"This suits you more, Young Miss!" Wren frowned at them. She really thought that she escaped hell.
Today some tailors and designers visited the duchy to show new dresses for the young ladies to wear for the banquet. However, Aria and Wren are the only ones who were not showing interest at the laid out dresses.
Most of them are utterly hideous and the remaining dresses aren't likeable. The colors are clearly contrasting with their complexion and the designs are just like the same. If they choose one of the dresses it would like they wear matching dresses. The duchess are busy flipping the catalouge with Aria's mother.
A mystery for Wren since she never had seen her mother interact with Lady Claire once. Both of the ladies were choosing dresses and exchanging opinions. They did not like any of the designs. A knock interrupted the room, a maid with 2 new tailors behind. Wren's eyes instinctively rolled over, after all for Wren this is not her thing.
"the 3rd prince sent you, yes?"
The duchess asked after closing the catalogue. Aria and Wren stared at the woman, silently wishing that this will be over soon. She twitched and smiled awkwardly before answering, "Yes, Your grace. I'm the owner of Hellia Botique."
Wren's ears perked up suddenly as she looked upon the Madam. Her brows raised while trying to remember where she had heard that name. But that feeling is overlapped with anger. After all, Wren wouldn't be in this predicament if it weren't for the 1st Prince nagging. She can't possibly handle all of that letter being sent to her.
It made her reply that she will join the Banquet even though the Duke is opposed to this because he also deals with other nobles about his daughter and Prince Zairon. And by sending these designers to their estate, their might be rumors circling around already.
However she was excited to see the first prince after all the hardships she went through because of him.
"I will have this, but redesign the sleeves and the skirt..."
she said while pointing to the colored baby blue dress that Wren wore. She picked another similar color with a different design for Astreia to make her children close.
The tailor's eyes twinkled upon hearing that the Duchess picked its design and how fast it changed after hearing her say, "We need that in 5 days," she will decline at first but when my mother says that she will double the amount. She did not refuse anymore and that's the power of money.
The three ladies left the room after picking their dresses, the duchess has to deal with the remaining papers. Lady Mavis will check on Euphrasia and there's Lady Claire who suddenly feels unwell. Some maids stayed behind. Wren and the others waited for Aria to pick a dress from Helia. But the one managing the clothes is a woman in her 30's and she's giving a bad feeling.
Lady Helia is known in the Social Gatherings as she was the wife of a Count who has large business in the Capital. It made her designs known because of her husband's help.
Wren has no idea who she really is and that is why she's wary. Jemina raised Wren's arms sideways and said, "Young Miss keep it like that for a while"
Her eyes then scanned the room only to see her cousins are normally trying the clothes from Madam Helia to join Aria.
Though she still felt that something was wrong as she racked her brains out, "Pardon me, Young Miss," before she could know what it was, she felt the ribbon tighten.
"J-Jemina..." I CAN'T BREATH!
"L-Let me slightly loose the ribbon..."
"Meh, I don't like this color," Anna nods and starts to help Yessenia remove her dress.
Meanwhile at the other side there lies Aria rooted on the floor. She bit her lips that it bleeds, pale stricken while she clenches her fists on the hem of her dress.
Muttering something inaudible, Wren who sees this suddenly ran over to her. She thought that Aria is having panic attack or something because she's trembling a lot.
The rustling of fabrics and the sudden clap echoed throughout the room. Stopping all the maids and servants around to see the Madam Helia smiling widely and she looks at Aria.
"This dress suits you, Young Miss Aria. It matches perfectly with your hair"
She's wearing a knee-length, red dress with a rose designed on its bodice. Everyone stands still and processes what the Madam said, even though it is flowery, it cannot hide the dark meaning behind it that only the grown-ups knew. Aria stops and then looks at the woman, her gaze is brimming with malice as she gazes back at Aria.
"Madam Helia I demand an apology for the young miss." Jemina says and sheilds Aria from the Helia.
"You should keep it Young lady," She was unaware of the two knights appeared behind her, moving as they unsheath their swords. The other staffs who came with her, laughing were also dealt with by the servants of Vacarella.
With just one look from Wren everyone moved, she glanced over Anna and pointed the kids and motioned them out which she understood easily.
Her blood is boiling in anger, while living here she never once thought that Aria became a villainess just because it is in her genes. However that is not the point. The fact that she stands there and listens to these kinds of words all over again seems like stupid. She didn't understand any of it but she had an idea what it is based on how Jemina acted after Helia said it.
What the madam totally meant is that Aria is not pure blood Vacarella and she was mixed with something filthy as her mother was a former princess in another kingdom. She never knew that information since it was never mentioned in the book and even if it was, she won't remember. A splash of warm, red liquid covered her face as she wiped it with coldness.
"ugh... what?"
she oldly looked at the woman kneeling when her staff started to shriek and run away but the knights slashed their tendons. They groaned and whimpered while blood splattered on the carpeted floor.
"I didn't know that Helia's Boutique staff are this stupid to do something like this while they are in our territory."
The staff and servants look shocked at how cold my voice becomes. Even Jemina has her eyes wide-eyed while blocking the younger ones sight to the bloody scene. This adult insults a child who isn't half of her age. Shameful, indeed.
"Cut their tongues."
---------------------------------------------------
Madam Helia came right at me with trembling hands as she kneels and sweats forming in her forehead.
"Young Miss I.. I didn't me..."
whether she apologized, kneeled or paid for everything. It will never be enough as the damage has been done. Aria is shaking because of her words. It hurt her.
"After cutting their tongue, drag them outside. I will make sure you can't stand on the social gatherings anymore."
Those threats are not half-ass since she attacked the Vacarella, it is your downfall.
"Y-Young Miss... Y-you ca..." she's pale as she grabbed the hem of my dress. Disgusting.
"Is your ear defective or your mind is ridiculously empty for not apprehending what's happening right now?"
I stared back at her and she fell in the ground, I sigh as she slightly whimpered, seeing her staff screaming in pain behind her as their tongues pulled out and cut. What a nasty thing to sight and I am not even flinching. This might weirded out Jemina. But it seems that she does not mind.
This boutique is trash. She did not even bat an eye for her employees who she dragged with.
"F-for a commo..."
I heard a loud smack, it was done like a flash. A loud thud as she falls to the floor. Yessenia slapped Madam Helia, her lips bleeding as she looked at us.
"It seems you are looking forward to seeing your tongue on the floor."
She's red. Like really red, because of anger. I bet that hand stings because her palm is imprinted on the madam's face. Before the knight cut her tongue, someone entered the room. Emitting a strong killing intent. It is none other than Brother Caesar and the twins.
"Mother let a dirty thing step inside."
"They must be erased for spouting nonsense in front of the chicks"
who are they referring to as a chick...? And why does Lexus speak like that. Noland came along with Erwin shortly, both of them were surprised to see the two young masters with their menacing aura.
THe strong smell of iron, the groaning and whimpering of the people, the tongues beside them, as well as the blood pooled. The Madam did not move instead some tears were forming in her eyes while watching the three of them circle her. Caesar smiles while the other two grin.
"After he cut it let me experiment on her."
"don'cha think that this is it because you have to pay for insulting one of ours and what are ya gonna do with her tongue?!"
the twins are grinning wickedly as they pull her tongue longer, cutting it slowly. Making madam Helia burst in tears, she flail helplessly while the three kids did it. They were enjoying it.
I looked at Noland and ordered, "Go to their estate and demand an apology as well as compensation. Better have them surrender their estate and fortune."
He looked like he had something to say, but chose to silence. He bowed and left the room along with three maids and Erwin.
"Good job on giving a harsh punishment." Lexus complimented me with his approval hand sign, what an accomplishment.
"I DIDN'T HAVE A FILL! I SHOULD SLAP HER MORE!" Azi shakes his head, "Sister your hands are now spoiled with dirt"
Wow, they have something to agree on. Surprising. I looked at Aria, she's sitting quietly in front of me.
she looked at us with dead eyes as her voice sounded hoarse, "why did you do that?"
---------------------------------------------------
Wren has changed. I don't know why or how, but she's different. It is confusing me. The days we are together, I found her that she is bright and I find it... questionable.
"Are you fine Sister Aria?"
it is really weird when I hear their voice full of concern. Just stop. Why now? why are you showing this to me suddenly? None of you notices me, none of you helps me, so why are they like this now when I'm used to everything? or maybe I'm just shutting them out before that's why this is new to me.
"why did you do it? I did not ask for your help." I said while looking down.
I am doing fine all on my own...
"because you are hurt." with that i looked at her. She said the feeling I'm bottling for with that symphatizing look... why is she being nice?
"it is alright if you feel angry, scared, lonely or what. They are valid. But don't lose sight of yourself." Wren added.
I felt tears in my eyes then suddenly I found myself sniffing and whimpering. I cried in front of them and I can't control myself anymore. I wailed and screams how hurt I am. No one mind it, except they all look happy. Maybe because I finally cried and showed myself. Despite the fact that I pushed them away.
*you know, whatever blood is mixed in you, you can't deny the fact that you are a Vacarella." Yessenia said like she knows what Lady Helia meant.
In my blurry sight I saw my cousins in front of me. Have I ever been this close with them? why did I push them away and hurt them.
"that's it, just cry it all out. We will be here"
just those words are enough to break my shackled heart and open the feelings I bottled.
Even though my voice becomes hoarse, my eyes sting and feel like there is no more water left. But I feel calm and relieved at the same time by crying it as she said. From now on, I will live in the best way I can from today's onwards. I hugged Wren and snuggled to her to hide my lips smiling in relief after a long time of crying.
This time I will live for myself.