Dawne scoffs. She paid for the tea and follow her. She teleports right next to Serana. Yeah itâs not that easy to get rid of Dawne. She pulls out her sword. She could just scream and yell at her, but instead she decides to speak how her mother taught her brothers to speak when the family name insulted.
âYou say youâre descendants of Warriors and you cannot be brave enough to face me in duel. If you really think I should be put in my place, then please draw your sword madam and remind me who I am speaking to. Perhaps you do not understand⊠I will not tolerate your insolence.â Dawne aimed her sword but put it down, now standing in front of her.
âYou wanna know something?"
Dawne pauses, before casting a spell of truth. This applies to both parties, but Dawne was only really casting it for herself, âif you tell anyone, when I am about to tell you, I will deny it.â Dawne sighs. âI know about nobility, I know how to act because I was once a noble myself. Sure you might not believe me, but hereâŠâ Dawne put a small little badge in Seranaâs hands. It had emerald on it, a white owl with emerald eyes and the wings of the owl became Swords. Dawne held onto it after she ran away. It was a noble emblem, and a genuine one at that.
Once she was sure Serena had a good look at it, she snatched it back. âDawne Miltoni is the name I chose for myself. I act reckless, I curse I do everything not lady like because itâs something I can do freely. Youâre probably wondering, âSo what, you gave all that up?â The answer is yes.â
âDonât get me wrong, I was practically adored, riches to spend, the most fashionable clothing, servants at my beck and call, power to strip people of status and power or grant them certain privileges, people would just trip over themselves just to talk to me! I had people who feared me. Practically worshiped me, butâŠâŠno one truly respect me. I mean, how could they? The Daughter of Count Viltonia was meant to be seen and not heard.â
Oh. She was from that family. They werenât terrible or scandalous or anything crazy like that, but they were intense on their views of noble etiquette. They were also backed by the court of Savannah.
âYes, Iâm from that family. Well⊠I was from that family; the strict, rigid family that followed horrendous expectations from the past that followed us like shadows.â It was at this point, Dawne looked Serana in the eye, and handed her back her pen.
âDo you know what thatâs like? I mean, you are a noble, are you not? Surely, you would understand that. You are the future marchioness, so surely you would understand the pressure. You can do whatever you want, you can have whatever you want but you still have to follow your familyâs expectations. And as a noble, oh, you probably think Iâm lecturing you Iâm not. Truly, I am not. But you wanna know why I had lunch ordered for us?⊠I wanted to be nice. I know the amount of pressure nobility can be under. I wanted to offer to take off stress, but something about your attitude made me just angry. You reminded me of the pompous nobles who expected⊠Everything. Nobles think they can do whatever they want. Unfortunately, that is not the case for every noble.â
Dawne paused, her eyes glancing down before glancing back up with a tired stubbornness.
âI say this as someone who used to live the life you have. If youâre going to try to force someone to do what you think they should, they may do what you say out of fear. But some? Some wonât. I am a living example of that. Why am I telling you that?â Dawne pause before showing a photo of her and her father. Dawne canât look at the photo. She canât bear to know. âMy father arranged a marriage for me a marriage to court. Now it was not the court of Savannah, thankfully. But it was a court my family could not ignore. I remember when he told me, I practically shattered a glass. I had such a fight with my parents. Those motherfuckers wanted me to be quiet. They wanted me to accept it, and that it would help teach me to "better myself". I had always been the odd one of my siblings. The argument continued on for weeks. I was told I couldnât go adventuring, couldnât do this thing, couldnât do that. I was sort of used to being told what I couldnât do⊠but it was the fact they were so willing to send me away without considering my input so I left homeâŠ; I left home, changed my name, my identity, because no amount of wealth or status was worth trading my freedom or changing who I was.â
Dawne⊠she looked tired, almost⊠defeated. She was holding back tears. She used her magic to end the spell. During the entire time she talked, no pain struck her. Which means she was telling the truth.
âIf you wanna laugh at me or scold me for giving up a âlife of luxuryâ, or throwing away my power, my life, go ahead, but let me be clear⊠If you choose to do so, draw your sword⊠I donât wanna fight you, but I shall not tolerate your slander. A proper lady must defend her name, should she not?â Dawne just stared her down.
She wanted so badly to cry.
For once, she was tired of putting on the intense bravado. She was tired of constantly yelling and pushing people away, sheâs tired of cursing in brandishing a sword in peopleâs faces. So for once, she chose to let her guard down. âYou wanna know why Iâm such a jerk to you? If, you really must know the truth, itâs cause you reminded me of who I used to be.â Dawne paused before muttering to herself loud enough to be heard, âHuh. Didnât know a noble I disliked could get me to open up. I mean, I respect you for it.â
She then sighed and looked back at her. âAlso, you left your pen at the restaurant, here.â Dawne tossed Serana the pen. Dawne looked at her, sword held with shaky hands before she put her guard back up slightly. âOh, right! If you want to cast your judgment, scold me, now would be the time to do so. Donât feel bad. Itâs what most nobles would do. I certainly wouldn't feel bad.â
Dawne, had to admit two things. One: she did not miss being 17 years old. Two: She was fully ready to draw her blade, but truthfully? She didnât want to at all. She would if she had to yet at this point, she was hoping the girl would call her bluff. She doesnât think that Lady Vaile will show her any understanding, but sometimes, nobility can be a wildcard.
