Chapter 24: The Advanced Black Maid

  The center of the palace was home to King's most beloved princess, Ero. The romantic Pe?a Palace still shone brightly at night, the orchestra played lively tunes, and the pleasant singing voices floated around the main hall. However, Princess Ero, who should have been enjoying all this, was not present. In front of the empty diamond throne, humble people did not dare to show any dissatisfaction.

  A carriage quietly passed through a small path outside the palace, Princess Ero often played pranks when she was young and after being locked up by her father would escape from here. Now this small path has even more significance for her as she wants to leave from here to help her father and brother eliminate their enemies who covet her father's throne.

  The horse carriage made its way through the city, turning seven times and eight times before finally stopping in front of an unassuming shoe repair shop. A person wearing a black cloak with a hood got out of the carriage, small in stature. The coachman drove the carriage away, and Ero, disguised, arrived at the already closed shop door, lightly knocking on it. Inside, there was a sudden flurry of footsteps, but the person inside did not rush to open the door, instead speaking in a calm voice...

  "The shop is already closed, you can come again tomorrow."

  Princess Ai Luo responded with great momentum and stability.

  "Get out."

  As soon as the voice came out, the people inside hastily opened the door of the shop and invited Princess Ero in. The shoe store owner didn't waste any words, he knew that Princess Ero hated garrulous people the most. He carefully looked around to make sure no one was watching, then quietly closed the door and followed behind Princess Ero into the courtyard of his house. The owner carefully placed his hand on a leaf of an unremarkable plant, which suddenly came to life and began to quiver with excitement as soon as it touched the owner's skin. The fine hairs on the surface of the leaf pierced the owner's blood vessels, and slowly but surely, the leaf began to turn red as it absorbed the blood. The owner's face contorted in pain, but he managed to maintain a normal expression, showing that this wasn't his first time doing this sort of thing. Princess Ero didn't even lift an eyebrow, standing there like a statue. The owner lost consciousness due to blood loss, and the plant, having absorbed enough blood, quivered contentedly a few times before returning to its usual state. Princess Ero walked over to the plant, bent down, and picked up the key that was hidden under the flower pot.

  As she opened the door to the basement, a damp and chilly breath hit her face. This basement was a bit eerie, and although she had ordered the servants to clean it up, the lights always seemed to go out inexplicably, and the floor was always covered in dust. Ero didn't have time to worry about these things, so she took out a night pearl and placed it on the table to light up the room, casting a faint glow over everything. From under the brown camphor wood cabinet, she pulled out a bundle, untied knot after knot, and inside, there was a crystal ball that her mother had left for her.

  With a solemn expression, Princess Ero placed the crystal ball on a silver filigree stand and gently put her hand on it. She whispered an incantation under her breath, and as she repeated it, bubbles began to rise in the crystal ball, slowly boiling until Ero stopped. She opened her eyes, and a face faintly appeared inside the crystal ball. Ero waited patiently, and the face gradually became clearer. As the face became clear, Ero furrowed her brow in confusion, subconsciously rubbing her chin with one hand. When the face was at its clearest, the crystal ball began to boil again. After it calmed down, another scene appeared inside: a woman wearing a black robe was tied to a rock pillar on the ocean floor, hanging her head so that her face couldn't be seen. Ero guessed that this person was the owner of the face that had just appeared in the crystal ball. This person wasn't Charlotte; who was she? How did she appear in the crystal ball? With these questions in mind, Ero left the underground room, kicking the boss to wake him up, and got into a carriage waiting outside the door to return to the palace.

  In the suburbs of the palace, the humble maids of yesterday were chatting together today, Cinderella woke up to find her room pitch black, the maid had forgotten to open the curtains. She shook the bell on her bedside table and sat up waiting for someone to come and help her get dressed. After half a day, no one came, Cinderella realized that probably no one would be coming today. Feeling a bit parched, she got out of bed wearing her nightgown, barefoot on the soft carpet. She quietly slipped out, unnoticed by anyone, poured herself a glass of water and sat down in a high-backed chair with her back to the group of chatting women.

  She had drunk more than half a cup of water before she felt slightly relieved from the fire in her throat. She thought of yesterday's announcement and Cinderella's gloomy expression. In a moment of carelessness, the water glass crashed to the ground with a loud "crash", spilling water all over the floor. She stared blankly at the messy floor as a group of maids walked over, cleaning up the spill with their rags while not forgetting to mock her.

  "What kind of guest is this, smashing the host's cup so carelessly? Be careful or you might have to pay for it!"

  The sharp-tongued maid's sarcastic words triggered a burst of laughter, and she looked at Cinderella with satisfaction. This young and beautiful maid was jealous of the mysterious Cinderella, and it was delightful to see her being humiliated. Unfortunately, Cinderella had not yet fallen out of favor, or else there would be even more severe treatment waiting for this spoiled beauty!

  Cinderella, despite her good upbringing, could no longer tolerate the servant's overt and covert mockery. She suddenly reached out and slapped the maid, releasing all the resentment she had accumulated over a long time. The force was naturally not small, and the maid was knocked to the ground, covering her right cheek with her hand and glaring at Cinderella in anger. Cinderella gave her a cold stare before turning around and going upstairs. A group of people were left standing there in shock, unable to believe that the normally weak Cinderella had suddenly become as fierce as a leopard.

  Even the weakest woman will become fierce when she encounters love.

  Nothing that happened here would ever be known to Rochester, not because Cinderella was being servile *** but because every moment she spent with him was precious to her and she couldn't bear to waste any of it saying these things.

  Rochester and the ministers having discussed the important matters of the week, hastened to see Cinderella. After more than a year of acquaintance, he had not lost his freshness towards Cinderella, but instead loved her more and more. Cinderella was an intelligent and sensitive little woman, and being with her made Rochester feel strong love. He cherished her and did not want her to be heartbroken over impossible things, so as soon as the meeting ended, Rochester hurried to comfort Cinderella.

  Rochester rode for about an hour, shaking off the followers assigned by his father. He didn't arrive at the other palace until one or two in the afternoon. As soon as he stepped inside, something blocked his path. Looking down, it was a young maid. Without thinking, Rochester kicked away the maid who had grabbed onto his leg and continued walking.

  "Your Highness,"

  Rochester didn't stop, and the maid bit her lip and continued to speak.

  "I know I shouldn't say this, but the master's temper is getting more and more violent, I really can't... The young princess is noble and dignified, please, Your Highness, send me to serve the young princess instead!"

  Is this saying that my Cinderella is not noble enough, not generous enough? I didn't expect a small palace to also have hidden dragons and tigers. If it wasn't for someone who understood Cinderella, they would probably have been deceived by this maid!

  Rochester disdainfully curled his lip and didn't even leave a shadow behind him as he strode upstairs to find Cinderella.

  Cinderella sat on the floor against the window, stroking the sheepskin scroll in her hand and fell into deep thought. When Rochester rescued herself from Riochase, he gave herself a sheepskin scroll and reminded herself to take good care of it. At that time, she was only concerned with escaping and didn't think much about it. Now, thinking carefully, Lydia probably used herself to shift the king's attention, so it's likely that the real treasure map is in Charlotte's hands, and this one in her own hand is just a fake. Lydia is really clever, secretly handing over the family property to Charlotte, but letting her bear all the blame!

  The footsteps grew clearer, and Cinderella picked up a dagger from the floor, which Rochester had given her for self-defense, razor-sharp. In the corridor outside, Rochester's footsteps hastened. Cinderella repeatedly wiped the dagger on a piece of fur towel. The prince didn't knock on the door; he was used to opening it directly. He pushed the door open without any response. The prince felt strange in his heart and knocked gently on the door several times, but there was still no response inside. Wasn't she in the room?

  Cinderella?

  Cinderella heard Rochester's voice, dropped the fur cloak, and with a shaking hand holding the knife, drew it across her slender wrist.

  Rochester's voice grew louder and he feared something was amiss with Cinderella. Rochester pounded heavily on the solid bedroom door,

  "Cinderella! Open the door, Cinderella, let me see you, are you okay?"

  She took a deep breath, controlling the dagger from shaking wildly, and as soon as the blade pressed against her skin, a red line appeared immediately.

  "Hiss~"

  Rochester outside began kicking at the door, eager to rush into the room and take Cinderella in his arms.

  Rochester's kick on the door startled Cinderella, a sharp dagger cut open her wrist artery, pink blood spurted out, splashing big and small drops on the glass, floor, and curtains, shocking to see. Cinderella was afraid to cover her wrist, but it didn't work, the blood still kept flowing from the wound.

  Cinderella felt herself becoming numb, surely she wouldn't die like this. The sounds around her grew louder and more intense, she could hear the faint sound of her own breathing, as well as Rochester's kicks on the door, urgent and heavy, kicking at the door with all his might. She regretted not being able to see Rochester's handsome face again, not being able to be held in his arms and kiss his lips. If God would let her live again, she wouldn't kill herself, she would stay by Rochester's side until death took them back to heaven together.

  Painfully closing her eyes, the sounds around her also gradually disappeared, Cinderella fell into a blank space.