The character known as La madrastra, also called Duchess Dalbin or Danton, is Cinderella's stepmother. She initially married Cinderella's father to provide the girl with maternal guidance. However, after her husband departed on an extended business trip, her demeanor shifted entirely. She promptly moved her own daughters, Catherine and Jeanne, into Cinderella's room, seized and discarded Cinderella's possessions, and forced her into servant's attire. She then banished Cinderella to the attic and imposed upon her a regime of harsh labor, compelling her to perform every household task.

She displays consistent cruelty and abuse toward Cinderella, an attitude mirrored by her daughters. Even so, Cinderella responds with persistent kindness. The stepmother acts with elegant malice, driven by ambition to elevate her daughters’ status. She repeatedly conspires to secure a marriage between Prince Charles and one of her own children, actively thwarting Cinderella’s chances to meet the prince or attend society functions.

She proves shrewd and perceptive; on one occasion, she shrewdly deduced the truth of a story told by Charles by shadowing him back to the castle to verify his residence and by observing the superior craftsmanship of his garments. Though she and her daughters receive invitations to the royal ball, she becomes enraged that Cinderella is also invited and furiously forbids her from going after Cinderella assists her stepsisters. The stepsisters then viciously tear up Cinderella’s invitation.

The stepmother and her daughters occasionally experience fleeting moments of remorse and develop a degree of respect for Cinderella, but these insights are short-lived, and they consistently revert to their abusive patterns in later episodes. A reconciliation occurs abruptly and under duress only in the series finale.