(2) Living as the Villainess Queen

Chapter 185

“Yes, I know.” Molly answered as she took the permit back and placed it inside her pocket.

“Next.” The guard spoke behind her, signaling the others to do the same. Many people were shuffling out of the palace after work, each bearing the same permit Molly had in her grasp.

Molly pulled the hood over her head that was attached to the cape she was wearing. She took her time walking, passing by the town plaza as she went straight to the street that was lined with small houses. She stood in front of a single-story home that looked really simple compared to the others, knocking on the wooden door several times and waited. An elderly woman opened the door.

“Molly!” The woman greeted her enthusiastically, pulling Molly into a soft hug. They looked exactly like those families who had been reunited after a long separation. The door closed behind her as she settled in.

This house used to be Poppy’s, and a new family boarded this place after Poppy’s death. The eldest daughter’s name was Elly, who died in an accident which made her whole family move away, making Molly and her grandmother the third household to live inside this place.

“You should have supper.” Her grandmother told her, thinking that Molly might be famished after a long day at work.

“I’ll go meet him first.”

Molly went inside a small room that served as a warehouse. Knowing what she’s about to do, the grandmother brought in a long towel as Molly skimmed the spice rack, taking out a vial that blended uniformly with the various condiments and herbs. Molly grabbed the towel from her grandmother’s hand as she uncapped the vial, wetting the towel with the contained liquid and then wrapped her face so only her eyes were visible.

She crouched slightly, feeling the edge of the carpet that covered the whole perimeter of the wooden floor as she pulled a part to its side, revealing a secret door underneath. Molly yanked the door open, nothing but dark abyss loomed inside the square space. She pivoted her body as she placed one foot after the other, slowly descending into the pitch, black void.

“Watch your steps.” Her grandmother reminded her as she worriedly stared at her granddaughter’s retreating form. “Don’t worry, I do this quite often.” Molly assured her.

As Molly’s figure grew smaller and smaller, the grandmother then closed the door, pulling the carpet over as she smoothened the curves out with her feet. The floor looked exactly like it did a few moments ago.

Molly took her time going down the length of the deep steps, knowing full well that it would do her great injury if she missed a step, since the pit was about the height of three people stacked on top of the other. And there’s a great chance that she would die if she falls, since she placed a lot of poisonous dry herbs as a preventive measure to avoid invasions.

Nearing close to the landing, she got a whiff of the tangy smell of herbs, its scent making way pass her nostrils despite a towel covering both her nose and mouth.

Molly jumped the remaining step with a soft thud, sighing in relief as she stretched her arms to the sides, carefully moving towards the darkness. She swung her hands slightly as she felt for a wall, using her hands to guide her towards a connected corridor. The passage was so narrow that a person would not be able to crawl comfortably. Molly then took out a wooden plank that had wheels on its sides, which was placed inside a small opening. She laid flat on the plank and kicked the ground as hard as she could, propelling her forward the hall as she pulled on the rope that was suspended above her, using it to maneuver her momentum more as the wheels took her further in.

The passage opened to a spacious area, her arms shaking violently from exhaustion as she used her elbows to prop herself up from the plank. She crouched in a crawling position, elbowing her way inside until she’s met with a stone wall that she pushed with her whole strength, the stone rolling slowly to let in a faint light coming from behind it.

Molly pushed further, following the light until she came out to a living room with an old fireplace. She looked around the quiet room, taking the bell that was placed on the table and ringing it a few times before plopping herself onto the sofa.

Molly heard a faint sound of a door opening and closing. She did not look back. She knew that someone knows that she’s here already, and all she needs to do now is to wait.

***

Eugene stared at the landscape before her, sipping her tea while she sat on a table that was placed on top of the bridge connecting the palace’s two towers. She only had a few days left to enjoy the pleasant weather. “It’s been two months already.”

It’s been two months since Eugene opened her eyes to this world, and she would never be able to forget this active period for the rest of her life. This season marked a new life for her, making her feel as if she had been reborn.

She did not have any downtime like this for the past few weeks. She was loaded with work lately, and there were a lot of hectic days that stopped her from coming here. But now, she’s able to drink her tea freely without feeling like she’s being chased down, which is exactly what she felt before. Jumping into this world that was completely alien to her had been the better choice, and Eugene wanted to thank whoever it is, whether it’s god or a demon, that gave her the opportunity for this new life she had. Her head was filled with thoughts as she sipped from her teacup mindlessly.

“Mistress.”

A voice called out, breaking her concentration. She lowered her teacup and turned sideways, and saw Molly standing next to her.

“Have you delivered the message?” Eugene asked.

“Yes, mistress.”

Eugene had Molly deliver a message to Rodrigo, saying that she would go out and meet him. Molly went out last night and came back early this morning, and Eugene met up with her here for privacy.

“What did he say?”

“He would like to meet you a few days earlier than the designated day, if it’s possible.” Molly answered.

Eugene informed him to meet a week after the dry season starts, and that’s the only time she’s available since she will be going to the desert for the ritual. “He would like to meet in four days’ time, because there’s something urgent he needs to say.” Molly continued.

“How presumptuous of him,” Eugene said coldly while clicking her tongue in dismay. While she’s considering rescheduling, she knew that Rodrigo’s Jin would never agree to such a request. She always made sure to act like Jin whenever Molly’s around, under the assumption that Molly would inform Rodrigo about everything that she had seen or heard.

“Who is he to decide our meeting? After telling him that I found time for him, this is what I get?” Eugene snapped.

Upon hearing the anger in her voice, Molly quickly dropped to her knees and bowed her head low, almost touching the ground. “Please don’t be angry. He said that he would be waiting for Your Highness at the sanctum regardless of your decision after four days. He’s begging for the meeting to take place as soon as possible.” Molly said with a quivering voice.

Eugene feigned coldness as she looked at Molly’s kneeling form.

‘Why is Rodrigo in a rush? Is it because I cut off his funds?’

It was a good sign that Rodrigo was keen about meeting with her, since a person as bothered as him would be a lot easier to take advantage of.

“Leave.” Eugene told Molly.

Four days. He wanted to meet in four days time, which is before the dry season starts. While Eugene was already considering Rodrigo’s set date, she didn’t exactly tell Molly her confirmation as she drove the girl out of her sight. She was having mixed feelings in meeting up with Rodrigo days earlier than her preferred schedule, as she felt like a warrior gearing up before a huge battle.

Stuck with her thoughts, Eugene spoke to the maids trailing close behind her. “I’ll be taking a walk alone. Don’t follow me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

She went straight to her usual meeting place with Abu. She called for his name as the leopard came running towards her, lying down on her feet as he bared his stomach to her. “Abu.” Eugene smiled, softly stroking the soft, matted fur with her fingertips, tickling the beast fondly as the beast purred continuously.