Long live the Villainess

#10- Arlette of Kaida

"Lies," he hisses, "You were only an apprentice mercenary."

But already his tone is less firm than a few seconds ago.

"You see Vidarr, killing is one of the third things you learn when you decide to follow this path," I explain with an exaggerated smile. "First, there is kidnapping, then there are threats."

I stop a second to observe his tensed face, "If you are successful in those three fields then you are allowed to receive your first solo mission."

"Did you succeed in those three areas?" he asks carefully.

He is not soft enough to be scared but intelligent enough to recognize a potential threat.

"I only excelled in the third," I admit, brushing my finger against the sword hung on his belt. "How do you think I was able to save the third Prince?"

I release him, he stays silent, judging the weight of my revelation and the future trouble I will cause him.

"But now I am not a mercenary apprentice anymore," I concede. "I am a knight apprentice and also your comrade. Even if we don't appreciate each other, why don't we try at least to be civilized?"

His stubborn brown eyes seem to want to burn me on the spot.

"Dinner is at seven," he says, turning his back away from me.

He didn't give any explicit response, but the way he looks at me and his knuckles white from the tension in his hand tell me that the truce between us is not for today.

I wander in the gardens to kill time. I don't think I have enough strength to face the curious and dirty glares of the rest of the apprentices.

I catch a fruit growing on a lonely tree and peel its skin carefully. Once the soft red flesh is out, I let myself lean lazily against the black bark of the tree.

'I honestly don't know what to think.'

If everyone possesses the same state of mind as Vidarr, then I will have a very unenjoyable stay at the Sariah quarters. During training, I doubt they will try something against me when the eyes of the Royal Knights will be on us. But outside, it will be an entirely different story.

"I have to find a safe place," I mumble, looking around.

I catch my reflection on the smooth surface of a pond nearby. The image of me is far from distinguished. My hair, which I tied in a tight ponytail, is now entangled with wild greasy strands poking out everywhere. My hands are marked with the red impressions of the leather, and my skin, especially my cheekbones and nose, are reddened by the sun. Even my skin looks like it has darkened a shade or two, thanks to the layer of accumulated sand, dust, and grime from the long trip.

I cautiously smell my shoulder. I let out a grunt of disgust.

"Don't tell me I presented myself looking like a rag and smelling like a sand fox to the Royal family."

Now, I understand the look that Vidarr gave me the very first time he landed his gaze on me.

'First, let's go clean myself up.'

🗡🗡🗡

"You must be Raven Mhyrr, the student of the Commander of the Royal Knights?"

A girl with brown hair and a scar down her face diagonally is waiting for me.

"I suppose so," I respond with shaken confidence.

Now that I know what I look like right now, I am embarrassed to stand in that hall in the middle of the curious gaze of apprentices dressed in their impeccable uniforms.