Alora woke up early since it was her day off. She fetched water from the well, split firewood, and lit the cooking fire before placing a pot over it. Breakfast was simple—rice with vegetable soup. There was no meat, no fish, just enough to fill their stomachs. After cooking, she swept the compound and finally sat down to eat.
Before she could take another bite, a loud voice shattered the quiet morning.
"You!"
Alora looked up.
Agnes stood at the entrance, breathing heavily, her apron tied tightly around her waist and anger written all over her face.
"Good morning, ma'am," Alora greeted politely.
Agnes scoffed.
"What's good about this morning? You're sitting here eating while my daughter is missing!"
Alora slowly stood up.
"I don't know where Roxana is. I only heard that she—"
"She did nothing!" Agnes snapped. "Even if she told Herbert where you were, it wasn't a big deal. She was helping you."
Alora frowned.
"Helping me? Herbert almost kidnapped me."
Agnes stepped closer. "Keep your mouth shut." She barked.
This time, Alora's patience snapped.
"No, I won't."
Her voice came out firmer than she expected.
"You don't get to come into my house and order me around."
Agnes laughed bitterly.
"If my daughter was guilty, then why did she disappear?" she challenged. "She ran because people were accusing her of something she didn't do!"
Alora folded her arms.
"Then explain why she ran away instead of facing everyone."
Agnes's expression darkened before she pointed a finger at Alora.
"Because of you!"
Silence fell for a second, and then Agnes smiled cruelly.
"Do you know what girls like you are called?"
Alora's heart suddenly became uneasy.
"Mistress."
The word landed like a slap. Agnes continued without mercy.
"You're nothing more than a poor girl throwing herself at a noble, Lord Duncan will never marry someone like you. At best..." she laughed, "...you'll be his mistress."
Alora froze. Her lips parted, but nothing came out.
Agnes kept cursing her before finally turning and walking away.
Alora remained standing until the woman disappeared from sight. Only then did she sit on the stone outside the house, staring into space.
The word refused to leave her head.
Mistress.
When Irene returned that afternoon, Alora told her everything. The more she spoke, the darker Irene's face became.
"You stood there and said nothing?"
"I couldn't speak."
Irene slammed the bowl she was holding onto the table.
"Speechless? Alora, if you keep letting people insult you, they'll think you're weak."
"I didn't know what to say."
"You should've answered her!"
William quietly entered after hearing the raised voices.
"What happened?"
Alora explained again.
Irene stood up immediately.
"Come with me."
"Mother..."
"No. Today, she's going to hear from me."
Without waiting, Irene marched out of the compound. William and Alora exchanged worried looks before following her.
Agnes was outside her house arranging vegetables when Irene stopped in front of her.
The women around the street immediately sensed trouble.
Agnes looked up.
"What do you want?"
Irene didn't waste a second.
"Let this be the last day you insult my daughter."
Agnes stood.
"I only told her the truth."
"The truth?" Irene's eyes burned with anger. "Your daughter led Herbert to mine."
"And your daughter happily followed a lord."
The words had barely left Agnes's mouth.
Slap!
The sound echoed through the street. Everyone gasped.
Agnes staggered backwards, holding her cheek.
"You slapped me?"
Irene stepped forward, her finger shaking with fury.
"Don't you ever call my daughter that again."
Agnes raised her hand to strike back, but Irene caught her wrist before it landed.
"My body may be sick," Irene said through clenched teeth, "but don't mistake sickness for weakness."
She shoved Agnes's hand away.
"If my daughter catches a noble's eye, that's because God made her beautiful."
She pointed directly at Agnes.
"Unlike you, who wants to blame another girl because your own daughter is missing."
Agnes's face twisted with rage.
"You'll regret this."
Irene didn't move an inch. "Go ahead."
Her voice rose so everyone could hear.
"I DARE you."
The street had become completely silent, and people gathered outside their houses, whispering among themselves. No one dared step between the two women.
After a long stare, Agnes picked up her basket with trembling hands.
"This isn't over." She stormed inside her house.
Irene walked home without looking back. Her breathing was heavy, but the anger inside her hadn't disappeared.
William finally spoke.
"You shouldn't have slapped her."
"Things were already bad," Irene replied sharply. "I simply showed her I'm not afraid."
Alora lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, Mother."
Irene immediately turned to her.
"Never apologise for something you didn't do." Her voice softened for the first time.
"As long as I'm alive, nobody will shame my daughter in front of me."
She sat down slowly, still breathing hard, and then a dangerous smile appeared on her face.
"If Agnes wants trouble..."
She looked toward the door.
"...then she'll get trouble."