Voyage Of The Villainess

"You really know how to make someone want to pull out your tongue to not hear you speak again," Oliver said.  " But fortunately for you, I will not kill you for now."

"Oh really!? That\'s nice of you!" Malaya stood up and looked at Oliver with much enthusiasm. "Come on, why didn\'t you say that earlier? From your tone, I thought you would really kill me now. I\'m just wasted time preparing myself to die hayss look I\'m ready." There\'s have a disappointment in Malaya\'s voice yet it was clear she was simply faking it.

From being aggressive to lack of interest and now to be so happy like this. Oliver was surprised with this so many changes in attitude in just one night.

"You really are so lax." 

*Growl!* Oliver didn\'t continue what he was trying to say when Malaya\'s stomach grumbled all of the sudden, creating and everything awkward atmosphere for everyone.

\'What a nasty sound you\'re making buddy, there?\' Malaya looked at Oliver. "Well. that was unbecoming of this elegant lady. Do you perhaps have any food to eat? Even if it has poison, I\'ll eat that hehe." She scratched the back of her head and laughed wryly.

\'She is not taking any of my threats seriously, isn\'t she?\' Oliver expressionlessly looked at the nonchalant woman in front of him. 

{"Geez, Oliver. You\'ll get wrinkles if you always get angry at me like that. Don\'t waste your beautiful face for those expressions. You are more than that hehe." 

"I\'m serious here! you\'re not taking me seriously mother. If you get a cold again for not resting properly. Can you just listen to...."

"Yes, yes. " His mother looked at him weirdly.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Oliver said a bit cautiously. " Did anything wrong with my face?"

" No, Nothing sweetheart," his mother grinned. "I\'m just thinking any woman who got your heart will be lucky."

Oliver blushed. "Wo-woman? What are you saying to your son, just eat this porridge now and rest! Stop talking nonsense."}

"Please bring these two to the prison," Oliver looked at the native people with a calm smile that completely made anyone for his thoughts to be read, "and give them food," Oliver commanded with a mild voice.

---⚓⚓⚓---

With thick woods that served as bars to the cells. It looked more like a cage for huge wild animals. The ground was cold and the whole place had some dried hay on the side.  But none of that matters to the people who were imprisoned inside this jail.

Roasted wild boar that was put in a silver platter. A huge pot of stew made of wild herbs and mushrooms. And there was an odd-looking black drink.

Aside from the odd-looking drink, Malaya stopped herself from salivating in front of her. The sweet smell that was coming from the stew was captivating. And as she stabbed the pork with her fork, the juicy and rich oil that was dripping on it was a sight to behold. 

Malaya immediately ate it. And as much as it looked delicious, the taste, as expected, "Woahh, So delicious!" She continued to eat the feast in front of her. Then she drank the strange black drink without any hesitation. And her eyes lit up even more. "So strong!" 

The guards outside just looked at Malaya\'s behavior in front of the food.

\'This drink had no smell and was bitter! Yet it leaves a strong sweet aftertaste. What kind of drink is this?!" That was when in the moment of enjoying her food, Malaya remembered something.

Malaya glanced in front of her. "Why are you not eating?" She asked Kayden who was seated in front of her.

"I\'m not foolish enough to eat food prepared by the enemy," Kayden said.

*Growl.* Malaya chuckled when Kayden\'s stomach grumbled.

"Really? But it seems like your stomach speaks differently. You sound hungry to me, are you sure you\'re not going to eat?" Malaya peaked at the untouched food set in front of Kayden. That\'s when Malaya noticed that both of his hands were still tied.

"I\'m not hungry," Kayden reversed his gaze away from Malaya. He didn\'t expect his stomach to grumble like that. \'My stomach has gone crazy now. Back when I\'m in the dungeon, I am already used to hunger. And now this happened. How could this be?\'

"Kayden!" Malaya screamed all of the sudden.

"Don\'t shout my name...mph." Just when Kayden glanced back, Malaya stuffed a piece of pork in his mouth. 

"I got it hahaha. Stop lying to yourself. Can you just be real to your feelings? Keeping feelings like yourself can lead to death at a young age." Malaya pushed the meat forward and covered his mouth. The surprised guy was forced to chew the meat and gulped it down his throat. That\'s when Malaya retracted her hands.

He coughed out loud and when he recovered, he gave Malaya a very intense glare. "You!"

"Since you said, you\'re not hungry, just enjoy that piece of meat." Malaya grabbed all of his food. "I will have all these now since it will be a waste not to eat such delicious foods." 

Malaya submerged herself in eating and forgot that fuming Kayden was in front of her.

More minutes passed and Malaya caressed her stomach. Then she lay on the cold ground with a satisfied look on her face. \'It\'s been a while since I got to eat a complete and delicious meal like this. What a lucky day in the middle of being caught by Oliver." 

Kayden narrowed his gaze at the woman who completely ignored his existence. Just the first time they met, she always did unexpected things that made him feel mixed emotions he couldn\'t understand. 

"Hey," 

His thoughts were cut off when Malaya spoke out of nowhere. She was just staring at the ceiling of the cage.

"Though it was a bit embarrassing being watched while I\'m eating,"

\'Embarrassed? You are still embarrassed, eating shamelessly like that. I thought you forgot my existence already. This woman is truly unbelievable, how in this world exists this type of person?\'\'

"There is still some stew left, you can have that. If you move your hands carefully, even if it\'s bound with those ropes, you can still touch the spoon and eat it."

Kayden looked at the stew. He didn\'t notice since he was busy glaring at Malaya that there was indeed one bowl of stew left.

"And if you are afraid that it is poisoned, don\'t worry it is not. Oliver said that he will not kill us yet. It means he needed us for something. I guess? Haha." Malaya laughed. "But if it has poison, don\'t worry, at least I\'ll die with you. You will not be alone with your death. Hahaha." she blinked her eyes and laughed even more.

\'She\'s really a complete fool.\'

"Yes I\'m a fool, and unfortunately, you will be stuck with this fool for I don\'t know how long. Sucks to be you." Malaya just laughed again.

\'Did I say that out loud?\' Kayden was surprised when Malaya answered him.

"No, you didn\'t say that out loud. I just guessed that it will be anyone\'s thinking after hearing my words."

"..."

Malaya closed her eyes since she knew that Kayden wouldn\'t talk to her no matter what she said. She just looked like a crazy human being talking to air. Spouting nonsense after nonsense.

---⚓⚓⚓---

The night was already deep when Malaya woke up from voices outside their cage. She didn\'t open her eyes and listened to the two people who were talking in whispers. Based on their voice, they were girls. 

"I don\'t understand, are they Master Oliver\'s friend or enemy?"

"I don\'t know. I\'m so confused about that."

"I\'m confused either. This is my first time seeing prisoners being fed with tasty foods like this. They even give them our tribe\'s special drink."

Malaya listened carefully to the chats. \'They can speak the Hacien dialect well. Although they have a deep accent. Hmm... Just what is this place? Don\'t tell me, I\'ve returned back to the empire or some island within the empire.\'

Malaya continued to listen to the talks. 

"But do you know, I heard the elders talk with master Oliver." 

"Really? That sounds interesting huh. What did they talk about?"

"They say they are his acquaintances which makes everything seriously confusing."

"Then does it mean they are neither his friends nor enemies?" 

"Yeah. I think so. But I also heard that master Oliver will be the one to handle them. They will be brought to the other side, before sunrise tomorrow."

"What do you mean by the other side?" Malaya heard a gasp. "Isn\'t that where the king of the forest dwells?"

"Hey you two, why are you here?! Stop wasting your time." Malaya heard a man\'s voice this time.

"It\'s the head warrior. Let\'s run!"

"Rascals, get back here!"

Malaya heard more noises of scampering away and when it was completely quiet again, she opened her eyes. \'It seems tomorrow will be another hectic day.\'

And the rest of the night, Malaya wasn\'t able to return back to sleep again.