Voyage Of The Villainess

"Milady, you have to wake up!"

Malaya opened one of her eyes, only to see Dorris with both of her arms on her waist. Dorris was glaring at her with a pout. 'Why do I feel like this is some sort of a deja vu?' Malaya pondered. 'But I just want to sleep more. And my head felt like it was carrying hollow blocks.'

Malaya just turned around and said in a sleepy voice. "Dorris, I don't have any schooling anymore, why are you still bothering my sleep?"

"Milady," Dorris crossed both her hands. "How could you fall asleep like a log?" She sounded like she was reprimanding some sort of a problem child.

"What's the matter with that?" Malaya sounded a bit hoarse as she let out a long and wide yawn. "And logs don't sleep, Dorris."

"I'm just using it as an example since you're like that, Milady." Dorris retorted. 

Somewhat, Malaya could imagine base on Dorris' annoyed tone that there was some white smoke puffing out from her ears due to irritation, already.

And whether Malaya wanted to appease the girl's irritation, she was still contemplating it. In the end, the softness of her bed and the fluffiness of her pillow win over.

Seeing that Malaya was dozing off again, Dorris was left with no choice but to shake the bed of her lady. "Please wake up already. You said I need to wake you up earlier, no matter what," she plead.

'Ah, it seems my sleep for today is really over.' Malaya begrudgingly opened both her eyes.

"Really? I said that?" Malaya tried to remember if she said she wanted to be awakened earlier. 'There is no way, I would say absurd things like that since I'm  not a morning person in the first place.'

After their visit to Vivian and Vivo two days ago, they resided at some inn at the border of Taleba. It was already a week now as well since that condemnation event at the foundation ball happened. Her banishment was already widespread and there were even some royal knights patrolling the Marina to see to it, Malaya won't go there.

'But those two adorable kids, I wish I could visit again.' Malaya thought. And then the things that happened last night reappeared to her mind. 

Back to what Dorris had stated, Malaya tried to recount the events that took place last night. 'Hmm...that kind innkeeper lady brought our dinner to our room. Then Dorris notice something strange to our drink that was on the pitcher. Ah, right the lady served us some grape juice. No, it was grape wine and before Dorris could take a sip I drank it all in one gulp. Since minors shouldn't drink.'

'But yep, that was a reckless and foolish action. Then everything went dark afterward. Who knew I have little alcohol tolerance as Malaya.'

'And yeah, I did mumble something before I got knocked out. That must be it.' Malaya with the support of her hand forced herself to sit down on her bed while still clutching her head.

"Are you done with your inner monologue, Milady?" Dorris asked. "You should remember now, right?"

"Hah Yes." Malaya breathed out. "So stop staring daggers at me now, Dorris," Malaya said with a lazy tone in her voice as she shifted both of her feet to the ground.

"Great!" Dorris said. She turned towards the table on the side of the bed and reached out a cup to Malaya. "The innkeeper said she was sorry that she got our drinks wrong. She also said that once you wake up, you should drink this. It would remove your hangover, Milady." 

Malaya received the cup that Dorris held. She took a quick sip on it, right away. 'This is...'

"A coconut water, Milady," Dorris replied.

'Ah. It didn't register in my mind right away. So that's why its taste is kinda familiar.'

*knock, knock, knock!*

They both turn to the door when they heard a sudden knock. "Humble customers, It's me the Innkeeper. May I come in?" A pleasant voice of a woman resounded.

"Yes." Malaya's brief reply.

"You're awake. Thank goodness." The lady innkeeper said as soon as she entered Malaya's chambers. Both mixes of worry passed her eyes.

Then she bowed down. "I apologize for the mistake I caused you, dear guests, last night." 

"It's alright." Malaya smiled gently at the innkeeper. 

For further apologies, the innkeeper told them that they would give a discount on their stay at the inn. 

---⚓⚓⚓---

After an hour of talking to the innkeeper, Malaya along with Dorris decided to go on a stroll of the place they were in. Since so far, they had nothing to do anyway.

Well, if you're curious, Malaya dyed her hair in dark brown and wore brown contact lenses to hide her appearance since they stayed in the inn. Since it was also not convenient to wear the white mask all the time. She only remove her disguise when they visited Vivian.

And Dorris, her cloak would suffice, and not that many people would find her suspicious since she had the common look of normal people compared to Malaya who had striking blue hair and eyes. 

Malaya glanced around and even though this place was the border, it was still busy with lots of people walking around. For the rest of the day, they went fitting and buying clothes, eating different foods, and looking at different random kinds of stuff.

'How long since I felt like a normal human being life again.' Malaya thought with a wry smile on her face. "It really feels nice to be free like this,"

"Milady, did you say something?" Dorris who was beside her, asked.

"Nothing." Malaya shook her head.

"Then let's go there!" Dorris happily exclaimed as she pulled Malaya with her.

They stopped in front of a certain caravan for a public puppet show.

"Everyone, the show is now starting, please come and watch!" A middle-aged man with a thick beard and wearing a red suit announced which gathered more people's attention.

The man reminded Malaya of some sort of a Master Showman on those circuses. The stage for the puppet show was elevated, that's why even if you're far from it, you could still watch it at a certain distance. Both she and Dorris paid for a seat in front though.

Drum rolls resounded and as the red curtain of the stage opened, it revealed the proud flag of Hacien. A five-colored flag of white, red, orange, blue, and violet, and in the middle of it was a huge sun surrounded by ten white four-pointed stars.

Then one tall puppet dressed in gold and white military clothes appeared on the stage.

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