Part 47: Goon Playthrough - Part 47

I'll go to the Ball and show everyone, including my caring family, what one determined girl can do. I hope the Prince is as interesting and promising as everyone says, because after that night, his heart is going to belong to a certain young woman.


You seem very confident about your chances.


Frankly? It's just a front I put up. I have no idea if it's going to work. It probably won't. Look at it this way: if I'm to flee the Town like some criminal, there's still going to be a time for that. And what kind of life is that anyway? And taking the residence back from Carmosa? I admit, it sounds wonderful, but let's be honest. It's not going to happen. Carmosa keeps it tightly and won't let go. That's just the kind of woman she is and I have to say even I can respect that. So the truth is this Ball may be my only chance to significantly change my life. I MUST succeed.




But the way things are now, the Ball is just a silly girl's dream. I don't even have a dress.


Ha! I'm going to surprise you here. THAT is the least of your troubles right now. I'll get you a dress. One of my own old ones, actually. I used to wear it when I was about your age. And believe me, I melted many hearts in it.


I really don't know if—


Oh, I'm sure you'll love it. I'll have it cleaned and ready for the Ball. Just pay me a visit before you go to the Palace and I'll give it to you. I should also be able to find some way to allow you inside the Palace, so don't worry about it. I just need to pull some strings.




Don't mention it. I made a promise to your Mother, remember? And a few words of advice and an old dress don't cost me that much. You might even say I managed to pay my debt cheaply.


Cheaply?


Well, I'm about to leave this town and was afraid that you might come asking for something requiring an actual effort.


Haha! Madame Ghede, selfish as ever.


Do I look like some magical helper from the enchanted realm to you? I'm no fairy Godmother, Cinders. And you're very lucky I'm not one of the Little Folk.


Did you just call us "little"? You shall drown in blood, witch.


Now go! All is set. You know what to do.




I was honestly afraid I wouldn't be able to get back on time. Or worse: stumble upon them on the way home. Nobody should have to come home hoping to find all the people gone. Praying to be left alone. Fortunately, with some luck it's the last time I feel like this. Tomorrow everything's going to change. One way or the other. Or maybe I'm just delusional. Can a normal girl like me catch the attention of a prince? Am I really that special or attractive? It may not be just a bold plan. It may be the first sign of mental degradation.


On the other hand, he might be a spoiled brat. He might torture small animals for all that I know. Princes are allowed to do anything, right? It's too late for doubts and other 'what-ifs' though. I've made my decision. And if I want to get anything I need to stick to it. That is my only chance at success.

Alright, enough of this. I need to go into my room and stay there as usual. When Carmosa comes back I need to look like nothing is going on.




Just a few hours ago it was full of servants, carefully setting every little piece of decoration. Now it's deserted as the preparations come to an end. Only the wind does not hesitate to run freely and ruffle everything. I have to say it feels unusual tonight. Like a charge about to go off during the storm.




Almost like an omen of things to come. A sign of a storm closing in. Interesting times...

That's right. Cinders is closing in! Watch out, world.


I wonder whether this has any chance of success. Can I commit to change and make it happen? Is this even possible? I've read the philosophers, but never seen it come true. Books and idealistic theories are one thing, but people tend to resist change. Even change for the better.




It would all be easier if he had been a bloodthirsty tyrant... It feels like a storm is coming indeed. Even if I succeed, history may remember me as a renegade. And will any woman stand by me through this? Is this Ball the best way to look for such a person? In the absence of better ideas or better judgement, I have made my decision. The best I could. Now all there is to do is to see things through. And hope.

Hmm, the weather tonight really doesn't feel right. All the dogs in the kennels act as if possessed. I should get back to the Palace. Let's hope for an interesting Ball night and boring times...




That little old man called himself a tailor. What a joke! I bet I could do a better job sewing a suit for him. Oh, I'd trim his waist good, cut his trousers tight in all the right places. The little fellow would be even smaller by the time I was done. This whole situation is stupid. No matter how tight and tasteless our dresses are, they won't make any of us a princess.




I was but the weather turned bad so suddenly. I've never seen the weather change so quickly.


Oh, my big mature sister got all spooked by a big bad cloud?


Don't be ridiculous, Sophia! I'm not in the mood for this. Maybe you would like to get all soaked in the rain and look miserable, but I surely don't.


Well, I don't see a single drop of rain outside.


Neither can I. Strange. I swear I could see flashes between the clouds.




No, but I can see you are already sharpening your tongue. The Prince will surely appreciate your wits. And how is your dress, Sophia?


By all things held dear and holy by all the naïve people in this world, I swear, if you ask me this question one more time, you'll feel my pain.


The reason I repeated the question so many times today was in the hope that it would stretch a little over time.


Oh, well it didn't stretch an inch. The tailor did a good job there. When I wear it, I feel like a properly packaged piece of pork.


Why didn't you tell Mother then, when we were at the tailor's? He could have applied further corrections.




Your choice of words is poor as usual, but I agree with your sentiment. Mine is still much too tight as well.


Haha!


I always found it astonishing how my pain tends to trigger such immediate joy in your little black heart.


No, it's not like that. I mean you're right about the joy part, but something else made me laugh.


Do tell me. I'm sure it's going to be utterly enlightening.


Well, tell me: aren't these dresses a wonderful metaphor for our lives?


Of course you do, Gloria.


We're trying to fit into clothes which someone else made for us this whole time. Or rather for the image of us in that someone's head. I bet they're a perfect fit for those phantasms inside Mother's mind. Disciplined and pretty as dolls.


Stop it! Your bitterness is getting tiring. And stop being so childish, it's only a dress! A lady must learn how to walk, talk, and smile even if the corset is a bit tight. You know that Mother is only trying to teach us how to behave properly in society. She had to endure far more than a tight dress to get us where we are now.


Oh, yes. The sacrifices she makes to make us shine during the Grand Ball.




Perhaps. Perhaps it is. But tell me this sister: is it important for us?




Both dresses fit, everything's in place, and even that incompetent tailor agreed to lower the price. All things considered, it all went better than expected. It's a shame the girls don't seem to realize how important this is for them. Nor do they appreciate how much effort it takes to prepare two young ladies to make their debut in court. Especially if nobody cared to invite them. They're not even aware of what that means for women their age. By noble standards they're getting old and must be introduced soon, if they are ever to find a husband. And without a husband they may as well lock themselves up in this house and wait for old age to come and relieve them of their miserable lives. I hope they'll grow up soon and open those naïve eyes to the way the world works around them.




Thank heavens for the night. If nothing else, it's easier to hide oneself in the dark from the gaze of others. If no one wants to see it, it isn't happening. That's the way people work. And I learned that lesson the hard way.




Without rain. I think I remember a storm like this. Many years ago. That night when she died...


...It's no good to think about things like that before I go to sleep.



We're done with choices for this playthrough. I'm simply dividing things into manageable chunks for the sake of readability.