Two very familiar faces

Margaret gasps in surprise at the site of the very naked and very unsightly Esmik and Ibera.

The women are bound to wooden posts and unable to cover anything, allowing Margaret to finally see the two school-yard bullies for what they really are.

Margaret was 30 years old (although she told everyone she was only 27) and unmarried (not by choice). She was a school teacher by trade, or had been until a duo of cruel hellions had ruined her career and her life. Margaret had once taught history at one of the most prestigious finishing schools in the capital. She had helped educate nobles, and rich merchants, and even princelings for gods-sake! But none of that had prepared her for Esmik and Ibera.

The two had been utterly unteachable monsters from the moment they met her. Margaret had tried, oh gods had she tried to give them a fine education, but they just. Wouldn't. Listen. They didn't want to learn. No, they had other ideas. Ideas that involved a certain, sweet, kind-hearted teacher eager to share her love of knowledge with the younger generation.

The well-dressed woman-of-a-certain-age shuddered as all those terrible memories came back to her. Margaret was a... full-figured woman. Not fat per se, just not rail-thin like the latest fashions called for. As a teacher, she spent most of her day behind a desk anyway, so it wasn't like she had a lot of time to go out and exercise. So what if that meant her caboose was a little... bigger... than usual? A lot of men liked that sort of thing (or so she had always been told).

Of course, none of that mattered to Esmik and Ibera. They played pranks on her constantly in class. They put tacks on her chair. They glued the drawers on her desk shut. They cruelly mocked her every chance they got while they were in her class too. They made fun of her weight. They made fun of her looks (they called her an ugly spinster!). They used to add her information to blind dating services and then paid people to stand her up. Every awful thing they could think of, they did to poor Margaret.

Margaret had tried to discipline them, of course, but with no effective results. When that failed, she tried complaining to the principal, but the two girls had used their families' wealth and clout to ensure they got to run roughshod over anything or anyone they wanted. And they had wanted to bully Margaret. The fact that she tried to fight back had made them just want to bully her more.

And that is what lead to the final humiliation. The final prank that had gotten Margaret fired and ruined her career. The day of the annual school-wide inspection. The day Esmik and Ibera had slipped itching power into her dress.

Margaret blushed as she remembered that day. The itching had been so terrible, she couldn't stop herself from tearing her clothes off to scratch herself right in the middle of class. They had all laughed at her of course, especially Esmik and Ibera. Even the superintendent when he came by during his inspection of the classrooms!

That had happened 3 years ago. After that, no school would hire her. So she had been **** to live off the charity of her friend, Sir Richard, ever since.

"Hey! Down in front!" Says an angry peasant to Margaret, bringing her back to the present. "I can't see with your big dumb hat in the way!"

Margaret turns around to see a rather short, scrawny red-headed woman dressed in rags scowling at her.

"Excuse me," Margaret says with a smile on her face and steps aside.

"Pl-please! Y-you don't understand! I-I didn't do anything!" Esmik whines as the crowd boos.

Margaret looks to the sky and mouths a silent 'thank you.' This is going to be a good day.