Cinderella Crazy
So it broke?

The sound of a clock echoed through the entire corridor of the house. Time has shown soon it's time for lunch. A few minutes later, someone knocked on Ashley's door informing her that the food was ready to be served.

Once there, Vincent and Marion arrive first. But Ashley's seat was still empty. As if accepting or accustomed, Marion now always sits beside Vincent.

"Good day, Count."

Saya Ashley who then changed the center of her view to Marion without greeting her. As usual, Vincent greeted him kindly.

The waiter began serving appetizers.

Bellena stood not far behind Ashley. Bending his head he glanced towards Marion's personal servant. So did Ashley.

His face was calm yet solemn, like a professional servant. He was also not far from Marion. The servant was not the one Marion had brought from her old residence, but one of the workers in the Midgraff family.

It is indeed possible for someone to be able to dedicate himself as well as it is in just 2 years. But the Marion they're talking about here, the wicked stepmother whose background isn't even that amazing.

Maybe the waiter was also an opportunist like Bellena and just pretended to be loyal, Ashley thought.

Marion had a little conversation with Vincent. After noticing him, Vincent does look to love Marion. He did not ignore every word Marion spoke and responded kindly.

"I heard you went out today." Said Vincent suddenly with a glowing face.

"Yes, Sir. I went to take my fake leg."

"Ah, yes. It already? Is comfortable?"

"Yes, sir, the work is pretty good. This stick is also his work." Ashley answered while showing the wand with an elegant design that she left to Bellena.

Vincent looks satisfied with the enthusiasm shown by his only daughter. His face became brighter than before. Seeing that, Ashley was almost fooled. Because it was too natural, he could no longer imagine that his father was acting. In addition to his admiration, his fear also increased.

"Often go out, you haven't been out for a long time, have you?"

"Good, sir."

Vincent laughed when he heard Ashley's reply. His advice sounds like an order.

As usual, when Ashley and Vincent talked, Marion never took part in any of them. Even so Vincent did not force them to talk to each other.

After he finished eating, Vincent was about to go out on a job. His busy schedule was already waiting for the middle-aged man to finish his lunch. His wife and daughter drove him out.

Vincent stopped at the main hall and saw a brown vase he had never seen before. The vase has replaced the vase that broke a few days ago.

"What is the vase replaced?" Ask Vincent.

The servants who heard him fell silent. They look tense. Even Bellena who wouldn't be blamed looked worried as well. Ashley really did not understand the way the young girl thought. As if worrying is her hobby.

However, among all of them, there was someone much more tense than anyone, the Chief Maid who was now also there.

"Ah, yes. I also feel like there's been something different since yesterday." Ashley Fishing.

"Isn't the old one a gift from Mrs Rusi?"

Rusi is a surname who is also a Count. His leadership area was quite far from Lozan. Therefore, during a visit to the Midgraff residence, they brought the vase and some other items as a hand.

Ashley didn't know the selling price of the vase, but it did look good. Who would have thought if it was a gift from one of the Countess. As if he had hit the jackpot Ashley almost showed his excited face, inversely proportional to the Head Maid Woman whose face paled like an undead.

Of course he already knew the vase was a gift from whom. He just never thought it would end up like it is now.

"Ah, right. It also looks better here." Marion made the servants break out in cold sweat.

Ashley tried to refrain from smiling. Her heart beat faster as she could not wait to see their reaction, Vincent, Marion, and the Chief Maid.

"Wait what? Chips change." Ashley orders one of the maids while trying to maintain her innocent face.

The servant was confused by Ashley, he could not say that Ashley broke it, but also could not say that it was the Wanita Servant Chief who broke it.

"What's? You're saying the vase broke?" Marion asked in an angry tone.

"N-not that I broke it, madam!" He answered while shaking his head.

"So it broke?" Ashley pretended to be surprised.

Seeing the increasingly confused waitress was very comforting to Ashley. The female butler still fell silent not daring to say anything. That made Ashley unwillingly have to lure him out.

"Lo knew the wrong person had to be punished, right?"

"N-not me, Miss! Forgive me!"

Ashley tried to push him. Giving her two options, receiving punishment, or complaining against the Chief Maid.

Vincent just kept quiet, he then took his pocket watch and felt he had to leave immediately.

"I have to go now."

The man who was known to be good-natured just stared at the poor waiter for a moment, before stepping his feet away. His daughter and wife, as well as some people who did not come out of the house gave him greetings.

"So who?" Ashley asked continuing.

Just like before. Whether he was stupid or too kind, he did not mention the butler at all. While the guilty person - or the person who was forced to be guilty - was silent, not daring to admit the mistake that Ashley deliberately made specifically for him. His nature was very different to when he was against Ashley.

"Bring him. Whip 20 times." Said Marion who couldn't wait to get her to talk.

"Punish me Madam! I'm not the one who broke!" He kept shouting as the guards dragged him towards the basement.

Ashley looked at the female butler, and their eyes met. Disappointed by the development of the female butler, Ashley put on a sad face then shook her head before returning to her room followed by Bellena.

The convicted maid would initially blame the Silent Chief Maid, but then she would blame Ashley for asking despite knowing the answer. After that, he again blamed the Chief Maid of Women who could not prevent his vase from breaking, then blamed Ashley who threw it.

But in the end, he would have thought that this would not have happened if the female butler had not opposed Ashley from the start.

That internal split will make Ashley's power more absolute. Prove that no one will protect them when their lives are equally threatened. They can only avoid unwanted events by obeying the orders of the powerful. That person is Ashley. Not Vincent.

Wh why? Because Vincent doesn't control them, but Ashley. Vincent's two hands were already full of affairs that were not passed down to his only daughter.

Arriving at the room, Ashley immediately let go of her laughter. It was ridiculous for him. The one who dared to oppose him did not even dare to bear the punishment and preferred to sacrifice his subordinates. He had betrayed his own subordinates who were extremely loyal to him.

Satisfied laughing, Ashley fixed her sitting position.

"Okay, go to Stepmother." His words are still smiling.

They also negotiated the plan that Ashley had been thinking about during lunch. The plan they will use to test Marion's responses, suspicions, abilities, and connections.

Ashley patted Bellena's back hard, cheering her on after giving the lead role of her plan to the girl.

"S-I'm not sure, Miss."

Ashley tucked her hair behind her ear.

"What?" He asked with a smile pretending not to hear Bellena's words.

"I'll try."

^^^Connected...^^^