Princess Tale FANTASY ACTION ROMANCE

Lola Adams jumped out of her bed when the alarm rang for the fourth time. It was past four already, giving her less than two hours to finish up the house chores, make breakfast, and also prepare for work. Though her legs felt so weak from sowing throughout the night; she had slept around three and woke up after four; she knew she needed to get her work done quickly or she would get to work late and get sacked again.

This should be her sixth work in a month; she got sacked for the same reason, lateness. She quickly put on her shoes and ran out of her room to begin her chores. Lola's routine every day was the same. First, she sweeps all the rooms in the house without waking her stepmother and stepsister up. Then she mops, before washing all the dirty clothes using the washing machine; the only privilege she gets to enjoy; before making breakfast.

Lola was done with that and was about to head to the kitchen when Bella, her stepsister showed up.

"I knew you would wake up late," Bella said but Lola ignored her.

This wasn't the time to exchange words with Bella. She still has a lot of work to do; she needs to make breakfast, finish up Bella's dress, and also clean up her room before heading to work.

"I am talking to you," Bella said, pulling Lola towards her.

Lola frowned. "Bella, it's too early to be unreasonable. I have a lot of work to do. Let me go."

Bella's eyes widened in shock. She had not expected Lola to speak to her in that manner.

"A-are you saying I am unreasonable?" Bella stuttered slightly.

"I did not say that." Lola defended. "Though you act like you are."

Bella frowned. "You just called me unreasonable. Mother! Lola just called me unreasonable."

Lola wasn't ready to get into trouble. "I only asked you to let me go about my business."

"Are you saying that my daughter is a liar?" Her stepmother, Mrs Sophie asked, walking towards them.

Lola knew she was in trouble already but she thought defending herself would not be a bad idea. A slap landed on her face before she could do so. Lola's eyes dripped in tears with her cheek burning as hell.

"I-I did nothing wrong," she mumbled.

"Are you now talking back at me?" Mrs Sophia asked. Lola gave no reply; there wasn't any need for that. "Is breakfast ready?" Mrs Sophia asked as she sat on one of the couches. "I am sure it's not."

Bella rushed to sit beside her. "She just woke up, Mother. I told you she is too lazy. You should double up her work or punish her severely."

Lola scoffed slightly. If anyone was lazing around, that should be Bella, not her.

"What are you waiting for? Do you want me to beg you before you head to the kitchen?" Mrs Sophia glared at Lola.

"I was about to do that," Lola mumbled, heading towards the kitchen.

"And who is supposed to clean the house?" Bella yelled after her but Lola ignored her.

She already did that. Why is Bella asking her such a dumb question?

"Mom, she is ignoring me!" Bella whined to her mother.

Lola got to the kitchen and quickly peeped through the door wondering if her stepmother and Bella were heading towards her but they weren't. Lola shrugged, going about her business. Written on the timetable placed on the wall was bacon and egg for breakfast; it was something easy to make. She stared at the wall clock. With less than an hour left, she need to be as quick as possible.

As she broke the eggs into a bowl to whisk them, Lola thought about her life. It hasn't been a good one since she moved in with her father, ten years ago after her mother's death. She could remember vividly the reaction of Mrs Sophia and Bella when her aunty brought her. Her father was the only one who was happy to see her and he treated her so well but who would have thought that wasn't going to last; he died a year later and her life has been nothing but hell. Lola felt a hand hit her and she jerked back to reality.

"Don't tell me you are lost in thought?" Bella asked. "You are not done with breakfast. There are other house chores to do and all you can do is think? I am going to tell my mother. She is going to punish you."

Lola frowned. It was already frustrating for her that she had to do the house chores, make breakfast, and also go to work early to make money for the family; getting punished should not be an option.

"Can you please let this pass?" She asked Bella who seemed adamant about telling her out to her mother.

"How about I give you fifty cents?" Lola asked.

Bella's eyes twitched. "Fifty cents? Are you crazy? It's a hundred dollars or I report you."