THE VILLAINESS

THREE

RELIEF washed over me as I found Ares exactly where I had last left him. I assisted the child with boarding onto the horse before jumping on myself; charging far away from the slave house which gradually became engulfed in hues of orange flames. The once orderly market place we had left, became chaotic as wisps of smoke covered the capital with a carpet of dusky fog. To prevent Kira from inhaling the perilous vapour; I used my outer robe to protect the child's nose and mouth from the ash. Loud coughing bounced across the streets from town folks as I stampeded Ares on.

People shrieked and cried in fright, so instinctively, I slowed down the mule to observe the damage and scoffed. The fire hadn't spread, no one was injured, it was mostly confusion and distress that plagued the people. By now, Mukisa would have disbanded a group of royal guards to investigate and settle the fire but much time had passed, I pondered where he was.

I would not concern myself with it. Being a hero had its costs and I could not risk people— specifically the Queen— discovering I had burnt down a slave house, her precious slave house. Eventually, we left the capital and all its bedlam behind. As Ares hooves thundered upon the Earth, with each gallop Kira began to bombard me with questions.

''Since I am now masters knight, shouldn't master give me another name?'' I bit my lips. I had exhausted all efforts trying to correct the child's innocent mistake. I was not its master, if anything I even tried to offer it autonomy.

I winced inwardly, ''I shall give you the name Keita.''

''What does it mean?'' Excitement laced Kira's voice.

''I don't know.'' I curtly responded not wanting to talk about the origin of the name any longer. A stream of hurt flashed his face at my response.

For seconds the child kept quiet before asking ''Why are we approaching the palace?'' Curiosity buzzed in Kiras voice. Ah yes, I hadn't told him I was a princess. There was no appropriate time between rescuing the enslaved, killing the enslavers and fleeing the scene to discuss monarchy.

''I am the first princess.'' I explained bitterly at the reminder of my lineage.

Kira kept quiet for some time, but suddenly burst out into enthusiastic rambling about how he was pleased he stayed with me, and his eagerness to discover the palace. He was truly a child, I found myself forgetting sometimes. I wondered how long It would take him to realise that the palace itself was a prison. Kira would have to learn to survive again, it seemed as if he did not yet grasp the true cruelty of people.

In my last life, he managed to bear the suffering of this world so I was not too apprehensive. If anything, I was meaning to ask him how he could be so warm yet tainted and so innocent yet cold, but perhaps I were the same. I suppose me and Kira weren't so different; just two underdogs trying to survive in a world that didn't want them.

As we approached the palace entries, I chose to use a different route as a means to prevent anyone from discerning us. Oftentimes, the queen consort would pay several maids and servants to spy on me, typically who I spoke to, and my daily activities. One of which happened to be Sandra Millock, a butcher's daughter who had worked at the palace from a young age. In my previous life, no one would ever speak to me. I was unworthy of notice to many, and my heart swelled with joy when another person other than Mali and Mukisa piqued interest in me. Unbeknownst to me, every interaction we shared was being stated to the witch with a crown on her head, for a measly ten gold coins. Humans can be shallow creatures, I thought; and wondered when she would approach me in this new life and the punishment I would grant her for such betrayal.