Chapter 11
"A Plea for Mercy"
Having been given word that I was wanted in the dungeons, I made my way down knowing firsthand who would make such a request. My stepmother and Drizelle showed no remorse for their behavior towards me, the abuse they inflicted towards me from the time my father died. But, I was a benevolent human being, even that could also be tested from time to time.
"Cinderella?" cried a voice that belonged to my stepmother that came out from one of the cells. "Cinderella, we must speak with you."
"Leave us and come back when I command you to," I said to the guards, who backed away as one of them opened the door and I entered my stepmother's and Drizella's cells, their servant clothes hanging on a clothesline.
"Cinderella," my stepmother said in a weak voice. "I know what you are thinking right now: why do someone such as yourself come to us?"
"You want me to give you clemency as we will soon be at war?" I asked. "After all you did to me?"
"Cinderella, we don't ask for much," Drizella added. "Sure we treated you badly…"
"Badly?" I asked in a sharp voice. "It was worse than that. Some of the cruelty you inflicted on me was unforgivable. Such as when you tore the ballgown that once belonged to my deceased mother!"
"We just want you to give us a second chance, Cinderella," Drizella pleaded, placing her hands on my shoulders. "That traitor Anastasia…"
"Realized the error of her ways, Drizella," I said firmly, removing her hands away from my shoulders. "Because of it, she now has a man with whom she truly loves. Christopher and I have been married for some time now and we have made difficult decisions as Prince and Princess of Bordeaux, but this is the most difficult."
In my mind, all I could think of what was going to come out of this. Were my stepmother and stepsister remorseful for their actions? After all, they not only abused me, but they also tried to pretend like my marriage to Chris would never happen.
"Cinderella, if you pardon us," my stepmother pleaded. "We promise you that…"
"Promise me what? That you would let me go to the ball only to go back on your word?" I asked in a slightly sharp tone. "If it weren't for my fairy godmother of whose wand you stole to turn back time, then you wouldn't be in the situation you are in now."
"Turn us into toads if you want to, Cinderella," Drizella cried. "But, please don't leave us to Napoleon and his army!"
It was against my character to not show compassion to anyone evil, but how would someone like my stepmother and Drizella even be considered truly remorseful. Leaving them to Napoleon would be the ultimate revenge for all the years of torment, but if I didn't grant them clemency, how would my subjects and those of our allies view me. I was a benevolent princess that would one day be queen and to leave my stepmother and stepsister at Napoleon's mercy would send a bad message to the kingdom.
"If I grant you clemency," I said firmly, with a hint of regret. "You are to never marry again and you are to never abuse any children again. That being said, you will not be coming with us to England."
I then called for the guards, but my stepmother had one more question.
"Cinderella!" she cried. "Cinderella, where will you send us to?"
"I will have you sent to Corsica, Napoleon's birthplace," I answered in a quiet tone. "It's an island, so you can be restricted on who you wish to spend the rest of your life with."
Both Drizella and my Stepmother had confused looks on their faces. On one hand, they had looks of relief that they were going to be left at Napoleon's mercy, but at the same time, they were being sent away to an island.
"The guards will come for you when the time comes," I said as I stepped out of the cell, the door slamming behind me. "I trust you will hopefully see this…as a new beginning."
I then stopped and turned back to my stepfamily, peeking through the small bars of their cell.
"As for any forgiveness," I said quietly. "Maybe I'll forgive you one day for the abuse you inflicted towards me, but not now."
And I turned and left their cell wondering if I made the right call. Should I have left them to Napoleon and his forces? Looking back, I am glad that I didn't, because that would make me no different than them and it was once again, against my character as a human being and a princess and future queen.
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