The event started not long after we entered the hall. Principal Nelman stood on the podium, reading out a boring speech, some old advice, and a couple of dry jokes that were honestly hard to understand. During that half hour, I chose to focus on the table full of cakes near the window instead.
"Drizella really loves sweet food." I remember Anastasia once telling me that. Her voice echoed in my head, drowning out the principal's loud voice blasting through the speakers.
"What about you?"
"I'm not really into cake," Anastasia replied back then. "But I like ice cream."
I wonder how that girl is doing now. In my mind, I imagined Anastasia, replaying the moments we had spent together. Was it really true that Anastasia wouldn't come to the party?
The sound of applause snapped me out of my thoughts, Inspector. Principal Nelman stepped down from the podium, replaced by the new student council president who looked like he was shaking while carrying his speech script.
I turned to look at Ella. The girl was perfect, ideal, just like the female lead in a story. Absolutely perfect. Out of all the girls wearing luxurious dresses in that place, Ella was the one shining the brightest. But… I don't understand, Inspector.
No matter how perfect Ella is, why is Anastasia always spinning around inside my head?
Just for one night, why can't I forget Anastasia?
Even after all the speeches ended and the dance party finally began. When the lights started dimming, the piano and violin filled the silence, it should've been just me and Ella. But why? Why is it that when I touch Ella's hand, I remember the cold fingers of Anastasia weakly gripping mine in the hospital? When I hold Ella and start dancing, why do I remember Anastasia's signature perfume instead? Why? Why? When I look around, why do I imagine the warm library where Anastasia and I used to spend time together?
Why can't I look deep into Ella's eyes anymore?
Every time Ella looks at me, I can see Anastasia reflected in the shine of her eyes.
Anastasia crying, waiting for me.
"What's wrong with you, Prince?" Ella asked when my lack of focus almost made me step on her foot.
I shook my head hard. "I'm fine."
Ella let go of her hold and glanced at one of the cake tables on the side of the hall. Alice and Fairy were there, chatting while enjoying chocolate cupcakes.
"Want to take a break?" I asked.
Ella smiled, nodded, then walked over to her friends just like that. I followed behind her.
"Did you see it earlier?" Alice asked Fairy when Ella and I arrived at the cake table.
Fairy laughed. "She cried and ran away, hahaha!"
"Just like we expected, right?"
"Yep, yep."
I didn't understand, Inspector. So I asked, "Who? Who cried?"
Alice and Fairy turned to me as if they had just realized I was there. The cheerful smiles and laughter they had immediately stopped, replaced by frowns.
"What's your problem, Prince?"
"Stop butting into things!"
Then their gaze shifted, glancing toward Ella.
I don't know, Inspector. Something felt different about the way they looked at Ella back then. Alice and Fairy were pouting, frowning like they were uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Ella kept her head down.
Something's wrong, I thought. I don't know why. Maybe it was some girl problem I didn't understand, a small fight between friends, or just a misunderstanding. I didn't really get it, but I could feel that something was bothering Ella.
"Want some cake?" I picked up one of the chocolate cakes from the table and offered it to Ella.
She shook her head.
"I think Ella is sick, Prince," Alice said, still glancing at her.
"She looks pale," Fairy added.
I looked at Ella. Aside from her slightly strange habit of looking down, she seemed fine to me. She didn't look pale, and her lips covered with lip tint still looked fresh. Unlike what Alice and Fairy said, I thought Ella looked healthy. Even when I pressed the back of my hand against her forehead, her body temperature felt normal.
"You should get some rest first, Ella."
"Lie down in the infirmary or something."
"Prince, hurry and take Ella there before she faints here."
I don't know, Inspector. I still believed Ella was fine. No need to take her to the infirmary. Besides, it would be a pity if Ella had to leave the main hall this quickly.
"Maybe…" Ella finally spoke. She looked up, her smile awkward. "Maybe I just need some fresh air."
Only then did Alice and Fairy smile normally again.
"Don't push yourself," Alice said, wrapping an arm around Ella's shoulder. "You can come back here once you feel better."
Ella nodded, then turned toward the exit door. Her small back looked fragile as she walked through the crowd.
I followed her. As her partner, I wanted to make sure she was really okay.
Instead of heading toward the infirmary, Ella took the right corridor.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
Ella didn't answer. She quickened her pace. Her high-heeled glass shoes clicked loudly along the hallway, farther and farther away, heading toward the school's back garden.
"Leave me alone, Prince."
Of course I couldn't accept that request, Inspector. The place was quiet and dark. I couldn't just let a girl like Ella sit there alone.
"Do you need something?" I asked. "Water or something?"
Once again, Ella didn't answer. The only sound was crickets chirping back and forth.
What's wrong? I wondered. Ella did seem a little gloomy tonight. Since I picked her up from the Bunn family house, during the trip to school, even until the event started, she barely spoke.
Awkward. I said that earlier, right, Inspector? Ella might still feel awkward or nervous.
But is that really it?
After sitting silently in the back garden for about half an hour, I started thinking about something.
Ella had always looked forward to that dance party. I often heard Ella, Alice, and Fairy talking about it when they were chatting in the cafeteria. Like most teenage girls, they wanted to have fun, show off the partners they brought, compete over snacks. There was no reason for Ella to feel awkward.
Earlier, Ella had even forced me to become her partner, right? When I was about to ask Anastasia, Ella stopped me. She shouted, begging me to make her my partner instead.
Ella is actually brave. She's a strong girl. After all the family abuse she went through, I'm sure Ella isn't the type who gets sad easily.
So why? Why did Ella keep looking gloomy that night?
With the night wind brushing against the back of my neck, I thought about it, Inspector. I tried to guess. What could make Ella feel awkward? Why did she keep lowering her head? Some girl problem that a guy like me wouldn't understand?
Appearance. I'm sure that's what Ella was worrying about.
Maybe she felt uncomfortable with how she looked. A girl who was usually not that noticeable had suddenly become the center of attention, eyes watching her from every direction. It's only natural if she felt a little awkward. Or…
Maybe Ella felt insecure. Maybe she thought the dress she wore was ugly and old-fashioned. Her shoes too. Maybe she thought those glass shoes were strange, unusual, ridiculous. The noisy sound they made while walking was also annoying. If Ella really thought that way, then it's no wonder she looked gloomy.
"That's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen." I started the conversation again. I wanted to restore Ella's confidence. "Your glass shoes are beautiful too. They look shinier than the others."
Ella glanced at me. There was no smile on her lips.
"Where did you buy all that?" I let out a laugh, trying to joke with her. "If there were glass shoes in men's size, maybe I'd buy them too, hahaha!"
Unfortunately, Ella didn't laugh, Inspector. She lowered her head even more.
"Mom…"
I'm sure I didn't hear it wrong. Even though it was very quiet, I know I could read Ella's lips. She really said "Mom."
"Ah, so the dress and the shoes were gifts from your late mother, huh?" At first I thought my conclusion was correct, Inspector. Turns out… it was wrong. Very wrong.
"Not Mom!" Ella shouted. "She's not my mom!"
Back then, I didn't understand. I could only tilt my head, letting my mind fill with questions.
She's not Mom, she said. The "she" she meant… could it be Mrs. Tremaine, Ella's stepmother? I don't know, Inspector. My instincts told me so. There was no other figure in my mind that matched "her" except Mrs. Tremaine.
She's not Mom. Mrs. Tremaine isn't Ella's biological mother. She's her stepmother. So why…
That was probably when I finally realized something, Inspector.
"Don't tell me Mrs. Tremaine is the one who gave you that dress and those shoes?"
At first I thought that was impossible, Inspector. The Mrs. Tremaine in my mind wasn't someone that kind. The rumors said she was an evil woman who liked torturing Ella. There's no way someone like that would give a nice dress and shoes to… no. That's impossible.
But Ella didn't deny it. She didn't shake her head or argue with my conclusion.
"So it's true? Mrs. Tremaine gave all that to you?"
I glanced at Ella's tightly clenched hands. Her knuckles had turned white and were trembling. Her breathing was quick.
"Ella…?"
"So what if she did?" Ella suddenly turned. Her eyes glared at me like a wild animal radiating intimidation. "So what if this dress and these shoes were given by my stepmother?!"
I don't know why Ella suddenly got angry, Inspector. Isn't that a good thing?
"That means your stepmother cares about you, right?" I would be happy if that were really true. Just like when Anastasia…
I suddenly remembered. When I visited Anastasia in the hospital, Mrs. Tremaine was kind to me too. Her smile was friendly, and she allowed me to talk with Anastasia. Mrs. Tremaine seemed like a good mother, I thought. So…
Is something wrong?
"Why did she give you that dress and those shoes, Ella?" What's the reason? I wanted to know. If Mrs. Tremaine was really as evil as the rumors said, she shouldn't be able to do something that kind.
Ella didn't answer. She stood up, as if she wanted to leave quickly. If I hadn't grabbed her arm, she might've run away already.
"Let go, Prince!" Even though she shouted that, I didn't release her. I still needed an explanation.
Mrs. Tremaine was friendly. The Anastasia I used to know was also kind and caring. Drizella? I wasn't very close to her. Anastasia said her sister loved sweet cakes, while the rumors I heard said Drizella had a foul mouth. Those rumors…
Why did I only realize it now?
"Those rumors…" I pulled Ella's arm. The girl who tried to free herself stumbled, almost fell, but didn't. I caught her first. Under the moonlight, I stared straight into her eyes, making sure there were no lies in them. "Those rumors… are fake, right?"
I didn't even believe my own words, Inspector. It was just my theory, the result of uncertain thoughts. Deep inside my heart, I wanted to see Ella shake her head, to say the rumors were real, that all the cruel things her stepfamily did truly happened. I wanted Ella to deny my stupid theory, Inspector.
Unfortunately, once again, Ella didn't answer. Instead, she cried.
Feeling sorry for her, I released her arm.
Her swaying hair, the long skirt she lifted as she ran, the clattering sound of her high heels. Her sobbing.
That was the last time I saw Ella.
I spent the rest of that night sitting quietly in the back garden of the school. I thought about it, imagining that those rumors were really just lies. None of it was true. Mrs. Tremaine wasn't evil, and neither were Anastasia and Drizella. That means…
Ella really went too far, Inspector. I can't believe she slandered her own family like that. I truly don't understand it. And besides… why did I get influenced by those stupid rumors too? It's ridiculous.
Because of those rumors, my relationship with Anastasia…
No. I can't imagine it anymore, Inspector. The difficult days Anastasia went through just because of those false rumors, I don't want to remember them. I don't want to. The girl I loved became the target of hatred, bullied every day, and no one defended her.
I wasn't there by her side.
I wasn't there to offer her a tissue.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! How could I believe it so easily? Why did I distance myself from Anastasia? Why? Anastasia even tried to commit suicide. Was that my fault too, Inspector?
No. Of course not. I'm not wrong. A main character can't possibly be wrong.
All of this is Ella's fault.
Ella is the one to blame.
I will never forgive that girl.
That night I swore it, Inspector. If those rumors were really lies, I wanted Ella to feel what Anastasia felt. I wanted Ella to suffer. That was the sin she had committed after everything that happened. In other words, I cursed Ella.
I wished that girl would just die.
Just like the superhero Crown, the royal descendant who always gets whatever he wants, my wish that night came true.
Ella is gone now. That girl is truly dead.
***