Bab 21: STRANGE MAN

"How dare you!" she said and was about to slap me, but I stopped her again and slapped her in the face instead. I saw her trembling in anger,

"You, how dare you? wait until Father hears about this," she said while caressing her face. maybe I slap her too hard. but she deserves it.

"Then tell him, tell him I just slap you. I'm sure he'll believe you, right?" I spoke.

"Yes! I'll definitely tell him! Just you wait and--" I cut what she was saying, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, my eyes locked onto Eva. There was a fire burning within me, a mix of determination and curiosity, as I slowly began to circle her.

"...but what if he knew that his adopted daughter was spreading such a rumor to humiliate me, and tainted the reputation of his REAL and ONE AND ONLY DAUGHTER. what will happen to you and your mother? I'm sure you don't get the chance to have a tea party with your noble friends, right?" I spoke. The sound of my footsteps echoed softly, creating an eerie atmosphere that added to the intensity of the moment. I could sense Eva's gaze on me, her eyes following my every move, I smirked

"... and you'll never get the chance to spend MY FAMILY'S FUND. I'm sure your mother will get mad at you and such a case, abandon you." I said and smirked widely at her. seeing her expression right now makes my day.

"My mother will not abandon me." she surely stated.

"Are you sure?" I asked again with a hint of tease and I knew that she hesitated to answer me.

"Yes! And I'll get the chance to finally get rid of you! you are the only plague in this house that I can't get rid of," she said, finally bringing out her true color. she wants to get rid of Adelle because she wants to be the only daughter in this house.

"Of course, you can't get rid of me. because I'm the real daughter and you're just the adopted child. even if you do. you're still the adopted child. soon, when your mother bears a child, and my sister or brother comes into this world. I'm sure MY FATHER will be delighted and you, what will happen to you?" I spoke. and stepped closer to her, whispering in a tone of teasing "Nothing, because father and your mother will give their attention to my real sibling. and you might just get abandoned for doing some inappropriate action that will ruin our reputation. want to know why?"

I step closer and closer to her face.

"...Because, the blood of Larmaleilles, even the tiniest drop of blood...don't run in your system," I smirked as widely to tease her more.

I look at the noble ladies and notice how terrified they look. I let out a deep sigh. I don't know why I kept the argument long. maybe I really enjoy teasing this child.

"You're nothing, but a fake. pretending to be a noble just so you can befriend these ladies. how pathetic you are." I said while I crossed my arms and looked at her. She looks like she really doesn't know how to respond.

"Kaniz let's go...I don't want to be pathetic like them." I said and turned my back on Eva and her friends. I start to walk away and

"Adelle, why are you doing this to me?" she said and started crying.

I stop and look again, even her so-called 'friends' don't want to comfort her.

"What do you mean?" I asked. and crossed my arms.

"W-why do you need to humiliate me in front of my friends?" she said. hah! I can't, I can't believe what she said right now. this is truly entertaining.

"What? humiliate you? Hahahahaha. I didn't do anything, you humiliate yourself, Eva." I spoke. I can't help but laugh right now.

"What did I---" I cut what she was saying. she's playing a victim right now.

"You're going to ask, what did you do to deserve this? then let me reverse the question for you." I spoke. She just keeps sobbing; it's making me sick.

"Why did you cut my hair? why did you burn the beautiful dresses that my uncle gave to me? why do you want to humiliate me in front of everyone? why did you want to ruin me?" I ask. The noble ladies gasped from what they heard. Eva's eyes widened as I said what she had done to me, to Adelle.

"E-Eva...is that true?" said one of her called 'friends'

"How could you burn a dress that is a gift by someone?"

"Eva... how could you cut her hair? I didn't think you could do that."

Her 'friends' start to doubt her, and one by one start to leave.

"Wait... let me explain..." Eva said as she persuaded them not to leave.

"Let's go Kaniz… we're done here," I said and stepped out the gate.

"Adelle! Remember this, I'll make you regret this!" she shouted but I acted as if I didn't hear anything.

I get in the carriage and smile as widely as possible. I didn't know that today was a good day!

I feel refreshed and satisfied right now. I know Kaniz feels the same because when I look at her she can't stop smiling.

"What a nice day..." I said while I sat down at the carriage.

"It is indeed, Milady," she said and we laughed together remembering what happened.

We're on our way to the marketplace in Bournemouth town, here in the City of Tulip. since Adelle didn't indicate which town and marketplace she went to that evening I have no clue. But I'm going to search anyway.

I imagine there are a lot of merchants selling their wares, and a lot of aristocrats are visiting the town. Some of them are following after our carriage on their way to Market town.

When we almost reach the entrance of the town. our carriage stops so suddenly.

"Are you okay, Milady?" Kaniz asks me, she looks out at the window and talks to the horseman. "What happened?" she asks.

"Looks like there's an accident," the horseman said. I looked out the window and saw a carriage with a missing tire. they're blocking the way.

"It looks like the carriage belongs to the noble house of Harrison's," Kaniz said.

Harrison's? it's familiar. I think I heard it somewhere.

***********

'But Duke Harrison's son is nice, he didn't make fun of me and stood up for me when the others were teasing me. I want to make friends with him but he doesn't like it.'

***********

Oh, the diary mentions Duke Harrison's son, but not his name. As I gaze out the window, it appears that their spare tire will take a long time to arrive.

"Let's overtake," I spoke. Kaniz looks at me confused.

"Milady, the one using that carriage is Duke Harrison's son, the Young Lord Nathaniel," she said. I look at her uninterested.

Could he be the one that Adelle mentioned in her diary? I don't know because she doesn't indicate the name and I don't know if he's the only son of Duke Harrison.

"Do you want to help him, Kaniz?" I asked her and she hesitated to nod her head.

"Okay, then. let's ask if they need help." I said and our carriage stopped in front of them. I look out the window. I saw a kid around 10-11 years old. he gasped like there was no tomorrow when he saw me. what did Adelle do to this man that he gasps like that?

I look at him uninterested. he looks away. it looks like he doesn't want our help. but I'll ask anyway for the sake of Kaniz.

"Do you need help?" I ask, and he looks at me with a furrowed brow. I raised my left brow because if he doesn't want it just say so.

"It's fine. Our spare tire will be coming soon." He said, I nodded and

"Ok--" he cut what I'm saying

"I don't want to be friends, okay? I hope you'll realize that and stop bothering me," he said. I was shocked at what was he suddenly saying. I'm just going to say 'Okay'. maybe Adelle really keeps bothering him, because he's the one who stood up for her when no one does.

"Okay, I'm not going to force you. so, relax. geez," I said and was about to close the window of the carriage.

"What?" he asks. what did he mean by what?

"What do you mean by what? you said you don't want to be friends, I'm not bothering you, I just ask if you need help so, I'm going now." I simply said and was about to close the window this time but he interrupts again.

"Okay, then can I ride with you to the town?" he suddenly said. I'm sure he said he doesn't want my help. then what is this?

"No, you said you don't need my help." I just simply said, he looks shocked by what he just heard.

"Milady, you shouldn't say that," Kaniz said. he deserves it. I can't help but roll my eyes. what is he a girl to play like that? what? do I need to beg just to help him?

"Okay, hop in," I said and Kaniz opened the door and got out.

"Kaniz, what are you doing? get in." I spoke. but she shakes her head.

"I'm going to ride in front, Milady," she said. I looked at the Kid and he suddenly turned red. is he shy? embarrassed?

" Are you embarrassed? for taking down my offer to help, and then, you suddenly want to accept it?" I asked honestly,

"No." he simply said and got in the carriage. "Excuse me," he said and suddenly his face went red. I rolled my eyes and looked out the window, never mind.

"Let's go" I simply said and the carriage started to move. I look at the window to see the scenery but I notice that someone is looking at me. I take a peek at Nathaniel but the moment our eyes met

"Why are you looking at me?" he asked.

WHAT!?

He's the one who's looking at me and now he's asking me that?