30th Dawn - Knowing One's Place

Alarmed, I swerve around and look at the direction of the screaming woman.

"How dare you speak to me like that, woman?!"

A brunette in an exquisite scarlet crinolette is caught up in a heated argument with a nobleman in a burgundy suit. The man appears to be furious about something while the woman is trying to break free from his grasp. The commotion somewhat gives the impression that this is but a couple's quarrel.

"It isn't good to meddle in something like that..." I mumbled to no one in particular.

Though that's what I believe, I can't help but sense that this situation is about to go downhill. Going by how the man is tugging on her while being this agitated, he might eventually go berserk and treat her violently. They're also creating quite a scene as the woman keeps shouting.

"Women like you should just stay at home and clean the dishes!" he hissed, completely vexed.

That has me tilting my head in puzzlement. I wonder why she has to wash plates if she's obviously rich. He could just order their maids or something. Then again, that isn't really the case. It's certainly miffing when a man degrades a woman like this.

"People like you are really infuriating! Just leave me alone! I have my own life!" she hollered back, still squirming away from his grip.

"You're my wife! You have no right to say that!"

With that, it finally pieced together in my head. The woman probably has something she wants to do but her husband won't let her. Now, he's probably reproaching for not knowing her place as a woman.

"Stop it already!" she suddenly exclaimed as she was about to get slapped on the face.

At this, I instantly sprint towards the scene in an attempt to defend the lady, but then, someone already beats me to it. Out of nowhere, another guy steps in between them and grabs the man's wrist. Squinting my eyes at him, I eventually recognize the new contender as Lewis.

"It's not good to treat a lady so roughly, my lord."

And I can't believe he just stole my tagline.

Unlike me who fights violence with violence, Lewis turns out to be the calm and collected type, though he did intimidate the man. He handles the situation without lifting a fist and tries to settle their cards in a peaceful way, but the pugnacious man is still a tough one to crack.

"Who do you think you are?! You have no say in this, kid! Get lost!" the noble snarled, clearly asking for a fight.

I only scowl at him, utterly peeved. Even then, however, Lewis just continues to smile amicably. Though his way of going around this is commendable, that woman's husband is undoubtedly demented. He's just turning more and more belligerent by the second.

"You're no merchant and he's no customer, Lewis! You shouldn't tolerate that!" I just mentally grimaced, disgruntled at his lack of action.

When the man charges towards Lewis and grabs his collar out of nowhere, looking as if he's about to punch him, I finally snap.

"You insolent- Ack!"

Then, in the blink of an eye, I give him a quick blow myself and send him flying to the ground.

Everything be damned. No one's going to hurt a friend of mine.

The man groans in pain while everybody else only watches with their mouths agape. I then stand before him and Lewis, cracking my knuckles dauntingly and glaring daggers at him. Perplexed, both Lewis and the brunette are motionless as they just continue staring at my back.

"You've been warned, Sir. You should've listened," I taunted.

I feel satisfied when I hear a faint whimper from him.

Not too long, the guards finally arrive at the scene. They take the man with them for he'd been making quite a racket for some time now. Since there are witnesses around, he didn't manage to get away despite his complaints and grumbling. His wife, on the other hand, stays behind with us as he gets dragged away.

"My name's Collette, by the way. Thank you for helping me and I'm sorry. I truly feel ashamed for disturbing everybody here," she voiced out, deflated.

"I'm also sorry for hitting your husband, Lady Collette. I should've been gentler. If you'd like, you can punch me too," I apologized as the fact that I just jabbed a noble finally sank in me.

For some reason, Lewis isn't looking at us when we're talking, his frame slightly shaking, while Collette only blinks at me in surprise. That's until she lets out a small giggle and waves her hand at me dismissively.

"Though I was indeed caught off guard, you just did what you think was needed in that situation. I just hope that the hit would finally knock him back to his senses," she replied with a smile.

I sigh at this in relief, thinking that I shouldn't worry about getting arrested for assault after all.

For a short while after that, Collette expresses her gratitude and confirms the fight as a lovers' quarrel. She also proves my assumption earlier to be true. It turns out that her husband is opposed against her proposal to manage a business, but when she still went for it, he finally lost his cool.

Back then, I truly believed that marrying a noble is key to a lavish life, but now, I'm not so sure anymore.

"I mean, what's the use of money if your own freedom was taken away?" Collette mused out loud to which I just silently agreed.

After our conversation, Collette finally saunters away and takes her leave. I then turn to face Lewis whose body is still trembling. Swiveling him around by his shoulder, I'm unsurprised when I find him holding back a guffaw. His eyes are already swelling with tears from laughing so hard.

"I... I can't... I can't believe you, Lily... You just knocked him out like that..." he trailed off, face filled with mirth, to which I only roll my eyes in miff.

"And if you don't stop that, I'll do the same to you."

At that, Lewis finally shuts up.