"Who is that woman, ------?"
"I don't …, she wouldn't let go of -- ---- and she keeps on ---- …. food."
Where am I? I couldn't recognize the voices that I heard let alone understand them. I tried to move my fingers but a sharp pain was sent to my whole body. I tried to open my eyes but failed, everything was so bright that I couldn't help but shut my eyes.
"She's awake!"
"I can see that. Now, shut up."
Who..? I finally managed to open both of my eyes and when my vision started to adjust, I was greeted by two men wearing masks that covered half of their faces staring intently right above my face.
"Are you okay?"
"AHHHH!"
On impulse, I banged my head on them but soon regretted my decision. Aw. I know I'm shocked and all but Megaria? You could've just screamed, why do the act of stupidity?
"You! Aw! Should I kill you right now?"
The man who shouted was wearing a navy blue cloak and a hood over his head. I couldn't see his face very well for it was covered by a black mask, only his eyes were visible, but I couldn't pinpoint what color it was. His eye color was a bit hazy as if it was shrouded by something. I think it's black. No... gold? Red?
"Quit the question and just kill her! Urgh! How dare she---!"
Unlike the other man, this guy was wearing a black cloak and a half mask that showed his mouth and all the way down. His eyes were hazelnut brown and he was about the same height as the other man.
My head throbbed and as I tried to massage it, I smelled something.
I closed my eyes and followed the majestic smell that bewitched my nose. As I opened my eyes, a table full of delicious food was served beside me. My eyes sparkled and my mouth began to water. I was about to touch the spoon when someone slapped my hands.
"I'm talking to you, where are your manners?"
Ah. I stood up unsteadily and raised my skirt. They instantly covered their eyes and turned their backs on me.
"You--! What in the world do you think you're doing?!"
"This is unacceptable! Let me kill that barbarian!"
I ignored the ruckus and rummaged under my skirt. Above my knee was a small bag that was attached to my legs, I hurriedly undid the strap of the bag and threw it at the man who slapped my hands. I didn't bother to look at whether he caught it or not as I was busy preparing myself for the feast in front of me.
Holding the fork and spoon in both of my hands I reached for the roasted chicken in front of me when some jackass stopped, for the second time around, my hand from piercing the chicken's leg. I stared at the hand all the way up to the face of the annoying man who slapped my hand, twice.
I sighed. I just want to enjoy my first food after everything I went through, why can't they just leave me alone?
"I'm hungry. I paid you. Where are your manners?"
I could see his dumbfounded gaze and for a moment, I thought he dropped his jaw. He slowly let go of my hand while not breaking eye contact. As soon as his hands left mine I hurriedly attacked the beautiful chicken leg. When the food was inside my mouth I couldn't help but scream.
"AH!"
I thought I heard them scream with me but oh well, I'll talk to them later, for now, I need to eat.
"AH! FREAKING DELICIOUS!"
How long was it that I tasted food like this? From the moment I arrived here, all I could eat was leftover food from those unsightly human beings. Wait, are they even human? Damn. I should really run away and come here whenever I'm hungry.
But I don't have money. That good-for-nothing rich bastard father of mine doesn't give me any allowance!
Sigh.
No, Megaria! Do not dwell on such thoughts while you're in front of food. I should eat, yes, eat!
The food is so goddamn delicious! I might be overexaggerating things, but I feel like I'm surrounded by clouds and rainbows and fireworks and heart. After being starved and eating the meals they called food, dog food as I must say, I feel like I've entered heaven.
This is what food is supposed to taste like.
As I was chewing on this chicken, I couldn't stop my tears from falling.
"Sebastian, am I dreaming?"
"No."
"Pinch me. Pinch my shoulders as hard as you can, right now."
"Gladly."
"Ouch! That was too much Sebastian!"
"You said as hard."
I could clearly hear their stupidity but I'm too busy devouring the good for three people serving, if my estimate is correct, of food. Anyway, why are they still here? Is this a norm of the inns here in this world?
Ugh, who cares about those useless things? Eat, Megaria. Once I'm home, I'm never going to taste this heaven ever again. I can't help but sob as I munch on the pudding that tastes like fireworks. That was an odd way of describing its taste but whatever; I could see fireworks every time I took a bite of this sweet delicious pudding.
"Sebastian, am I seeing this right? Am I seeing fireworks right now?"
"Yes."
I was wiping my mouth when I heard their conversation. I'm finally full. I can only hope this fullness will last a week. I carefully placed the napkin on the table and faced the two gentlemen behind me and smiled sweetly as I asked them.
"Is it a custom here in the Western Empire for the servants to wait until their customers are finished dining?"
Silence filled the room as I waited for their answers. I can only stare at their eyes which are also gazing at me blankly.
Did they hear me or what? Should I ask them again? But I really hate having to repeat myself.
I was about to open my mouth but the guy in the navy-colored cloak got me.
"Ha, hahaha."
Is he crazy? Is my question absurd or maybe... was it offensive enough to be called treason? I know it's ludicrous if it's the latter but I'm starting to regret asking them. Me, and my thoughtlessness will be the death of this body, frankly, it almost killed my old body, well, not that I'll mind. I don't want to die with my head cut or hanged; I just want a peaceful death like last time.
Sigh.
Forget it, who am I to choose when the gods are screwing my life. I really don't get the part of keeping me alive twice, I bet their workload will only increase because of that so why even bother?
"Ser, what?"
I stared at his eyes and I was greeted with hostility and … astonishment…? What a weird servant. I could understand the former but what in the world is there to be astonished about my question? Is servant a taboo word? Am I going to get my head cut off?
I rubbed my brows and heaved out a groan. As much as possible, I don't want to cause any trouble. I really hate when my good-for-nothing family places their attention on me. I must live quietly while I'm looking for ways to die without getting transported to some absurd world.
In order to do that, I should fix this mess I'm in. I really don't want my eyeballs being poked by ravens, I should die quietly and gracefully.
I stood up and bowed my head.
"I apologize for calling you a servant. I am a foreigner, as such, I am still uneducated by the customs and norms in this beloved land. I have committed a grave sin by uttering the taboo word. Nevertheless, I solemnly swear to never make the same mistake again. For that, I ask for your understanding to not report me to the Crown."
I stood back up and stared straight into the eyes of the navy-cloaked man.
"I don't want to die."
Technically, it's not the case, I just don't want to die with my limbs not intact and have people feast on me. Not that I could tell them that. I closed my eyes hoping for these imaginations to vanish.
I'm sure the Duchy will be dragged down if the Crown decides to kill me just for uttering the taboo word, "servant". Just thinking about my stupidity makes me want to drown myself. Right, I already apologize so I think it's best to leave before they decide to drag me to the gallows.
"I am grateful for your hospitality for taking me in and feeding me, but I am afraid I have to leave as it is getting late. Goodbye, good sirs."
Luckily the door was beside my bed, so it wasn't hard for me to escape and make a run for it. As I ran downstairs a crowd greeted me.
Urgh. They reek of alcohol.
It wasn't just an inn, but it was also a pub. Should I drink?
Sometimes, I really want to punch myself in the face. Really, Meg? Alcohol at times like this? I snapped my cheeks and carefully pulled the hood of the robe to cover my face.
As much as I wanted to drown myself with alcohol, I couldn't afford it right now. I'm grounded, I don't have any money, and I sold my only pieces of jewelry to pay for the feast I had earlier. Other than the fact that I have a roof over my head, I'm worse than a beggar. Might as well live in the streets and find ways to make money than to starve to death in the Duchy.
I shook my head and immediately headed towards the door.
I safely got out of the pub and thought that luck was on my side, but I guess it wasn't.
"Why the hell are you here, Megaria?!"
Kayden Astral greeted me with a murderous gaze.
Screw it. Screw the gods. Screw everything.
Fortunately, I'm going to die by the hands of the man I call, 'brother'.
****************
"Should I chase her?"
Sebastian glanced at the man who was holding a bag of what seemed to be coins while staring at the closed door.
'It must've been a shock to him. Who wouldn't? Even I feel the absurdity of what happened.'
Sebastian silently thought as he waited for the man beside him to give him orders. He has no idea who the wild woman was nor did he believe her when she claimed to be a foreigner. There was nothing special about her that left an impact on him other than her wild character.
In all honesty, he found her face to be ordinary but there was something about her that made her ordinary face captivating.
She has pale skin, paler than snow, and a slender face and body. Her hair was the color of platinum silver and her eyes… he had never seen such deep black eyes in his whole life, it felt like staring at an endless abyss while knowing that there would be no escape. You can't help but be drawn into those eyes.
Sebastian felt strange. For some reason, he couldn't get his mind off her eyes.
"Sebastian."
His lingering thoughts of her were cut off when the man beside him spoke.
"I'll give you 3 days to give me a full report about her."
Sebastian gazed at him while he was busy opening the small pouch in his hand.
As shocking as it was, it wasn't coins but jewelry. Sebastian's jaw dropped as the man beside him snickered.
"This will be fun."
Sebastian gulped when he heard him say that for he knew, a storm was about to come, a large one at that.