Chapter 20

"Ella? Are you ready?" The witch, I mean my mother was standing at the door to check whether I was ready to come to the party or not.

I turned to her, showing an annoyed expression so he knew that I really didn't want to go to that party and dance like a fairy tale.

"Listen, I'll say it again! I don't want to go and I hate this ugly dress! I don't want to go out that door wearing this dress that looks like window curtains!"

"What are you saying? Don't you know how much the dress you're wearing is worth? I've spent a lot of money buying that dress, Ella! So I don't want to hear you protest, let alone refuse to go!" She said very firmly as she walked away. Damn, she's too strong that it feels impossible for me to oppose her.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, it felt tight because the corset was too tight making it difficult for me to breathe freely. 

I walked with robotic steps, trying not to let my shoes step on my dress. Not to mention these damn high heels, how am I supposed to walk on this damn shoes?

My bad feeling came true, just walking a few steps out of the room, my shoes stepped on a long dress that reached the floor and made me immediately slip. I fell backwards right in front of the eyes of the cunning woman, Jannet. 

"Hahaha..." Jannet giggled when she saw me fall and it was clear that this was what a cunning woman like her wanted. 

"Oh my God, Ella? Are you okay?" In contrast to the cunning Jannet, my beautiful and kind Emily immediately tried to help me. 

Emily and Liana came over to me and helped me to stand up, but damn Jannet just looked at me with that sick smile. 

"It's all because of this damn dress! Why do I have to wear something like this?" I grumbled in annoyance and that made me look even more pathetic in the eyes of the deceitful woman.

"Don't blame your dress, Ella! But blame yourself for being so ugly!" 

"Hey, I'm not talking to you, dude!"

"Huh? What? Dude? You called me dude?"

"Why? You're not happy? Do I need to call you as a young man?"

"I think there's something wrong with your brain, Ella! You act like a rough man who works on a plantation!"

"I think a rough man who works on a plantation is the ideal husband for you, Jannet! Oh yes, I forgot, a rough man who works on a fishing boat is also very suitable for you!"

"What are you saying?"

"Hahaha... an ugly girl like you shouldn't hope to be liked by a noble man, you are enough with commoners!"

"Stop it I said!"

"Why? Are you upset? Are you ready to fight with me?"

"You are really too much...!"

Jannet immediately attacked me by pushing my body to the floor. She hit me with the technique that women usually use every time they fight, namely hitting with both hands in a fast and graceful movement.

I was confused about how to deal with her attack, physically I might be a woman like Jannet. But my soul still loudly says that I am a man and for 25 years of my life, I have been a man. 

Bruuukkk...

When I was still unsure whether to hit him or not, he immediately slapped me hard in the face. Emily, who was trying to break up our argument, was almost hit by her.

"Ouch-" 

"Feel that, you fool...!"

"You really can't be left alone, can you? If you weren't a woman, I would definitely break your arms!"

"Hey, what are you saying? You're not really a woman? Oh my gosh, Ella! Because you can't fight me, you're acting strong, it's embarrassing!"

"Jannet, never mind! Ella, don't hit you back at all. I think you're going too far!"

"You don't have to interfere, Emily! Just mind your own business!"

"Who are you to say stay out of it, Jannet?"

As expected of the boss of this family, the witch came forward like an eagle trying to intimidate a crow. Hearing her mother's voice, Jannet fell silent for a moment and looked back carefully. 

A few steps behind her, the witch, I mean mother, was standing with the typical face of Cinderella's stepmother. She folded her arms in front of her chest and studied us with her very sharp eyes. 

Jannet was shocked, her eyes widened, I don't know for sure what she was really thinking right now. But whatever it was, it was clear she was very scared. 

"M-mother? Since when did you-"

"Earlier you said that Ella challenged you to a fight! But what I saw was you who were busy attacking and beating her very roughly."

"Mother, listen to me! It's not what you think-"

"Not what you think? Jannet, your behavior does not show the ethics of a dignified noble lady at all. You are very rude and unethical! How could I let a girl like you attend a party like that? You will only be an embarrassment!" 

"What? Mother, listen to me! This is all het fault! She was the one who challenged me to-"

"Stop it, Jannet! You don't need to explain anything to me! My eyes are still good enough to see clearly what you just did. Because it all depends on you. Apologize to Ella for your behavior or you can't come to the party!" She said giving Jannet a very strong ultimatum. I really didn't expect mother to defend me to this extent.

"What? How can you tell me to apologize to him, Mother?" Jannet looked very shocked. It seemed like it was a heavy blow for her to be forced to apologize to me.

When her eyes glanced at me, I really couldn't hide my smile. I smiled broadly with my teeth showing. I'm sure that made her feel even more annoyed.

"Nyehehe..." I almost laughed. But I tried to hold it in.

"Don't ever think that I will apologize to you, Ella! Never! Do you understand?"

"Who cares whether you want to apologize to me or not!"

"You have to apologize to her, Jannet! If you really want to go to that party!"

"But why should I apologize to her, Mother? This isn't fair! It's not my fault!"

"It's all up to you! Ella, Emily, Marie! The carriage that picked us up has arrived, we have to go now!"

"Mother, wait a minute...! What about me? I want to go to that party too...!" Jannet screamed and tried to follow our steps. 

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