The Scoundrel's Daughters

Black sheep

Tanya

- Sh... Is that Lady Rankin?

- I think so...

- Don't get too close to her!

- Yeah, I heard some strange rumors about her too!

- What rumors?

- That her sister and brother left because she wanted the title, so she tried to kill them!

-Oh my God! - I rolled my eyes and held my books closer to my chest. Every freaking day at the academy was a waste of time and resources. It had been four years ago already that Dina and Fin set out to their adventures. They returned each Christmas time and to celebrate their birthday with us, but apart from that we only saw them trough mommy's crystal. Due to the fact that they used magic to travel back and forth, there were already dozens of rumors about our family and the society started calling me Black sheep or the Crow of Rankin. I couldn't be less bothered about their useless babbling. I headed to the next class when someone extended their arm in front of me to block my path.

- Look, what do we have here? The Rankin Crow! - the son of the Duke Bellford. The current Empress's maternal family. This little brat was her nephew. Luckily my blood had absolutely nothing to do with that branch of the family tree. I had enough disgust by my grandfather's sole existence.

- Great... I only needed you for my happiness to be complete. - I said and ducked to enter to the classroom, but Rodney pushed me back. I didn't loose my balance.

- What did you dare to utter? May I remind you that the Emperor is my great uncle?

- Unfortunately, same here jackass... So could you look for another reason quickly, to show your superiority, or should I give you some time to think? - Rodney's face got red, his mud like eyes tried to send me an angry stare but he looked like someone with serious stomach issues instead.

- Let her be Rodney, she cannot even step in your footprints. - Rodney grinned at the young lady who just joined this ridiculous, bullying attempt. "Mommy said don't set them on fire... Should I risk to be grounded for the rest of my life? Nah... They don't worth that much. Let's keep that option for a bigger fish instead."

- What Lady Marbella says is true, I cannot step in Rodney's footprints. - Rodney laughed until I finished my sentence.

- It would be quite complicated since I'm far ahead of him. - Rodney pushed me again this time harder. I remained in my place." Fool... My father and brother are sword masters.

- It's pretty windy today, isn't it? - I asked and the ladies gasped at my insult while Rodney's friends looked worried. He grabbed my collar and lifted his hand to punch me. I just looked into his raging eyes and couldn't wait for the first strike. He slapped me instead of punching me and that was my call. With a single swung of my right hand, I sent a nice punch under Rodney's chin. I could hear his teeth clenching together before his eyes rolled back and he fall onto the ground unconscious. His friends gathered him together and ran to the infirmary with him while Lady Marbella rushed to call a teacher. When I was left alone I cured the pain in my cheek but made sure that the redness remains. I went to class and in the middle of the lesson the principal called for me. "Hehe... This is going to be so much fun!" - I thought and headed to his office. Aunt Agnes was there with the still weeping Rodney, the other chairs were empty. I took my seat and waited.

- Since Lady Rankin's guardian lives further, I think they won't be able to join us for this meeting. I wanted to settle things while the memories are still fresh. - the principal said but the office door swung open revealing my gorgeous mother. She walked to me without giving a single glance to her cousin and held my cheek gently.

- Who? - she asked and I glanced at Rodney. Mommy looked at him seeing his black eyes and still bloody nose. She pat my head and gave a kiss on my cheek before she turned to the fascinated Agnes and the principal.

- Duchess Rankin... How is this possible? - the principal asked and mom shrugged.

- Magic. So what do we have here? - Agnes stood up and shouted at mommy.

- YOUR FERAL CHILD HIT MY SON! - Mommy looked calm but I already knew the silence before the strom well enough to be on guard.

- He probably deserved it. - mommy said and I tried to hold my laughter back. The principal stood up and cleared his throat.

- Let's listen to the kids and the witnesses before accusing anybody, shall we? - mom nodded and took her seat next to me.

- So, Lord Bellford, please begin. - the principal said and Rodney sniffed.

- I headed to the classroom and we were chatting with my friends about the rumors circulating in the Empire. If I knew that Lady Rankin is this dangerous I would have avoided her... - the principal nodded and he looked at me.

- Lady Rankin?

- Lord Bellford didn't let me in my classroom. He and his friends started bullying me. He even said that I cannot step into his footsteps.

- But my dear that's true! You cannot step into someone's footprints who is far behind you! - mommy said with a wicked grin.

- That's exactly what I said mommy. Rodney grabbed my collar and slapped me. I hit him afterwards as self defense.

- Lady Rankin if that's true, tell me, why haven't you told this to a teacher? And why does Lord Rodney's state is way worse than yours?

- I had no time, and to answer the second question, because Lord Bellford is still lacking in many fields. Such as knowing his capabilities and status well enough and he still needs to learn not to start a fight against someone who is stronger than him. - Agnes jumped up form her seat and shouted at me.

- How dare you talk about my son that way?! You barbaric little brat! - that was the end of the story. Because mommy's eyes turned black as death. "Night Night Aunt!" - I thought. Mommy stood up and looked at the principal.

- Get out if you don't want to called to court as a witness.

- Duchess Rankin! Please calm down, we are all civilized people here. Let's resolve this without violence. - Mom laughed.

- Are you loosing your hearing Principal? Duchess Bellford called my daughter a barbaric brat. - mom stepped closer to Agnes and said.

- I thought I taught you the lesson well enough all those years ago, since you had been quiet like a mouse. Looks like you forgot it. - Mommy grabbed Agnes's hair and walked to the window with her. The principal froze in fear and Mommy opened the windows.

- Shall we see if this bug can fly? - she asked me and I smiled at her.

- According to our teacher that kind of bug cannot fly mom.

- Such a shame!-she said and pulled Agnes back she pushed her down her seat and growled at her. Agnes trembled and I could see that Rodney almost peed himself.

- Cousin, I told you, call me however you want, but don't you dare to humiliate my kids. If you keep pushing the limit, I might really show you one day my feral side. - she looked at me and said.

- Tanya, if he lays a finger on you again, kill him how your father taught you. We don't need this kind of pest to keep spreading. - she clapped her hands and smiled sweetly. - Now that everything is settled, I'll take my daughter home. Come sweety! - I walked out of the principal's office after my mother and I could tell by the way her eye twitched that she wanted to kill them. I hugged mom and she smiled at me relaxing.

- Thanks for coming! - she caressed my hair.

- Anytime! If you want you can drop from school. We'll hire teachers for you. - I shook my head.

- I wouldn't be worthy of my name if I'd run away because a bug fly into my eye. - mom laughed and her laughter echoed through the old corridors.

- That's my baby!