Why did the tattooed face guys call him a thousand years old if he's only twenty-seven? Were they mistaken or is he lying about his age? Or were they exaggerating? A thousand years old is supposed to be wrinkled, ugly, and pathetic, not handsome and arrogant like him.
"Do you have a crush?" I asked.
"A crush?" He looked confused. He didn't understand what a crush meant.
"Like someone you like. Or should I say, a girl you like?"
"I don't like women."
"Why?" I wondered if he was gay.
"They are all annoying," he replied. Women should find him annoying instead, not the other way around. Such a weird guy. I wonder what my bestie in my world would say. 'Rude little boy.' which is exactly what she would blurt out.
"What about me, am I annoying?"
"You are the most irritating woman I have ever met."
"Eish! No wonder you're single at twenty-seven," I muttered, turning my face away.
"I wish to leave now."
"I told you, you have to stay beside me until I fall asleep."
"You never said that."
"Stop arguing with a sick lady," I snapped. "And besides, you're the reason this happened. If you weren't hated by those tattooed people, I would have been able to go freely. You scoundrel!"
He looked at me with a hardened face. I wished I could read his expression. He was just so blunt and annoying. I felt the shiver through my spine, just like the first time I met him. Those dark eyes of his...I don't know but I feel like I am being sucked into it.
"Did you just call me a scoundrel?"
"Yes, I did. So what?" I stood up against him, even with the fact that I was nervous. Not scared.
He scoffed and glared at me. I felt a sharp pain in my wounds.
"What... argh!" I almost yelled out.
The pain suddenly stopped, and he turned to look back at me.
"You monster! What did you do to me?"
"I was being a scoundrel."
He stood up and walked out of the room. I winced and touched my wound. It didn't hurt, but why did he make me go through that pain? What a fool.
"He deserved to be called a scoundrel over and over again." I muttered to myself.
"Seems like you made my brother really angry," Devan walked into the room. I was surprised to see him. He had fought those tattooed men for me. He was the real hero here. Devon just made the leader more upset which led to this wound on me.
"How are you, Devan?"
"I'm perfect," he replied with a smile.
"I'm glad you are." I smiled back at him.
He sat beside me. He is definitely the opposite of his brother. He smiled while his brother frowned. Or should I say, had an unreadable expression. And he saved me. He took on so many tattooed men, while Devon only made the leader more upset and angry.
"Your brother needs to be taught a lesson," I said.
Devan laughed. "He's been taught a lesson his whole life. He's used to it."
"Meaning?" I frowned.
"You wouldn't understand." He patted my head gently.
***
The doctor sat on a stool in the women's house, sipping tea while the other ladies in training moved about. Females walked mostly while males stood as guards, forbidden to enter any woman's room unless sent for.
A woman in her mid-thirties, dressed in a lavish red gown with gold and silver adornments, approached Doctor Janet. Her face was beautified with peach makeup, and her steps exuded class and elegance.
"Healer?" she called with a pleasant smile. Something different about her was that, even in her mid-thirties, she didn't seem to age at all. She looked like an eighteen-year-old lady, which was one of the reasons she was qualified to be the women's consort.
The doctor stood up as they exchanged pleasantries. They both took their seats with smiles on their faces. One of the girls served the leader a cup of tea.
"How are you, leader?" Janet asked politely, and the woman nodded.
"I am perfectly okay. So, what brings you here, young healer?"
"The great general sent me here."
"The great general?" The woman gasped, a smile slowly appearing on her face.
She wondered if he had his eye on her now. He was one of the most eligible bachelors in the kingdom, and she wanted him, despite his scary reputation. She had tried to flirt with him indirectly in many ways, but he always maintained his unexpressive face. He was hard to please.
And now that he requested her presence, perhaps his perspective towards her had changed.
"Yes, leader."
"Why?"
"I think he wants you to teach a girl."
"A girl?" The smile disappeared from her face. What girl did he want her to teach? The great general had never been seen with any girl.
"Is the girl his sister?"
Janet laughed at her words.
"The general doesn't have a sister, but everyone knows him as a distant man who will never engage with a woman. But he seems close to this particular girl. I wonder if they're related."
The leader wondered who this girl really was. She was delicate and beautiful, even in her mid-thirties. He should be attracted to her instead. She was more beautiful and would never age.
"I will be there."
"Okay, thank you." The doctor stood up.
"Arnica!" she called one of her girls. The girl walked over to the doctor to escort her out of the house.
The woman seated on the chair looked disturbed. She still wondered who this female was.
One of her girls walked up to her.
"Who is this girl Salome?"
"I have no idea leader. It was also a shock to me leader. The General had never been found with any female before. Infact, he despises our gender. If was his brother, I would have agreed about he being a seducer, but the great General, I am very sure Janet is wrong somewhere.
"You are coming with me to the General's home. Bringing her here will be a great lesson to her.,