"There... the burns should heal up in three days' time," Hina spoke after applying ointment to Alaric's hand.
After the incident, Johnny allowed her to take Alaric inside one of the rooms in the shop. There, she would be able to heal him without any disturbance.
Seated at the edge of the bed, Alaric watched as Hina calmly walked away, her ass molded against her jumpsuit, allowing her cheeks to move at an enticing rhythm.
Was her ass always this big? he thought to himself as he watched.
Sure, he may not have been the exact Alaric that made out with her, but still... he had memories of that moment—and she definitely wasn't as thick as that.
"You haven't changed. Still obsessed with girls that have a big behind?"
He was caught.
Hearing her voice, Alaric flinched a bit, meeting the disgusted side-eye she gave him.
"I do? Didn't notice a thing." Alaric chuckled a bit.
"Sigh! I should first apologize for injuring your hand. It was a mistake."
"Oh, it's no problem. Mistakes happen."
Hina was quiet for a while. "Right. I'll go tell Mr. Johnny you're ready to go. I'm sure he's worried."
She turned around, getting ready to exit the door, when—
"Wait!"
She paused, feeling Alaric's grip on her arm.
"Chill, it's been a while since we've seen each other. Why don't we talk for a while? You know, get to know old times."
Alaric Montclair wanted to talk? She knew very well he was lying.
"If you are hoping to make out with me, then I'm sorry, Lord Alaric. That isn't happening." Her voice held all the hostility in the world.
"Uhn? I'm not sleeping with you. I've done that already. The hell would I want to do that for?" Alaric retaliated, pointing at her with a curved finger.
His words affected Hina a bit as her cold expression turned into one of annoyance.
Alas, Alaric was still of royal blood. She wouldn't dare speak rudely to him, at least not with such a tone.
"Sure... as you wish..."
Hina gently sat down on the opposite bed, her knees only a short distance away from his.
"So... what do you want to talk about?" she asked.
Alaric folded his hands. "For example, what were you up to after, you know, what? Did you get a BBL or something?"
"BBL?"
"Forget that. What were you up to?"
"I don't know what you mean by that. I've always been working in this blacksmith shop since the beginning. I've done nothing else since then. Still trying to gather money to leave this barony and probably relocate to the capital," Hina replied calmly.
Alaric was stern.
"You still plan on leaving?" he asked.
He remembered she had mentioned something about wanting them both to run to the capital for a better life—before he left her, that is.
"Why wouldn't I want to? I think most people want to do so as well. No offense to your lordship, but it's hard to make a living here." She placed her hand on her chest. "Take a look at this blacksmith shop. We make supplies daily and yet can barely meet ends' needs. Only people from the count have access to this shop, and even then, they barely ever come. It's a complete mess due to the bad reputation of this barony. You know this too, do you not, Lord Alaric?"
Alaric listened.
"If we move to the capital, or any other place, it would be easier to do business with others. And then, maybe, just maybe, I'll be eligible to enter the academy."
Her last sentence ended with a smile. One Alaric could clearly see.
It wasn't news to see people, especially women, have ambitions to enter the capital academy. It's a place where it's almost guaranteed to have a better life—maybe even a royal title, if lucky.
"I didn't know you still wanted to attend the academy. I thought you hated those of royal blood," Alaric spoke, his tone subdued, nothing like the bold man he was.
"I... do. I'm older now. Whether or not I hate them shouldn't stop me from attaining my dreams."
"That much is obvious. You just gave my barony a 0-star review." Alaric chuckled a bit. "Makes me wonder what you think of me."
"..."
"..."
"No way..." Alaric's eyes grew wider.
"I didn't say anything!"
"I didn't say you did! Guilty conscience! As your lord, I command you to tell me what you think of me."
"If you insist." Hina raised a finger, not hesitating even a bit. "You're self-centered, horny all the time, a dick, rageful, handsome but a complete asshole. Just because you know how to turn a woman on doesn't make you some kind of god. Sure, I admit, I was a victim of it, but that doesn't mean I enjoyed any part of what took place. And why are you so smug? Your body count is higher than your life's progress. You have zero rewards for anything you do because it's never worth it. Even my dead father held more importance to this barony than you. That's not to mention the times you even bothered to be a human being!..."
Alaric was both shocked and surprised as he kept listening to Hina run her mouth. It was as if he was witnessing the same sight back in his former world.
Back when the juniors would vent their frustration by writing down what they hated about their seniors in the black box.
The only difference was that Hina had no issue saying it directly to his face.
With a deep breath, Hina spoke again—
"And with that, I have obeyed your orders, my lord. I hope I was able to satisfy you."
"Wow..." Alaric looked to the side with a sad expression. "Didn't know you think so little of me."
Hina kept quiet.
"What about now? Do you still think the same of me?" He looked at her. "The changed man I'm trying to become. This me, that wants to earn the respect of the people who follow him. Or perhaps..."
He moved his face closer. "Your hatred for me has blinded you to a place of no return."
Hina's cheeks slowly flushed.