In The Cave

Unlike the city Rina grew up in where most people mind their business and go along their way because they're too busy with work, it's completely different in this world. The people in this world breathe in gossip and breathe out gossip, which was why it didn't shock Rina one bit that news of her and Gwen being thrown out of the house by Sinclair has spread around the village.

After walking and walking in the rain, Gina led them to the house of an acquaintance, and unsurprisingly, the family refused to house them for the meantime.

"You know we cannot afford to be on bad terms with your husband, Lady Gwen. You must understand." The husband of the acquaintance which Gwen led them to, spoke on his wife's behalf, not looking apologetic in the slightest way. As Rina quietly stared at him, she entertained the thought of killing this man as well.

The same thing happened a few more times. No one wanted to take them in, because if they did, that would mean they were indirectly berating Sinclair by his decision, and these entire men who had no backbone of their own, couldn't bare to disrespect Sinclair like that.

Which resulted in Rina and Gwen being forced to take refuge in a cave, one which was thankfully warm and empty.

Rina gathered dried up leaves and sticks from the corners of the cave and she started a fire in no time in order to warm the place up even more.

Gwen took off most of her wet clothes and so did Rina.

As Gwen knelt beside the fire and began to sob, Rina leaned against the smooth wall of the cave while entertaining the thought of killing Sinclair. She was gonna make it hurt so good, and she'd make him eat his entire words back before finally taking his pathetic life. She thought within herself as she lost herself to the thoughts in her head.

"Marina?"

The sound of Gwen calling her name pulled her out of her thoughts and she blinked as she responded. "Yes, mother?"

Rina watched as Gwen mopped her face and sniffled a little before exhaling slowly, patiently waiting for her to speak.

"Why do you not have any friends?" She finally asked and Rina blinked once again, completely confused.

"What?" She echoed and Gwen shrugged.

"You don't have a single person you're friends with, a single person. Is there another reason why? Apart from you not getting along with everyone?" Gina asked. She had never brought this up with her daughter, because she believed that once her daughter took over the throne, she'd finally get to make friends with people in her league. But now, it didn't seem like that was ever gonna happen.

"No reason, mother." Rina responded, and she had to force herself to not snort at the question. Apart from being way older by every other dumb kid in this world, she never knew how to make friends even in her past life, so why should this time be any different?

"I'm asking because… if you had a friend, she'd have been able to house you right now instead of you suffering with me right now." She continued and Rina rolled her eyes before sighing.

"It's okay, mother. I'm fine, I'm not bothered by all of this." Rina responded without missing a beat and her mother exhaled slowly before leaning forward to massage her sore feet. She silently cursed her husband for throwing her out because the royal court decided to not make their daughter the queen any longer, like throwing them out was gonna make a difference.

"You have family in your hometown, right?" Rina said, pulling Gwen out of her thoughts.

Gwen brought that up, because in order to start carrying out her plan, Gwen needed to be completely away from here so she wouldn't get hurt unnecessarily.

Gwen nodded slowly. "It would take a three day journey by horse, way longer on foot." She revealed and Rina slowly nodded her head.

"It's best you head over there, since there's clearly nothing for you here any longer." Rina suggested and Gwen slowly nodded, she had contemplated on that after literally everyone who could house her and her daughter refused to offer their help just for a single night.

"We could start the journey at the break of dawn—" Gwen began to speak but Rina cut her off.

"You're the only one traveling, mother. I won't be coming with you." Rina announced and at once, Gwen's eyes widened drastically, heart pounding.

"You're not? Why? You have nothing here as well, child. Why are you–"

Once again, Rina cut Gwen off.

"I'm staying back to finish off father first." Rina revealed, voice unwavering and Gwen's heart flew into her throat. When Rina had previously talked about that, she had thought she was just bluffing.

Sinclair was a very skilled swordsman and only a handful of people in the kingdom could defeat him, and that's usually after a very hectic fight.

"Child… I know you're angry at him for throwing us out and because the throne got taken away from you, but… you know you're no match for him. You're quite strong and bold for a girl, but you don't stand a chance in an actual fight." Gwen worriedly told her daughter and to her shook, after a few moments, her daughter chuckled while shaking her head.

Everything Gwen said sounded extremely funny to Rina. Not only was she a match for Sinclair, she'd also effortlessly defeat him. But of course, Gwen doesn't know that, so it was understandable for her to be worried.

"Don't worry about me, mother. I'll find a way." Rina told a panicked Gwen who burst into tears in no time, accusing Rina of having a death wish and of not caring enough about her poor mother, because if she cared about her mother, she wouldn't be considering something that ridiculous, knowing her father would kill her at the slightest chance.

As usual, Rina was unmoved by Gwen's tears, but she knew she needed to act otherwise, and so she exhaled slowly and reached out to awkwardly pat Gwen's shoulders awkwardly. As Rina wordlessly patted her shoulders, she began to contemplate how she'd get a horse for Gwen so she'd be on her journey to her hometown and finally get out of her hair. Of course, Rina knew that wasn't going to be easy, seeing as Gwen was so protective of her.

Rina was gonna have to bring the big guns in.