Curiosity

"Soledad, he's finished. Doesn't he know who Nicholas is yet?" Pieter said with a sarcastic smile. He seemed to enjoy the fights experienced by his arch enemy, the commoner hitman. It is certain that Soledad will experience very big problems because she dares to oppose the rich young duke.

Nicholas looked at Soledad full of hatred, even more than when they first met. In his entire life, there had never been a single person who treated him badly.

"What? What are you looking at? If I don't want to apologize, what are you going to do?"

"You do not know who I am ?" Nicholas asked with arrogant eyes.

"You're the granddaughter of the fierce witch Duchess,"

"You don't know who my father is yet?"

"How would I know, I don't care either!"

"You are nothing, you don't even have anything, you dare insult me. Have you forgotten? Your father and mother work for my grandfather and grandmother, if I want, I can ask grandmother to fire your parents that way, you will starve because you don't have food. After that, you and your poor family will definitely beg me to apologize!" Nicholas said. He really couldn't take it anymore.

Soledad was silent, yes, not because she couldn't reply. However, what this noble boy said was true. Soledad remembered her family who was truly helpless and she knew exactly that all this time her family had been making a living by working for the wealthy Duke Walter family.

Soledad looked down, her expression changed instantly. In just a few seconds, Soledad lifted her face again while taking a breath. Rachel, who was right beside her, could only look at Soledad with pity.

"Soledad, shall we play outside?" Rachel asked gently.

"It's okay Rachel, I'm fine. But you're right, it looks like it's more fun playing outside. Let's go!" Soledad got up from her place and Rachel followed.

Several students who had been standing around them then gave way because they didn't want to get involved in Soledad's tantrum which could come at any time.

"Hey, why are you leaving? I'm not finished yet!" Nicholas shouted, dissatisfied with his enemy's reaction, even though the enemy was showing no signs of resistance.

"I don't want to deal with you, play with the same kids as you. No need to talk anymore to a dirty, rude, ugly and smelly poor kid like me." Soledad said firmly. He understood that this time avoiding arguments was better for the survival of his family.

Nicholas was silent, his annoyance growing bigger. For some reason, whatever answer Soledad gives always puts her on the losing side. Even though in reality, Soledad actually acted like someone who didn't want to get involved any further with someone she definitely couldn't fight.

***

Soledad and Rachel walked together out of the school gates. Rachel finally actually followed Soledad's wish to peek into Count William Der Lijn's house, only to be able to see the figure of the boy Soledad saw at the front of the school gate this morning.

Soledad looked curious, she was excited. Rachel, who was walking next to him, could only smile.

"Why are you smiling like that? My face is strange, isn't it? Do my armpits stink?" Soledad asked while sniffing his armpit.

"It's okay, your armpits don't smell bad. I'm just curious, your bumps are like this. As much as you want to see noble children, usually you really hate them!"

"I really hate them, but I'm just curious about that boy. What was he doing this morning in front of the gate? Moreover, Mr. Hendrick said he was like that almost every day," answered Soledad. Rachel just nodded confused.

Soledad and Rachel stopped in their tracks, the fence of Count William Der Lijn's house was only about 2 meters in front of them. Soledad didn't dare to take a step closer, because she realized that she actually had nothing important to do in this place, apart from making sure that the noble child she saw this morning really lived in this big house.

"Oh, why did you stop?" Rachel asked, because Soledad stopped, Rachel was forced to stop too.

"You can't see it from here, right?"

"Yes, how can it be seen? Besides, it looks like the door to the house is closed. It's very quiet, isn't it?" Rachel said paying attention.

Soledad tried to get closer, because she was too curious, now her face was right in the gap between the fences. He looked like a cat caught in a fence.

"Soledad, how dare you get that close?" Rachel shouted, but Soledad didn't pay any attention because she was driven by her immense curiosity.

"It's okay, if you can't see it from a distance."

"Hey, what are you doing?" A stocky man suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Soledad and Rach, who were completely unaware of someone's presence, were shocked beyond words.

"Eh, s-sorry sir? We didn't steal, that's right!" Soledad answered spontaneously. Rachel, who was shocked, could only remain silent without a word.

"Who accused you of stealing? I asked what you were doing? What were you looking for?" Asked the man who turned out to be a friendly man.

"We're not looking for anything, we just want to see, the house is really big hehehe..." Soledad answered lamely while laughing awkwardly.

"Oh yes, it's really big, this is Count William Der Lijn's house."

***