From the chains, I will break free

Chapter 5: First day and I'm already in trouble

I was sitting in sewing class, watching the teacher talk about how to embroider a piece of cloth. I was getting more and more annoyed because I did not choose to join a sewing class. It was one of the most annoying things because sewing was labeled as a 'girl' class. The teacher was showing us how she was embroidering a rose (that was admittedly beautiful) into a white handkerchief.

"Now, girls, start embroidering," Mrs. May said. "Remember, you can embroider anything you want onto your handkerchief. By the end of the class, you must show me your progress. You have to complete the embroidery, but you can keep the handkerchief to use."

"Mrs. May," I ask, raising my hand. "Must we do this? It's not like every girl will want to do this."

There were scandalized gasps, and Mrs. May looked shocked before answering, "Why, this is a critical skill! Whatever will you do if your future husband wants you to mend his clothes?"

"I'll tell him to mend it himself," I shrugged. "And who said that I would marry for certain?"

There were more gasps, and Sophie tugged my arm. "Daphne!" she hissed. "Don't make a scene!"

"But I don't get it! Why do you talk like I will marry?"

"Ms. Silver," Mrs. May said, her voice seeming annoyed. "I don't think you understand how things work here. You're here to learn how to be an ideal lady, and that is to be a good housewife for her future husband. For talking back to a teacher, you have detention today."

I was speechless in annoyance. Around me, I heard whispers and glances at me.

"Crazy..."

"What does she think she is doing?..."

"Detention..."

"New girl..."

"She's trouble..."

I huffed and said, "I can embroider anything I want on the cloth, right?"

"Yes," Mrs. May said. "Now girls, get working!"

I took up a white silk handkerchief, picked up black and silver thread, and got to work. Despite my dislike for these activities, I was thought how to embroider cloth in one of my previous schools. 

When the class was nearing the end, Mrs. May walked around, looking at our handkerchiefs. She praised Renya for a particularly beautiful lilac on her handkerchief, before she stopped at mine. 

"Ms. Silver, what is that?"

I smirked inwardly. "My embroidery. The black S stands for my surname, Silver, and the sword is just because I like it. After all, I can embroider anything I want, right?"

Mrs. May looked upset. "Your execution on the embroidery itself is beautiful, but please don't embroider such things in the future. Weapons are for men."

I secretly rolled my eyes and tucked the handkerchief into my pocket.

After all the classes for the day were over, Sophie led me to the detention room. "Really, you should just keep your head down," she scolded. 

"But I don't want to be an 'ideal lady'! I like being me!"

"This is how it works here, Daphne." She led me to a door."Good luck. Only the worst come here. I hope you survive."