The Villainess only wants to go home

Chapter 125 - Dragon Barracks

That early morning before the sun could even rise, the three except for Homura had set out to the city of Aureum. Argentum.

The streets of Argentum were cloaked in the dim light of early morning, the sun barely cresting the horizon. The sky was a mix of muted lavender and pale orange, its colours slowly bleeding into one another as the first light of day broke through the darkness. The air was crisp, carrying with it the damp chill of night that lingered stubbornly against the encroaching warmth.

But the smell was unbearable.

Artemis wrinkled her nose beneath the hood of her grey cloak, her expression hidden but her discomfort palpable. The stench of unwashed streets, animal droppings, and human waste was overwhelming, the lack of proper sewage systems leaving the medieval city reeking in the morning air.

She kept a hand firmly over her nose, her other hand brushing lightly against the hilt of her katana hidden beneath her cloak. Her eyes darted warily from shadow to shadow, scanning the alleys and rooftops for any sign of the royal guards, the Glacies knights, or—worst of all—the Black Spades, Damon's elite assassins.

Artemis knew the risk she was taking by walking these streets. With the bounty on her head for the rumoured attempted murder of two princes, she couldn't afford to be careless. Argentum was crawling with eyes and ears, and her face was likely on more than a few wanted posters plastered in the city's darkest corners.

Behind her, Ciel kept his head low, his own cloak concealing his features. His status with the Dragon Ministry had made him a wanted man as well, and the last thing either of them needed was for someone to recognise him as the dragon keeper who was supposed to be dead.

Trailing behind them was Jackal, who, unlike the other two, moved with an almost casual ease. Though Artemis had insisted he wear his hood for good measure, the boy strolled along with a lightness that belied their situation. With no known crimes attached to his name, he was far safer than they were, but Artemis had still demanded he take precautions.

Homura, however, had been left behind. Artemis had refused to risk bringing the fox with her, knowing the royal guards and assassins were likely watching for anyone with a fox in tow. Homura was out mostly happy with glee that he was allowed to stay behind, not even a protest but a simple agreement and dramatic statement on why he didn't want to go.

Homura and his excuses.

The group walked in silence, the muffled sound of Ciel's and Jackal's boots on the cobblestones mixing with the distant clatter of carts and the occasional bark of a stray dog.

Artemis's nose twitched as the stench grew stronger, her stomach turning despite her best efforts to ignore it. She cursed under her breath, her hand tightening over her nose in a futile attempt to block the smell.

The orange haired keeper side glanced at Artemis, his bright blue eyes looking down and noticing her discomfort. Her brows furrowed and her hand over her nose and mouth, clearly disgusted by the smell, he nearly looked amused by her reaction although he understand that the noble was not used to the streets of the common folk especially these parts of Argentum where most poor peasants lived. He reached into the pockets of his brown trousers and pulled out a folded handkerchief. Without a word, he held it out to her.

Artemis glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her expression unreadable beneath the shadow of her hood. The assassin looked at the folded handkerchief in the orange haired keeper and then back at him and then back at the handkerchief then back at Ciel. She hesitated for a moment before taking the handkerchief with a curt nod. "Thank you," she said flatly, her tone devoid of emotion.

Ciel smirked faintly, "Your welcome milady" he said with a hint playfulness which earned a look of annoyance from the silver white-haired assassin. He turned his gaze back to the street ahead, his own eyes scanning for danger as they moved deeper into the city.