y raised the whip in his hand and lashed it on the bird''s slender legs, making it hop awkwardly, clearly in pain. He smugly shouted, "Oh dear, we''ve crippled the aristocrat''s legs."
The blokes burst into laughter.
At that moment, Edith remembered what Charlene had said to her before. She immediately rushed forward and yelled at them, "Let it go!"
The biggest boy sneered at her, "Why should we listen to you?"
"Why are you bullying the little pigeon? It has done nothing wrong!" Edith exclaimed, hands on her hips, feeling angry.
"What does a little wench like you know?" the boys replied impatiently, shooing her away.
The boy with the whip pushed Edith hard, causing her to fall to the ground.
Then, a thin voice came from behind, "What if I tell you to let it go?"
"Aya, it''s the Countess!"
"Run! Run!"
The boys recognised Charlene de Saint-Clemont and panicked, hastily trying to run away.
"Halt! Did I allow you to leave?" Charlene sternly called out.
"Apologise to Edith," she said firmly.
Of course, these troublemaking boys didn''t dare to defy the commands of the little Countess. Reluctantly, they said sorry to Edith.
Charlene ordered them with a long face, "Do it again. Show more respect. Bow."
The boys lined up with a grimace, but had no choice but to bend down in front of Edith, saying aloud all in unison, "We were wrong! We won''t do it again!"
Af