Cinderella Crazy
Idle, huh?

The clock is 10pm and the rain has just stopped. With her family's horse-drawn carriage, Ashley goes to the casino.

He figured that Daryl wouldn't be there. But from the beginning, the goal was not to meet the man. He just used Daryl's money to fill his pocket back.

For three consecutive days, the Midgraff family train was always seen in the casino. It certainly attracts the attention of the general public.

Usually the train is seen there early, so that more people know. But now he comes more late, like telling the night visitors who have never been aware of his presence.

No one knew who was wearing the train, as none of them had ever seen a figure descending or boarding it.

At first they thought it was Vincent, but the beliefs of the people who idolized him, dismissed the rumors. The choice fell on Marion and Ashelia.

There are indeed many people who have seen Ashelia when going to the stick shop, but the scale is now much larger. Those people are now only counted 'twist' and obviously will not be able to convince the wider community who have different thoughts, people who still think that the girl is impossible to get out of the house.

Marion was the one who later got the accusation. Women with ordinary backgrounds, who married rich old men, now behave like parasites by squandering the property of the person. Marion's dignity was increasingly falling in the eyes of the general public as well as the nobles.

Inside the casino, the woman who had deliberately given the gossip material, was playing with the man who had been waiting for him for hours.

"I don't think you came today."

"Ujans. The cave doesn't like to get wet."

Different than usual, Ashley was silent throughout the game. He didn't tease Daryl or try to keep him out of focus.

He also wears gloves, although never before. The glove was actually worn to cover his bruised hands from hitting the door. But Daryl thought, maybe it was because it was cold, because the rain had just subsided a while ago.

As there was no conversation between them, Daryl began to feel awkward. He tried to find a topic of conversation, but he also did not know what to discuss. Daryl is not a socialite. He is also not used to starting conversations.

"Lo, man,"

Ashley suddenly started making noises after about an hour of silence.

"Its, huh?"

Ashley's question is piercing right in Daryl's heart. He who has only been working and working, lately has often postponed his work to meet Ashley.

Seeing Vincent's endless activities, even at night, makes Daryl who he always met when after sunset, looks to have a lot of time. Even the man waited until late at night.

Daryl tried to find an excuse, as it was impossible for him to say if he had deliberately delayed his work in order to meet the girl.

"I finished it early."

"Hm." Ashley replied without any intention of extending their conversation.

After a few hours of playing,

"Your time is up, miss."

Ashley immediately took the rest of her coins and stood up even though their game was not finished. Daryl just looked at her confusedly before following her away.

"Did something happen?" Tanya Daryl who was only responded to by Ashley.

"You're not playing like you used to."

Ashley laughed when she heard someone worrying about her.

"It's also you're still losing." Ledeknya.

Daryl's mouth was silenced because he could not dismiss the fact. His worried expression turned into a stupefied expression. For Ashley, that facial expression was more suitable for Daryl.

"Rather than thinking of others, mending lo lakain things that will not lo seselin."

"Who knows you're a lightning camper who's moved to another world, right?" Ashley said as if laughing at her own destiny.

Hearing the girl's joke beside him, Daryl laughed.

"That's too impossible."

Ashley just smiled looking far ahead. Thinking about his words makes no sense. So did destiny happen to him.

After exchanging the coins, as usual, the woman disappeared while she was next to Daryl. Understanding the woman's mysteriousness, Daryl just smiled.

He then remembered the plan to ambush the woman the other day. A plan he deliberately didn't tell Vincent because he didn't like it despite being in the same faction.

Is it because it failed? But he also knew Ashley's original intention was only to investigate something related to Madame Midgraff.

Remembering Marion, he remembered Ashelia's shoes. As with Ashley, Ashelia now also wears a prosthetic leg.

"Are fake legs trending right now?"

He then thought of the possibility if the two of them were the same person. Daryl shook his head, trying to shake off the thought.

His subordinate did say that Ashelia had turned into a thug. But Ashley's nature is very different from the Ashelia she knows. He also still believes that Ashley is a person who came from another country.

His mind continued to come and there without really getting an answer. The topic changes until it ends up in her delayed work.

He then closed his eyes, trying to sleep so that his brain would get some rest.

...****************...

The next day, their gambling activities were repeated.

As is customary, Daryl will finish his job when the sun goes down and get ready to go to the casino.

"Daryl."

Daryl's assistant always calls Daryl's name if he's upset with his master. Realizing that, Daryl stopped and tried to listen.

"You've been so wasteful lately."

Just like a little kid who was caught making a mistake, his assistant could read the man's expression clearly.

"Are you close to someone?"

Hearing the question, Daryl's gaze turned cynical. He does not like if the only thing he likes, is also still meddled by others.

"Why indeed?"

Knowing that Daryl was offended by his words, the assistant sighed and tried to convey his concerns as gently as possible.

"You haven't been excited in a long time. I don't want him to just take advantage of your status."

"He doesn't know who I am."

"What are all those expenses related to him?"

"That's my stash money."

His assistant only silently heard his master's stubborn reply. He then turned his face and said,

"As your assistant. I'm asking you to be careful."

Daryl turned around without answering him and walked out the door.

"As your friend, I want to say-"

Hearing that, Daryl stopped his steps once again and looked back, trying to listen to what his friend wanted to say.

His assistant then turned to him with a smile. Not a warm or sticky smile. It was a smile that an older brother would give to encourage his younger brother. A smile that a friend would give her wholehearted support.

"Have fun, man." Next later.

Daryl was silent before finally smiling because of the support of his best friend and brother.

"Thanks, Will." He said, who then went to meet the girl who was able to make her enjoy life again.

After Daryl is out of sight. His assistant took his coat and followed Daryl. His curiosity was now unbearable.

^^^Connected...^^^