Lola Adams is an orphan living with her stepmother and stepsister. Her life used to be a bed of roses when her parents were alive but now it is nothing but a living hell and she wished she could live like a princess once more. When she thinks she is at her lowest, she stumbles upon a long-forgotten ice kingdom and is chosen as the next princess, with the task of bringing it back to life. Lola sees it as a simple task to do but little does she know that behind bringing the kingdom back to life is a bigger and more dangerous task and her post as the princess might be shaken in the long run. Will she be able to bring the kingdom back to life and also retain her seat as the princess or she is nothing but a figurehead who will return the seat to the rightful owner when the time comes?
Chapter 1 One
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."
"Ten dollars. You know I do not have any money with me."
"Fifty dollars. I am not going lesser than that."
"That is too much. I..."
"Are you not good with your hands? Get extra menial jobs so you can pay."
"Bella, I..."
Bella pointed to the wall clock. "You don't know what the time is saying. Do you? Do you not have a work to go to? Or do you want to get sacked again?"
Lola rolled rolled eyes. "Why won't I get sacked if I keep doing all the house chores before leaving for work?" She mumbled.
"Are you blaming us for your misfortune?" Bella glared at Lola.
"I have no misfortune. You..."
"Did father not lose his job after you showed up with that fat face of yours?"
"He had lost his job before I came. How is that my fault?"
"But he died after you showed up."
Lola sighed but said nothing. Though her dad did not die because she showed up in the house, she would not stop blaming herself for her father's death. If only she had not run out of the house that night. Her father would not have gone after her and get knocked down by a car.
"You can't even say a word. You killed him, you know that."
Lola said nothing. Instead, she began to prepare the bacon.
"Make sure you clean up the house after you are done making breakfast."
"I already do that." Lola answered.
"And the clothes? Are they washed?". Lola nodded. "Are you done with my dress?"
"Just a few touches and i am done."
"Make sure you finish up my dress before you leave. I need that dress for my friend's birthday party.". Lola mimicked Bella quietly. "And for the money, it's fifty dollars or nothing. You give me that this night or you face the consequences.". When Lola made no sound but only nodded, Bella knew Lola understood her assignment. "I am leaving." Bella mumbled and turned to leave.
Lola raised the spoon in her hand towards Bella as she cussed with gritted teeth. Bella stopped moving and turned but Lola was quick to turn too. Bella pulled Lola slightly.
"You were about to hit me right?"
"I think you are mistaken."
"I am sure you try to hit me"
Lola shook her head firmly. "I have been busy with breakfast."
Bella glared at Lola. "You had better be saying the truth." she mumbled before leaving.
Lola hit herself on the head and whined a little. "Stop being stupid," she told herself.
If Bella had caught her in the act, she would have requested more money or reported her to her mom and she would have been punished. She stared at the wall clock and sighed.
She had better focus on finishing up breakfast as soon as possible so she can finish up Bella's dress before leaving for work. As for her room, she will clean that up when she gets back.
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