Just an Annoying Girl

A hard hit on her shoulder woke Elestria up. Her mouth opened to grimace softly. She opened her eyes and found someone standing in front of her.

"I'm working," Elestria retorted irritably.

"There are no employees as lazy as you. How can you have no face by continuing to be here?" Madam Rachell smirked, then hit her shoulder again with the fan.

Elestria caught it. She paused as she looked at the expensive, heavily decorated fan in her hand. She realized who she was dealing with.

Madam Rachell tried to let go of the fan. Instead, Elestria grabbed the fan and threw it away. It made a sound after hitting the floor.

Scarlett became excited. For years, Elestria had been holding back. Now it was time for them to take revenge.

Lusi was about to approach them. She was soon blocked by Madam Rachell's maid. Lusi pushed her, but she was outmatched.

"Goodness, you even dare to resist."

Elestria looked at Madam Rachell deep into her eyes. That made Madam Rachell startled for a moment. So, she taunted again, "This shabby girl also dared to throw away the fan made by the most excellent craftsman in town." She glanced at people.

The people didn't move. They shut their mouths as they watched Madam Rachell try to raise the price of the fan on the floor.

Elestria's blood rushed to all corners of her veins. Her ears felt hot to hear her ranting about etiquette while she didn't treat others accordingly. Elestria stood up straight.

"You talk too much. If you really knew etiquette, what would you say to those beneath you?" Elestria said.

"You are beneath me. Good that you admit it."

Elestria chuckled. "What kind of answer is that?"

Madam Rachell's forehead creased like old bark. She growled lowly, "Watch your tone. You are beneath me."

"You are beneath someone else. The sky you're in is under someone else's sky."

"Don't make me angry."

Elestria clucked again. She smiled wryly. "You really don't know etiquette. You get angry easily."

"Do you realize what you're saying?" Madam Rachell's eyes seemed to pop out of her face. Her hands clenched into tight fists. Her entire skin was greasy from the insult.

She was recognized by the government as the best etiquette teacher. All her teachings always succeeded in educating noble girls to be graceful and well-groomed. Today, she was insulted for her lack of etiquette.

Elestria sighed and shook her head. Her heart was pounding. She was so excited!

"You know how to teach nobles about etiquette," Elestria said, looking at Madam Rachell, "but you don't know how to treat those who are not nobles."

The statement was immediately agreed upon by the people. Madam Rachell was an etiquette teacher, but she was very arrogant towards the commoners. The servant who was holding Lusi suddenly noticed something.

"You're not talking to me in that tone! You...." Her breathing became heavy. Her entire skin turned red. This boutique was turning into summer for her. 

When she glanced at the audience, their gazes weren't angry. They were supporting Elestria! She bit her inner cheek with more irritation than a child who was not allowed to play.

Lusi looked at Elestria. She was both surprised and pleased. She wasn't worried about Elestria being bullied in the future.

Madam Rachell was eager to kick Elestria's arse. Her audacity was disturbing her pride. She stared at the girl's gaze.

"You speak without thinking," she retorted and remained silent momentarily. She tried to organize herself.

"At least I know how to talk to a nice person."

Madam Rachell failed to organize herself. She shouted with a red face, "You, cheap girl! You will regret this!"

People were stunned. Madam Rachell's true skin peeled off totally today. They stared at her unblinkingly as she walked furiously towards her carriage.

***

Lusi took both of Elestria's hands. Then, she hugged her hopefully. "You're great. I won't worry if you meet the bullies again," she said with teary eyes.

Elestria smiled widely. She didn't have time to answer because her stomach cramps came again. She bowed deeply.

"What hurts?" Lusi broke the embrace.

"It's... just stomach cramps. Can I rest? I think I'm going to faint."

"Your period?" she whispered.

Elestria nodded.

Lusi put her arm around her shoulder and then she escorted her to the second floor. She made her a cup of herbal drink.

"Drink this," she ordered as she handed her the strongly flavored drink.

Elestria took it. She hesitated. This type of drink might help her get better. So she downed it in one go.

After swallowing, there was a bitter taste that lingered on the tongue. Elestria closed her mouth tightly to avoid spitting it out.

Lusi chuckled softly.

"Madam Rachell didn't move because you told her the facts."

Elestria looked up. She gasped slightly as her spontaneous words matched the truth. It was satisfying to see her run away in anger.

"In the future, you should behave like this. No one deserves to be humiliated."

Elestria nodded. "I'm glad I could be brave, Lusi."

Scarlett jumped for joy. Madam Rachell's expression was still in her mind. Scarlett thought she would encourage Elestria to be more aggressive if Madam Rachell came again.

***

Madam Rachell's carriage rocked gently. The road was slightly littered with gravel. It made her anger burn even more.

"That shabby, annoying girl..." She growled lowly. Her sharp gaze seemed about to pierce the glass of the carriage window.

"What's so special? She's just a poor wolf who's... very... annoying." Her teeth gnashed loudly until they eroded slowly.

Madam Rachell took a deep breath. Resentment still lingered in her soul. The wolf within her whispered scornfully, "Just looking at her makes you upset. She must not be that special."

"Of course she is. Father just mistakenly assumed the savior of destruction would be her. My poor father. He should have predicted better things."

Madam Rachel opened her fan roughly. Her hands fanned her face which was heating up on the cold day.