An Abandoned Noble in a Reverse World

Teddy woke from her nap with the migraine mostly gone. There were some remnants, but not debilitating like before.

Blinking at the ceiling Teddy contemplated how she should go about this conversation with her roommates. Deciding that this wasn't a good time to procrastinate, Teddy got up, pulling on a pair of leggings with the decision not to change out of her sweatshirt.

She looked at her sunglasses on the bedside table, wincing at the thought of the well-windowed living room. But eyes were an important part of body language, if she wore them it would hurt her credibility or could be construed as a power play.

Deciding to compromise she shunned the sunglasses and have the curtains closed. It would seem a little weird to have the curtains closed at this time of the day. Oh well.

With a couple of taps to her wristband, she sent a message to meet downstairs for the talk when they were ready. Walking out of her room she made her way downstairs to the living room.

Grabbing one of the couch cushions she sat crisis-cross behind the wood coffee table facing the sectional. Deciding that she mind as well as do something while she waited she pulled out the letter from her mother. Took a picture of it and sent it to her lawyer, with a message about what she wanted her to prepare for.

With that completed and nothing useful to occupy herself with she fiddled with her necklace letting her thoughts wander to the dreaded conversation ahead.

She had known this day would come since she was a small girl and had drafted several speeches in that time. Persuasive essays that were meant to convince them that she was not "like the other woman" and that they could have a safe space in her home.

However, once she had met them, and put faces and personalities to her faceless audience she couldn't bring herself to follow through with it. It would not do any of them good. She couldn't expect them to trust her words or even her actions.

They had been victims of a matriarchal society their entire lives. It would be an injustice to try and erase that, as horrible as it was the way they had been treated was integrated into their minds subconscious this was a part of them. Not the only part, but a part.

Hearing footsteps on the stairs she startled herself from her thoughts. Now was not the time to get lost on a tangent of pity. They were men, who had survived not given in to the groove they were sanded to fit into. They were intelligent creatures capable of emotions, thoughts, and rational thought. And she would not demean them by thinking otherwise.

Watching the seven men file into the room and stand in front of her heads bowed. Cocking her head to the side she couldn't help but wonder if they had planned to come in together or if it had just happened.

"Hello, sorry for my poor manners earlier. I'm going to say a couple of things I need to say before we can proceed. I am not a traditionalist. There is no need to bow your head or avoid eye contact. You don't need my permission to talk, that said I think we can all agree on the rudeness of interrupting someone. After I finish talking it's your turn. Ask any questions you like. There will be no repercussions for them. Ever." Finished she looked at the men in front of her.

It couldn't be a speech, it needed to be a discussion. They needed to be able to put forth their opinions or lead the conversation in places they were comfortable.

As men much of their free will had been stripped from them, she needed to give them choices in every way she could. But she knew she had to start slow and give guidance or they wouldn't even try to talk to her about anything of importance.

Silence is what met her proclamation, but some of them did ease up on their stiff posture. Teddy continued to wait.

"What should we address you as Mistress?" this question came from Jimin his voice light. Teddy smiled. How clever. None controversial, but with an undertone that could be seen as disrespect.

"My name is Theodora Raine, or was. Since I just got disowned and do not know my father's surname I'm not sure about the last name. As for what you can call me Teddy will do."

Seeing Jimin's lips part she corrected the inevitable 'Mistress Teddy' "No mistress or miss or any other honorific. Teddy or if you can think up another nickname besides Dora feel free."

"Teddy then. Does the no-interrupting rule apply to you as well? Or are we special?" Teddy frowned, unaware of the rigidity that returned to the men at the sight.

"I see. Yes, the rules do apply to me as well. I'm sorry for interrupting you Park Jimin. Before you got the chance to voice your thoughts I interrupted you with a prediction of what you were thinking. I would be frustrated if someone had done that to me, and I will endeavor to not repeat the offense. Thank you for calling me out it is appreciated." Teddy bowed her head in apology.

Teddy couldn't believe she had made such a stupid mistake, she broke the rule she had given, how was she supposed to gain their trust and respect if she kept acting like such a douchebag.

Jimin along with his fellow males was in shock. She had taken what he said seriously, she had apologized to him, and she a woman bowed her head to that man.

Jimin had challenged her with his words, it was carefully worded, but still considered highly disrespectful. Based on his observations he had expected her to just smile it off if she did acknowledge to lighten the slight with a joke like her mention about them coming up with their own nickname for her.

But she deepened the severity of it, she had gone against the very grain of what it meant to be a woman, and worse she seemed genuine. He had meant to bed this mistress in a bid to keep his place in the home, but his teasing provocation seemed to have backfired on him.

No matter, this was hardly the last card in his hand. She may have acted like a decent human this time, but the sexual depravity inherent in women would turn up at some point. Because it always did.