I'm Not Cinderella

The Thief

Spring is almost here. That means it's an opening season for the coming-of-age ladies, daughters of the esteemed nobles. The Fyurdur's are no exceptions. They have two young ladies who will join the debutante season. The eldest, Lady Addeya, joined last year and has failed to get a match. Now she will be joining again with her younger sister, Lady Arabella, for this year's season in hopes of securing one.

The Fyurdur spared no expense for their two ladies and planned to go to the Capital early so they could order ahead of the dresses for Lady Addeya and Lady Arabella to wear. They were preparing the ladies for the royal ball, the event that will open the season.

"I'll bet five whole silvers that Lady Addeya will find hers first."

"I bet for Lady Arabella!"

"From what I heard Lady Addeya caught the eyes of Viscount Rubin last season. So I'm putting mine on Lady Addeya!"

"That rumor is not true. Viscount Rubin has his eyes set on Lady Addeya's friend, Lady Fiona." Sarah smugly said.

Ian gasped. "What? Where did you hear that from?"

"Ooh, I also heard that from Lady Addeya's personal maid. That's why Lady Addeya shut herself for almost a month the moment she arrived back here last year," Tanya, another one of our co-workers from the opposite wing, interjected.

Ian groaned. "What? And here I thought she caught a disease in the Capital." Ian looked back at young boy Jack. "Is there a chance I can change my bet?" Ian pleaded.

Young boy Jack laughed and immediately pocketed the coins before Ian could grab them back. "No can do, you know the rules Ian!"

Ian sighed. "Why did I bet a month's worth of salary?"

Sarah giggled. "Aha! That's what you get for bullying me! How about you Cindy, who will you bet?"

"Sarah you should know better that Cindy never wastes her money on bets. Unlike you and Ian." Tanya said.

I gave a weak smile and continued eating my lunch. Rosilyn's true identity is still weighing in my head.

"I'll put my bet on Lady Arabella!" Tanya tossed her coin on Jack, who caught it with one hand.

"Aye mam!" Jack gave a weak salute.

Sarah looked at me, concern written all over his face. "Are you sure you're okay? You seem off since last week."

"I'm surprised you noticed." I jokingly said. I gave her a full-teeth smile. "Better?"

She gave a small chuckled, but she still eyed me with concern.

Trying to erase my thoughts about Rosilyn, I impulsively decided on joining the bet. "You know what, I'll bet on Lady Addeya." Everyone in the room gasped.

"Who is this person right in front of me? Where is the Cindy that I know?" Tanya asked while shaking my shoulders. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Ian doing a little dance while pumping his fist up in the air.

"Cindy, you are my savior. At least I won't go down alone in this bet." Ian said in the background.

Sarah went to him and slapped his head. I stood up, clearing up the table and placing the dishes on the sink. While the two were arguing, I stared at my hands.

"Are you sure you're okay Cindy?" Tanya asked. "What's with the both of you? I'm fine." I assured her. "Can you do me a favor and wash the dishes here, I need to go clean the windows in the hallway."

"Yeah sure. I'll take that for you."

I hurriedly walked out of the kitchen, headed to the cleaning room. I emptied the dirty bucket, filled it with clean water, and added a little soap. I grabbed a piece of dry rags on the shelves and left the room. As I proceeded to the hallway, I noticed the guest room slightly open.

No one was supposed to be there. I took a peek and almost dropped the bucket of water I was carrying.

"Rosilyn, what are you doing right now?"

She turned around, wide-eyed. She closed the closet and hurriedly hid something behind her.

"N-nothing. I was just cleaning the room."

"You're cleaning the guest room?"

"Yes, the head maid ordered me."

"When our masters are preparing for the capital?"

"Well, it's uh..." She started to fidget around. Then tears began to form in her eyes. And not a second later, she began to cry hysterically. I stood there frozen and sighed.

"Listen," I entered the room, awkwardly hugging her. Unsure of what I'm supposed to do here. I rubbed her back until she started to calm down.

"I-I didn't want to go here in the f-first p-place. A-and the head maid is s-so scary. P-plus you h-hate me." She hiccup.

Wow, that was surprising. "Who said I hated you?" Even though I was suspicious of her, I never told anyone about it. And it wasn't as heavy as hating her.

"Y-you glared a-at me the l-last time." She mumbled. I was suddenly hit with guilt. I genuinely didn't mean to glare at her. Then I felt terrible about my suspicions towards her.

"Come on, I'll help you clean here. How about that?"

"I-it's fine. I need to do this so I'll g-get used to it." She said, wiping her tears.

I gently patted her head. "Alright, well I'm heading the main hall. If ever you need me I'll be right there." Wow, I can't believe those words come out of my mouth.

"T-thank you."

I left the emotional girl alone in the guest room. And it made me wonder, why did the head maid order her to clean the guest room?

I shake my head and let the topic go. I'm sure she has her reasons. I started wiping the windows with the damp cloth when suddenly I heard a loud crash. Not yet finished with my task, I decided to ignore it and continue wiping the windows.

Out of nowhere, a hand grabbed my wrist, making me drop the rag.

"Ouch," I hissed in pain from the tightness of the person's hold.

I turned around and was faced by the head maid. "You stupid, thieving girl!" She shouted, finally letting go of her grip.

"W-what's wrong Madam?" I asked, shock. She shoved a handful of jewelry in front of my face. "How dare you steal the Mistress's jewelry."

"W-what? I don't understand Madam." Almost choking up the words. "I've worked here f-for so long, I wouldn't dare do that to our Mistress!"

"Then explain how I found this under your bed!" "I swear Madam, I didn't steal those jewelry!" I looked around and saw Rosilyn looking guilty.

"I know what kind of person you are, girl. You pretend to be faithful to your masters, taking advantage of their generosity, and waiting for the moment to steal from them! Come," She grabbed my hands again.

"I'm taking you to the Mistress, and await for your punishment!."

I started to struggle to get her grip off as I felt my tears rolling in my cheeks. My heart started to pump loudly in my chest.

"Madam, I beg of you, I didn't do it!" I kept on pleading to her, but it was no use.

"What is going on here." The butler, Sir Reynold, stopped us. He looked at me and frowned.

"Please explain what's going on here Elda."

"This girl stole from the Mistress!" The head maid firmly said, tightening her grip more.

"Please let her go. I know Cindy is not the type of person."

If the head maid is the monster, the butler of the Fyurdur is like our guardian angel.

"You're too soft. She deserves to be punished! Her hands should be cut off!"

"C-cut off?" I repeated.

The butler gave out a weary sigh. "Let her go or else I'll tell our masters how you forged the recommendation letter of that new girl."

Forge the recommendation of the new girl? Are they talking about Rosilyn? "W-what? H-how did yo- You know what fine!" She threw my arm and huffed. She stomped out of the way and left us both here.

"Thank you so much, I swear I didn't steal the jewelry." I gratefully said.

"I know you're not that type of person. Even among the servants, there is injustice in the air."

"Let me repay you, Sir Reynold!" I hold his wrinkled hands.

"Ho ho, dear Cindy it's fine. But if you want to help this old man, then do me a favor and make sure the new girl won't make a mess in the Capital."

"What do you mean?" Afraid of what he is getting on.

"This old man is about to retire and I won't be following our master to the Capital. That's why I want you to go with the Fyurdur's to the Capital."