Ray x Reader One Shots

The Tavern

Part 3 of Love with a Loss of Innocence

(y/n)'s pov

Under my purple cloak, I wore my traveling clothes. I also packed a small bag, filled with necessities. Ravaryn City was almost always cold, so I made sure to bundle up.

After about an afternoon, I exited the ferry and started searching for a place to stay for a few days. It was a foggy night, and I knew better than to sleep on the streets. The alleyways of the place weren't known for ensured safety.

I walked along with the lamp posts when I reached an inn. There was a sign stating that it catered to explorers, voyagers, and people of the like. I opened the door carefully, which created a small tinkle of a bell.

I was surrounded by many people of nationalities, races, and languages. I was hit with a sense of home, and the worker at the tavern greeted me.

"Hello, you seem new," she said. She had tan skin and warm chocolate-brown eyes. Her hair was styled into a braid, which fell over her left shoulder. "What's your name?"

She took off my cloak, revealing my face. "I'm (y/n)," I answered politely. She looked at me in confusion, and I hoped she didn't recognize me.

"I'm Josephine," she replied, leading me to a vacant table. "Sit here, and let's talk."

I cautiously sat down on the wooden chairs. A waiter served me some water, and I fiddled with the rim of the glass.

"Where are you from?" Josephine asked, sitting across me. "Lots of travelers come here, so we always want to make them feel welcome."

"Oh, from Asteria," I mumbled. "I'm part of Therondia."

Josephine's eyes widened, as she called for the waiter who gave me the drink. "Mendel, come quick!"

Her coworker, who I suppose was named Mendel, had reddish-brown hair and light green eyes. He had a small dimple on his lower cheek. "Yeah? What is it?"

"Do you, by any chance, know a girl named (f/n)?" Josephine inquired. Her eyes were narrowed, and I partially figured out why. Ravaryn City was a sub-section of Ellesmere, the rivaling kingdom of Asteria. So of course, she would think I'm a spy.

"I did, she was my personal assistant," I answered honestly. Mendel sat next to Josephine and tilted his head. So these must be her old friends, I thought, remembering her stories.

"Was? What do you mean was?" Mendel questioned. I opened my mouth to answer but was met with a strangled cry. It was the first time I cried since I escaped the palace.

"Oh no, it's alright," Josephine said symphathetically. "I'm sorry, you don't have to answer."

I shook my head. "It's fine. The thing is, (f/n) is dead. The royal family killed her."

"They did what?!" Mendel exclaimed loudly, receiving a few perplexed stares in our direction. "Why?!"

"I, uh, ran away when the Crown Prince ended our engagement status," I muttered. "The Conglomerate were, well, bad people. After they noticed my disappearance, they interrogated my family, including (f/n). They refused to answer, since they didn't know. As a result, they were executed, because of "high treason."

"Well that's the stupidest thing I ever heard!" Josephine said, slamming her glass on the table. She was drinking something that looked like beer, and it fizzled as it met the rough wooden table. "Believe me, (y/n), we'll avenge them all."

Mendel held up a hand. "Wait, did you say engagement status?" he pointed out curiously.

"Oh yeah, we were supposed to get married, but he found another lover and basically discarded me," I stated. Josephine and Mendel's expressions went from surprise to complete anger.