52nd Dawn - Heated Confrontation

I find myself brooding, ashamed that I'm so helpless that I'd even drag Tristan into my own problems.

He explains how his identity as a data broker is only known to a handful of people. Since it involves invading people's privacy, it's often perceived as illicit. If I let him attest for me, he might get into trouble. I ask why he has that job in the first place, but after seeing his hesitation, I already get that he's not willing to disclose the reason.

"I want to help, Lillian, but-"

"It's alright, Tristan. I understand and I'm sorry for trying to bring you down with me. You telling me all of these already help me a lot. Thank you for that."

At this, Tristan shows an apologetic look while I only return a reassuring smile.

"By the way, may I ask why you're informing me? If being an info breaker is indeed a secret, why reveal it to me on our second meeting, then?" I questioned, much to his surprise.

"Because you're cute," he answered matter-of-factly after a brief pause.

"Are you stupid?"

Tristan only chuckles at this while I pout at him. If he isn't saving face, he's playing around.

For a short while after that, I tried to prod him to let the cat out of the bag but to no avail. Him not telling is the only reason why I can't get rid of the lingering suspicion I have towards him. His mysterious character and inexplicable actions also somehow remind me of Lewis.

After my failed attempts to make him spill the beans, I decided to just go back to the training room.

Since it's the last day of practical application week, nothing much happened. Baron Pierre only checks the apprentices' finished paperwork before dismissing everyone. As soon as it ends, I immediately retire downstairs to go home for today. I can't talk with the Baron now since he still has some business to attend to. I'll just use this interval to come up with a plan against whatever Alessandra and Victoria are scheming.

"Miss Daffodil, may I have a moment?"

Speaking of the devil.

Just when I thought I'll be out of their radar, they have to pop out of nowhere. Alessandra suddenly appears before me when I'm about to reach the door. Behind me are the other designer apprentices, including Victoria who's glaring daggers at me. With such a big crowd, they're stirring quite a scene in front of the other departments and employees.

I only stand still, unsure of how and why things have come to this point.

"I received a report. You tried to punch a fellow apprentice," Alessandra started, arms crossed and chin lifted.

So this is what Tristan means by 'support'.

"I only did that because she threw my portfolio away," I replied, unfazed.

"Are you sure she's the one who did that? What if it's an accident? Either way, you just threatened a noble."

Then, I snort.

I already know where this is going. If I try to defend myself more, she'll only spout out more lies. She even hauled Victoria's minions all the way here, probably to act as witnesses. They're not going to let me off quickly. After all, the purpose of this whole confrontation is to make me look bad in front of everyone here.

Sink or swim - I'm not going to let them trample all over my dignity, though.

Nobles be damned.

"Oh, that's right! I forgot to thank you, Miss Alessandra!" I enthused all of the sudden before showing the most sarcastic smile I can muster, flummoxing my offenders.

"Thank you for this uniform, Miss. You bought me this, didn't you? Miss has such a big heart!"

At this point, they all look baffled. I, on the other hand, only stand my ground and remain unappalled.

"Why is Miss going through all this trouble, though? I don't get it. Yesterday, you also pretended to compliment me about the satin. In reality, you only want to humiliate me, don't you? I even got scolded because of that..." I trailed off before swerving around to face Victoria.

"Also, why does Victoria know it's in the dumpsters to begin with? It can't be an accident since my portfolio is neatly placed on my desk. She knows what a portfolio looks like either, so why would she 'accidentally' throw it away? Is she blind or something?"

"That's enough, Daffodil-" Alessandra tried to cut in but I didn't let her.

"Oh, and how about that contract princess nonsense? Rumors about me selling those accessories. These 'special treatment' blathers... What a way to welcome a new recruit, really...!"

I may have no evidence to back myself up at the moment, but I have my big mouth with me. They can grill me with accusations and label me a liar later. After all, I'm not trying to pave a way out of this since I'm only doing this absentmindedly. I am also not buying time for a prince to save me. At this point, I'm just letting my emotions take over me.

It's stupid and naive, but then, I have a realization. At the end of the day, anger repressed can worsen this whole situation as surely as voicing it out like what I'm doing now.

"Threatening a noble? You can see it like that all you want. You didn't even care when I told you about what happened to my portfolio and just went ahead to say it's an accident... Just admit it, Miss Alessandra, you hate me so much that you'd order to throw them away like that!"

Then, dead silence.

By now, everyone's too stunned to shoot an immediate retort.

I'm now boiling with rage, perhaps to the point my eyeballs feel a bit hot. In a burning surge of blistering ire, my emotions well up in me. I probably held back too much just like when I had my first outburst at the monument. I can regret all of these later, but now, I'm really done with acting like a goody-two-shoes.

"What's with this mood?"

At this, all of us swivel around to find an unanticipated visitor.

Standing by the headquarter's entrance, Alexander suddenly came into picture, looking as if he's just about to crash a party.