Crystal
What's that look? I asked myself, still looking blankly at Mother.
"Crystal?" he spoke, bringing me back to my senses.
"Oh... sorry, I am not interested," I spoke, holding Mother, who was confused. "Let's go," I whispered, and we left his sight.
When we were far from him, Mother let go of my head and beat my back again and again.
"Ah! Mother, it hurts," I spoke in pain, touching my aching back.
"You naughty girl! If you keep rejecting guys, how are you going to get married?" she spoke, clearly angry.
"Mother... I don't love him," I replied sincerely.
She laughed in disbelief. "That's what you keep saying for the past three months since you turn 19. If you continue this, you will just send me and your father to our early grave," she said, hitting her chest.
"Mother... don't," I spoke, but she cut me off.
"Don't say a word! If you really care about me and your father, make sure you get someone who will marry you tonight! I don't care if you love him or not! You and I both know Collin is a nice guy from a good family, yet you rejected his offer without thinking twice."
I let out a deep sigh. "Okey, Mother, I will think about it," I replied, but she was not really satisfied with my answer.
"Mother... let's go get the mask and leave fast," I added, and she walked off without waiting for me.
I ran to catch up with her, and after walking a little we entered the shop, which was filled with many young ladies of my age. I recognized many of them but acted like I didn't know them.
"Look who we have here? Crystal... our invincible princess," one of them said, and the rest laughed. They gave me that name because no one had ever seen my face except my family.
I clenched my fist in anger. If Mother wasn't present, I would have beaten them into pulp.
"Ignore them," Mother whispered, and I nodded, following her to a place where I picked a mask that was blue and white with a floral design. It looked simple and beautiful.
"That's mine!" Hilda, one of them, spoke, collecting the mask from my hand.
"Give it back!" I spoke in anger. Hilda looked at me with a smirk.
"Or what? You will beat me?" she said and glanced at Mother before looking back at me. She knew so well that I won't fight in the presence of Mother.
I grit my teeth in anger, staring fiercely at her. If looks could kill, she'd drop dead just now.
"Let her have it," Mother spoke calmly. She didn't want any trouble, which angered me. I looked at Hilda with a smirk and touched my neck.
She flinched and touched hers too, where a scar was. Yes! I was the one who use blade to cut her when she spoke nonsense to me when we were 17.
"You haven't learn your lesson, right?" I spoke in an authoritative tone, making her move back in fear. Mother looked at me in horror; she have never seen this side of me before.
She dragged me to a corner where no one was.
"Crystal! What was that? Where did you learn to speak that way? You are a lady, for heaven's sake! Is that how you will speak to your husband when he annoys you?" she questioned, shaking in anger, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
"I might castrate him," I replied, not minding her anger.
"Don't! Say! Such! Unholy! Word!" she spoke, beating my back.
"Mother! You need to stop; I am not a kid anymore," I spoke, getting angry at her behavior. Anytime people take it out on me, she expects me to keep quiet and act like nothing happened.
"You are an adult? Yes? Behave like one and stop disgracing me!" she shouted in frustration.
"Mother, it's okey—"
"I heard a familiar voice, and my eyes became moist. "Brother!" I spoke faintly and ran to my eldest brother, who had just arrived.
I hugged him, sobbing in his arms, while he patted my back.
"You are taking her side, huh? You and your other brothers are the ones spoiling her! I wonder if she will marry one of you!" Mother spoke in anger.
Luther chuckled. "Mother... take it easy on her, she's hurt," he spoke, and Mother scoffed.
"Take!" she said, handing Luther the money bag she brought. "Accompany her, I'll go back home now," she added, about to leave.
"Mother... don't leave," Luther tried to persuade her, but she ignored him and left.
I withdrew from the hug, looking at my eldest brother. He smiled and cleaned my tears.
"Princesses don't cry, okey?" he spoke, and I nodded.
"Thank you, brother," I replied, and he touched my face with a soft gesture.
"Let's go get you a perfect mask. I got some change here," he said, showing me his extra money bag. I giggled and followed him.
He took me to a place where the mask money was kinda high, and the design finer than the first one I picked.
"Sir Luther," we heard a lady speak, and we turned to her direction.
"How may I help you?" my brother asked, and she fidgeted with her fingers, acting shy.
"Stop putting up an act and speak," I spoke, clearly irritated by her actions. She was among the ladies who mocked me, and now she dared act cute in front of my brother.
"Um... are you coming to the ball tonight?" she asked with a smile, ignoring me.
"Yes, I will," he replied, and her smile deepened.
"Oh... that's nice. I will be expecting you tonight," she said and bowed before leaving.
"Humph, bitch!" I spoke in anger.
Luther laughed. "Sister... if you continue this, I won't get married either," he joked.
"Of course, you can, brother, but not with those silly ladies. Even if you had to marry outside our village, I would love it more than marrying those ladies," I voiced my thoughts, and he smiled.
"Okey, um... Collin told me you turned down his offer," he started and looked at me. "You know he is a good guy," he added, now serious.
"You can't be serious, brother! You want to set me up with your friend? Humph, that's unfair!" I said, pouting.
He laughed at my reaction. "You might want to consider him, Crystal; he loves you," he said, making me freeze in place.