Voyage Of The Villainess

"Sis Malaya,"

Malaya felt a tug on her body. Her eyes slowly opened and the first things she saw were two round and big blinking eyes staring at her with pure child innocence.

Lila seeing Malaya wake up, a lovely huge grin formed her face. "You're awake!"

Malaya slowly sat down. "Lila," she said as she rubbed her still drippy eyes. When everything cleared, she noticed that she was laying on some hay and beside her, there was a goat munching on some hay as well. The goat looked at her for a few seconds then it went back on eating once again.

"Where are we?" 

'If I remembered it right, the last thing I knew was Kayden carried all of us to someplace. Is this the place?'

"We are currently here at an abandoned village." Lorn suddenly entered. He was holding the same rake he used to threaten Malaya before. "So there is nothing to worry about because this place is safe and secure for us." He added in the end.

"Mister Handsome also brought all your friends here," Lila added with a smile. "Come I'll show you to them!" She suddenly pulled Malaya's right hand.

'Mister Handsome?' Kayden's face flashed on Malaya's mind. 'Is she pertaining to him?'

They made it out of the barn. As Malaya glanced at her surroundings, the whole place was eerily quiet. Only their rushed footsteps could be heard along with the few rustling of dry leaves. There were also houses built of wood one after another. Up in the skies, the sun was already setting.

"We are here!" They both stopped at a huge house. Malaya glanced above. There was signage. The letters were already losing their color, making them a bit hard to read. The only thing that was clear was the letter O and R plus the word Inn at the very end. 

"An inn?" she said confusingly.

Lila nodded her head. "Mister Handsome brought them all here."

Malaya slowly opened the old dark brown door, it created a loud creaking sound which made her a little surprised. Nonetheless, she still proceeded. 

Inside, there were tables and chairs lined up. As Malaya walked in...

"Hmmm..." 

She heard someone humming behind the counter. Malaya slowly made her way there and as soon as she reached there, she saw a familiar white dress and that long dark hair.

"Hyun Jae?"

Hyun Jae turned around, she was holding a spatula with her. When she saw Malaya, her eyes widened with delight.

"Malaya! You're finally awake!" Hyun Jae ran towards her and locked Malaya in an embrace. She immediately released and looked at Malaya with a pout.

"What?" Malaya asked.

Hyun Jae just simply sighed. "Are you alright? Is there anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or hurt your body?" 

"Yeah?" 

"Why does it sound like you are not sure? Ah yeah, the meal I'm cooking!" 

Hyun Jae hurried towards the pot she was cooking. 

'She seems alright now. But...' Malaya remembered how Oliver betrayed Hyun Jae. 

'I don't know what his connection with the witch is. But...' Malaya glanced at Hyun Jae who was smiling and enjoying as she cooked.

"Hyun Jae!"

"Lady Hyun Jae, we're back!" 

Those voices...

Malaya turned around and she gave a faint smile to the two people who just arrived. 

"Yow," she waved her right hand awkwardly at the crown prince and Theo.

'Why did Kayden bring them here too?'

"You!!!"

Before the two could react violently, Hyun Jae extended her spatula. "Everyone! The food is ready so let's eat, alright?" Then she turned around and walked back to the pot.

"Ah, one more thing." She looked back at them again. "While you are here, all of you need to follow this. Absolutely. No. Fights." Hyun Jae said, emphasizing every word.

She was really releasing a menacing aura that the three couldn't help but just nod their heads.

---⚓⚓⚓---

Malaya and the others set the food on the longest table they found in the inn. There was an awkward silence as they waited for Hyun Jae to get the food she cooked in the kitchen.

Malaya was sitting in the opposite direction of Theo and the crown prince Aadel. She could literally feel their glares at her. While Malaya just feinted to look on her left, particularly to the painting of a golden horse and there was a brown dog above it. It strangely reminded Malaya of someone.

"Why are you not looking at us?" The Crown Prince Aadel started to speak.

But Malaya simply didn't answer as if she didn't hear him. 

'That painting really seems familiar,' Malaya narrowed her eyes to look even more closer to the painting. Figuring out its details.

This somewhat agitated the crown prince.

"Hey! I know you can hear me. Why are you not talking?" The crown prince scoffed. "Did you finally become dumb? You're being rude to the future emperor of Hacien!"

'But a combination of a gold horse and a brown dog? That's really some unnatural and unique colors for the animals.'

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" The voice of the prince became irritated. 

'Ah wait, there are also some brown dogs there, so the only strange thing is the horse.'

*Crash!*

The table was split in half as the crown prince smashed his hands above it. That's when Malaya turned her gaze and attention to him.

The crown prince was boiling with anger and his face was flushed red. While Theo was still glaring at her.

Malaya saw the prince's golden hair and Theo's brown hair.

"So you finally look...blah blah blah"

Malaya ignored the prince and returned her gaze back at the painting of the horse and the dog. 'Ah, so that's why those animals looked familiar. But it won't do the animals any justice if I compare them to these morons.' Malaya heaved a sigh feeling sorry about the painting that she even compared it to the two.

"You really!" The crown prince finally snapped. Sparks of electricity started to emerge from his hands.

Malaya just looked back at him with disinterest.

"Hah are you scared?" The crown prince cackled. "It is too late now, I'll send you right..."

"What's happening?" The crown prince froze when he heard Hyun Jae's cold voice.

A mischievous thought emerged from Malaya's mind. "Hyun Jae.." She called out in a calm manner.