Chapter 106 - Bring it-Wait, what?

I turned to see who the arrogant voice belonged to, and she looks exactly as she sounds, in essence, pompous.

Leading this squad of goons and thugs was a girl about my age, but clearly of noble birth. She had the usual noble fashion of silk clothes, precious metal jewelery, a parasol studded with gems and rose perfume. She also had the telltale look of make up, namely whitening powder, red dye lipbalm and charcoal to emphasize the eyebrows. Surprisingly her hair was all natural despite being in those weird curls nobles like to do so much. All in all, a throughbred noble girl...with eyes remarkably similar to my own...

"I said, you peasant, what do you think you're doing to my men", the noble girl said with a condescending tone that instantly made me want to slap her.

"Oh moi?", I replied with an exaggerated simpering tone.

[Waitaminute...], Voxea suddenly commented.

"Yes. You", she said in mild annoyance. I could already tell I was going to enjoy this way more than I should.

"Well pardon me milady, I was just doing a public service", I replied in a sugary tone.

[Something about this girl is tickling my senses...].

[What do you mean?], I mentally asked while keeping up my current appearance.

"A public service?", she said while slowly squinting her eyes at me.

"Why yes. Is it not the duty of an Imperial citizen to deal out justice on bullies and thugs? Especially when they happen to be the subordinates to a do nothing noble girl?", I replied acidly.

[Wait..oh! Oh boy...].

[What? What did you realize]?

"Do nothing noble?! How dare you! You're the one who assaulted my subordinate!", she exclaimed.

"Well isn't it the responsibility of a leader to own up to their subordinate's action? Should I call you a thug instead, or would you prefer thuggish noble?", I retorted with a challenging look.

[I think that lackey of hers is about to explain].

"Hey! Watch your tongue wretch!", a member of her entourage suddenly piped up, "You are speaking to Lady Diamonda Belladonna Terrania Firmis! First young mistress of Clan Firmis, daughter of Lady Fiora and squire to Lord Granido of the Crystal Rose"!

[There it is~], Voxea stated in a sing-song voice.

"Well I don't give a-waitaminute...Clan Firmis"?

[She's from my mother's side]?

[Yes, and isn't Fiora the name of one of her sisters?], Voxea asked.

[SHE'S MY COUSIN]?!

"Yes I am! And you, you knave girl, have insulted my honor", Diamonda interjected, "And since we are both binders, our only recourse is for us to duel! Bring out your drajule, wench, and let us settle this as true binders".

The noble girl then proceeded to close her parasol and pointed it at me like a sword.

"Or are you just a brute who only let their fists do the talking?", she said with a mocking grin.

Part of me wanted to just let it go since she was technically family, but after that comment...well, mother and father did say that the academy was one part social circle and one part fight pit. Bigger fist tends to have the most say.

"Alright noble girl, you're on".

"Clear out everybody, we got a duel incoming"!

"Huh? Diamonda is about to fight a girl"?!

"Who's the other girl? She's pretty cute in an untamed way...".

"You're crazy, Diamonda is a proper beauty"!

The people around us began to clear,forming a circle around us and just as my friends caught up and joined me.

"Silvia! What are you-".

"Whoa, hang back ivory tone. This is a proper binder duel. Rules gotta be respected".

The noble girl and I stared each other down as our respective groups began to back away.

"Ladies first?", I asked.

"On the count of three. One monster each", she said as she repositioned her parasol and place her hands over the handle, which began to him with aether might.

"Fine by me", I replied while placing my hand over my hunting knife. A few weeks back, I had a new sheath made to install Azalea's drajule as well. Fashionable and practical, just as Voxea taught me.

"Three...".

"Two...".

"One"!

"Ambush them, Azalea"!

"Put her in her place, Bismuth"!