Voyage Of The Villainess

"So our climbers will be Rein, Kayden, Hyun Jae, Iris, Lila and, me," Malaya pointed to herself. "Rhyme and Dorris will stay to watch the ship. While Rhyme also wished to continue some maintenance. Will these all be alright with all of you?"

"No objections!" Hyun Jae said happily. 

"I have objections." Iris raised her hands.

"I give you additional two wines aside from the ones I handed you before," Malaya said.

"Thank you for letting me climb with you," Iris said as she bowed.

'That is a quick change of answer!' Both Dorris and Lila said in their mind in disbelief.

"How about the others?" Malaya looked at the remaining ones who didn't answer them.

"It will be alright to me, Milady." Rein said as he gave a short bow.

"I will be happy to help as well!" Lila said with enthusiasm. Then Malaya glanced at Kayden and the latter simply nodded his head.

"Then we are all set to go now," Malaya said. "We will start climbing tomorrow before the sunrise so that if we are lucky enough, we will be able to reach the top of the cliff."

***

A few hours after the meeting, Malaya and the others went on their preparations. Malaya went down to the third deck as well to check the hole in the ship. But it was all completely fixed now by Rhyme that no one would ever think that there was a hole in it in the first place.

'That's expected of someone who works under the master shipbuilder.' As she walked ahead, Malaya spotted the metal that pierced the ship. It seemed to be a long piece of metal pipe. 'But how come that there is something like this in the Red Current?' Malaya slouched down to take a closer look at the pipe.

"Do you also find that strange?" Malaya turned around to see Rein approaching.

"Yes," Malaya glanced at the metal pipe. "You said that this struck the ship back when we are crossing the storm, right?"

"Yes, it happened there." Rein said as he looked closer to the metal as well.

"Do you think this got floated from some ships as well, that tried to make past the Red Current? Or perhaps from what Luiz rode?"

"That would be impossible, Milady." Rein said. "There were no records of ships that crossed the Red Current. And the one that Sir Luiz used was a boat made of wood."

"I guess, it just washed away somewhere and ended up to us," Malaya said as she stood up.

"Rein, I just notice that you are not reprimanding me as much as before," Malaya said. "Why is that?"

"Do you want me to keep reprimanding, you Milady?" Rein said with a malicious smile. "I will certainly love to do that."

"Hahaha, of course, I am kidding," Malaya said.

"But Milady, to answer your question, that I don't seem these days to reprimand you these days." Rein said. "Actually, there are so many people looking after you now. And since then even it is risky, you are already fully aware of your actions and know to take responsibility for it."

"Hahaha, is that so," Malaya said feeling a bit embarrassed. It was very unusual for her to get praises from Rein.

"Say lady Malaya. What do you think is out there, behind those walls?"

"I don't know that yet," Malaya said.

"Hmm. Let me rephrase my question, what are you expecting behind those walls?" Rein asked once again.

"Isn't that obvious already." Malaya smiled looking at him. "A new world for us to discover."

"A new world, huh," Rein's eyes narrowed hearing Malaya's response. Then sighed. "Do you remember the time when we first met? It is the time when your eldest brother, young master Jules was teaching me swordsmanship. He was really a bright and talented person in academics, swordsmanship, and even magic. Also a very kind-hearted one."

Malaya only listened to Rein. Though she reincarnated to Malaya's body, she indeed obtain as well the memories of the original Malaya. And among those memories, Rein and Jules were close to each other. In fact, Rein, pledged his life and loyalty to become a knight that would serve Jules. But it was all in vain when that accident happened.

"Yes, he is really a good brother," Malaya said. 'Even Darren was still blaming me for losing Jules and father. Perhaps, Rein has also the same resentment at me. Since he was close with Jules as well. But since he volunteered himself to become my personal butler and even agreed to all my personal wishes and whims. Does he really hate me or not? I haven't asked him that all this time.'

"Rein, perhaps, do you blame me for what happened to Jules back then?" Malaya asked.

Rein's eyes glinted. "To be honest, Milady, a part of me blamed you. Master Jules has a brighter future ahead unlike his spoilt sister who always finds fault at everything and clings to the crown prince."

'Hah.' Malaya just laughed inside her mind. 'That was indeed the attitude of the original Malaya before. But he said he blamed me? That is in the past tense.'

"The reason that I volunteer to be your personal butler instead of being a naval knight was that I truly wanted to see what kind of person, Master Jules has saved. If his life didn't go to waste." Rein said as he seriously looked at Malaya's eyes.

"What did you see then?" Malaya asked.

"He saved you because you are his precious sister. And his life was not wasted on that. There is nothing to blame for that." Rein said with a smile on his face. "If I am in his position as well, I will also do the same."

'Because I'm his sister huh...' When Malaya heard those words, she felt her guilt surfacing inside her. 'I wonder if I tell Rein one day that I'm someone who possessed the real Malaya.. That a stranger soul was the one who caused Jules death and robbed him of his future. Will, he still thinks the same way now?'