Chương 22: Make Sense of it All

We decided to walk to the royal garden. It was pretty, nice and quiet, and we could actually talk there. I had so much to tell her, but first, there was something I simply had to know.

"You must tell me," I insisted.

"What did you say to the prince when he first approached you? His face was a picture of absolute shock and shame!" Cinderella laughed.

"As it should be! He thinks of all us ladies as a chore he must endure, and he should be ashamed. That is exactly what I told him!"

"You did not!" I laugh.

"And what did he say?"

"He started making excuses!" she said.

"'This was all my father's idea, I didn't even want to be here.' Honestly, like a child."

"He said the exact same thing to me," I replied, "when I scolded him in one of my previous repetitions!"

"He was unbelievable," Cinderella continued.

"So I gave him a good scolding about how he should treat people with respect. But then... well, he apologized. He said I was right and that he should definitely change his ways."

"Just like that?" I asked.

"Yes," she smiled.

"He then pointed at his father and told me he'd been eyeing him like a hawk the whole night, calculating the odds of any of the girls giving him a grandchild. And now that we were arguing, it made the King utterly confused. I glanced over at His Majesty, and he did have the most baffled look on his face. It... it just made me laugh!"

"That's nice," I said.

"It looks like the two of you are getting along."

"Well, yes, he was sweet, eventually," Cinderella said.

"But what have you been up to? I haven't seen you all this time."

"Nothing much, I just went and got myself kidnapped, mind you," I added with a mysterious smile.

"What... what do you mean by that?" she asked, instantly looking worried.

"Oh, you won't believe what happened to me in such a short time!" I began.

"I saw this pretty woman with dark hair, and she called out to me, and... she is a time looper, too! I mean, she repeats the two days just like I do! And she chloroformed me! Would you believe it? Kidnapped me, and they threatened me with a musket and a knife, and..."

"Wait, wait just a second." Cinderella's face was a mask of horror. She held my face in her hands and looked me over.

"Are you sure you're alright? Did they hurt you?"

"No... I'm fine," I reassured her.

"They just... well, scared me to death."

"Please, tell me slowly exactly what happened," Cinderella said very seriously. So I told her everything.

"And because you are smart," I concluded, "you can help me make sense of it. Figure out what to do."

"I see," she murmured.

"That is indeed a lot to process... to think that throughout all of history, there has been this secret society of time magicians. Pulling strings from the shadows, whispering in the ears of kings and emperors..."

"They just manipulate people," I said.

"By learning their secrets... they are devious people!"

"Perhaps, but it is still amazing," she said, looking thoughtful.

"So, each loop lasts exactly 112 cycles, though the days vary... and we have 49 cycles left until this loop ends. Meaning, in the last cycle, all the time loopers need to arrange the perfect ending for them."

"Yes," I confirmed.

"That's what Juliette said. All these days are just rehearsals until the final play."

"I see. Forty-nine cycles is a lot of time, but not too much. Did you figure out what you want for your final cycle? And how you intend to achieve it?"

"What?" I said, waving a hand.

"No! I didn't think about that at all! Well, just… about your happy ending. That is simple enough to arrange, surely. I just get you in a room with the Prince, and poof, he is guaranteed to fall head over heels for you, and you will get married and live happily ever after. So I will make sure I do at least that in the final cycle." Cinderella laughed. It was sweet and genuine, and just looking at her filled my chest with warmth. Really, how could a simple laugh do that? She took both my hands in hers.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"That is really sweet of you, Drizella. But what about yourself? What do you want your happy ending to be?"

"I... I'm not sure." I said. I remember wanting Cinderella to marry the prince and have me live with them in the palace. But thinking back, it was weird. What would I have even done there? I'm not sure if that's what I really wanted, and it was too embarrassing to say anyway. She pulled me toward the garden's small stone bridge. We leaned against the smooth marble rim, looking down at the clear brook trickling gently over the pebbles below.

"Think, Drizella," she said.

"You like that Bastien fellow, and you want to be free from your mother. You could also do with… well, a lot of money. Wouldn't your life be much better that way?" I blushed again at what she was implying.

"You mean... marry a commoner?!" She gave me a pointed look.

"Well, I do not terribly mind," I admitted.

"He is good enough to look at, and he has a decent salary and rank. And I suppose I could find ways to steal thousands of francs easily enough." Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"What? No, Drizella!" Cinderella gasped.

"Stealing is wrong. You mustn't do it."

"Ah... wrong? Yes, I mean, very wrong." There was nothing wrong with stealing in my book, as long as you don't get caught, but I didn't want to argue.

"So how else can I use the time magic to make tons of money in a short time?"

"Hmm, good question." Cinderella took a moment to consider.

"Oh, I know! You could gamble in private salons and gentlemen's clubs... heavily disguised as a dashing young man! You will goad a wealthy, arrogant, fat nobleman into a massive, high-stakes bet, and win it all!" That was oddly specific.

"Disguised... as a young man?" I repeated.

"Yes," Cinderella smiled.

"I mean… It wouldn't be that hard." She actually glanced at my chest. Yes, I was as flat as a pressing board.

"You meanie!" I gasped, swatting her arm.

"Oh, don't look at me like that," Cinderella laughed.

"We could make quite the handsome gentleman out of you."

"Do you at least intend to dress me as a proper lady when I actually try to charm Bastien?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You are a time magician," Cinderella laughs.

"You should definitely try both options and see what works best!"

"Yes, well," I said, smoothing my skirts.

"Even if he prefers women... to be honest about it, charming a man… well, it's not exactly my strongest forte. I could honestly use a few pointers from a master seducer like you."

"A master seducer?" Cinderella gasped, placing a hand over her heart.

"You don't truly think of me like that?"

"But I do!" I insisted.

"I have seen you make quick work of the prince several times now. And it's not just him—it's how everyone looks at you!"

"Surely you are exaggerating!" she protested, actually blushing a little. I shook my head in silent disagreement.

"Well, I don't..." She looked thoughtful.

"If I must point out something I do, it must be kindness."

"A what now?" She laughed.

"Kindness. I always try to be as kind as possible to everyone. My father taught me so." Using kindness to seduce men... how devious.

"So you think that... kindness will help?" I asked.

"With Bastien?"

"Yes, and..." She lit up.

"I know! How about I teach you how to sing?"

"Singing?" I asked.

"Well, why not?" she said.

"A good singing voice is a graceful way to catch a man's eye. And, no offense, Drizella, but I happened to have overheard a music lesson or two from the scullery, and… well, you could definitely use some pointers, I dare say."

"I... dare to agree."

"Well, sing something," Cinderella prompted.

"Like, right now?" She nodded. This.. will be embarrassing. I cleared my throat.

"♪ Oh, sing sweet nightingale. Sing sweet nightingale.... ♪""Alright," Cinderella said diplomatically.

"That indeed could use some polish. Try again, but don't force the high notes so much. Breathe from your stomach, not your chest, and let the melody float out softly rather than pushing it." I tried again.

"Definitely better!" she encouraged. She gave me a few more tips and demonstrated the notes herself. I already knew she was an amazing singer, but she was a wonderful teacher as well. Her pedagogical approach was certainly different from Mother's, which mostly consisted of scolding and looking profoundly disappointed.

"We could do this every cycle!" Cinderella said.

"In 49 more lessons, you will sing beautifully! You'll have gentlemen entirely enchanted in no time." Yes... maybe that could work. If I could be rich, and charming, and sing well, coupled with some time-looper tricks to see what angle worked best. Yes... by the last cycle, I could probably charm Bastien. But, should I start it all by drowning in front of him? Oh yes, definitely. We kept talking about ways to make Bastien fall hopelessly in love with me, as we sat on the stone bridge.

Warm light from inside the grand palace shimmered in the dark water below us, while Cinderella's suggestions turned more and more scandalous, until I was actually blushing! One suggestion in particular sounded very familiar...

"You read it!" I accused, pointing at her.

"The Adventures of Fifi Volume 2. The Yodeling Banker of Switzerland!"

"The one and the same," she confessed with a grin.

"When I clean the rooms, I don't miss a juicy novel, and you certainly never notice if I let myself borrow them for an hour or two." Oh my god! I had always wanted to talk to someone about those books, and all this time, Cinderella had been reading them too!

"Wait, so at the end of the book," I started eagerly, "when Lord Harrington locks them in the carriage and the fire starts…" Cinderella burst into a fit of giggles.

"Oh, I nearly fainted! I couldn't believe she unlaced her corset right there on the velvet cushions!" I was having so much fun just sitting there, talking and laughing with Cinderella. I truly couldn't remember a time in my life when I laughed so much, smiling until my cheeks actually ached. But then, I uncontrollably remembered that it will only last until tomorrow night. After that, she would hate my guts again.

It will happen even if I somehow managed to get the magical journal—and I wasn't entirely sure I could pull that off—the thought of losing this version of her stung bitterly. My expression suddenly fell. I couldn't help it.

"What... what's wrong?" she asked, her smile fading into a worried look.

"It's just.." I said, looking down at the dark water. This was embarrassing, really.

"I don't like it.. when you forget it all. And despise me again. Thinking about it… it just hurts."

"Oh, but I gave it much thought!" Cinderella said brightly.

"I have many ideas of what you could say and do that will make me open up to you fast. But… I think it needs to be, eh, gradual. Maybe not exactly like you approached me this morning."

"I don't think it will work," I muttered.

"It's a random. Sometimes you'll believe me, sometimes you won't. I think it only worked this time because I was a crying pathetic mess. But if that doesn't happen… you will just take everything I say as a cruel joke."

"That is not necessarily true..." Cinderella offered, but her voice lacked conviction.

"I've already decided," I said firmly.

"I am going to meet with Juliette and get that magical journal I told you about. This way, you will be the one telling yourself what to think, in your own handwriting, so you'll have to believe it! And each cycle, you can write down what happens. It will be almost like you're a time looper yourself!"

"No, Drizella, I don't like this," she said, her brow furrowing.

"You shouldn't mix with them; Juliette told you that herself. If you go back there... they will want something in return."

"You don't know that," I argued.

"Maybe it's a simple matter, and they will just give me a spare one. It's worth trying."

"I suppose it's possible..." Cinderella sighed.

"But I still don't like it. It all feels wrong to me. Oh, please be careful, Drizella," she pleaded, squeezing my hands.

"There are evil forces going on here. Please don't put yourself at risk just for the journal. We could work things out without it. And remember... the repetitions will end eventually. And then I will have all the days in the world to know you. The real you." She suddenly brushed a stray lock of hair from my face and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"You have changed so much, Drizella," she said softly.

"You are sweet and kind."

"I... I am?" Was I?

"Yes!" Cinderella laughed lightly.

"And believe me, it won't take much time for me or anyone to grow fond of you. So please, believe in yourself, and don't risk your safety for no reason."

"Okay..." I murmured, lowering my gaze. My chest fluttered.

"I will be careful." I wanted to believe what Cinderella said. But I also vividly remembered her ice cold look when she first looked at me when a new cycle started.

'Good morning, Drizella. Sleep well?' That look. I hated it. I didn't want to have her look at me that way again. I hoped it would be easy to get the journal. But if it wasn't... well, I would do whatever it took to get it. We talked some more on the bridge, then we headed back to the palace, got ourselves a royal carriage—courtesy of His smitten Highness—and had a nice, bumpy ride home. When we arrived, the house was quiet.

Because I had thoroughly pissed off Mother this cycle—threatening her with a knife and all—I could safely assume I was banished to Cinderella's room tonight. We'd both have to fit on her single, far-too-small bed. Not the most terrible fate, I suppose.