Bree's mood was as overcast as the weather in Marseille when she stepped onto the field beside the castle. The reason, of course, was that she had to wear a dress.
Following Rad's orders, stating that she couldn't wear pants unless training with him, Bree reluctantly wore a dress for today's practice. Bree didn't want to obey that order, but if she trained with Edmond, wearing pants would be pointless. Edmond wouldn't even look in her direction.
Bree had to wear a dress to get Edmond to train her. If she had to choose between pants and training, Bree would choose training. That was her priority, especially since she had to steal time to practice.
Her father was currently visiting the city with Rad, so Bree could train freely. Bree didn't want to hide this training from her father, knowing he wouldn't mind. But she didn't want to invite questions if she could avoid them. Bree would definitely have to lie to Trey if he asked about the reason for her sword training. She didn't want to add to those lies.
"Are you satisfied?" Bree snapped in frustration when she saw Edmond welcoming her with a wide smile and his usual bow.
"I'm not satisfied; I'm just happy that today will go smoothly without any difficulties, Duchess."
Edmond was, of course, delighted. After yesterday's storm of arguments, Edmond eagerly welcomed anything that appeared more peaceful. And Bree's usual appearance meant there was peace.
"Let's begin."
Edmond gestured for Bree to step forward, asking her to repeat the previous lesson without much conversation, mindful of the need to hurry before her father returned.
Edmond's smile reappeared when he saw Bree's compliance. He could hope that today would be peaceful.
"During moments like this, don't panic, but move the sword as quickly as possible by rotating it, so your opponent will be a bit confused. It's a technique to divert their attention and concentration." Edmond demonstrated a series of rotating movements that made Bree frown.
The movements were quite challenging, but she started practicing them, although she was still looking a bit clumsy.
"Faster," Edmond instructed.
Bree started again, this time more satisfactorily. But Edmond asked for repetitions to make Bree move even faster.
"What are you doing?"
Bree stopped her hand movements, turning to see Amber approaching with a puzzled expression.
Edmond bowed and greeted, "Good afternoon, Lady Amber."
Amber glanced briefly. She didn't consider a man of lower status important.
"No response is necessary, correct? You can see what I'm doing." Bree turned back and swung her sword again.
"I'm asking because this is surprising. Why are you doing this?"
Bree's sword narrowly missed hitting Amber as she stepped aside. "Of course, to become stronger, Amber. Why do you keep asking? If you want to chat, I don't have time! Go back to Blanche over there," Bree retorted.
As Bree walked here earlier, she saw Amber talking to Blanche.
"Why are you like this?" Amber finally asked what made her curious. She didn't understand how Bree suddenly became so bold against her.
"Why, like, what?" Bree turned and faced Amber.
Edmond, who sensed trouble early on, let out a quiet sigh and slowly moved away. Today wasn't as peaceful as he had envisioned, as Bree and Amber now looked at each other with disdainful expressions.
"You're not like Bree anymore." Amber folded her hands in front of her chest, observing Bree from head to toe.
The most noticeable change in Bree, besides her attitude, was her face. Bree looked more lively, not as pale as before, with rosy cheeks.
"I am Bree; I just enjoy life more now."
Amber snorted. "Enjoy life? Since when? And why? It won't elevate your status. You'll still be a servant's child."
In the past, Bree would have felt down and cried when Amber said such cruel things. Different now.
"True, but still, as the servant's child, I receive more love from my father than you do!"
Bree retorted sharply. She touched the deepest wound in Amber, the source of her envy and anger.
It wasn't without reason that Bree grew up as a submissive and obedient girl with low self-esteem. All thanks to Amber's 'love.'
Since childhood, Amber has rarely missed an opportunity to fill Bree with all her shortcomings. Always reminding her of her lower status and her mother being a servant. Repeated insults over time eroded Bree's self-confidence, making her weak.
"What audacity!" Amber shouted, her breath becoming faster upon hearing Bree's response.
This was the first time Bree stood up to her, and her words stung.
"Of course, I have audacity. Why? Does it surprise you? Does the truth hurt you? Pathetic."
Bree smiled, planting her sword in the ground and walking towards Amber with folded arms.
"What's gotten into you?" Amber was still astonished by Bree's drastic change.
Bree smiled. "What got into me? Perhaps it's the realization that I pity you for lacking love."
Amber promptly rejected Bree's extended hand and shoulder stroke.
"Since when did you become so articulate?" Amber growled.
"Hmm... maybe since forever. I just pitied you for the lack of love, so I restrained myself from attacking you."
Bree again sprinkled salt on Amber's wounded heart, and she didn't care. Bree had endured enough of Amber's cruelty.
"What are you saying?" Amber exclaimed.
"I'm saying you lack love because you act like a spoiled and cruel child." Bree is mocking again.
In the past, Bree did feel sorry for Amber and was subservient because Trey unintentionally treated her differently.
Their father did pay a bit more attention to Bree. An easy example was how Trey supplied all of Bree's painting needs, which were expensive. Various brushes, quality paint, and a leather canvas in the box in Bree's room were expensive, and Amber didn't receive the same treatment. Trey only praised Bree's painting talent, while Amber, who enjoyed knitting, wasn't considered extraordinary.
With this preferential treatment, Bree could have easily grown into a spoiled and arrogant girl, but that would have happened only if there wasn't Miriam. Even after becoming Trey's wife, Amber continued to mistreat Miriam, a simple servant.
Amber never agreed with the marriage and spent almost every day of her life reminding Miriam that she wasn't her mother and would never be worthy of being her mother.
Miriam also eventually passed on that behavior to Bree, asking her not to defy Amber and to always be grateful for the 'noble' life they could experience. Bree felt that her mother's choices were correct, and she obediently followed them until she died.
Bree didn't blame her mother because she only acted according to what she believed, and it shaped Bree into a girl with, at the very least, good qualities. However, now Bree would never stay silent against Amber again.
"What has gotten into you?" Amber was still in shock at Bree's transformation from day to night. The current Bree was as dark as night.