Chapter 60

The piggy man looked scared and like he was about to shit his pants as Arya pointed the tip of her sword at his throat. She backed him up against a tree while she held him at sword point.

He was shaking as he held up his hands in a pathetic display of submissiveness and surrender.

Arya's voice remained calm and steady as she addressed him.

"Who are you? Your name and everything. I want to know that and also where did all that food come from?"

Arya's voice was that of a royal: commanding, confident and sugar-coated to hide the hidden warning tone in her voice.

The arm that held the sword did not waver.

The man automatically knew he was outmatched.

He had no real powers of his own and he was just a guy who was lucky enough to have taken advantage of the situation. The princess was powerful and her aura was overwhelming. He felt like she could kill him without even trying to do so.

"I ask you again, what's your name and where did you get all that food from? I also want to let you know that I know what a complete scumbag you are to these poor people."

He caved in. The point of her sword was pushing deeper into his throat and he swore that if she applied even a slight bit of more strength, he would be dead.

"My name is Matthew Richard and I'm a merchant who just happened to see an opportunity to exploit-"

He stopped talking, his voice fading away when he caught that murderous look in her eyes.

"Exploit….yeah, just like how you took advantage of these people's desperate situation and used it to take control over them. How many poor girls and women have you forced into your bed, hmm? You scumbag."

Now Matthew was starting to sweat. How did the princess find out about it? Those bitches should be grateful he was even feeding them in the first place!! Besides, shouldn't they be doing anything they could to please him as he was their savior and benefactor who told them from starving to death?

He tried to squirm out of it. He was used to having to talk his way out of trouble to sweet talk his way into getting better deals and offers. This was no different.

"Your highness, I have no idea what you are saying. I'm a kind man who just happened to want to help out some people in need in this time of crisis."

Arya almost wanted to laugh. Of course, this bastard wanted to play the savior when he was exploiting those poor women and girls for sexual favors in exchange for food. It wasn't right to force someone to do something they didn't want to do just because they were in a bad situation.

She saw plenty of girls like her who were desperate enough to sell their bodies to random strangers in exchange for some bread or a few coins back when she lived on the streets. 

But worse of all…Arya thought, her mind racing with all kinds of possibilities, if this bastard is using food as a way to control these people, what's not to say that he uses it to threaten people into obedience?

If he controlled the food supply, then it would be easy for him to cut off someone's rations and food if they did not do what he told them to do.

History gave her plenty of examples of when food was used to force people into submission.

And this was a time of crisis.

She smirked.

"I'm not asking for excuses. I'm asking you if you feel any remorse for your actions and how you exploited these townspeople and treated them like servants."

Matthew still had the gall to play innocent and to get enraged with how he treated the townspeople.

"My Princess, I'm sure you would know that these people are below you. They're not worthy of our concern and attention."

Arya turned to look at the girl and then at the townspeople who looked so starved and abused.

Two men were armed with whips and clubs and they looked like they were overseeing the people working.

Two women were hanging up laundry on a clothesline while some men were busy cleaning up the front yard of the mansion with brooms.

But they looked haggard and sluggish.

A loud crack flashed through the air and a scream of pain from one of the men as he fell onto the ground in pain.

One of the men guarding the workers looked amused and like he enjoyed inflicting pain on the poor man.

Arya's anger flashed to life and she turned her attention from Matthew to the bully and she focused all her attention on him to yank him off his feet by his neck before throwing him against the ground harshly.

She was sure that bully would never get up for some time and she looked back at the man.

"So, sir, where did all the food come from and do you regret what you did?"

…..

Arya relaxed and sighed as she relaxed in the bathtub, happy to finally be able to relax and get cleaned up.

So, from what Matthew told her, the food supply actually ran out today and he was getting scared and worried about riots and how he was fucked now that he had no more food.

Good, Arya thought, at least now he has no more power over the townspeople now. But now the people are going to go hungry.

She made him apologize to the townspeople for his mistreatment of them and she basked in the thanks that the townspeople gave her for putting an end to the reign of this fat tyrant.

She worried about Ezekiel and the others but she could only hope that they were somewhere safe and alright.

Arya changed into some of the clothes that were in the bag and she put on a pair of black pants, a long-sleeved green shirt, hunting boots and threw her cloak over her outfit. The swords at her waist were tightly secured and the magical bag of supplies was in her hands.

She knew she had no responsibility or obligations towards the townspeople and she couldn't afford to stay as she was more of a loner and the type who wanted to work alone. Having to take care of people and having the lives and well-being of others placed in her hands scared her. She was a shy and with-drown person who didn't sit well with leadership or being in charge.

But that didn't mean that she didn't want to just sit back and do nothing.

Being a supporter who helped behind the scenes was more suited for her.

But she didn't want to leave these people to fend for themselves as that was an asshole move. So far, they were lucky that they didn't get attacked but that luck could change soon. So far, it seems like there were no fighters in this town at all-only civilians. Sure, there were the thugs armed with clubs, knives and whips but they had no real training and they were nothing against monsters and beasts that were supernaturally stronger.

She yawned. She was feeling a little sleepy and tired after such a long day.

Maybe she could stay a bit and rest for a little before leaving.

Her room looked like it once belonged to a rich woman.

The canopy bed was fitted with soft white sheets with matching white blankets. Dark blue silk curtains framed the windows while a fur rug covered the floor under her feet. A wardrobe still full of clothes sat in a corner-and judging from the layer of dust covering it, it was abandoned and unused for some time-and a vanity dresser sat next to the wardrobe.

Judging from the aesthetics of the room, this room probably belonged to an older woman whose tastes were simple and homey. 

She flopped onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

She hoped that Ezekiel and the others were fine and they were somewhere safe.

She wondered if Lucifer and his sister were fine and that Lucifer managed to succeed with recusing the kids.

She wondered if the war and fighting would ever stop.

Her eyelids were heavier and heavier and soon she was fast asleep.