2 Midnight Allure

The beginning backstory of Midnight Allure has a typical set up of a Cinderella setting for the main protagonist.

Eunice Desiree.

The only daughter of a Baron from his first wife, who died from an incurable illness when she was seven years old.

Eunice's father, Baron Mitchellin Desiree, married a second wife, who had three daughters with her already. They had been good and kind to her at the start, treating her like a real family should be. However, just like in a Cinderella set up, a year after her father remarried. His father fell into an accident and lost his life when he was delivering a cargo. The ship he was boarding sank due to a strong typhoon.

Leaving Eunice with her step mother and her three step sisters. Two months had already passed since the death of her parents. And at the same time,

Vivian looked at her older step sister who was imprisoned by her mother in the basement. This basement had an underground cell. It was used to cater exotic animals that their step father used to bring from his travels. But it was all sold by their stepmother a month ago. And even the servants that were closed with Eunice were replaced by new servants that have no connections and attachments with her. Making the young seventeen year old girl even more lonely.

A cruel thing to do for someone who was still mourning for her father.

Vivian looked at Eunice who was behind the cold bars of the cell. Her knees both tucked together.

'She is indeed pretty. As expected of this world's main protagonist.'

'How was it when she was described in the novel?'

Eunice Desiree. With long flocks of golden hair that was tasked down on her knees. Her blue eyes held sadness, and her clothes were tattered and ragged. However, it still didn't diminish her beauty. A beautiful damsel in distress waiting for her prince to save her.

Then her eyes lingered to the translucent screen above her.

[System Notice: Prelude of the Main Story.

Time left: 70 days left.]

It has been two days now, since Vivian remembered everything.

Vivian hit her head when she foolishly lost her balance on the ground in an attempt to slap Eunice. Since they were the mean step sisters. And Vivian was the meanest among all of them. It was like it was programmed inside her to hate Eunice.

When she woke up from hitting her head, all of her past life flooded inside her mind like a fast torrent of river waters.

It was followed by the translucent floating screens telling her what she needs to do. Give them a satisfying story or she and the world will cease to exist.

'Who was the 'we' that the system was talking about?' Vivian has no knowledge of what is behind the system.

Followed by that was the System Notice.

[System Notice: Prelude before the Main Story.

Time left: 70 days left.]

Vivian let out a breath. Her gaze went back to Eunice. Even with her memories of the past life intact now, the feelings of hate and jealousy she harbored didn't change either.

She couldn't help but be amazed at how all those she read with genres like this changed their emotions like just turning on a switch.

But at the same time it was not to the point of being too much that she wanted to slap and see Eunice miserable. Or even destroy her life. It was just to the point that she outgrown those lingering emotions and became matured with her past life memories.

Eunice was a kind girl. That was a given. Based on the bits of memory she remembered in the backstory of Eunice, she would be able to escape from this abusive house at the night of the full moon.

Where she would meet the White Witch, the friend of her mother who was actually a witch as well. Then the White Witch would curse her stepmother and stepsisters to become frogs for the rest of their lives without letting Eunice know about it.

After punishing the evil stepmother and stepsisters, the witch would take Eunice as her apprentice. Seeing how she inherited the power of her deceased mother as a Moonlight Witch. She was a disciple that had incredible potential.

And all of that would happen, 70 days later on.

'I am already hit by a truck and now you are telling me to become a frog in the end.' Vivian shook her head in bewilderment. 'But since the system, though it is highly suspicious, told me to do whatever I want. Then I will be happy to do as they say. Since…' a cold glint flashed her eyes. 'I hated being controlled the most.'

"Eunice," Vivian called out as she walked towards the cell where Eunice was imprisoned.

Under the flickers of the torch that was lighting the basement, Eunice raised her head to see the dull brown eyes looking at her. Fear flashed in her beautiful blue eyes.

"Vi-vian! Are you alright now?" Despite being afraid, Eunice still asked since the last time they met, Vivian hit her head on the ground, where blood freshly oozed out. Any kind and gentle person like Eunice would definitely freak out at such a scene. She scrambled from her place and headed to the bars of the cell, looking at Vivian with a face full of concern.

"Sorry to disappoint you but I'm still alive." Vivian grinned as she eyed down Eunice.

"No. That is not what I meant…I am really worried about…"

"Shh…" Vivian put her index finger to her mouth to hush Eunice. "You are really kind, Eunice. That is what I hate and envy about you."

'And I used to like you as well.' These words remained as thoughts to Vivian.

That was right. Since Vivian played the game of Midnight Allure, she knew too well that Eunice was a kind yet also would grow to become a strong and courageous girl. Her startup was the typical Cinderella story, but Vivian didn't see any problem with it.

Even if many others said that Cinderella was weak for relying on a fairy god mother and marrying a prince to save herself and even a hypocrite for forgiving all the people who wronged her. However, was that really the case? No matter what, Cinderella was just a child who lost her parents, and she was abused by the family that she thought that she could rely on. Plus women at that time and era, had little power other than relying on the man of the society.

What choice does she have? A child who lost everyone she loved.

Despite all of this, was it really a sign of weakness to forgive the enemy who treated you badly? To still be good to them?

They said that it took greater courage to forgive those who wronged you. Plus if one thing about it, it was another kind of slap to let your own enemy despair in their own guilt of doing such things to you after you graciously forgive them.

'So Eunice, you don't need to forgive me.'

"Eunice, I will not ask for forgiveness, so don't ever forgive me for everything I have done to you."

Eunice's eyes widened. Her long and thick eyelashes looked like it was flickering under the light of the torches. "What-what do you mean by that?"

An unknown grin escaped Vivian's lips and turned around. She walked away without responding to Eunice's question anymore.

'For the next day, up to the 70th day, let's strive first to not become a frog.'

Since Vivian's back was turned back to Eunice, she failed to see the conflicted look on Eunice's face.

However whatever Eunice was thinking of Vivian, she don't have no longer had any concern of it.

"Vivian! I-I never got angry with you nor hated you. I still believe in the good side you showed me when we first met."

Vivian stopped momentarily at her tracks. She closed her eyes and smiled wearily.

'What very Eunice-like words.'

Without saying anything she left while Eunice watched her retreating back growing weary at the silence that was deepening inside the cell.