Chapter 4 - Growing Up Next to a Witch

Of course Cinderella scared everyone who saw her. Fortunately, only two servants testified, whose ones who had a great affection for the girl, as well as greed. With their freedoms and enough money to live a simple, but carefree, life, they agreed to leave the property and don't tell anyone about the her identity.

Later, when the mother and her two daughters noticed that her ability began to develop, and they saw her talking to these little animals, and they responded with their noises and obedience,

Ursula was forced to reduce the number of servants to as little as possible. In this way, the possibility would be minimal for someone witness and spread the news that the legitimate daughter of the late Viscount is a witch.

In the mansion, only three servants remained. An old man who worked both as a stable-boy and as a driver for the carriages, who had nowhere else to go and no fear of witches. A cook, who was even suspected of knowing about Cinderella's skill, and was loyal to the girl for growing up in her mother's house, and moved to this place with her marriage. And finally, the proud, snobbish housekeeper who believed that if she follow Ursula and her daughters with devotion, she would have a better future ahead.

Several servants were sold, several were purchased. Several servants were sent to a place far away, and those who had never seen Viscount's family were brought near.

The mansion closed. It no longer housed the small social gatherings that the new wife of that place began to organize with her arrival, much less those who lived there used to leave. All the education of the children was given by the mother herself. And, unfortunately, the mother was illiterate, so no one learned how to read and write.

All these changes were made and accepted by all because of Aldo. They made the excuse that all of this was because of his fragile health and everyone accepted. As some knew what happened to Ursula's first marriage, that overprotection was acceptable. However exaggerated, his death would not be only a pity, but perhaps a further expulsion and humiliation for them.

Soon, there was no one else who knew Cinderella around. And when there was no longer anyone who would vehemently oppose it, she was demoted from daughter to servant. For the half-dozen servants who questioned when they heard, they had the answer that she tried to kill Aldo.

It wasn't for her wickedness, Ursula explained. He was small and fragile, and she was vivid and hyperactive. And so there was an incident that almost killed the baby, further aggravating his health. Because Ursula understood Cinderella's intention and honored her father's love for her, she told everyone that she ignored her impulse to hand her over to the authorities to pay for what the girl had done. A murderous child wasn't loved by anyone, since everyone would be afraid of what she could do as an adult. She would be hanged, or poisoned. However, instead of this punishment, Ursula decided to only lower her to a servant. She could still live in the same house, would have food, clothes and a roof, just wouldn't be daughter.

All this for precaution.

Daphne and Cordelia were still too young to know more about witches than they shouldn't be around one, and definitely shouldn't be one. They were bad women. But their mother was different. She suspected about the birds since the beginning.

Ursula did not believe in witches at first. She imagined that the women condemned to the bonfire for this were only wrongly accused. They could have angered someone, who decided to take revenge on them with that accusation. He had the opportunity to touch an instrument used for the detection of witches, and discovered that there was a trick on it that could make an innocent woman accused of witchcraft.

Her own midwife was almost accused of this, since for the villagers, there was no such thing as a woman the offspring like Ursula's having trouble during childbirth, let alone becoming barren after one. For them, she was a victim of the witchcraft of the midwife, who, with envy of her luxurious, noble life and the future full of children she would have, cast a spell on her. She wasn't formally charged, much less tried, since she ran away shortly thereafter.

For her, it was enough to be smart, don't anger anyone, and be lucky for don't get into a bad situation, and a woman would never be accused of witchcraft.

Until she saw Cinderella bewitching all those rats and birds... After that, she saw that not only witchcraft existed in that world, but also lived for a few months with a witch girl.

Which explained many things for her. The affection that servants have for her, to the point of refusing her authority and nobility. The immense love of the Viscount, who didn't even want a second fertile wife to have an heir. That unreal beauty of the girl. And, of course, the birds that day.

Someone like that, surely she didn't want around to bewitch the suitors of her daughters!

Of course, her first impulse was to send her to the authorities. Ursula was rather sad about the second husband's death, of course! But they were together a short time, so that feeling was not so great to get to the point of blinding her at the beginning of her new widowhood. She was indeed awakened to the protection she should have with her daughters and future son, and she didn't want any witch to be near them!

But... There was a lot to consider before you did something like this.

Most witches were old women, and Cinderella has been just a little girl. Worse: a lovely little girl that everyone loved. If a widow accuses her foster daughter of witchcraft just a few days after her husband's death, wouldn't she give the impression that she was the bad person who lied to get rid of an unwanted child? And Ursula could end up being accused of witchcraft. Cases like this happened before, of women accusing others of being witches, and when these proved to be innocents, then they were accused of it at the end, being condemned and killed. Who would accuse an innocent woman of witchcraft, except a witch? Since she knew there were false ways to prove that a woman was a witch, it was better for Ursula to not risk. She was still a stranger, while everyone loved the one born and raised there, Cinderella. Maybe even change the accusation to one of her daughters.

And since she had raised the girl for some time, she could be accused of covering up a witch, which wasn't as bad as being one, but almost as bad as it was. Yet, as the Viscount lived a moment of prosperity after the birth of his daughter, his properties could be confiscated, accused of being obtained through magic. This also has happened before. And since they were close to the capital and all those who bordered their lands were powerful, it was also better not to risk it.

The three were in that place to have a better life, so they will choose the option with less risks. Stay with Cinderella, alive.

Yes, they thought of killing the girl, but killing a witch by yourself was never a good idea. You wouldn't know if you could do that, and if you can, she may as well throw a curse on you and in your family!

And even if they find out that the stepmother killed her stepdaughter...

The best option was to turn her into a servant. Without power, still being able to watch what she did. And Ursula could arrange a marriage for her in the future, one that was very far from there. With another servant, someone who preferably already has a bad name, so no one could believe in him if he discovered the girl's ability.

Not that the years with which they lived on the same roof of her were simple. They were afraid of what Cinderella could do to them. No, they never spoke directly about the discovery of her identity, and they didn't even know whether she was aware of it. Cinderella accepted all this with ease, from being an adorable child to gradually being a charming woman. She ceased to be the indomitable child to become a devoted servant. Never complaining about her destiny.

Of course they got a cat to protect them from rats. Of course, they never let her even see Aldo all his life. Of course, they kept her away from everyone.

But that wasn't enough for Daphne to hate her.