44th Dawn - Fire with Fire

Flummoxed, everyone just looks at me as I muster an unappalled expression.

"You seem to have a lot of time in your hands to be spreading rumors," I started, smirking at the dumbfounded red-haired girl.

"I didn't say I'm the one who did it," she claimed before darting her eyes around.

"Well, whoever did it is certainly audacious. Don't they know the consequence of doing that? Once the Baron learns that they leaked such sensitive info to the public despite knowing the fact it's a private transaction... Hmm, I wonder what will happen."

Caught off guard, her eyes went as wide as saucers while her small frame slightly trembled. At this, I already have a hunch on who's the culprit. Though I know that the news that I'm the creator of the hair accessories will come out sooner or later anyway, an outsider learning and spreading details about the contract before then is punishable by law.

The room has become dead silent as soon as I dropped that bomb, but little did they know that I have more prepared.

"And what's with this special treatment? Aren't you guys of nobility? Why'd be jealous of someone who's merely doing business with the Baron? If you have any complaints, just tell them to him. You don't really need me to do that for you, do you?"

As I said this, I glanced at the person who murmurred that I might tell on them after the others insulted me for receiving special treatment. Taken aback, all they did was evade their gaze from mine. I then turn back to the stupefied apprentice again and voice out the finishing blow.

"And if they're so easy to make, why didn't you do it before, then? If you did, you wouldn't have to go through all the trouble of bothering yourself with these rumors. You can get accepted without a trial test. You'll receive special treatment and above all, you can be the teacher's pet instead."

With that, the atmosphere gets heavier by the second as deafening quietude prevails.

Lewis advised me about this kind of confrontation before. Though he didn't predict this exact situation, he did tell me about favoritism and competition inside a workshop. He said that if I ever find myself as an object of envy, I should just have them deal with the person who made me one. Like how I think violence is for violence, intimidation is for intimidation, and in this territory, the Baron is the boss of all.

"Woah, what's with the mood here?"

Surprised, everyone turns their attention to the unanticipated new company. For unknown reasons, Tristan just made his appearance in the designers department. Upon meeting my eyes, he suddenly beams and waves at me.

"Hey, Daffodil! The director's calling for you!" he chimed in, making me tilt my head at him questioningly.

I just told the Baron that I'm not going to have a break for now, though. Then again, it must be another matter. With that, I scram along and leave the room in stifling silence. Nobody dares to make a noise without making sure I'm completely out of there. At the thought that my threat succeeds, I just smile at myself and pump my fists.

"Mother's gonna be proud of me..." I mused, visibly elated.

That's until Tristan drags me to a corner out of nowhere.

"Are you out of your mind?! You can't fight fire with fire here. You've just gotten yourself into more trouble!" he exclaimed all of the sudden.

"Wait, were you eavesdropping?" I asked, flabbergasted.

"The director hauled me all the way here after finding me slacking- I mean, having a break..."

At this, I squint my eyes in suspicion. He seems to be jittery for some reason.

"A-Anyway, he told me to get you out of there. He's aware of how his apprentices see you, you know. You might get pressured with how competitive those people are. But then, I suddenly find you already joining the mess... You should've let the director take care of it!"

So, he knew all along.

I heave a sigh of relief at this, grateful that he's this thoughtful of me. That's why I really can't deny that special treatment part. Perhaps, that's also the reason why he asked me to take a break with him earlier. He also probably noticed how unwelcomed I was.

"It's too early to be assured, Daffodil. They'll spring right back up before you even know it. They're nobles, you know. I'm not judging them, but you still ought to be careful. There's a reason they knew about that contract and why it spread so quickly like that," Tristan continued, much to my surprise.

"By reason, do you mean that someone with authority is also behind this?"

He just steels his gaze at me while I beg to know the answer. The fact that they're all ganging up on me like this even before they get to know me is really unfair.

"It's Miss Alessandra. She made the apprentices spread that rumor, and well, do all that to you."

Then, I stiffen.

I should've seen it coming, though. She doesn't like me from the beginning. She even pretended to have not known me on our second meeting yesterday, but it turned out that she knew it was me all along. Now, I'm getting the impression that she's not doing this only because she thinks I'm not passionate enough or because I saw her in men's clothes. That reasoning is just simply shallow and childish, considering that she's a grown-up woman who should be doing something more worthwhile than picking a fight with someone younger than her.

"The director also knows it's her. I think he's already dealing with the matter of leaking the contract. As for his apprentices, I don't think he'd just punish them like that without any concrete evidence. Also, they're nobles," Tristan explained while I only sighed in dismay.

"I wasn't planning to tell on them or give punishment, anyway. I just want to make them snap out of it. Hopefully, they'll steer clear of me," I replied, deflated.

"I'm sorry to tell you, Missy, but that ain't gonna happen any sooner. You should know that you didn't just enter any workshop..."

At that, I look at him in bewilderment while he only returns an intent gaze.

"This place is a battlefield."