Ayda tried pushing Nifsara away but the latter was way too strong. Ayda shouldn't have been surprised. After all, Nifsara was the most talented knight of her generation. It would have been weird if Ayda had been stronger. Ayda tried pulling her hand out but Nifsara wasn't letting go. Ayda's mother looked down at their hands and noticed the fork:
"Ayda? What are you doing?"
Ayda was getting more and more frustrated. Was Nifsara made out of stone? Why couldn't she let go of her? Forget her mother, she would scratch her eyes out. Let's see if that made her angry.
"I am not doing anything, that's the problem!"
Ayda gave up on the fork and with her other hand she reached for the knife. Once again Nifsara was quicker and she blocked her hand before Ayda could even reach the object. This was the last drop and Ayda headbutted Nifsara with all her strength. If Ayda had been capable of dying, that would have probably killed her and she did see stars for a few seconds. How hard was Nifsara's head? It didn't feel like a human at all. If robots existed in their universe, Ayda would have suspected Nifsara to be one.
When she came back to herself, Ayda realized that Nifsara was holding her by the waist and maintaining her in place. Seeing that annoying face from up close made Ayda angry again and she pushed Nifsara away. The latter immediately let go and raised her hands in a sign of peace.
Ayda turned to the table but all the forks and knives had disappeared for some reason. She grabbed the first thing she could and threw it at her mother in her anger. The latter avoided the glass the last second and it shattered against the wall:
"Ayda! What has gotten into you?"
Judging by her mother's reaction, Ayda must have looked crazy enough. That satisfied her and she grabbed another glass before raising it above her head:
"Leave me alone or I won't miss this time!
-Ayda! Don't you dare throw that glass!"
Ayda smirked. If there was one thing she hated, it was being told what to do. She immediately threw the glass and reached her mother in the eyebrow. Madame Maganti started bleeding and she raised her hand to her face, horrified:
"My face! You could have hit my face! You stupid bitch!"
Ayda started laughing. She didn't think that she would knock her mother's mask off. She wouldn't have dreamed that big. All she wanted was to look dangerous enough for Nifsara to end her. But the situation was taking an interesting turn. Madame Maganti didn't care about Lady Brack anymore and continued screaming her lungs out:
"You are going to regret this! You are never stepping out of the house again! You will regret getting born!"
Ayda pulled a hairpin out of her hair, ready to attack. However, what she saw next was a strong back. Nifsara positioned herself between Ayda and her mother and she immediately called for maids:
"Call a doctor. Madame Maganti hurt herself."
The doctor arrived seconds later and started treating Ayda's mother. Ayda didn't like the turn things were taking and she raised her hairpin. However, the next second Nifsara grabbed her hand again and with one quick hand movement, she made Ayda let go. The hairpin fell to the ground and Ayda was ready to headbutt Nifsara again.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Ayda got taken aback. Did she just ask her this now? She just threw a glass at her mother. Wasn't she asking the wrong person?
"Lady Ayda?"
Seeing that she wasn't answering, Nifsara turned to Madame Maganti:
"I believe Lady Ayda suffers from exhaustion."
Both Ayda and her mother frowned. What the hell was Nifsara talking about?
"She seems worn out and seems to be having hallucinations.
-Hallucinations?"
Ayda's mother seemed to like that explanation:
"Yes... My dear daughter loves working way too much. I always tell her to take a break but she refuses to listen to me. I always knew that it would hurt our family... She should really stop going out and should rest for a few months in her room."
Ayda forgot to close her mouth. What the hell was going on? It felt like a fever dream.
"Instead, I would like to keep your daughter in my mansion for some time."
Both Maganti women almost fell.
"What?
-Our house doctor treated my mother when she was suffering from exhaustion. It shouldn't be taken lightly and there is no one I trust more. I humbly ask you to let me take care of your daughter until she gets better. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't help."
Ayda was speechless. Had she finally died? This couldn't be happening.
"You want my dear Ayda to stay here?
-If that is fine by you.
-I don't know... I love my Ayda very much... I don't know what I would do without her."
Ayda rolled her eyes. Hearing her mother's usual stupidity woke her up:
"You could whip someone else for a change. Or even enter a whip competition. You would win."
Madame Maganti glared at Ayda:
"Oh, my... It seems she really isn't feeling well."
Nifsara glanced at Ayda before turning back to her mother:
"I understand that getting separated from your daughter is hard. I would gladly compensate you. I know that there is no money that could buy a daughter but I still would love to help as much as I can."
Ayda could almost see her mother's eyes lighting up:
"Oh, my. Such a generous heart. Of course it's okay, thank you so much. I only want the best for my Ayda.
-What?"
Nifsara nodded:
"Then it's decided.
-Hey! Don't pretend as if I'm not here! I am not some kind of potato bag that you buy at the market!"
Ayda thought she would explode. Weren't there limits to human kindness? Did this hero just buy her? Literally buy her! She didn't want to stay at her mansion! She hated Nifsara and she wanted to see her as little as possible.
Ayda's mother immediately jumped up:
"Take good care of my Ayda.
-I will.
-She won't! I am not staying here!"
Ayda's mother started walking away and Ayda wanted to follow her but Nifsara stepped in front of her:
"Don't worry, I will do everything possible to make you comfortable.
-Get out of my face!"
Nifsara was the one making her uncomfortable. She wanted to get away from her. She wasn't even capable of killing her and here she was heroing her.
Ayda walked around Nifsara and continued running after her mother. Seeing her do so, Nifsara asked:
"Do you want to go back with your mother?"
Ayda stopped. What was she doing? Of course she didn't want to follow her mother. She hated that mansion. She just didn't realize because she was blinded by how angry she was at Nifsara. Shouldn't she be happy that she finally got out of there? But she didn't like getting bought. She should stay close to Nifsara to annoy her and get killed as soon as possible but that didn't mean that she liked it. Ayda hated how she was feeling and she hated the fact that Nifsara was right. Having no idea what to do and looking already crazy enough she just screamed:
"Ah!"
She needed a few seconds to calm down. Nifsara gave her that peace and waited for her without moving. When Ayda turned around, she frowned:
"Why would you help me? This doesn't make any sense.
-As I said before, your condition reminds me of my mother's."
Ayda rolled her eyes:
"So, what? You couldn't save her so you want to save me?
-Yes."
Ayda sighed. This wasn't good. She needed Nifsara to hate her, not pity her.
"I am not your mother."
Nifsara laughed:
"Of course not. My mother was far from being as clumsy as you."
Ayda thought she would scream again.