10 Chapter 8: Teacher

"Hey Rulia, what did you want to be, assuming that you do not have to marry that prince?"

"I wanted to be a writer. Maybe travel the world. Pick up some skills in sword fighting, maybe. But I am too lazy to pick up the skills. One day, maybe I'll do it."

"Well, I am sure you will get to do it. You never know, maybe the third prince likes an author for a wife."

"I hope so."

"Considering everything that has happened, what do you plan to do?"

"I've never really asked, but where are we heading to?"

I was shocked. "You mean, you never knew where we were heading? Do you trust me that much?"

"After all that has happened, there's really no one else I can trust around me. Between the both of us, I think everyone I've trusted and has followed me are now buried beneath the sand."

She said it nonchalantly, but I could hear the bitterness and loneliness in her voice.

"Besides, you've saved me. How can I ever repay you?"

I became quiet. How did this girl become such a villain in the history books?

"Well," I said, "I was thinking that we could travel to the closest town Bjora for a stop, before heading towards the capital of Siodros. We should stay covert all the way, but it would be safest for you to stay alive and announce your presence than hide around waiting for the assassins to come."

"Why should I still head to Siodros? Isn't everything that has happened because of this marriage alliance?"

"Both kings definitely don't want you dead," I explained. "Your greatest leverage is your identity, and that's why it is a must to use this identity as a cover to protect yourself. Besides, considering that the Siodros king wanted to marry you to the third prince and your reputation as an unwilling and unreasonable and tomboyish lady, the marriage alliance is more likely to be a punishment for the third prince. So, your worth is more than what meets the eye."

Rulia stopped in her footsteps and slowly lifted her hand to touch her face.

"If that day I didn't cut my face...do you think there may be a chance that things may be different between the third prince and me? I don't want my husband to hate me, and with my face..."

"Well, if you didn't cut your face that day, things would be worse. If someone loves you, they should love your heart anyway. Even if the whole world abandons you, don't you still have me by your side?"

Rulia gave the slightest of smiles and started walking again.

"You really know how to talk, don't you?"

"Well, I am an old person, after all. The people I charm are more than the number of words you speak."

"Especially considering that you don't actually have a mouth."

"You do realise that I am speaking to you mentally right?"

"Hey."

"yeah?"

"You said that you knew martial arts...do you think you could teach me?"

What, so you can better torture your servants with a sword instead of a stick this time?

"Haha, it takes guts and talent to become a disciple of mine!"

"I have guts. I cut my face for survival!"

"True. What about talent?"

"You'll see!"

"HAHAHHA!"

"Don't laugh! If I really do have the talent, you must teach me for sure!"

"Wouldn't I be your teacher then?"

"I'll call you my teacher willingly if I have the talent!"

"That's a promise!"