Voyage Of The Villainess

Rhyme kept walking back and forth. He was worried why Malaya, Hyun Jae, and the guy were still not here yet. 'What if something happened to them without even knowing it? Should I have come with them?' He put his hands on his hair trying to calm his mind as worry started to eat him.  However his thoughts stopped when someone called his name.

"Hey, Rhyme," 

Rhyme flinched when he heard Malaya calling to him. 

"How's that? you have returned." Rhyme said as he fixed his glasses.

"Have this," Malaya said as she threw him something which Rhyme immediately caught. 

"This," he was surprised to see that it was a compass and an expensive-looking one. 

"What is this for?" He asked, a bit confused while looking at it.

Malaya took a seat on the sofa that was in the shabby house. 

"That was a  gift for enduring the time you are a slave," Malaya said.

Rhyme's narrowed his eyes in suspicion.  "Just a while earlier, you are laughing at me."

"Well, you amazed me, Rhyme. Because it was amusing how you were sold like that and become a slave." Malaya was brutally honest. There was a grin on her face. "But..."

"But?" Rhyme looks at her directly.

"It is really rude for me to laugh," Malaya said in a low tone that Rhyme didn't hear clearly.

"Excuse me? what did you say?" He asked and the confusion on his face was truly visible. "Sorry, I didn't hear it quite clearly. Can you repeat what you just said about me earlier?"

"Nevermind, just forget it," Malaya said while shaking her head. "Because the important thing is you are free now and I'm glad that you are completely fine." Malaya said. "Wait, I Have questions, are you the only one here? Do you know where our other crewmates are?" She asked, definitely changing the subject. At the same time, Oliver and Hyun Jae reappeared.

" Yes, I was with Rein and Dorris." Rhyme said. Hearing Malaya's expression, I was delighted. 

"So you are with them but where are they now?" Malaya asked.

"We separated. I was left with the ship on me while the two of them said that they are going to look for you and everyone." Rhyme explained. "Then after an hour and while waiting for them, I decided to gather materials that would help me fix the Bituins. It suffered a great deal of damage and I'm afraid that it would not be able to be used for sailing for quite a time."

Hearing his statement, Malaya's bright expression sank. "I see. So Rein and Dorris look for me and the ship has taken quite a toll. Where did they head?" 

"To the West of the continent." Rhyme said. 

"I see, West, huh," Malaya said. "Well, they would soon come back here if they failed to look for the others. Now, only Iris, Lila, and Kayden's whereabouts are unknown."

"Are we not going to follow them?" Hyun Jae asked as she sat beside Malaya.

"No, staying in one place will be more logical and it was the best decision at the same time. We don't have to worry about missing each other out. And I decided this is the kingdom where we will make a name for ourselves. So if our names reach any of our crewmates, they would be able to come here." 

"Was it simply  because that prince agreed to help you look for the others?" Oliver asked. He was seriously leaning on the wall with his arms crossed. He sounded displeased. But due to two lanterns lighting the whole place, and Oliver standing in a dim place, Malaya couldn't see his expression clearly.

"It was obvious that he didn't agree with me." Malaya corrected him. "Since I know that it was his way of compensating us for spiking up our drinks. If we are able to gather all our missing crewmates, I intend to leave the place. And when the repairs for Bituins have been done, we will leave this place now to explore other lands."

"So what you meant was, you are going to use that prince until then?" Oliver asked. " Can you enlighten me?"

"As we all know that we are currently in a foreign land outside Heliyas. Even if we are some sort of high-ranking nobles before, it is all pointless here. They don't know that place and to them other than being mysterious people, we are just simply commoners with surnames." Malaya explained then stood up. "Having to use someone influential could make things easy for us."

"And when did you need others' help?" Oliver asked.

"Wait, let me clarify. I didn't say 'help', Oliver. But 'use'." Malaya emphasized. "By the way, where is Seth?"

Rhyme was startled when Malaya talked to him after their serious discussion with Oliver. 

"As soon as we arrive here, he burns the slave contract and freed the slaves." Rhyme explained. "He also helps us to remove the chains in our neck."

"I see. Anything else?" Malaya could only smile. 

"I think that's all"

" Hmm well, I'm the one who spends money, and he was the one who takes action before the spender." The calmness in her voice made Hyun Jae uncomfortable.

" Why? Did he do something wrong?" Hyun Jae asked this time.

"No," Malaya shook her head. "It was the right thing to do for the contract we made." 

"Since now that the prince agreed to help you, do you still need that dark mage?" Oliver asked.

"Yes, of course," Malaya said. "The prince due to his status is only fixated in one place, while Seth could go around from place to place. Right?" 

All of the three turned to the door when Seth entered. Ark also entered with him and almost ran towards Malaya. However, Malaya immediately dodged and set a distance between her and the dog.

"It seems based on Ark's actions toward you I think he has taken a liking to you." Hyun Jae giggled as she held Ark who was wagging his tail happily.

Malaya just smiled helplessly. No matter how much she wanted to cuddle the dog, she couldn't. There was only one animal who she was able to cuddle freely and didn't cause her allergic reactions. 'Ah, I miss Kayden, the black cat.'

"By the way, Hyun Jae, I heard that you freed those slaves already," Malaya said changing the topic again and heading to the bedroom. "Let's continue the work tomorrow. Hyun Jae, let's rest for now." She said as she gestured to Hyun Jae to come inside the room with her.

"Why are you both got to sleep in my bedroom..."

Malaya glared at Seth, "Do you intend to let us frail ladies sleep on some sofa or whatnots? That is why you look unpopular among girls."

Seth shut whatever words he was going to say with Malaya's brutal words.

"You boys stayed outside. And don't dare to disturb our beauty sleep." She said with a threatening voice. " We deserve a peaceful and heavenly sleep" she looked at Hyun Jae. "Come now, Hyun Jae. It's bad for ladies to sleep late at night. If you want to retain your beauty and young skin you must sleep early." She pulled Hyun Jae with her and closed the door.

---⚓⚓⚓---

"Your highness, you have returned." an elegant and manly man bowed his head.

Alecto Huaraz, a foreigner and at the same time, the third prince's personal assistant, greeted the third prince as soon as he entered his palace.

"Alecto, is there some problem?" Prince Kija asked as he handed his coat to the maids.

"There was a report that a village in the South has been plunged by the beastmen."

The third prince's brows kneaded. "Plunged? The beastmen always stay hidden in the forest and mountains. Are you sure about it and are telling the truth?"

"Yes, your highness," Alecto said. "One of the knights has brought me this." He handed a black cloth with a symbol of the three mountains.

"This is the symbol of the apemen." Prince Kija observed the cloth in his hand even more.

"Yes, the knights reported that they were the ones leading the other be beastmen tribes to attack the villagers," Alecto said. "I already sent more reinforcements to evacuate and guard the people there."

The third prince tapped his fingers on the table as he placed the cloth down the table. "They remained peaceful and hiding for many years now in fear of the Kingdom's forces. Why did they suddenly make a reckless move like this now? Continue to investigate this more and report everything to me as soon as possible."

"Yes, your highness." Alecto bowed down and immediately left. 

"Kou," another man stepped from the shadows. It was the third prince's personal knight. "I've told you not to follow them secretly. Go watch them and report every bit of their actions to me."

Kou disappeared as soon as the prince finished his words. He didn't know if they were related to the sudden attacks but it was he was better to be sure than not.

"The apemen, huh?" He walked towards the outside and saw the perfectly shaped circle providing the light in the middle of the night, that it was a full moon. 'This is why slavery should be abolished.. I know that something like this will soon be bound to happen.'