I folded my arms, my breasts peeking over them. My back hit the cold, black metal lamp post as I leaned against it. Blue clouds drag across the sky, blocking the moonlight every so often. The streets were dark, the light from the lamppost scarcely illuminating the pathway.
Love had led us to the house of the soldier she mentioned, but he only allowed Love to enter his abode. I understood his suspicion of me, but shit, do I have to stand in the cold for this long? I rubbed my upper arm, a motion I've been doing since the first 15 minutes I've been left outside, a futile attempt at warming up.
I had a chance to change back to the town near the mine; a skin tight black long sleeve t-shirt and a long stained black skirt. It looked cute, like a chic mediaeval dress attire. But fuck, it really didn't help fend against the cold. Has it always been this cold at night?
"Hey, you! What are you doing out here?" A Low voice yelled.
I turned in the voice's direction, my eyes widening. Fuck! It's just been a few hours since we arrived here. How is it that there'd be soldiers coming for us?!
I shook my head. Calm down, maybe it's just patrolling- not everything has to be about me. I gripped my arm tighter and readied myself as the soldiers slowly marched over me- I inspected them. From head to toe, they were armoured. From a far, there'd be no differentiating them and the tin man from The Wizard of Oz.
Short, horizontal plates of metal lined up side by side, held by leather, protected the soldiers' chest. Metal coated their arms, from their shoulders down to their knuckles. Chain mail draped from the mid-abdomen to their upper thigh, steel armour continuing the rain of metal. A bucket shaped metal helmet rested on their heads, a symbol of sun standing strongly atop it.
There's no way that this was a normal night patrol. Why would they be so suited up?
"Miss, what are you loitering out here for? Where's your husband?!" The man sternly asked.
Of course, husband this, husband that- what if I wanted a wife?! Maybe this was the downside to being reincarnated in a less progressive time- narrow-minded people.
A sharp glare stung my eyes. I squinted my eyes and rubbed them. What the fuck was- my heart dropped. The moonlight reflected onto something metal on the soldiers' waist- swords.
Just then, I was reminded of the difference between life here and back where I was. Police and soldiers are not the same. Police have laws governing them but soldiers.. I don't know if the same systems restrict them. What if they decide to just chop my head off? What if I said something wrong, and they just stab me? What would happen to me then? They can dispose of me easily. Nobody would search for me and they don't have any high-tech forensic science to search for me. I'd just disappear. The screams I heard back at the windmill echoed through my head.
"Maam!" The other soldier warned.
I flinched, breaking out of my doubtful daze. My mouth opened to speak, but nothing came out. The soldier in front of me gripped his sword hilt. My fingers turned cold as I imagined the potential scenarios that would happen if I fucked up.
My wound started getting itchy. I carefully thought out my words, but they spilled out of my mouth the moment the soldier grunted again, impatiently.
"I'm unwedded, brave sirs!" Fuck. Brave sirs, Unwedded? What the hell am I saying?
"That is- the answer to your second question! I'm good at answering second questions first before the initial one, habit! I'm not nervous though, just what I usually do, hehe!" I'm going to jump off a cliff.
I opened my mouth in an attempt to smooth things down, but nothing is rockier than what just spilled out of my mouth. I so wanted to smack the hole on my face called the mouth. Sorry Love, I guess this is the end of me. If anyone asked, my mouth was the death of me. I knew of my stupidity, but what just happened just confirmed my existence as the dumbest person on the planet. My mouth sputtered a bunch of 'I's, my hand subconsciously reaching for a lock of hair that got in my face.
"Hey, hey look." One of the soldiers whispered, pointing to my hair.
They studied my hair for quite a while- I knew red hair is rare but I thought that in this world, it would be normal.
My eyes had been glued to the floor ever since they arrived in front of me. But when I heard one of them whisper to look, I looked up at them.
Their eyes were glued to my hair before shifting down to my eyes. A shiver ran up my spine when my eyes met theirs- I had to leave. I'm a firm believer of instincts and currently mine are telling me that the way these men are looking at me is as if I'm their next meal. Gathering up any courage and remaining brain cells, my mind readied itself. My hands balled into a fist and my arms dropped by my side.
"I- I'm actually going back to my mother's house. I'll be leaving." Grinning politely and bowing, I announced before I turned on my heel.
I mentally applauded myself for the much needed excuse and headed straight for the house Love disappeared in. My feet shuffled quickly in front of one another, faster than I could process. Please, please, when I knock on the door- just open it! The door knob was just within my reach but a strong force pulled me back.
"Not so fast. You seem suspicious." One of the soldiers said, a thick, busy moustache popping out from under his helmet. He, unbeknownst to me, had caught up to me- his friend following suit.
My blood ran ice cold. He had a hungry look on his face and as a woman; I understood quickly what was going to happen. As a woman, I've frequently dealt with such a situation. But now, the odds are against me.
"We have to strip search you for any dangerous items since you are a person of interest."
My arm ached under the soldier's grip. Back where I was from, I'd scream at him because phones existed. Then, I could simply record everything and shout at him to get off me. And if he persists, I could just call the police. Though the legal system is not so kind in such cases. But here? I have no way of escape. Love had already explained to me how misogynistic Aolenoa is, who's to say Burke isn't the same? What if they were worse?
The other soldier reached for a small knife from his belt and brought it up to my shirt. I was so intent on not showing any fear, but I was terrified. I didn't know when it started, but I was shaking.
"Stop struggling!" The soldier yelled, grabbing a fist of my hair.
Whatever God that sent me here, I beg of you! Please give me that power awakening right now! I'm the main character, right? I must have some type of power or something, so just awaken that in me now! I closed my eyes and swung my left hand from below as I prayed. The blade from the soldier's knife ripped the hem of my shirt right as my fist was about to hit his face. KAMEHAME-
"What's going on?!" A gravelly voice bellowed.
I flipped my head in the voice's direction. Relief quickly washed over my heart. I quickly put down my hand. When we first arrived here, a man had opened the door when Love knocked on it. He was the one that let her in, leaving me out. And right now, he has opened his door to us.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
I threw him my biggest begging eyes, hoping to gain his sympathy. Begging for him to rescue me.
"We're just doing a strip search on a suspicious person." The moustached soldier answered flatly.
"With a knife? "Love's soldier friend asked, sounding annoyed.
"What's with you? Don't you know we're soldiers?!" The knife on my neck switched targets and was pointed at Love's friend. A gush of relief flowed through once I felt the threat of the knife abated.
"You dare point at a General?" He responded.
"Gen-"
"Do you not know the face of your own General?!" He yelled, the house shaking with every word.
The hand on my arm loosened its grip. Seeing this opportunity, I quickly pulled away. I was hesitant but walked over to this 'General'. Love popped her head out from behind the door and ushered me in. Studying the General, I made my way in when I saw no signs of hesitance. I couldn't hear what Love's soldier friend was saying, but I was just glad I could escape.
Right as I was out of the soldiers' view, my feet gave way. My whole body was trembling so much with fear, my teeth rattled against each other.
"Mayang!" Love ran over to me, dropping to her knees.
God damn it! I swore to not show any weakness, so why am I- Tears poured down my cheeks. My nose sniffled, and I desperately wiped my tears away, praying that they'd stop. I'm being so lame right now. Love depends and looks up to me and yet here I am, breaking down in front of her just because of two men. I told her we'd win this war and yet!
"Your highness, please don't cry!" Love consoled me as her right hand rubbed my back.
"Your highness?" Oh shit, the General.
He had return from the door and was stood in front of us. Oh no, Love… what have you done? Think, Mayang, think! What can you do to get out of this position?
"Explain Love." He demanded. I shake my head. This isn't the end. I can't break down now.
"Desya-"
"No, I will." I stated, rising to my feet. They wobbled and for a moment, I thought I would have fallen, but I persevered. I didn't know what the hell I was doing but I felt that I'd Love did the answering, we'd be in deeper shit than we already are.
"I am Hana." I wiped my eyes dry.
"The Thirteenth Princess of Aolenoa. Now, the last heir." I wiped my eyes dry, taking a deep breath in as I puffed my chest.
"I'm your empress."