The next morning, Cinderella brought the breakfast tray to her stepmother's room before the older woman had called for her. She realised this just as she was about to knock on the door, and let her hand fall. Hesitating, she wondered not if the reprimand for being too early would come, but whether or not it would include returning to the attic at nights. She didn't want to; the nights were getting chilly and the damp crept in through the walls upstairs. Just as she pondered turning around and simply wait for the bells, her stepmother's slightly annoyed but not yet angry voice called from inside.

"I can hear you Cinderella. It's fine to enter."

When she did, she found the older woman dressed and standing by the window.

"Good morning."

Eleanor Tremaine gave her a condescending glare and nodded pointedly towards the overcast sky outside, where rain hovered in the air seemingly just waiting for the right moment to ruin as many hairdos and dresses as possible.

"If you say so", she scoffed. "Personally, I prefer my mornings a little less… dull."

Cinderella smiled and reached for the laundry.

"Oh, I didn't mean the weather. It's a good morning because…"

Suddenly realising she was contradicting her stepmother over such a trivial matter, she trailed off. Lady Tremaine folded her hands across her chest.

"Because?" she urged her on.

"We're alive and well to greet another day…" Cinderella finished, her voice smaller but not altogether faltering.

"Quite a sickeningly bright outlook on life", Lady Tremaine finally stated.

"Nevertheless true", Cinderella responded in a calm voice, taking care not to sound cheeky or mocking.

Their eyes locked for several seconds, and the atmosphere in the room thickened, but for what reason, none of them knew. Then the older woman turned away, heaving a deep sigh as if to say she was far too superior to argue with such a low opinion. Cinderella took the cue and walked towards the door with the heap of laundry in her arms. The scent of night cream and perfume radiating from the clothes was making her feel a bit light-headed.

"Cinderella?"

She stopped, thinking how some things never changed. She would get almost all the way out of the room before her stepmother reeled her in again for one last blow.

"Yes?"

"I was thinking, since there are only the two of us now, we might as well have our meals together in the dining room."

"Yes stepmother. Thank you."

"Hmm. And do try to find something less shabby to wear."

Uncertain of how to respond to this, Cinderella remained silent a few moments too long.

"Are you paying attention?" Lady Tremaine snapped.

"Yes! And yes, I will."

"Good. Now leave me alone. And close the door!"

Cinderella obeyed, and slowly shook her head as she made her way towards the stairs. Of course it made sense to eat together, and of course she should wear something better if she was going to eat in the dining room, but there was still something strange about this. Although life had changed when her stepsisters moved out. And changes invariably lead to more changes.

Eleanor Tremaine's feelings on the subject were far simpler, for once. She felt lonely and empty after finally succeeding in what had become her life's only quest. But she would rather die than reveal this openly. Turning to the one person who had every reason to hate and despise her was perhaps not a good idea, but somehow, a twisted part of her wanted to be hated and despised for what she had done and what she had allowed. Eleanor was lonely, and the only person to keep her company was the one person who should hate her. It was her punishment, and she would accept it.