CHAPTER 7

THE NEXT MORNING WASN'T great at all. I was forced to sit with them during breakfast. It would've been okay if it was only with the duke. This sucks.

"Do you have any plans for today, Elisse?" The duke asked.

I wasn't sure if he was already aware of the chaos I caused yesterday with that head maid, but I better tell him soon. He might stop this fatherly act when he finds out how bad his daughter behaves.

"I'm planning on going outside today with my servants, your grace." I smiled at the duke while I cut my steak into bite size pieces.

I could hear Caspian clicking his tongue, and the other bastard's glare seemed to bore a hole in my head.

I know, I'm being petty. But I should piss them off.

Pandora and I agreed that most humans are trash, and I should act out a little as a repayment for the stress they're giving me.

"My dresses seem to not fit me anymore, your grace. That's why I'm looking for some cost-efficient ones to replace them," I said, pouting a little to add up to the drama I'm trying to cook.

The duke looked surprised, well, I would be too. This was the first in a while that I acted like a cute little child. And it's starting to make me puke.

"Can I also request for my servants to be moved to the other maid's quarters that's close to my room?" I added another request, which caught the duke's attention more.

He wiped his mouth with his napkin and drank from his wine glass. "Why? Is there something wrong with their current quarters?" The duke inquired.

And this was my queue.

I sighed softly as I placed down my silverwares, making the duke look at me with worry in his face. "It seems like the servants dislike sharing a room with them just because they were serving me."

The atmosphere in the dining room suddenly changed. I could feel the maids serving us, who were also the head maid's accomplices, turn their attention to me.

The duke was bewildered with my statement. And before he could question my words, I immediately blurted out the answer for him.

"You see, your grace, I slapped the head maid yesterday after she hit my maid, Marina. It started when I visited the servants' quarters yesterday since Marina didn't come to my room to help me. And I. . ." I trailed off, lowering my head as if I was about to cry.

I could feel the duke shifting on his seat, then he placed a hand over mine. "You can tell me everything, Elisse," he said reassuringly.

I kept my head lowered as I continued. "I heard the head maid insulting me with vulgar words, while she bullied my maid. The other maids were watching her, and I felt extremely embarrassed that my initial reaction was to barge into their room and slap her." I sobbed as I finished my story.

I could feel his darkened aura resonating from him. Let's add fuel to the fire. I lifted my head and looked back at the duke with tears staining my cheeks. It was hard to make me tear up, so I must use this as much as I can.

"I know I was wrong, your grace. And I will accept the punishment you will grant me." I sniffled softly, as I wiped off the stains on my cheeks.

"No, child. This isn't your fault. Florence insulted you, and that means insulting me, the duke, and the master of this house," the duke said, anger seething in his eyes.

This is perfect. I just need to wrap this up with the cherry on top.

"But even the young masters told me so. And maybe I was too immature to understand that yesterday. I was wrong for raising a hand at her, and for being rude towards them. I was indeed the one causing a scene and being a troublemaker."

The dining room fell silent. Even the two bastards sitting across me were beyond speechless to even utter a word. They acted all mighty, but angering the duke was on a different level.

I'm quite satisfied with how it turned out. They deserve this as punishment by how they treated me yesterday.

"Didn't you say you have plans to go outside?" The duke was the only one who dared break the silence. "You may leave now, Elisse. Buy whatever you want outside. I'll handle the things here in the estate," he said, the smile on his face bearing a different kind of emotion.

TODAY'S WEATHER FEELS NICE for a walk. I'm glad I've chosen this time to go outside. After escaping the dining room, I quickly asked Marina and Scarlet to help me change into an outdoor dress. I wouldn't want to witness the duke's anger for today.

I clicked my tongue as I remembered the other things I needed to visit outside.

Aside from looking for a tailor shop, who would accept my dress ideas, I also need to check on my dagger. And then the merchant guild to check for a cost-efficient building I can purchase with the money I've been saving up.

Kaiser will be coming home in a few days, so I must prepare myself. Kaiser's the third son of the duke, and kinda like my third brother. He's a well-known mage, and the aid of one of those princes.

He looks carefree, but I've always found him suspicious of some sort because of how he treats me. His actions are just too good to be true.

I'm already having problems with the idiots at the manor, and this suspicious guy will come back only to annoy me more on a daily basis. Should I run away? Wait–no. I have nothing else yet. I really should try harder today.

"P-Please let go of me."

I was pulled back from my reverie as I heard Scarlet's voice. I stopped from the path we were taking and turned to check on her. She was the only one I brought with me since I tasked Marina to fix their new quarters.

"Oh, my." A sigh escaped my lips as I saw a large man standing beside Scarlet, holding her hand while looking at her with that perverted face of his. He has a good physique like one of those royal knights, and a normal face.

"Why don't you come with me, pretty lady? I can make you feel good," the man said. I was surprised to see him move his face to hers.

My nose scrunched as the smell of alcohol filled my nostril. I'm a few feet away from them, but I can smell the stench of alcohol on this bozo.

But what surprised me more was how Scarlet was holding back. It's not like she's some weak lady, but she does act that way. And after spending time with her and Marina, I've noticed how oddly strong her energy was.

Let's get this over with. I don't have enough time to spare today.

"Hey! Let go of her this instant!" I ordered as I placed both of my hands on either side of my waist.

The perverted guy glanced at me with a furious gaze. "Get lost, kid! Let me have this lady here instead."

I know I'm smaller than my age, and I've been called a kid by strangers. I really hate that.

"I said, let her go." Another thing I hate the most was my schedule being delayed.

The guy pulled Scarlet closer to him. "L-let me go!" Scarlet exclaimed as she tried to pull her hand from him. Girl, you have to pull your hand by force. Why do you even act like some weak lady?

"Just leave her here, kid. You can go unscathed."

This punk's really pissing me off. Fortunately, there weren't any people around this alleyway. As much as I didn't want to use my powers outside, I just can't let this idiot delay my schedule any further.

But as I was about to flick him away, Pandora spoke in my head. "There's someone approaching you, master," he warned.

"Hey! They already asked you to let go. Are you deaf?" A guy in a navy hooded cloak said. He stood behind the annoying punk, and because of his tall figure, his shadow loomed over him.

I glanced up at him, unfazed with the sudden help we were receiving. But I'm no damsel in distress, I'm only a damsel feeling too much stress!

I was supposed to take care of this, but having a witness watch me using my powers, I guess I'll pass this to him.

"You," I called his attention. "Can you help my maid? We're running a bit late and this guy's not listening to any of my words," I said.

He only looked at me for a moment, as if he was amused with the way I spoke to him. There's no time for this!

"Will you help me? If not, then kindly go on your way, sir," I added, sounding a bit more annoyed.

The guy chuckled, making me frown at him. And the next thing he did was hit the annoying punk on the neck. I exhaled loudly as I watched the punk fall unconscious on the ground.

I approached Scarlet closer then looked up at the guy who helped us. I caught a glimpse of his silver blue eyes watching me with amusement.

"I really appreciate your help, kind sir. I hope you receive all the blessings of God Celestia." I placed a hand over my left chest and bowed my head, as if blessing him for his kindness.

"I humbly accept the blessings, my lady," the man answered.

As much as I'd love to treat him with something in return for his bravery, I'm really running low on time.

"I apologize, but we must make haste. See you around, kind sir." I quickly grabbed Scarlet's wrist and dragged her to our destination. I know I was quite rude to ask him for help earlier, but I'll apologize later if I see him again.

We soon reached the Artisan Hut without breaking the silence between us, and I only let go of her wrist before I entered the shop.

"I know you're strong enough to protect yourself, Scarlet. So please don't hold back next time," I said before stepping inside the store.

She seemed taken by surprise with what I said as she stayed in front of the entrance before finally following me inside.

Like my last visit, the store looked gloomy and felt light at the same time.

"Dear customer! You have returned too early," the owner greeted, smiling at me. Are you so happy to see me, old man?

"I know. I just needed a few things," I answered as I handed in the paper where I listed the things I needed. It wasn't that different from the last items I ordered. "And may I request for the dagger to be done within a week? I'll pay in addition if you want."

The owner's smile didn't fade even upon hearing my request.

"I understand. I'll get that listed," he said then went upstairs.

I stood beside the counter while Scarlet looked around. She seemed interested in the daggers displayed at the corner part of the store. Does she know how to use them too?

"Old man? I need something from you," a familiar voice said as the shop's door was pulled open.

I threw a glance at the new customers, arriving but quickly ignored them when I noticed that familiar cloak. I didn't have to look at his face to check if he's the same guy from last time since his mana energy feels familiar already.

I somehow want to get out of this place quickly.

"Greetings, lady. Aren't you the one from earlier?"

My gaze unconsciously darted back at him, and I was again entranced with those pretty silver, blue eyes of his. There's this clean feeling of energy fluctuating in him that I couldn't explain. Like simply clean energy.

I would say that it's the first time I've felt this kind of energy, but then, it's also my first time going outside of the estate. So maybe there are other people that radiate this kind of spirit.

"Lily. You can call me Lily," I unconsciously blurted out.

Oh, wait–he wasn't asking for my name! Ah! How embarrassing.