Chapter 12

I still feel annoyed by the words of Jannet, the impudent woman who was very presumptuous in accusing me of being a prostitute who slept with many men.

"Agh...damn it, no matter what you think about it, you're still annoyed! How dare that foul mouth of her say such a despicable thing to me! Watch out, I'll definitely break her neck!" I muttered in annoyance. Come to think of it, that impudent woman was truly outrageous.

I saw Jannet walking with Marie in the park, they were giggling as if they were talking about something interesting. They are both the same, both disgusting provocateurs.

With quick steps I dragged this damn dress so I could get to them as quickly as possible. Noticing my arrival, Marie glared with those terrible round eyes. Meanwhile, Jannet, who had just realized my arrival, looked relaxed as if she knew that I might attack her after the useless nonsense she said to the witch.

"Hey you, insolent bitch! What were you doing, huh? Want to act like a defender of the truth?"

"Ella, what are you-" whether pretending not to know or not, Marie looked shocked by my words which might sound rude to their ears. But of course I don't care, right now I really want to make calculations with this female fox.

Knowing that I intended to reply to her nonsense, Jannet smiled sarcastically, showing a typical antagonistic face that really annoyed me. If she wasn't a woman, I would have strangled her with both of my hands.

"What's wrong, Ella? Is there something you want to talk to me about?" She said suddenly acting elegantly.

"Hey damn, what exactly do you have a problem with me? Who do you call going partying with noble men?"

"Of course you, Ella! Who else? Who else could have such a wild hobby like that? Me, Marie and Emily, we are honorable women who won't let just any man get close to us. But you, it seems like you need it the most confession so that you easily hand over your honor to the men who invited you to the party. Oh my God, Ella! As your sister, I feel very embarrassed. I hope His Majesty the King doesn't hear any gossip about you, because if not, he definitely won't want to know this family again forever."

The words that this vixen said sounded more and more annoying as time went on. But unfortunately, I don't know how to respond. I've always been unable to win an argument with a woman and even though I'm a woman now, I still can't argue with a woman.

"Agh...damn it, instead of responding to her chatter, I'd rather you duel to the death." I thought.

"What's wrong, Ella? Why are you suddenly so silent? You realize your mistake that's why you don't know how to respond to what I said, right? Ahahaha...as I thought, you know your mistake that's why you can't argue with me. Looks like the cunning Ella has changed being a stupid girl, huh?"

"You really can't be left alone, can you? How about we just fight?"

"Ella, what did you say?"

"Shut up, I'm not talking to you! I'm talking to this ugly bitch!"

"Who are you calling an ugly bitch?" She said, immediately turning annoyed after I called her an "ugly bitch."

"Who else but you? How many ugly bitches are there? I think the ugliest girl in this house is you!" I said loudly. I just want her to know that that's my objective assessment as a man. If she had good qualities, of course I would appreciate her more even though she wasn't very beautiful.

Jannet's face, which was originally very arrogant after successfully making fun of me, now turned bright red. She looked really angry and that actually made me feel happy. I don't want her to think that she can win against me.

"Ella, I think your words are a little too much. Jannet must feel hurt and-"

"Does my face look like I care? Do you think she's the only person who has feelings here? Hey you, listen to me! If you have a problem with me, you should just tell me the truth! Don't use cowardly methods like that to attack me! If You're brave, it's better for us to duel one on one, you understand?" I said while putting my hands on my hips. I really want to make a calculation with her right now.

Jannet and Marie, who heard my words, just remained silent with stupid expressions on their faces that I couldn't understand.

"Ella, what does dueling mean?" Marie asked. This stupid girl really doesn't seem to understand what I mean.

"I challenge her to a duel! If she dares, we might as well finish it off manly!"

"Manly? What did you say?" Jannet started to react. Her face looked panicked.

"I don't like beating around the bush, I challenge you to a duel with me tonight in this park. We'll solve our problems here! Do you understand? If you don't come to this park tonight, I'll consider you a coward!" I said as I walked away.

Relieved, I felt a little relieved because I had succeeded in doing what I should have done to deal with the vixen. I don't know what women usually do to solve their problems, but I guess it's not that different from what we men usually do to solve our problems.

"I think she's really out of her mind, how could she dare me to do something so barbaric and uncivilized like that? Fight? She's really crazy! I've never thought that a crazy woman like her could make His Majesty King Zavier and Duke Aiden are crazy. There's definitely something wrong!" Jannet growled in annoyance. She didn't understand why she could lose when she felt that she was much more worthy of being loved by noble men.

"I think what Emily said about Ella is true!"

"What do you mean?"

"After the incident where she drowned in the lake that time, she started acting strangely as if she had lost her memory. She also spoke as if she were a man." Marie said after remembering what Emily said the other day.

"No, Marie! Do you know how cunning Ella is? She's very good at acting, she's also manipulative. I'm sure she's hiding a big problem right now, that's why she's pretending to act like someone else so that no one suspects her."

"But I think she's a little strange and-"

"No, Marie! Don't fall for her charade! She's a fraud so don't be too easy to believe what she says!"

***

"Mom...!"

Even though she tried to remain calm and not take the challenge seriously. But to be honest, Jannet was very anxious. She knew very well what kind of person Ella was and even though her attitude felt so strange now, her threats were never casual. She's still the same person, equally dangerous.

Jannet walked hastily towards her mother's room. Without knocking on the door first, she came in as soon as I did just to complain about what Ella had done to her.

"Mom, listen to me! There's a serious problem...!"

"Oh my God, what's wrong Jannet? Why are you screaming like that? And why did you come in without knocking on the door first?"

"Mom, do something to your beloved daughter? Do you know what she said to me? She wanted to hit me tonight! She invited me to fight with her in the park!"

"What? That's impossible! Don't be kidding, Jannet! Ella couldn't possibly do something so barbaric like that! She's the daughter of a respectable noble family!"

"But that's the truth, Mom! Stop turning a blind eye to all her bad behavior. Marie was the witness when Ella challenged me to a duel with her!"

"Oh my God, I really don't understand what she's actually doing!"

"All this happened because all this time you have always pampered and condoned his mistakes, which has made her big-headed!"

"I never spoiled, Ella! She is the smartest and most talented girl so she stands out so much compared to you and your sisters!"

"It's all because you feel that she is the most beautiful, just because everyone who sees her will definitely praise her as very beautiful, so that makes you embarrass her especially. Now look at how she is! She has become arrogant and big-headed, she thinks that father and mother will definitely defend her no matter what mistakes she makes, because up until now she has always been forgiven!"

"Listen, Jannet! I don't want to blame myself for what happened. You don't try enough and are always lazy about studying, while Ella and Emily always study well. They read books, study music and many things. Meanwhile, you and Marie, all you two can do is have a tea party and gossip all afternoon. Do all the activities you do make you stand out more than your sister?"

Hearing her mother's ultimatum made Jannet speechless, not because she realized where she had gone wrong. But because she still thinks that whatever happens, in the end her mother will still defend the one who is much prettier than her.

***