sorry you have to see our home like this."
Cinderella was silent a moment, wondering if what she was about to suggest was wise, but decided it was worth the risk.
"Drizella," Cinderella said, "You can't keep living like this."
"I don't have many other choices," she said, "I have no other family. Where else would I go?"
"You have Anastasia and I," said the princess, "You could come live in the castle with us."
"What?" Drizella said, "Me? After all I've done to you?"
"Drizella, nobody is perfect," said Cinderella, "I forgave all of you a long time ago. Just ask Anastasia. We can start over, Drizella. We can all be a real family."
Drizella looked to Anastasia and Aubin for confirmation and could see that they wanted it just as much. Their compassion and undeserved forgiveness moved her to tears.
"Thank you, Cinderella. I'd be glad to come live with you."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After Cinderella, Anastasia, and Aubin helped Drizella pack what little she still had, they took the carriage back to the castle.
"Merci, Monsieur," Cinderella said as she tipped the coachman.
The four approached the castle doors and were greeted by Prudence.
"Welcome back, Your Highness," she said before noticing an extra person holding a bag, "I assume you'd like me to prepare a guest room?"
"A permanent room actually," Cinderella said, "Drizella will be living here from now on."
"This is?..." Prudence started, knowing her mistress' history, "Your Highness, have you even discussed this with the king?"
"I know he won't mind," Cinderella said, "I will speak to him now though. In the meantime, can you please prepare a room for her and send some servants down to collect her things?"
"Of course, Your Highness," Prudence said with a curtsy before turning to Drizella, "The sitting room is to the left, Mademoiselle, if you wish to wait there. And I'll take that for you."
With that, Prudence took the bag and left to arrange a room.
"I'll be back as soon as I have a word with the king," Cinderella said, "Aubin, why don't you ask Mrs. Potts if she'll make the three of you some tea?"
"I will," he said.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Oh what is that girl thinking, allowing her to live here?" Prudence muttered to herself while she searched for a room.
She turned a corner to find Lumiére and Angelique engaging in a rather passionate display of affection. She cleared her throat, snapping the couple out of their reverie.
"Have you two completed your duties for the day?" she asked.
"Oui, Prudence," Angelique said.
"Then in that case," Prudence said, "Lumiére, we have a new arrival at the castle and she has some belongings that need to be taken care of. Please assemble some of your fellow servants and meet the coach at the front door."
Lumiére sighed. "Where are we taking them?"
"Oh, right," Prudence thought to herself, remembering why she was here.
Seeing a room to her side, she opened the door and saw that it was about the same size as that of the ladies in waiting.
"She'll be residing here," Prudence said, "Angelique, please alert the chambermaids that we have a room that needs to be cleaned."
"Oui, Prudence," Angelique said.
"And," Prudence continued as they walked away, "For the sake of everyone present, will you please engage in your passions privately?"
"Oui, mon capitan!" Lumiére said sarcastically.
Prudence sighed. "Just go."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I've never tasted tea quite like this,"' Drizella said as she sipped from her cup, "This is delicious!"
"I said the same thing when I first tried it," Anastasia said, "Mrs. Potts makes the best tea in the kingdom."
"Possibly the best tea in Europe," Aubin said.
"Hello," said a small, feminine voice.
The three turned to see Emily at the doorway, holding a glass of water filled with wildflowers.
"Hello, Emily," Aubin said, "How are you?"
"I'm good."
"Drizella, this is Emily," Anastasia said, "She's the head cook's youngest daughter. Emily, this is my older sister, Drizella."
"I heard you were new here," Emily said to Drizella as she walked up to her, "So I got you these flowers for your new room."
"Aw thank you, Emily," Drizella said, taking them, "They're lovely."
"All the staff here are wonderful," Anastasia said as Emily left, "They'll make you feel at home in no time."
"I hope you're right," Drizella said, looking at the bouquet of wildflowers.
"It's true," Aubin said, "I think you'll like it here."
At that moment the princess entered the room.
"What did he say?" Drizella asked.
"He was a bit cautious," Cinderella admitted, "But he has accepted you living here."
"It's understandable that he doesn't trust me," Drizella said, "I don't understand why you all do."
"Drizella," Cinderella said, taking her hands in hers, "All I ever wanted was for us to be a family, for you to love me like a sister. I believe everyone deserves a second chance, and I'm willing to try again if you are."
"I am willing," Drizella said with a smile, "Thank you so much."
Prudence walked to the doorway and cleared her throat. "Your room is ready, Mademoiselle, if you wish for me to lead you there."
"Thank you, Madame," Drizella said, getting up and grabbing her glass of flowers.
"Aw, did Emily give you those?" Cinderella asked.
"Yes," Drizella said, "Is this a regular thing for her?"
Cinderella nodded. "She loves to pick wildflowers. Those there are her favorites."
"Well then I'll make sure to find a special place for them," Drizella said as she and her sisters went to follow Prudence and Aubin headed back to the kitchen.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Drizella placed a small picture of herself and Anastasia as children on the nightstand next to her bed, along with Emily's bouquet of wildflowers.
"I forgot about that painting," Anastasia said, "I didn't even know it still existed."
"I've… kept it by my bedside since you left home," Drizella said shyly.
"You have?" Anastasia asked in disbelief.
"I missed you, Anastasia," she said, "I wanted to stand up to Mother and tell her she was wrong for disowning you, but I was afraid."
"Mother always did have a way of intimidating people," said Anastasia.
"She certainly did," Cinderella said as she placed some of her late stepmother's jewels in the drawer of a dresser, "There now. I think that's everything."
Drizella looked around at her new room. It had several pictures of her with her younger sister, her mother, and her biological father. But unfortunately there were none of her with her stepfamily.
"It's really such a shame that Mother got rid of that portrait of the three of us together," she said.
"We can always have a new portrait made," Cinderella said.
Drizella smiled. The three of them stood silently for a moment.
"Would you like to meet your nephew, Drizella?" Cinderella asked.
"Prince Adam?" asked Drizella, "I'd love to."
"Come on," the princess said as she opened the door, her stepsisters following, "He should just be waking up from his nap now. He's making small steps but he hasn't quite mastered walking yet."
As the three women walked to the princess' bedchamber, Drizella couldn't help admiring all that she saw. After struggling for what felt like a lifetime, she couldn't believe she was going to live here, in a castle. Even though it was her stepsister that was the princess, she couldn't help feeling like royalty herself. They arrived at Cinderella's bedchamber and the princess slowly opened the door. She could see her son playing with the mobile over his crib.
"He's awake," she said as they walked in before she switched to her baby voice, "Adam. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
The nine month old smiled as he heard his mother's voice and reached his arms out to be picked up. His mother obliged.
"Did you have a good nap, my darling?" she asked as she nuzzled her nose against his, "Did you have lovely, pleasant dreams?"
"Oh Cinderella, he's precious!" Drizella said, in awe of the child.
Cinderella gestured for her to come closer. "Adam, this is your Aunt Drizella. She's going to be living here from now on."
"Hello, little Prince," Drizella said shyly.
"H-hewwo," he said with an innocent smile.
Drizella's heart melted at his smile. Looking at her young nephew and seeing the compassion and forgiveness of her sisters, she was certain now that she was going to fit in just fine.
As always, please leave a review. The next chapter is already done and if I get 3 or more reviews, I will post it early. I hope you're all enjoying this. To quote Wotso videos:
Have a magical day!