For the past few days, Valerie lived in the Baron's estate like a true queen.
At this moment, she was lounging lazily on a velvet chaise, crunching on a red apple. The elder stepsister, Iris, was kneeling on the floor, sweating profusely as she massaged Valerie's legs.
"Push harder. Did the Baron's estate run out of dinner?" Valerie raised an eyebrow.
The younger stepsister, Fanny, was carefully holding an ivory comb, brushing Valerie's long hair.
Valerie deliberately made things difficult. "Ouch, you're pulling my hair! So clumsy. Even the royal hounds are gentler than you!"
Fanny shuddered in fright, bowing repeatedly to apologize.
As for Cinderella, who had just finished her heavy chores, Valerie pinched her nose in feigned disgust. "You, go take a bath. Wash yourself thoroughly from head to toe. Don't stink up the air around me."
Hearing this, Iris immediately protested out of spite, "No, Lady Envoy! Boiling bathwater for her would waste so much precious firewood! Besides, if that wench washes up, her face is as seductive as a vixen's..."
Before she could finish, Valerie's icy glare swept over her.
Iris swallowed hard in fear and instantly changed her tune. "What I mean is, I'm so kind-hearted, of course I don't mind my little sister smelling nice! I'll go boil the water right now!"
Valerie ordered the two spoiled ladies, "Listen here. Bring out your best top-tier soap, your brand-new silk dresses, and your most expensive rose ointment for her to use. Remember, I am currently grading your 'kindness levels'."
"Yes, Lady Envoy!" The two women gritted their teeth and swallowed their anger, acting as if they were presenting treasures as they brought out the luxury items they usually couldn't even bear to use themselves.
Once Cinderella walked away, Valerie lowered her voice and asked mysteriously, "Tell me the truth, do you want to be princesses?"
Iris's eyes lit up, shouting without a second thought, "Yes! Even in my dreams!"
Fanny rolled her eyes thoughtfully and probed, "But Lady Envoy, there are so many noble ladies in the city. Do we really have a chance?"
"If you had met any other idiotic court lady, of course you wouldn't." Valerie tossed the apple in her hand, a half-smile on her face. "But you're incredibly lucky. You met me."
"What do we need to do?"
Valerie rubbed her fingers together, her eyes hinting heavily. "That depends on how much 'sincerity' you have towards the royal family."
Iris suddenly understood. She sprinted back to her room, rummaging through her cabinets, and ran out holding a small leather pouch. "Lady Envoy! This is the fifty gold coins I've saved up."
Not to be outdone, Fanny pushed her sister aside and pulled out a heavy mahogany box. "My Lady, I offer one hundred gold coins! Plus a solid gold bracelet!"
Iris was furious. "You bitch! You always pretend to be poor, but you've been hiding so much secret stash behind my back!"
Fanny rolled her eyes. "Idiot! The Prince likes smart women who know how to invest!"
Valerie unceremoniously swept all the gold coins and jewelry into her cloak, suppressing her laughter as she spouted nonsense, "Stop arguing. The royal family currently has two eligible princes. So neither of you will be left out."
"Really?!" The two almost fainted from excitement.
"However..." Valerie rubbed her stomach. "I'm hungry. Shouldn't you prepare something delicious for me?"
"Where's Cinderella? Get out here and cook!" Iris yelled.
Valerie looked at them like they were idiots. "Are your heads filled with mud? If she cooks better than you during my observation, making her look more virtuous, who do you think the prince will choose? A future princess must excel in both the banquet hall and the kitchen!"
"That makes sense!"
And so, the two pampered, vicious sisters who had never lifted a finger in their lives were fooled by Valerie into entering the soot-filled kitchen.
To please the envoy, the two chopped wood and started a fire for the very first time, covering themselves in soot until they looked like two ridiculous lumps of charcoal.
Taking advantage of the two idiots suffering in the kitchen, Valerie quietly visited the woodshed.
"How are you doing, Cinderella?"
Cinderella, having just bathed and changed into a clean dress, was as beautiful as a flower after the rain. Yet she still cowered in the corner like a frightened rabbit. "I'm doing very well... Lady Envoy."
Valerie sighed and tossed the ointment she had extorted from Fanny into her lap. "Here, take this."
Holding the ointment, pearl-like tears fell from Cinderella's eyes. "Lady Envoy, you truly are a good person. Why are you helping me?"
Valerie smiled slyly. "I'm actually your Fairy Godmother, descended from heaven to save you. Do you believe me?"
Cinderella nodded firmly, her eyes pure. "I believe you. Besides my late mother, no one has ever been this good to me."
Valerie's gaze sharpened, her smile fading as her tone turned deadly serious. "Listen to me. Never wait for someone else to save you. You must learn to save yourself."
"How... how do I save myself?" Cinderella looked confused.
Valerie rolled up her sleeves. "Stand up. You chop wood, haul water, and carry flour every day. Your muscle strength is absolutely ten times greater than those two useless trash bags who can't even lift a water basin!"
"Now, clench your fists and hit me with all your might!"
"I don't dare..." Cinderella shrank back.
"You don't even dare to fight back? No wonder you get trampled on!" Valerie said sternly.
"Come on! Think about how they dumped dirty water on your head, how they took a knife to your face! Hit me!"
Awakening the humiliation and fury buried deep within her body, Cinderella finally closed her eyes and swung a wild punch.
"Weak and soft. You couldn't even kill a fly with that. Again!"
Under Valerie's relentless goading, a flash of ruthlessness finally crossed Cinderella's eyes.
Whoosh—!
This time, she pivoted her waist, channeling the terrifying explosive power cultivated from years of hard labor, and delivered a heavy, ferocious punch! Her fist cut through the air. If this hit landed, Valerie's nose bridge would undoubtedly shatter.
"That's more like it!" Valerie swiftly dodged backward, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.
Right at that moment, the kitchen door was pushed open.
Iris and Fanny, faces covered in coal dust, walked in just in time to see Cinderella throwing a punch.
"You little bitch!" Iris shrieked. "You're so jealous that we're going to be princesses that you dare to hit a royal court lady?!"
The two lunged forward like starving wolves.
Smack! Iris delivered a heavy slap, knocking the defenseless Cinderella to the floor.
Fanny was even more vicious. She grabbed Cinderella's newly washed long hair and dragged her entire body toward the massive stone fireplace, where a roaring fire burned.
"I swear I'm going to roast your face in the fire today!"
The scorching heat of the fire stung Cinderella's skin. She struggled desperately, screaming miserably, "Help!! Va—Lady Envoy, save me!!"
However, Valerie stood rooted to the spot, her arms crossed like an icy statue, her eyes devoid of any emotion. She stared at the desperate Cinderella in front of the flames, her voice as cold as a judge from hell:
"I will say this one last time. You must save yourself. Fight back, or burn to death. You choose."