Flower of Steel - Chapter 95

“That’s why her fiancé dumped her.”

Elise’s eyes began to turn to an angle. Although she covered her mouth, I could see it. She glanced at me while laughing. Then, I realized that all this was her plan. I don’t know how she knew about my plans today, but it doesn’t matter. Let’s ignore what everyone says. While I was thinking to myself, I heard some sarcasm directed at me.

“How can a person be so spiteful?”

“I think Count Harrant is to blame for her education at this point.”

Although I felt my head aching and a dull sense pushing me down, I didn’t want to respond to despicable fools who like to talk about other people. I slowly took a deep breath and talked to myself.

Calm yourself and ease your expression. Act calmly so that those words don’t hurt you and look forward. Don’t you see? Those are the people who put me on a stake and tried to bring me down. Don’t give up on yourself. They are doing that so that you can hear.

“How about you insult me like that in front of my uncle?” I asked.

In response to my words, all of them shut their mouths as if they planned it. Well, my uncle’s family is nowhere lacking compared to Elise’s family. But it still hurts my ego. I wanted to get out of this situation with my power, so borrowing power from others made me look pitiful, and I hated that. However, I didn’t want to put my tail down and surrender to those who insulted my father and me.

‘I won’t get hurt or run anymore. I won’t get scared or hurt by you even if that’s what you want to do. I promised… never to look at myself as weak again.’

Those words became a spell and made me stronger. Then, I realized something that I didn’t know just before. They were wary of me now. Only then, did I understand that they were nothing to me. I smirked at them and spoke like I was giving them a lesson, “It’s not wise to pick a fight if you’re not ready to lose something.”

Unlike my head that was growing cold, I felt like throwing up from my gut. However, I couldn’t look weak to my enemies. I hid my sick gut as if I was wearing a mask and called an employee over, “I’ll pay for that hat. Unlike someone out there, I’m not a cowardly noble who blames someone else for what she has done herself.”

Elise’s expression froze viciously at my sarcasm. She looks so puny because she shows herself so easily. Elise, you can’t directly attack me. You thought you could hurt me? The reason why I’m hurt right now isn’t because of you. It’s because I was reminded of my hurtful past.

“If you’ll excuse me, please enjoy your shopping,” I said.

“W-wait, are you going to run aw… Hieeek!”

While I was trying to ignore the person calling me out from behind, I heard something crash, so I turned around. A chandelier from the ceiling had fallen, and Elise, who was close-by, was on the ground shivering. Strangely, she was looking at Daisy with a frown, pointed at her, and said, “You?”

That’s when Daisy held my hand and smiled, “It seems the chandelier had fallen. Milady, we should get out of such a building now.”

Just as I was curious about her actions, she dragged me out of the boutique. I tried, but I wasn’t fine hearing insults from all those people. I felt like my legs would fail me, but I ground my teeth and walked.