Missing Cinderella

“Are you sure you’re alright with just leaving a letter?” Nina, who had been watching Siella for a while, spoke up. “Are you sure you don’t want to see that little kid wake up?”

At Nina’s question, Siella paused for a moment to think before nodding her head. 

“There’s nothing I can do about him anyway.”

“…”

“There are three doctors tending to him, so I’m sure he’ll wake up soon.”

Nina looked as if she had more to say when Siella said that, but she quietly shut her mouth and fell silent. As they continued walking, Siella remembered the letter she had left in Edwin’s room. Camellia promised her to give him the letter as soon as he wakes up, but she couldn’t help but feel a little sad. 

She was a little sad parting with Edwin like this, knowing that she would never be able to see him again. After all, Edwin was the only one in the mansion who had ever shown her kindness. She doesn’t particularly believe in destiny or fate, but she still hoped that one day, even if it was a coincidence, she would run into Edwin. 

“Siella, what’s with your expression? Are you sad because it’s finally time to leave?”

“No, it’s just… I’m just having mixed emotions.”

Siella looked back at Nina with a faint smile. Nina was a little confused. 

“Oh, you’re having mixed feelings? Why would you? Everyone here is mean to you.”

“Well, I’ve lived here for a long time.” With a gloomy smile, Siella muttered in a small voice, “But I don’t think I’ll ever come back here, so I’m just….”

“…”

“I’m just worried about Prince Edwin.”

She slowly turned around and the huge mansion came into full view, so large that it seemed to swallow her whole. Siella realized that the place had eaten up a lot of her time, digested it and threw it away, and that’s why it seemed to be still standing upright. That’s why it was a good thing that she’s leaving now, before it was too late, before she was completely eaten up. 

“Miss Siella!” 

Siella had just stepped out of the front door when she heard a voice behind her. It was Patrick, the Head Butler, rushing out of the mansion and panting. 

“Where are you going today? And where on earth have you been going lately….”

“Move.”

“No, I won’t.”

With a resolute face, Patrick lifted his chin and looked down at Siella. 

“The Duke wants to see you.”

Siella burst out laughing. 

“If he’s looking for me, am I the one who must drop what I am doing and answer his call?”

“…”

“I don’t know why he’s looking for me but tell the Duke that I will talk to him later.”

Siella coldly said and walked past Patrick. Nina sneered at the frozen Patrick and hurried after Siella. but before they could take more than a few steps, Siella was grabbed by the knights under Patrick’s orders.

“What kind of rudeness is this?”

“The Duke is looking for you, Miss Siella.”

“I thought I already told you I’d come to see him later.”

Patrick slightly flinched at Siella’s glare, but he didn’t tell the knights to back off. 

“I have been ordered to keep Miss Siella inside the office until the Duke returns.”

“What?”

Siella wryly smiled with a disappointed face. Eschert didn’t seem to be at the mansion right now. 

“Go in and wait for him. This is the Duke’s order.”

“I said no.”

Patrick turned to the knights, deciding that there was no point in reasoning with Siella anymore. 

“Take her inside.”

“Yes!”

(T/N: This isn’t the first time I wished I could transmigrate into a story and kill a character so bad like this [unsheathing my imaginary sword].)

The knights grabbed Siella’s arms and began to drag her away. Siella struggled not to be dragged, but she found it difficult to overcome the strength of grown men. 

At that moment, Nina, who had been watching the situation unfold, drew her sword. As soon as Siella saw her, her face paled and screamed at Nina. 

“Nina!” Her shout sounded like a scream. “Don’t!” 

Nina paused as she was about to swing her sword at the knights who were dragging Siella away by force. 

“Don’t do it. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“But, my Lady, they rashly put their hands on you, and even tried to drag you using force….”

“I don’t really want you to get hurt because of me, I really do. I’m alright, so put your sword away.”

“…”

Nina sighed, finally giving in to Siella’s pleas and sliding her sword back into its sheath. 

“Just go and tell Lena that I’ll be a little late. And wait for me at the inn with Lena.”

“But that leaves you here all alone.”

“That’s okay.” Siella smiled weakly, “I have the weapon you picked for me.”

“…”

Nina didn’t think that Siella could do anything significant with that dagger. But she couldn’t just ignore Siella’s plea, so she nodded her head. 

“Alright, I will do as you say for now. But if my Lady doesn’t come to the inn no matter how long we wait….”

“Mm, thank you.”

Siella laughed, interrupting Nina’s words as she was about to say that she and Lena would break into the Duke’s mansion. Sighing once more, Nina slipped past the knights who warily looked at her. She then made her way out of the mansion. 

Once Siella was sure that Nina was safely out of the mansion, she turned to Patrick. 

“I can take care of myself, so let go of me.”

With a sneer tugging at the corners of his mouth, Patrick told the knights to let go. 

“Let her go.”

(T/N: Siella, you shouldn’t have stared at the mansion and just straight walked out, tsk tsk [shakes head])

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“The Duke said that his schedule was disrupted by the heavy rain, so he won’t be able to arrive at the mansion until tomorrow around noon.”

“…”

“So Miss Siella, why don’t you return to your bedroom first and come to the office tomorrow?”

(T/N: And where did you see a person who wants to see you but they themselves aren’t present and still want to make you wait and adjust to his schedule? [rolling my eyes for the umpteenth time])

Without another word, Siella rose from her seat and walked out of the office. 

Until the end – until the very end, Eschert had her pride trampled this way. How could he do this? At this point, she was almost in awe. 

Back in her room, Siella looked out the window and saw the knights guarding the main entrance of the mansion. This makes sneaking out in the middle of the knight difficult. 

She gritted her teeth in anger and sat down as calmly as she could. Siella thought: Since things had come to this, I need to get out of here after I give Eschert one last notice. If he doesn’t listen to me this time, then I will threaten him. 

‘If he still didn’t listen to me after that….’ 

At that point, there’s only one way left. Now that I have nowhere to retreat, there’s no looking back. 

Siella gripped the scabbard of the dagger in her hand tighter, looking straight ahead with determination in her eyes. Just then, someone knocked on her door. 

“Miss Siella, are you inside…?”

It was Camellia’s voice. Siella pondered for a moment before standing up. This was the first time Camellia had come to see her, so there must be something important going on. 

“What’s the matter?”

Siella asked as soon as she opened the door, and Camellia hesitated before opening her mouth. 

“That… Louie had woken up a while ago, and he said he wanted to see Miss Siella….”

Edwin had woken up, which was the only good thing in this shitty situation. But she didn’t want to see Edwin in this kind of horrible mood. Siella was about to decline, but Camellia quickly spoke when she noticed it. 

“Louie said that there’s something he must tell you, Miss Siella.”

(T/N: I feel unsettled. Siella, just run, I’ll even give you a pair of wings.)