Chapter 58: The Little Match Girl
Chapter 58: The Little Match Girl
"Sebastian, you've known the origins of Mr. Frank and Mrs. Mina for a long time, haven't you?"
Taking her gaze away from the beautiful girl busy squatting in front of the cabinet, Charlotte looked at the respectfully standing Sebastian.
Sebastian smiled faintly.
"Master, what are you talking about?"
Charlotte quietly looked at him, her deep blue eyes carrying a strong sense of oppression that didn't match her youthful appearance.
After a moment, Sebastian uncomfortably averted his gaze and sighed, respectfully saying.
"Indeed, you are, truly great master... nothing can escape your eyes."
“Why beat around the bush instead of just telling me directly?”
Charlotte frowned.
Sebastian smiled bitterly."They've been working for Rose Society for many years. Although most people like Mr. Frank are loyal, there is a small minority who hold grudges against Castell. I was afraid they might bear a grudge."
"Rather than me telling you about their past, it's better to let them recognize your identity in person. The effect would be better..."
Charlotte fell silent.
After a moment, she shook her head.
"If they really held grudges, how could these followers of the Castell family still stay in Borde City?"
"Miss Charlotte, please have some milk."
Just as the two were chatting, the beautiful girl in a maid uniform approached with a steaming cup of milk.
Her voice was clear, her posture elegant and standard.
Is this Sherry, whom Mr. Frank and Mrs. Mina have taught everything?
Charlotte couldn't help but look at the girl a few more times, subconsciously comparing her to the maids trained at her estate.
Standing like a peony, sitting like a rose, walking like a lily...
Watching the girl's movements, Charlotte naturally associated them with a phrase from her past life.
Although Sherry's clothes were worn out, every move she made exuded the elegant demeanor of a noble servant.
Even the gesture of handing over the milk was obviously trained, respectful yet graceful, elegant yet restrained.
Charlotte took the milk, which was just the right temperature—not too hot to scald, but not cold either.
She took a few sips. Although the taste was far from the rich milk at home, it was warm and comforting with just the right amount of sweetness.
Soon, Charlotte came to a conclusion.
The girl's demeanor surpassed that of her own maids by several levels. Even the "maids" she had in her estate right after transmigrated couldn't compare to her professionalism.
Charlotte was more and more satisfied as she looked at Sherry.
With a clean background, like a blank sheet of paper, and extremely high professionalism. Isn't this the kind of person she was looking for on this trip?
Of course, unlike the excited Mr. Frank and Mrs. Mina, Sherry was obviously much more distant from Charlotte, even cold towards her.
But Charlotte could understand. Unlike Mr. Frank and Mrs. Mina, who had their hearts in Castell, Sherry had grown up almost entirely in the outer city and had no feelings for Castell.
But that's even better. Turning this blank sheet into her own color, wasn't this the best opportunity to enhance her majesty?
Conquering the indifferent and prideful girl, wasn't that a more fulfilling challenge?
The more Charlotte looked at Sherry, the more satisfied and expectant she felt.
Meanwhile, Mr. Frank and Mrs. Mina, who had finished their discussion, went into action separately.
Mr. Frank, with his lame leg, went to the backyard, mounted a pack horse, and hurried away, while Mrs. Mina wiped her red eyes, put on a respectful yet distant smile again, and returned to Charlotte's side.
"Miss Charlotte, we can find the people you need. Mr. Frank is already preparing, but... it may take some time."
"It's alright, we can wait."
Charlotte smiled.
Descendants of loyal servants who haven't forgotten their original intentions for ten years are worth her wait.
...
This is a dilapidated alchemy shop.
A dirty old man is dozing off in front of the shop.
Suddenly, urgent hoofbeats are heard, accompanied by an excited and joyful voice.
"Karl! Karl! Are you still alive, old man?"
The old man looked up, frowned, and said.
"Frank? What are you doing in broad daylight? Can't you see I'm resting?"
"Hahaha! Don't sleep! Miss Charlotte is here! Miss Charlotte is here! Castell hasn't forgotten us! Castell wants to call back its loyal servants!"
"Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and take Landon with you to meet her!"
Without waiting for the old man to come to his senses, Frank shouted again and rushed off in another direction.
The old man was slightly stunned, then gradually came to his senses.
"Miss Charlotte... Charlotte..."
"She's our little miss!"
His old, cloudy eyes suddenly lit up. He suddenly stood up, limped into the shop, and rushed inside, shouting excitedly.
"Lisa! Lisa! Good news! Good news!"
...
In a small tavern in the outer city slums.
A woman with half of her face scarred stood behind the bar, pouring drinks for the drunken patrons.
Suddenly, the tavern door was pushed open, and Frank, out of breath, appeared in front of everyone.
His gaze quickly fell on the woman, and he said excitedly.
"Epinephrine! Epinephrine! Miss Charlotte is here! Miss Charlotte is here in the outer city!"
"She's at our house now, she wants to call back the loyal servants of Castell!"
"Why are you still sighing over the uniforms on the wall? Hurry up and take Jennifer to meet her!"
Without waiting for the woman to come to her senses, Frank turned around again and hurriedly left the tavern.
Leaving the woman standing there, her gaze vacant, not even noticing that the ale in her hand had spilled all over the table.
"Charlotte... she's... our little miss!"
Her eyes suddenly brightened.
"Hey hey! Epinephrine! The ale spilled! The ale spilled!"
Seeing the spilled ale all over the table, the drinkers quickly shouted.
The woman was stunned for a moment, then immediately got up.
"Sorry... Everyone, I have something to do suddenly. Today's tavern will be closed temporarily."
...
A bustling clothing shop on the outer city commercial street.
An elderly couple of tailors were busy making clothes for their customers.
Suddenly, with the sound of hooves and the astonished exclamations of passersby, a stumbling figure quickly rushed in.
"Maddock! Diva!"
"Miss Charlotte is here! Miss Charlotte is here in the outer city!"
"She's at our house now, she wants to call back the loyal servants of Castell!"
"Oh! Stop sighing over the uniforms on the wall, quickly take the children to meet her!"
After saying this, Frank, out of breath, left the shop again.
The elderly couple were stunned.
The woman soon became excited.
"Little miss! It's the little miss!"
"My dear, I knew it! Castell hasn't forgotten us!"
However, the old tailor had an angry expression on his face.
"Hmph! What's there to be happy about! You abandoned us in the first place, and now you want to call us back? Dream on!"
"Nobles... not a single good one among them!"
With that said, he stormed to the wall and tore down the framed Castell family uniforms.
His eyes were red with anger, he was about to smash them to the ground, but when his hands touched them, he found it hard to follow through. Trembling as he looked at the faded uniforms, the old tailor let out a faint sigh, and gently closed his eyes, tears glistening at the corners.
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After a moment, he opened his eyes, the anger long gone, replaced by loneliness and sadness.
"The Castells have come, but... it's already too late."
"We... don't have the right to wear them anymore."
"Go call Lora and Silvano."
"Today... the shop will be closed."
...
Today was destined to be a busy day in the outer city.
Horses galloped through the streets, and wherever they passed, shops closed or households boiled over.
Even old servants, serving their masters, suddenly dropped their work, turned around without a word, and left excitedly, leaving their bewildered masters behind.
On the streets, carriages of all sizes drove out of alleys, carrying old men and their children towards the same destination. They were like droplets of rain, soon turning into streams, and with time, those streams gradually converged into a rushing river...
...
Frank's Employment Agency.
Charlotte, waiting for Frank to return, sat at the table, one hand holding a doll, the other a wolf plush, earnestly narrating Earth's healing fairy tale.
"So, the little match girl who was kicked out of her home and the wolf who escaped from the circus after being abused, lived in the forest."
"Sharing the same fate, they became good friends who shared everything. The girl would secretly give food to the wolf, and the wolf would let the girl sleep in its warm embrace on cold nights..."
"A week passed, and it was finally time for the banquet."
"Encouraged by the wolf, the little match girl finally mustered the courage to attend."
"However, no matter how much the girl begged, her wicked stepmother and stepsisters refused to let her attend the prince's ball, so the little girl could only cry and run away..."
Charlotte's voice, soothing and melodious, carried a faint sorrow.
Frank's two beautiful daughters sat beside her, obediently propping their chins, their big eyes focused on the girl telling the story, their pretty faces filled with concern.
Even the indifferent elder daughter Sherry stood aside, quietly listening, her hands tightly gripping the tray, her fingertips slightly pale, seemingly worried about the little match girl's fate.
"That wicked stepmother! The little match girl is so pitiful! The wolf is really gentle!"
"What happened next, Charlotte? What happened next?"
The two chattering pretty girls eagerly asked.
Charlotte paused, took a sip of milk, and continued to wave the dolls, emotionally recounting.
"On a snowy night, the girl cried holding matches in the deserted street. At this moment, the wolf appeared again."
"Dressed in circus prince attire, the wolf came to the girl and gently said—"
"Beautiful miss, may I have this dance with you?"
Seeing the wolf in the circus outfit, which looked somewhat ridiculous, the girl was a bit puzzled—"
"Mr. Wolf, don't you hate circus costumes the most?"
"The wolf said—"
"If others can't be your prince, let me be your prince."
Frank's younger daughters were completely fascinated, eagerly asking.
"What happened next, Charlotte? What happened next?"
Sherry, too, unconsciously sat down at the table, her face tense, her expression focused.
Charlotte glanced at them, revealing a pure and warm smile, continuing her narration.
"The girl laughed through her tears."
"She took the wolf's outstretched hand and danced gracefully in the snow, like a beautiful princess at a ball."
"After a while, the girl grew tired."
"She looked at the wolf's ugly and terrifying face, and happily and innocently asked—"
"Mr. Wolf? Why do you have such big eyes?"
"The wolf said—"
"So I can see you clearly."
"Then why do you have such a big nose?"
"The wolf said—"
"So I can remember your scent."
"Then why do you have such a big mouth?"
Charlotte suddenly paused.
Looking at the three pairs of eyes staring straight at her, she continued:
"The wolf bent down, leaving a kiss on the girl's forehead—"
"So I can deeply kiss you."
"The girl cried..."
"She hugged the wolf—"
"Mr. Wolf, take me away, let's leave this sad place together, let's start our own new life."
"The wolf also hugged her, gently saying—"
"Let's travel together, let's pursue our happiness together, from now on... there will be no more sadness or tears."
Finishing the story, Charlotte gently placed the two dolls together, letting out a distant sigh.
The two little girls listening to the story were completely enthralled.
"Mr. Wolf... is so kind! I also want such a gentle Mr. Wolf!"
"That's great, they can finally live happily together!"
The girls expressed their longing and excitement.
The beautiful maid Sherry, who had been eavesdropping on the story from the side, quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Her previously indifferent eyes now showed a hint of vitality.
Even Sebastian, standing behind Charlotte, had his scarlet eyes soften warmly.
Seeing the group in such a state of healing happiness, Charlotte's lips curved into a subtle, devilish smile.
She suddenly sighed, gently picked up the wolf doll, and spoke in a tender, melodic voice tinged with sorrow.
"The next morning, people found the little girl frozen to death on the street."
"She had a blissful smile on her face, holding the worn-out wolf doll her deceased mother had given her, surrounded by spent matchsticks..."
The girls: …
Sherry: …
Sebastian: …
“Waa—!”
The two beautiful little girls immediately burst into tears.
“Crack…”
Sherry crushed the tray in her hands.
Even Sebastian, who had been smiling, had his expression freeze instantly.
At this moment, the door of the small building was pushed open, and Mrs. Mina reappeared.
“Waa—! Boohoo! Mommy! The little girl died! The little girl died! Waa!”
In her bewildered gaze, her two daughters ran over and cried loudly.
Maid Sherry sprang up, hitting her knee on the table corner.
She staggered, wobbled a bit, but still stood up, hobbling and storming upstairs without looking back, as if holding her anger.
Seeing her charming smile, Sebastian couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth.
"Master, you... really know how to tell a story!"
"I'm teaching them the cruel reality."
Charlotte said leisurely.
Sebastian:...
"Well done..."
He had nothing else to say but this.
On the other side, Mrs. Mina comforted her daughters who were crying uncontrollably, then came to Charlotte's side respectfully, saying:
"Charlotte, my lady..."
"They're here."
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