ii.
"FROM THE PALACE?" LUCINDA Tremaine's shrill voice tore through the atmosphere like a shard of glass cutting through skin, successfully exposing everything concealed underneath to the light.
"An invitation from the palace," Lady Tremaine trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper as her thin gray eyes fixated themselves in a daze on the turquoise gentle peacock embossed wallpaper adorning the dining hall of the chateau as she slumped herself down on a chair—like a doll dropped from a height.
"That is what I said, I believe," Isadora Tremaine kept her features schooled, elegantly sipping on the fresh cup of tea Cinderella had just served.
The stepsister turned scullery maid stood in Isa's periphery, making herself small and hoping the Tremaines wouldn't notice as she continued to listen in on the conversation, her back pressed against the door, ready to bolt if reprimanded.
Isadora was tempted suddenly to inflict the reprimand, but she pushed past the feeling, knowing full well that it did her no good to bridge her bursting frustration onto Cinderella. Despite the dislike Isa harbored for the girl—with her refusal to even acknowledge little Archie's presence as though the boy was no less than a piece of furniture Isadora had recently bought—Isa knew that Cinderella had no power to make her own decisions.
But neither did Isadora, yet still the elder Tremaine daughter stood her ground, arguing herself hoarse to make sure little Archie got the respect he was due as her own boy. She had found the semblance of power hadn't she? So why did Cinderella choose to surrender without fight?
She has nobody to fight for, Isadora reminded herself. You have Archie.
Her ebony eyes found her little boy. He was seated at the head of the rectangular dining table-where once the Baron had sat, the owner of the chateau, the one in charge.
Archie was humming to himself, his thick small fingers clasping the tiny wooden rocking horse Isa had bought in the village for him two days ago. An old woman had carved dozens with expert precision and was selling them by the minute.
Archie spoke to himself in thick whispers, a content small smile playing on his lips as he made the horse travel atop the wooden table top in gentle gallops.
"This is our chance," Lady Tremaine shot to her feet then once the information Isadora had relayed had settled and marinated inside the elder lady's head properly.
"We can attract suitors for you," The woman continued, the wrinkles around her thin grey eyes sharpening as her even thinner lips twisted—cogs in her mind clashing together.
Isa glanced at her mother, her eyes narrowing as she met Lady Tremaine's orbs head on.
"Perhaps flaunt Lucinda in that scheme, mother," Isadora ground her jaw, trying to keep the contempt from her tone.
"You forget, I have a child now," The lady cast an eye at her son, the oblivious boy in midst of a small laugh as his horse toppled over. "You don't get to attract suitors for me anymore. I officially relieve you of that trouble."
"You have a dowry, you must marry for the sake of our family name," Lady Tremaine seethed, eyes sharpening in a glare.
"Lucinda will aim for the prince and we shall have him with the utmost luck at our disposal. But you, Isadora?" The lady walked over to her eldest daughter's side, carefully maintaining her distance. Isodora felt her mother's gaze like a weight on her form.
"With your beauty, you can efficiently snag any other royal you see fit. A Count, a Duke or even a Prince from a different kingdom. I'm sure the King will exploit the ball and extend the invitations, after all everything is in honor of the Prince himself. He is gracious."
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𝐀 𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐍'𝐒 𝐋𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐘 - Cinderella AU
Fiction Historique(Completed) "Want, Isadora? I don't want you. I need you," The royal neared her, his dark jaw set tight as his sharp brown orbs bore into hers. "I need you to be mine," He husked, his voice etched with firm desperation. "I could raze this entire ki...
