The festival

"Now tell me about the evening ritual?" Lyn asked going to take the hot ginger tea Madam Yina prepared for her.

"Nothing unusual my queen it's more like the Ash festival you celebrate in your kingdom," Madam Yina said leaving Lyn puzzled of course she know about the Ash festival but have not actually been to one and had no idea what goes on during those festivals.

"Like the Ash festival?" She mumbled. "Yes, my queen?"

"Well, will you tell me what I will be doing there because clearly, I have no idea and do not wish to be a part of it," Lyn said in a firm voice sipping her tea.

"You must be there, my queen, together with the King. You will pray for the King and the people of this kingdom. I mean your people, my queen," Madam muttered.

"Oh, I see," Lyn hissed, thinking she could survive the night.

"The difficult part of the festival was the Royal breakfast. Your subject has accepted you fully as their queen. Usually, it's after the birth of an heir, but with what just happened, you are heaven-sent. The people will love you." Madam Yina cheered. She seems to be carried away just like everyone else in the palace, after all, if the people had doubt not anymore.

"Well, I hope I feel better enough to be there and pray for my subject as you put it," Lyn said sarcastically, going to sit on the bed. She is gradually making sense of all this and she actually feels important and not just a sacrifice lamb brought to a slaughterhouse.

"You look perfect, my queen," Madam Yina said with a soft grin.

"Oh yes, isn't it amazing? I haven't sneezed. Your ginger tea turned out to be quite effective," Lyn said, setting the empty cup on the table while staring at her feet. She has a lot going on right now, and she is struggling to find balance in all that.

It was just her, and she only had to worry about staying alive and getting food to eat now she has a husband and a whole subject depending on her. She finds solace in her sweet memories with the king. She giggled and held her breath.

While Lyn tried her best not to think of the ritual, Jetaime was busy handling prepositions in the courtroom.

"Your majesty as custom demands..." One of the council members muttered carefully. The poor man is trying to keep his head on his neck. Either the king or the prime minister could slash his throat but has no option but to go on with his request.

Jetaime knew this wasn't going to be good. He was in such a good mood, and those old fools as he puts it want to take that away from him

"The council, I mean I will like to propose we pardon the...um prime minister's daughter for her crimes," he whispered trembling as King Jetaime gaze at him with his hostile gaze, the poor man almost got a heart attack.

"A crime must be pardoned today," another council member mumbled. Byron was standing in front of the council trying to make eye contact with Jetaime. The council was already divided, and with him beheading a member, everyone was shaken up.

Of course, Jetaime knew about the customs, but it seems he didn't scare them enough the last time for them to bring it up again. He knew who was behind it. He needed to get rid of him permanently, he thought.

"She did an unforgivable crime, your highness, but on just a holy day, we plead with you to show mercy on her," another member added.

"Okay, I can only forgive one crime today," Jetaime said, holding back his rage.

"Consort Suva, Prince Danyon, and Prince Dewey, my beloved mother and siblings, attempted to burn the queen alive. I was gathering evidence, but now we have the evidence, I will leave that for you to decide. The royal family or the prime minister's daughter," Jetaime said, adjusting himself well in his chair. It was as if he dropped a bomb in their faces. How can they choose the Princess and have three royal family members executed?

There was total silence in the courtroom.

"Your Highness, how about we do this? You strip off all the powers of the princess and the royal Consort, cut down their monthly supply, and release my daughter... I mean commoner Asa. She can stay here in the palace until claimed, or your Highness can do whatever he deems fit with her," the prime minister finally stepped out to speak and not hide behind dictating for everyone.

"Well, fair enough, let's do that. I hope you all enjoy the festival," Jetaime said, folding his fist. He stands up, adjusts his royal gown, and strode out of there. His guards and Byron run after him.

"You didn't just pardon the princess, I was told she was really working her way up. And some little bird told me she was really good at pleasing people. The point is the prime minister might be up to something shady again," Byron hissed as they walked down the hallway.

"Will you rather have me behead him?" Jetaime chuckled. "Of course not, but not just agree with his demands," Byron whispered.

"I know he is up to something. He is always up to something. I can't have my half-brothers killed because of the promise I made to my father and for Princess Aya I think she has learned her lessons plus the queen will start to trust me again if she finds out I forgave her." Jetaime seemed to have a perfect plan and knew what he was doing.

"Having her here in the palace is like accepting her as your concubine. I'm sure the prime minister thinks he can still get her daughter to have your baby somehow," Byron said, concerned.

"Didn't you hear her say how disgusted she felt looking at me? Don't worry. You're overthinking. Just go be with your wife and enjoy the festival," Jetaime ordered, Byron was shocked to hear him say that, but he jumped on it before he changed his mind.

Time went by just in the blink of an eye, and Lyn was already standing in front of a huge crowd. For the first time, she was outside of the palace. They were standing on the terrace of a huge building in the middle of the town square looking down.

The night sky was filled with sparkling stars and the cool weather made for a pleasant atmosphere. The festival's highlight was the stunning variety of costumes.

Everyone was in blue, it was amazing. Lyn was made to perform a little ritual of praying to heaven and then spark rose petals on the people as the crowd went wild, chanting, "Long live the Queen!!!!"

The festival was done, and the rest of the evening is for having fun, drinking, eating, dancing, and other fun activities. When Madam Yina told her what happened during those festivals, she couldn't wait to experience all of it.

Jetaime whispered into her ear, "The guards will escort you home with the rest of the royal family. Go straight to my bed chamber and wait for me." He leaned closer to ensure she heard him clearly.

He nods to the guards to take the queen back to the Palace. Lyn frowned, she just got to see the town for just this once. She wasn't ready to leave yet.

Jetaime whispered something to Byron as they discussed something. Lyn looks away and follows the guards to descend the staircases.

Madam Yina and the rest of the maids were ahead of them and two guards behind them. Moesha stayed close to the queen.

"Are you alright, Your Highness?" whispered Moesha as Lyn shook her head. "Can you assist me in evading the guards? I am eager to explore the town," Lyn whispered back. Moesha wasn't taken aback, but she knew it was an imprudent idea. "It's not safe, Your Highness."

"Oh, come on. It won't take long, and no one will recognize us," Lyn pleaded. "I would have permitted it if we were at home, but not here, Your Highness. There are unstable individuals in the palace who wish to harm you. It could be even worse outside the palace," Moesha apologized as Lyn makes a sad face in an attempt to convince her to come with her.

"I apologize, it could be even worse outside the palace," Moesha said. "But we won't take long. We'll just look around and then return back to the palace. What do you say?" Lyn insisted. Moesha knew that if she didn't go with her, Lyn would go alone anyway, so she agreed to accompany her instead of letting her go solo.

"Okay, but only for a short while," she said. Lyn grinned, excited to explore the town without any restrictions.