We move forward!

The city bustled. Just outside the royal quarter the city started feeling chaotic. Peddlers and ram-shod street stalls lines every inch of the main square. People jostled about at different tempo. There was a discordant rhythm to the throngs that threatened to sweep one into step with it’s freeing Paso Doble.

I stood at it’s edges with Tanjir at my side. This was surprisingly the first time I’d set foot in this section of our great capital, Armas. It’s possible I may had the opportunity given my former status as a hero but the human brain can only store so much history. Hmm, It’s been about 80 years since my last incarnation, so there should have been something in this land that seemed familiar to me, but nothing seemed to ring a bell, progress could come unpredictably fast, I suppose. On the other hand, It’s possible I originated from one of the other continents on this planet.

Enough dwelling on my past, it’s time to do something about my future. If I want to live a life of peace and luxury in my high tower, looking down at the frolicking peasants below, then I would have to find someone to take up my mantle of hero.

We weren’t going to find such a beneficiary here, no. If someone with the potential to take on such a momentous obligation were so nearby then the palace would have contracted them by now. On top of that, even if there were such a person, I wouldn’t consider them, precisely because of their proximity. There could be no link to me whatsoever, surely everyone in the Royal quarter would take notice if I began treating someone with such preference.

For my purposes it’s necessary to go beyond the outer walls. I needed a chum- disciple with no noble background or heritage. Someone as unremarkable as a brick wall, preferably with equal intelligence at that.

I could hear Tanjir’s discontentment with our excursion from beside me. Her face was incredibly loud. I, however, paid it no heed; Tanjir would follow me wherever I went with or without explanation. I would no doubt have to bring her into the loop to some degree but I enjoyed teasing her so much.

In this lifetime I had not journeyed outside the noble quarter, I was the epitome of a cloistered princess, and how I longed to be so again. This was the epicenter of my maid slash bodyguard’s concern. It brought me great joy. I was very much not worried for numerous reasons (some of which will be revealed later as a lady must keep some secrets) the foremost of which was I was simply used to the grime and grey of the peasantry. In another life, in every life I’ve lived till this point I was born poor and downtrodden with parents and friends who could barely afford soup stock. In those days I clawed and fought my way to the top of the social ladder, for whatever nonsensical reason my adversity made me see my oppressed situation in a positive, forgiving light as it was what forged me. I often fought for the sake of my friends and home, but while I was was training and fighting my friends were still starving and dying. Defeating the Demon King did nothing for anyone other than myself.

Killing that entity was nothing but a stop gap. It came back in the same way that I did. I no longer wanted that burden. I would not be caught in this cycle any longer! I like my life and am determined to keep it even if it means the world is plunged into chaos once I’m gone. Someone else can be the hero. I want to be a princess!

“Are you alright, my lady?” Tanjir suddenly cut into my whirling thoughts.

“I will be. I. Will. Be.”

We turned a few more street corners and the city noise began to fade into the background. The streets started looking less maintained and the people more haggard.

“We are entering the slums, my lady. I must once again express my discontent and ask that you either explain why we’re here or turn back.”

“Noted.”

“My lady…”

“Have some trust. Or would you abandon me, abandon your post, and leave me to die! I can picture my mother ripping you in half with her bare hands. What a sight! I would have so like to see it, unfortunately I am dead. Woe is me. Have you no sense of duty?”

Tanjir who was normal stoic seemed about to burst into tears. Ha.

“Tanjir, my jests aside, I’m fine. I knew what to expect.”

“Knowing and seeing are two different things, my lady.”

My lips twitched upward into a knowing smile.

These houses and people were certainly more less well put together than those closer to the city’s center, but, well, to be blunt this place was more homely than some of the places where I lived and slept. This was decidedly comfy in comparison. It all came down to the details. Kids ran about playing, adults stood chatting, they gave a disapproving side-eye as we past but all-in-all everyone looked like they were relatively healthy. And although the houses and roads seemed less maintained, they still stood straight and looked clean.

It wasn’t as lively as the town square but calling this “the slums” seemed to be an insult to actual slums, though it’s possible that it’s residents might disagree.

“We move forward.”

A stereotypical noble should have some disdain for the disenfranchised rabble, but I bid we simple trudge forward with haughty indifference. I wanted to make some headway before heading back to the castle.