She Isn’t Easy

Elle moved her amber eyes as someone was staring at her so intently she could feel the burn on the top of her head. She lifted her chin only to raise her eyebrows when she met eyes with the woman of black eyes and deep reddish brown hair. Beside her was a girl with carrot head. They stared at her— almost as if she was an animal taking a bath in the river— a new sight for them to see.

Elle wondered if she should start dancing as a performance as everyone couldn't stop staring at her. That will give her a lot of money and she could use that to feed her people in the slums. She couldn't steal anymore after all.

"Greet her," demanded one of the maid who pushed her forward. Elle pulled her eyebrows as the maid wanted to make her kneel.

She turned and stared at the maid's brown eyes, "I think not," Elle smiled at the woman but it quickly disappeared as she wasn't sincere with it.

She did come from the slums— but who said she was an easy opponent to deal with?

As much as she dislike acting like a child, there was no respect from everyone in the house and she was not going to let anyone trample on her. She was poor and came for the slums, her pride was the only thing going in her and she will not give it up over her dead body.

Lady Gladys walked down the staircase with her own time. The staircase wasn't too long or a never ending spiral. It was one that was wide with golden railings and red carpet. The walls inside the room were unexpectedly painted in a muted olive wallpaper with pink flowers pattern. In comparison to the silent color, Lady Glady's dress was bright in the color of purple. Sure Elle stood out like a sore thumb, but the lady took away those oddness with her unmatching gown color.

Elle saw the woman seizing her from the soles of her feet to the tip of her strawberry blonde hair. Their gaze overlapped with each other when she noticed of the older woman's trembling lips.

"What is your name?" There was a tone of demanding in her words which Elle ignored as she told herself she is a patient person.

"Elle," she didn't gave the woman her full name. "And yours?"

Suddenly a foot stomped before her. The carrot girl appeared with her eyes flaming in anger, "You have no manners to address my mother by such a rude tone!"

"Oh was it rude?" Elle settled her finger under her chin and looked as though she was frowning to think, "My deepest apologies ladies, I wasn't brought up to know what is rude and what is not for the wealthy nobles. But I merely used the tone and wordings she used to me, if I am rude wouldn't that made your ladyship over here rude as well?" Even though her words were intricate apologies, her smirk didn't seem to be any guilty.

"W- What nonsense are you spouting—" Caroline was hushed by her mother who suddenly sent her a glare over her shoulders. She then looked at Elle, not hiding her displeasure.

"I'm sorry if I have offended you," replied Elle politely. She knew if she messed too much with these snowflakes they will hunt her. She didn't mind being hunted but she cannot let the people of the slums be affected by their wrath. She could feel these two women wouldn't just lay down after being offended. "I am here to meet my father which I heard is still alive."

"My father," Caroline stressed on the word 'My'.

"Oh heaven," whispered Elle to herself, finally comprehending why the carrot girl and the angry lady had been so unwelcoming to her. They are possibily her father's current wife and possibly her step sister.

Elle felt weird seeing the girl as anything remotely to her sister as the girl had glared daggers at her which made her just looked extremely displeasing to befriend with.

"I didn't know this will be dramatic," she murmured to herself.

Lady Gladys sighed and spoke with a tone as though she was singing, "I forgot that you haven't been taught by governess on how to be polite to your elders. I thought it is something taught to all children even those from the slums."

Of course everyone is taught to respect their elders— but they aren't taught to respect mockery.

Upon declaring how she came from the slums the people around her, even the maids looked at her with abhorrent. Although Estelle wasn't the least daunted by the gaze, she felt somewhat defeated that she had spent so much time coming here just to go through this terrible treatment.

Thinking about Timothy who was beaten up by Mikail, Elle clenched her fingers. "Can I—" she was interrupted by Lady Gladys who spoke with a louder voice to cut her off.

"—My name is Gladys Vernon. The lady of the house, the countess, and this is my beloved daughter, the prize of our housed, Caroline Vernon," the woman placed her hand on top of her chest and seeing Elle's disinterested look she smiled. "Was it difficult to understand that?"

No.. honestly, Elle just thought that the Carrot girl's name was similar to Carrot— Caroline, carrot. Was it on purpose? Carrot sister?

"Counters Gladys and Lady Caroline," Elle repeated their names. "Can I—"

"—I am the only daughter of this house, pleased to meet you," this time the one who cut her off was Caroline she had extended her hand in a handshake but as Elle was about to return it, the girl pulled away and stuck out her tongue.

"You look young, Miss Caroline. I suppose you are fifteen?" Elle asked sincerely.

Caroline felt flattered that she appeared young and tipped her chin, "I'm nineteen."

"Oh my age," Elle said. "I almost didn't notice that," with how she was acting like a child but the girl took her words as flatters and was easily delighted by the superficial words.

"So can I possibly meet my father?" Elle looked at Lady Gladys. The woman had been placing her fingers around her nose as though she stink and she didn't take offense from it. "I don't really have much time."

Lady Gladys was somewhat irked as it seemed Elle wasn't the easy type to be deterred by the power and position she had.

She clicked her tongue, "What do you have to do which made you not to have time?" People like her should be over the moon to find out she is related to someone wealthy! But the girl spoke as though she had only come for a brief look and ditch, hurting her noble self.

Elle looked at the woman confused. She was definitely not welcomed in this household then why when she plan to leave does this woman seemed to be angered by the idea?

"I have siblings to take care," Elle wasn't planning on leaving Lucas and Marcie alone for so long. Grandpa John's back still hurt him and added with Timothy's wounds, she has even more reason to leave as early as possible.

Before they could continue on with their conversation where sparks of fire had began to spread, Elle heard the loud footsteps from behind her. A man whose black hair seemed to be ruffled by the wind and sweat looked at his surrounding at upmost panic. He seemed to be searching for someone, appearing to be desperate to even take a glimpse of that certain someone. His blue eyes were deep and somewhat reminded her of something and he appeared to be in his late forties, with his clothes that were in ivory.

Upon finding her, the man rushed forward. His arms were spread opened to take her into an embrace ad Elle who didn't expect this had almost pulled out her hidden move only to feel the man's tight hug and his sobs, "My daughter, oh my daughter. You are finally home, finally. Finally Marilyn, Estelle is back home!"

As much as Elle wanted to push the man she was taken aback at once by the words the woman uttered. It took her a moment to realize from between his cry that he was… her father!