Chapter 1: Love at First Sight

  "No one knew how beautiful things she had seen, how happy she was, as she walked with her grandmother into the happiness of the New Year." The choked voice read on, stuttering through the ending of Andersen's little match girl.

  It was late at night, and the students in the library left one after another. Outside the window, this year's first snow began to fall. The students who walked out of the door cheered and frolicked. The snow seemed to be moved by people's welcome, falling more and more heavily.

  The hustle and bustle was isolated outside the girl's fairy tale world, in front of her was a snow-covered street, warm light spilled out from the windows of the houses on both sides of the street, softly wrapping around the pedestrians on the road, she walked forward blindly, her feet feeling as if they were stepping on cotton.

  As she walked into a bright restaurant, through the window she could see people inside raising their glasses in celebration, listening to joyful songs and laughter. The girl was suddenly enlightened, this warmth and excitement on the road was because of Christmas. Suddenly, a faint sobbing sound came from her ear, the girl was startled, who was alone and sad on this festive day? Following the source of the sound, she looked at the corner under the window, where a small figure was curled up, only a golden long hair could barely see that it was a little girl. The little girl stretched out her dirty hand to light a match, the jumping flame lit up the little girl's eyes, the girl opened her eyes wide but couldn't see the girl's face, only a pair of big eyes full of happiness. The match burned rapidly and went out, at the same time, the vitality in the little girl's eyes also went out.

  The girl finally remembered that the little girl who followed her grandmother to heaven in a happy fantasy was the one in front of her. She stumbled forward, wanting to pick up the poor little girl, and just as she was about to stretch out her hand, she felt dizzy in front of her eyes.

  At the same time, Charlotte, the eldest daughter of the Lucas family, slowly opened her eyes. Miss Charlotte was shocked to look around her room, a European-style luxurious large bed, diamond-encrusted crystal chandeliers, light brown wallpaper with intricate floral patterns, elegant oil paintings on the wall, pure white carpets without any dust, and the gentle breeze blowing through the half-open window rustling the thin lace-edged curtains. The luxurious yet delicate decor showed that the person who arranged the room was very meticulous. No one had changed Miss Charlotte's room, except that in this fairy tale world, a modern girl's soul lived inside Miss Charlotte's body.

  Charlotte, whose emotions had calmed down a bit, got up from the sofa in front of the bookshelf and came to the dresser that was worth a lot of money at first glance. Looking at the girl in the mirror, Charlotte's heart lake, which had just calmed down, set off another huge wave. The dense golden hair was casually tied back with a pearl hairband, but it didn't look sloppy because of its casualness, and instead had a charming laziness. The white porcelain skin shone with dazzling light under the sparkling lights, and the deep eyes were shining with water after a short nap. The pink cheeks added a touch of cuteness to the exquisite face. The bright red dress outlined the girl's full breasts and slender waist, and the fiery red color blended magically with the girl's charming figure, beautiful face, and mysterious temperament, making Charlotte the most beautiful young lady in Anasi town.

  "Charlotte, knock, knock, Charlotte, open the door quickly, knock, knock, knock."

  A knock at the door interrupted Charlotte's reverie, she furrowed her good-looking eyebrows, somewhat dissatisfied with the visitor's rudeness. But wait, isn't Charlotte a familiar name? Could I have transmigrated into Cinderella's sister or something? Shaking her head to get rid of these ridiculous thoughts, Charlotte turned around and slowly opened the door. Outside, she only saw an empty staircase, a hint of puzzlement flashed across her eyes before returning to calmness.

  "Ahhhhhh!!!"

  A ghost mask suddenly enlarged in front of her eyes, and Charlotte didn't seem to be scared at all, just raised an eyebrow in disdain. The girl took off the mask with some disappointment and threw it on the ground, pouting and muttering to herself.

  "Sister, you're so boring, even Cinderella burst into tears when she saw me."

  Cinderella? Charlotte apparently caught the key point of her sister's words. Had she really crossed over into Andersen's fairy tale world?

  "Katie, you're bullying her again."

  "Hahaha, she's shaking all over, and a layer of dust has fallen off her. She really doesn't look like the young lady from Lucas' house."

  Katie said with a face full of disdain, as if she was talking about someone other than her own sister.

  "Sister, aren't you really going to decorate the Christmas tree with us? Mom is looking forward to it, go ahead, I want Natalie to give her blue sapphire."

  Cinderella, Christmas. A bold idea flashed through Charlotte's mind, if it was an Andersen fairy tale, then the little match girl might also be here.

  Before Kitty could finish speaking, Charlotte hastily interrupted

  "Tell mom I'm going out for a bit and will be back soon."

  She finished speaking and hurried downstairs, Katie was shocked by her sister's abnormal behavior and stood still on the spot.

  The grand hall on the first floor was a far cry from the dreamy rooms upstairs, with its massive vaulted ceiling, sweeping staircase, intricately carved banisters and floor that could accommodate hundreds of people, all covered in light brown carpet. The wooden round tables were low-key yet majestic. Flames danced in the two-person-high fireplace, crackling sounds emanating from the burning wood, as servants occasionally whispered to each other.

  The sound of footsteps overhead startled everyone, and the servants looked up to see it was Miss Charlotte. They immediately returned to their work. Only Lydia watched with concern as Charlotte rushed over, stretching out a hand to steady her.

  "Good girl, slow down, Natalie, bring Miss's new dress over."

  "Mom, I'm going out for a bit, I'll be right back."

  Charlotte didn't have time to marvel at Lydia's beauty, which was not inferior to her daughter's. She just uttered a perfunctory phrase and ran out with the maids, bypassing Lydia.

  When Kitty came to herself, Charlotte had already stepped out of the door. Kitty took a few steps across Charlotte's room and leaned half her body out of the window, shouting at Charlotte's retreating back.

  "Where are you going?"

  Charlotte's feet didn't stop, but her voice was very steady.

  "The brightest restaurant in town"

  Not to mention at home, Charlotte had only seen the street where the little girl was in her dreams. Based on a vague impression, she searched for it in a small town with hundreds of streets, which was no different from finding a needle in a haystack.

  As the sky darkened, Charlotte had lost count of how many streets she had walked, and didn't even bother to wipe away the beads of sweat on her forehead. She focused intently on observing the houses by the roadside, her feet running faster and faster. The bright moon rose, its weak light gradually growing brighter, and the joyful voices along the way sounded like a death knell in Charlotte's ears, as if the little girl might die at any moment!

  Still unfamiliar streets, Charlotte suddenly stopped, the dimly lit street that couldn't see the end was like a beast that swallowed people, swallowing her hope in one mouthful, her knees softened for a while, Charlotte didn't fall down hard, the little girl in her dream who was full of happy eyes until death kept waving in her mind.

  The next one, maybe it's the next one.

  Charlotte regained some strength and started running again, slowly but steadily. Through the dimly lit alleys, just a left turn, an unexpected surprise rushed towards Charlotte, almost making her stand unsteadily. Right in front of her was the street from her dream, and the uncertainty before was confirmed by what she saw with her own eyes. Eagerly, Charlotte stepped forward to "the brightest restaurant".

  Mary struck the second match, and in its weak flame a roasted goose came waddling along, sending forth savory smells that made Mary's mouth water. The flame danced and flickered and then went out. Mary struck the third match, and this time she saw her mother, who looked at her with warm, loving eyes, full of concern.

  Charlotte was suddenly moved by the little girl's cry of "sister" and opened her arms to hug her, softly comforting her. Mary hadn't been treated so gently in a long time, and in Charlotte's embrace, the little girl's accumulated grievances were released like a volcanic eruption. Looking at the small ball of tears in her arms, Charlotte felt both heartache and helplessness, and could only continue to comfort her, one hand gently stroking the child's back.

  A quiet corner of the restaurant, Rochester withdrew his gaze from outside the window and stared at the delicious food on his plate, eating elegantly as if he wasn't the same person who had just been staring out the window in a daze.

  The servant of His Highness is obviously not as well-bred as his master and is also talkative.

  "She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, and Princess Visar of Visar City looks like a coarse peasant woman compared to her. If only I could ask her to dance..."

  Receiving the master's cold glance, the servant immediately stopped his unrealistic fantasy. Unfortunately, the servant couldn't stay honest for long, because he saw the beauty walking into the dining hall and immediately excitedly reminded the master.

  "Your Highness, she's coming!"

  Rochester looked in the direction indicated by the servant, and indeed saw a lovely young woman with disheveled golden hair that could not hide her natural beauty. She stood there, her elegant figure captivating, and her absolutely beautiful face was full of tenderness, her cherry lips opening and closing as if saying something. Rochester suddenly felt a warmth in his heart, and hastily lowered his eyelids, using drinking water to cover up the unusual feeling just now.

  Looking at the little girl's wolfing down food, Charlotte felt extremely distressed. Charlotte was still a modern girl when she was deeply moved by the little matchstick girl, and after experiencing that dream, she personally saved the little girl, perhaps the little girl and she were destined to be together. Thinking so, Charlotte's eyes became even softer as she looked at the little girl.

  Charlotte was unaware that in Rochester's eyes, her gaze was like honey luring him into sin, sweet and deadly.

  "Sixpence altogether, thank you, miss."

  Charlotte rummaged through her pocket and was somewhat embarrassed to find that she hadn't brought any money. She asked the waiter with a lack of confidence,

  "Can I use my pearl hairband as payment for the meal?"

  "I'm extremely sorry."

  The waiter also looked at Charlotte with some difficulty.

  People around her started whispering, Charlotte had never felt so embarrassed in her life, her face turned bright red, and she didn't know what to do.

  A gentleman should solve any problem for a beautiful lady.

  Just as Charlotte was at a loss in Charlotte, a guest took the initiative to help her solve the problem of meals. Charlotte smiled gratefully at this guest and unexpectedly saw a flash of lust in the "benefactor's" eyes, but in an instant it was again the elegant image of a gentleman. Before Charlotte thought she had seen wrongly

  "Charlotte Lucas, My father will thank you properly for your generosity. Farewell."

  "Miss Charlotte, I think your father must be worried about you going home alone. Why don't you take a ride in my carriage?"

  "Thank you for your kindness, I think my home is not far from here."

  Charlotte felt that this "good Samaritan" was a bit too enthusiastic, and didn't want to get entangled with him any further. Charlotte said as much, then took the little girl's hand and headed outside.