Voyage Of The Villainess

(A/N: Continuation of Oliver's View to Malaya.)

Then came that fateful day. Hyun Jae vanished without a trace. They couldn't find her anywhere on campus. However, Oliver remembered that there was a little forest at the back of the school that students avoided because it was creepy to them. Since a story circulate there that they heard mysterious cries of some ghost.

He started searching that place and eventually found a small cottage in the middle of it, where he heard Hyun Jae's cries. 'So the rumored crying ghost was no other than Hyun Jae? But why is she crying?"

A feeling of dread and fear shrouded inside him that there might be something that happened badly occurred to Hyun Jae.  But before he could go close to her, someone beats him to it...

Oliver heard someone cough which made him automatically hide behind the walls of the cottage. 

"Wh-who's there?!" Hyun Jae shouted. 

"You don't have to feel bad for me." Oliver heard the voice of another girl that was now quite familiar to him due to his investigations. 

And there was his first close encounter with Hyun Jae's rumored harasser, Malaya Venizever Marina. She was always calm, with a smile on her face. Not the pompous, arrogant, disgraceful rumor woman. Compared to all the people he met, if Hyun Jae was an open book, Lady Malaya was like a complete close book with several locks on it. One couldn't always tell what was going on in her head, and she would occasionally do things that were quite questionable. Like when he saw her in that dwarf's workshop.

And also that one special time. While he was patrolling the academy grounds, Lady Malaya reappeared in front of him telling him something like this; "Among all her harem, although you have some weird tendencies, you're more decent than every one of them at least, I guess." Malaya sounded not really sure which made something ticked inside Oliver. He didn't know whether she was complimenting him or not. 

"Only to you I could entrust Hyun Jae, protect her and her happiness," she said in the end.

'I am already doing that,' was what he wanted to respond. But before he could speak, Malaya completely vanished again using some talismans. It was like she was like a sudden dream that passed by to him.

That's when he became more conscious of the presence of the lady known as Malaya. He didn't care about anything in his surroundings other than his duties when they were first-years before. That was why he never really noticed this peculiar person. It was only when Hyun Jae entered the academy in their second year.

As the headmaster's grandson, he was responsible for aiding the immature prince and his vassals, as well as other school management. But following that fateful encounter, he began openly observing Malaya as well as investigating her from behind. Aside from his grandfather's acute intellect and eyes, no one else seemed to notice his actions.

Malaya was rarely seen in class, contrary to his expectations. She would only be present for examinations or if there was an important event that required to be attended. And, to his astonishment, Malaya was always at the exact top 10 in their batch and remained there till this year. It seemed as if she was doing it on purpose, and if she could, she could even beat him, the top one in their class. Was it simply his imagination or the truth? He wasn't sure about this in himself.

Oliver then asked his grandfather about where Malaya was going or what she was doing when she was not in school. But his grandfather had no idea as well, or he just did not want to tell him. And another surprise too, Malaya always asked for school leaves after finishing all her school activities in advance.

He tried to investigate her but no matter what, he couldn't find any clues to what Malaya had been doing during her school leaves.

---⚓⚓⚓---

"Why are you doing this?" Oliver asked.

"I am doing a lot of things, Sir Oliver. What particular thing are you asking me that I'm doing?"

After a long pause, he finally spoke up.

"Pretending to be a horrible person when you're not," Oliver said answering Malaya's question.

"How can you say that I'm not a horrible person?" Malaya said. 

"You are always looking after Hyun Jae," then the scene flashed when Malaya brought her dying friends to Hyun Jae came to his mind too. "And to your friends as well,"

Malaya just gave a light-hearted chuckle hearing Oliver's words. "It seems you got the wrong impression about me, Sir Oliver," 

"..."

"Because I am a human who lacks magical abilities, I only act in my own self-interest. I require the assistance of those who can assist me in surviving in this world. Hyun Jae, as a saintess, would be a valuable asset to me if I befriended her. The same goes for my servants, whom you refer to as my friends. They all have useful magical abilities that could aid me in this world, which is why I wouldn't let them die on my watch." Malaya stated. "I'm not a nice person, Sir Oliver, but rather a very selfish one."

"Thank you for escorting me here," Malaya slowly released her hands from Oliver's grasp. "I will walk the rest now from here. It is already enough for me on the way here to receive the contempt looks of the ladies for you having to escort me. I don't want any of that inside the hall," she gave a low bow and started to walk away from Oliver, heading now to the entrance of the Grand Hall, where their ball was being held. 

'Since when did you worry about what others thought of you?'

Oliver glanced at the receding back of Malaya, 'That determination and desperation you expressed that night. That was not the expression someone will give to people that they are just using. Because when I used people, I never felt anything for them.'

Oliver began to turn around. 'I wish you success in whatever you are attempting to do. And as long as Hyun Jae is not harmed or afflicted, I have nothing against you, Lady Malaya.'

---⚓⚓⚓---

"Have you seen the Saintess this morning?" One of the knights guarding the door of the Grand Hall asked his companion. They were both wearing striking combinations of white and golden uniforms.

"Yes," The other knight nodded his head. "She is truly beautiful. Like the moon goddess that visits our humble land."

"Agree," The first knight answered with delight. "Both her and his highness, suit them perfectly unlike that Duke's daughter, right?"

With that said, the other guard froze from his friend's remarks. 

"Why are looking at me like you've seen some ghost?" 

Malaya arrived at the entrance of the door, enough to heard the talk of the two guards.

"Can I enter the Grand Hall now, Sir knights?" She asked, politely while extending the invitation she had in her hands to them.

"Ah yes!" The first knight said a bit flustered as he turned around to check Malaya's invitation. But as soon as he saw her, he paused, completely gawking at her. 'A water fairy?' 

"You can enter now, Lady Malaya!" The other knight said as he snatched the invitation then gave it politely to Malaya. He was trying to wake his friend too from his stupid daze. 

"Ah yes!" The first knight finally responded a bit flustered for acting so stupid.

They both opened the two huge doors. 

"Thank you," Malaya curtsied to them and started heading forward. Her mind was now focused on the way ahead, so what she heard from the knights didn't bother her at the very least.

When the door closed, the two knights from the outside released a heavy sigh.

"That was intense." The first knight said.

"You should have to control your stupid mouth, but I'm quite surprised..." 

"About what?"

"I expected her to lash out at you." The second knight remarked. "But you're fortunate that she isn't. Otherwise, you should count your remaining days. After all, that lady is still the Dukedom of Marina's youngest daughter."

"Here is my invitation," The two knights talk were interrupted when someone spoke with them. As they glanced at the said person, it was no other than Elred Filaurel Cruxidore.

"Yes, you may enter now!" Seeing his face, the second knight immediately opened the door. The first knight also did the same. 

With a stoic expression, Elred walked inside after he receive back his invitation.

"Who was that?" The first knight asked as soon as the door closed.

"You're really a fool," The second knight shook his head. "That is the top genius here in the academy, second year in advance class, Elred Filaurel Cruxidore!" He said with full admiration in his voice.

"He is one of the people I greatly look up to! Not only is he handsome, but he is also strong in swordsmanship, and still remained very humble. A true noble amongst the nobility. Truly admirable!"

And throughout the time, the two knights welcomed more guests. 

---⚓⚓⚓---

'Once I get out of this room, a new life will now begin for me.'

As soon as Malaya entered, the dancing people and the loud music from the academy's orchestra was what welcomed her first.

'My Condemnation Event....' Malaya grinned.