Chapter 2: Charlotte's Scandal

  Christmas was the most bustling day of the year in the small town of Anasi, and a candy store near "The Brightest Restaurant" was packed with children. As soon as they left the restaurant, Charlotte's Mary shifted her gaze, and the thoughts of the little girls were all on their faces. Charlotte deliberately slowed down her pace, and Mary stopped in front of the candy store door, not moving forward. At the entrance, a plump little boy was licking a chocolate stick with a satisfied expression. Behind him, a woman dressed in luxurious clothes was doting on the boy.

  Charlotte wondered if Mary was envying the little boy's candy or his mother, or both.

  "The candies at the candy store look delicious, doesn't Mary want some?"

  Charlotte spoke in a coaxing tone to Mary, who nodded affirmatively and then shook her head regretfully.

  "Miss Charlotte, I didn't sell a single match today, let's just leave the candies in the store for a few more days."

  Mary said "I know the way home, it's too late, you don't have to see me home. Thank Charlotte for her hospitality today, I'll meet you at this restaurant in three days."

  Watching Mary with an air of maturity that belied her age, Charlotte didn't know how to comfort her and couldn't bear the thought of letting Mary return to that impoverished home.

  "Mary, would you like to go to your sister's house today? Your sister has a warm bed, turkey, cheese and all sorts of candies. Tomorrow, your sister will take you back home, okay?"

  Charlotte is now like a child trafficker, luring her with the things little girls desire most. Mary listens to Charlotte's words and can't help but start imagining herself lying on a soft bed, eating roasted duck, and having a warm fireplace. Mary cannot resist Charlotte's temptation and agrees to go to Charlotte's home for a temporary stay.

  A few steps would take her out of the dimly lit alley, but the way ahead was blocked by a carriage. As if in response to Charlotte's footsteps, the curtains fluttered and a tall, thin man with a slightly hunched back stepped down from the carriage. The yellowish night light made it impossible to discern the man's features, which made Charlotte feel uneasy.

  "Miss Charlotte, won't you come home with me?"

  The man's tone was slow but with a strong sense of oppression, Charlotte immediately recognized that this half-road hijacker was the elegant "gentleman" in the restaurant. Sensing the man's ill intentions, Charlotte subconsciously turned around and ran, but only ran a few steps before being blocked by a burly big man who suddenly appeared from nowhere.

  The gentleman's mouth curled up with a sly smile, looking at Charlotte's angry face with satisfaction, as if he was very pleased with her performance. He waved his hand and the burly man immediately made way for him. Charlotte knew she couldn't run away and didn't struggle anymore, so she might as well follow him to see what this person was up to.

  Thinking so, Charlotte didn't even glance at Mary and resolutely climbed onto the carriage. The man had already forgotten that Charlotte still had a little follower, and he also got into the carriage behind Charlotte and left the small street.

  Mary, forgotten by the crowd, was desperate and ran after the carriage for two streets, but Mary was too small, watching helplessly as the carriage got farther and farther away until it disappeared.

  Speculating about what might have happened to Charlotte, Mary returned home in a daze, only to be thoroughly searched by her drunkard father as soon as she stepped inside. Not finding any money, the drunkard's anger overrode his reason and he slapped Mary to the ground with one palm, followed immediately by another kick. Unprepared and preoccupied, Mary took a solid kick from her own father and instantly fainted. The drunkard father showed no mercy or concern for Mary as she lay on the ground, stepping over her small body to squeeze out of the door and go who-knew-where to cause more trouble.

  In a daze, Mary heard her parents' quarrel, bang! It was the sound of a plate shattering. Then another fierce argument, mixed with her mother's screams and her father's curses. Her head was spinning, her chest felt like it had a huge stone on it, and the air she breathed out was scorching hot on her skin.

  "Mom, mom"

  Mary's hoarse voice was completely drowned out by her father's scolding, she suddenly missed Charlotte and thought of how Charlotte had been kidnapped yesterday, tears streaming down her face, leaving white streaks on her dirty little face.

  Bang! The sound of the door being slammed shut, the drunkard father had finally left. The two women in the house let out a sigh of relief. The curtain on the doorway was lifted, and mother walked to Mary's bedside, squatting down to touch her forehead, seeing the tears on Mary's face, mother let out an almost imperceptible sigh, embracing Mary in her arms.

  "Mary, my poor Mary."

  Mom

  "Am I going to die?"

  "Poor Mary, sleep tight."

  "Mom, will Dad come back?"

  Mom didn't answer Mary, she just patted Mary's back, and neither of them spoke again.

  The next morning, Charlotte returned home to find her family sitting around the dinner table. Her parents greeted her warmly and invited her to join them for breakfast. Katie winked at her ambiguously. Afraid that her parents would worry, Charlotte was about to explain why she hadn't come home the night before when Lydia hastily interrupted:

  "Hurry up and eat, you must be starving after just getting back."

  I don't know why Lydia didn't ask about last night, but since they didn't ask, she was fine not saying anything. After all, this matter was too dangerous, the less they knew, the better.

  Back in the room, changed into a white cotton skirt for staying at home, and familiarized or adapted to one's own face in front of the mirror.

  "Being so fond of looking in the mirror, have you seen the Duke of Windsor?"

  As soon as she pushed open the door, Kitty couldn't help but tease her sister Charlotte, who was completely absorbed in front of the mirror.

  "What is the Duke of Windsor?"

  "Hmm~ You're still pretending not to know. Yesterday, the Duke of Windsor sent someone to say that my sister was invited to attend the Duke's mother's party. Tell me, is it because the Duke has a crush on you, so he used his mother's party as an excuse to invite you?"

  I didn't expect the Duke of Windsor to be so "persistent". Charlotte felt a bit helpless, and now it's not possible for her to avoid him either.

  "Katie, you're thinking too much. Don't go around talking nonsense, in case others hear it and think we're trying to curry favor with the Duke of Windsor."

  "What! Who are we trying to curry favor with? The Lucas family may not be nobles, but we're wealthy enough to rival a country. Why should we try to win them over?"

  Charlotte sighed again, it's all because she was too wealthy, so there were so many people eyeing her covetously!

  Then don't go around spreading rumors!

  "Hmph, anyway it's a fact, they gossip because they're jealous that you married well."

  Charlotte was about to slap her forehead! With her scheme on the verge of being exposed, Charlotte had no choice but to take a bitter route. As for whether Katie would misunderstand or not? Well, she already did, so whatever.

  Charlotte immediately changed into a 45° melancholic posture, her voice drifting away.

  "The Duke and I of Windsor dislike high profile."

  Having said that, Charlotte pretended to be depressed and lowered her head, leaving Katie a large space for imagination.

  Charlotte sent away Katie and fell into deep thought. Since returning from the Duke of Windsor's house, she had been thinking about a question: what happened next in Cinderella's story? Did the prince and Cinderella experience a rebellion or not? If there really was a rebellion, would she become cannon fodder? No way, absolutely not! Once the rebellion really happened, no matter who won, her family would definitely be sacrificed. Would she become a stepping stone for others to ascend to the throne? Even if Charlotte didn't care about herself, she had to think about Lucas's family, since she occupied their eldest daughter's body and should take responsibility for taking care of them. She couldn't just follow her own desires and leave. Moreover, now that she had found Mary, it was even more impossible for her to let Mary wander with her between countries. It seemed that this rebellion, which might not even happen, required her to make early plans.

  Last night, Rochester heard from his servant's report that the beautiful young lady got on the carriage of Duke Windsor's house. The one who came to pick her up was the steward of Duke Windsor's house and the knight most trusted by Duke Windsor. It seems that this young lady is indeed a noble lady of Duke Windsor's house. Our prince has been thinking about her beautiful face since he returned to the palace, it's time for the palace to hold a banquet.