The ruined dinner

"What is Your Highness suddenly talking about?" Erya asks, confused by her declaration.

Yetsune lifts her gaze from the map to meet Erya, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she leans forward on the desk. "I am saying we are going to make a short trip to Aushasal, all by ourselves, the both of us."

"What!" Erya exclaims, her eyes aghast in shock. She breaks into a peal of real laughter, laughing off Yetsune's words. "Surely Your Highness must be joking," she says in doubt.

Yetsune looks at her in silence, batting her lashes and Erya's laughter gradually subsides at the realisation that Yetsune is being serious.

"You are not joking?"

Yetsune folds her lips and nods in affirmation. Erya feels her head spin, she quickly leans on the desk for support.

"Why on earth will Your Highness want to go to Aushasal?" Erya asks, unable to comprehend what is going on in Yetsune's mind.

Yetsune leans forward more, her hands clasped beneath her jaw and her head cocked to the side as she gazes into the distance, imagining the escapade she is about to embark on. "Freedom," she simply answers.

"Freedom? What freedom could you possibly get by going to Aushasal, you will be married into there anyways. Why don't you just wait?" The words leave Erya's mouth in a hurry, desperate to make her come back to her senses.

"Because I need to see for myself, what kind of place Aushasal is, who I am going to be married to before I reconcile myself with the marriage," Yetsune answers, her chest rises with the pitch of her voice and falls when she concludes her answer.

Erya runs her lips over her mouth, raising her hand to her temples as she turns her back on Yetsune, lost for words. When she finally finds the words to say, she turns back to face her. "This is insane, Your Highness," she insists, swiping the map on the desk into her hands. Erya turns it to Yetsune, pointing at the red line that marks the pathway. "Never before have you had to wade through the oceans or such dense forests. This is not a journey you can take alone," Erya attempts to talk the princess out of it.

Yetsune pinches her brows together and slightly tilts her head at the misinformation in Erya's argument. "Who said I am going alone? Didn't I just say you are coming with me? I am surprised you even think I can survive without you," she says, ending with a chuckle.

Erya throws the map on the desk, stepping back in denial. "You shouldn't jest with such costly matters, Your Highness. If I go with you, the King will have my head, no...the Queen...I mean the First Princess will execute me on sight!" Erya protests in a panicky voice, her hands around her neck, holding on for her dear life.

"That is why I have a plan," Yetsune says in a hushed voice and a mischievous grin, a familiar sight for Erya. "Come closer," she beckons to Erya and leans over the table to whisper into her ear.

Erya widens her eyes in stupefaction and her jaw drops as Yetsune whispers the details of the plan into her ear. She has long known that Yetsune has a screw loose in her brain but had no idea it has finally driven her insane.

"Isn't it perfect?" Yetsune clasps her hands together, a spark of anticipation shining in her eyes as though she expects applause for her meticulous plan.

"Lord Azryn made a great mistake in giving you this map. I must seek him out immediately and let him know of your madness," Erya says, darting towards the door but Yetsune quickly walks around the desk, nimbly snatching her hand to before she gets to the door.

Yetsune spins Erya around and firmly clasps her hands over her mouth before she has the chance to speak. "You will not speak a word of this to anyone. Remember, you pledged your unwavering loyalty to me during the appointment ceremony," Yetsune asserts with authority, her gaze penetrating. "Your life and mine hold equal importance, and I will not endanger either of us," she continues, steeling her gaze to convince Erya of her sincerity and determination.

Erya glances between Yetsune's eyes, witnessing a level of determination she has never seen in Yetsune before. She forces Yetsune's away off her mouth, sucking in a deep breath. "Fine," she concedes. "But what happens when they discover that the commoner who has tricked her way into the imperial palace is the appointed Crown Princess of Aushasal?"

"Nothing," Yetsune answers, returning to her seat. "The mischievous Princess simply entered the palace ahead of time to catch a glimpse of her future husband," she adds with a confident smirk.

Erya digs her fingers into her hair and turns back, trying hard to accept the madness that Yetsune has managed to plot. A thought occurs to her and she turns to Yetsune, narrowing her eyes at her. "Your Highness has had this plan in mind for a long time," she muses aloud. "Those items you had me purchase from outside the palace, it is all for this plan of yours."

Yetsune tweaks a brow with a lopsided smile, proud of herself for tricking Erya for this long. She clicks her fingers and says, "Spot on."

Later that night, Yetsune unexpectedly receives an invitation to dinner from Yettiri. Apparently, there is a family dinner but the royal kitchen has not bothered to send someone to inform her. And, of course, the Queen must be behind it.

Upon arriving at the dining hall, the servants at the door announce Yetsune's presence and the double doors are opened to allow her in. Lord Azryn greets her with a smile while her parents regard her with stern expressions and Yettiri averts her gaze.

Yetsune walks towards them, coming to a stop in front of the table, and gracefully lowers herself with bent knees, her hands atop each other on her abdomen.

"Your Majesties," Yetsune acknowledges her parent then she turns to Lord Azryn with a faint smile and greets, "Uncle." She remains still for a few seconds before standing at ease.

"Why stand there?" Lord Azryn asks and gestures for her to take sit beside him. "Sit down."

Yetsune glances hesitantly at the King and Queen before settling next to her uncle.

"I was worried you might starve yourself while studying the map," Lord Azryn remarks, pushing a bowl of soup toward her. Yetsune smiles at him, appreciating his caring gesture once again.

"What map?" the Queen inquires, turning to Yetsune. Yettiri also looks at her sister, wondering what map their uncle is referring to.

Her eyes widen, and she shares a quick glance with Erya, silently requesting her help.

"Her Highness was studying some books on Aushasal and asked Lord Azryn for a map to aid her studies," Erya quickly fabricates a lie. Arya, who stands behind Yettiri, narrows her eyes suspiciously at her sister.

"That's correct. I couldn't resist the curiosity and requested the map," Yetsune forces a stiff smile.

"It's good that you're studying about Aushasal, but you should remember that there is a time for everything. Why did you miss the sword training today?" the King questions.

Yetsune swallows hard, balling her fists as she feels her chest tighten, as always, under his intense scrutiny.

Yettiri curses under her breath, realizing that Sersi must have informed their father. She forgot how simple-minded Sersi is, that he would report everything to the king without hesitation.

"Father, Yetsune was feeling unwell earlier today, so I suggested that she rest," Yettiri explains, attempting to cover for her sister.

"She's always tired," the King retorts, turning to Yetsune. "Yettiri can hardly be defeated by many in the Aisin Kingdom, yet you can't even defeat the weakest woman in Aisin," he berates her in a condescending tone.

"I apologize," Yetsune responds, feeling at a loss for words.

"You will be alone in Aushasal with Erya in the future. How will you protect yourself if she is not there to protect you?" the Queen adds, further fueling the fire.

Yetsune clenches her teeth in an effort to withhold a retort, but she fails. "Is Mother genuinely concerned about my safety, or do you fear that I might bring disgrace upon the Aisin royal family?"

"How insolent!" the King thunders and the Queen mouths a "What," in disbelief.

Lord Azryn and Yettiri are taken aback by her nerve. She might be rebellious at heart but she never voices her grievances or talk back to her parents.

"Yetsu," Lord Azryn whispers to caution her. "I'm certain she won't miss any more training. Now, let us dine in peace," Lord Azryn says, in an effort to defuse the escalating tension in the room.

The King abruptly rises from his seat in anger and issues a command, "You will copy the Analects on virtue and obedience one hundred times before dawn." He glances at Lord Azryn and Yettiri and warns, "None of you should think of helping her." Then he storms out of the dining hall.

The door attendants quickly open the doors to allow his exit. Yetsune stares ahead, her eyes devoid of remorse. Also disappointed by Yetsune's disrespect, the Queen follows after the King.

The room falls silent, with only Lord Azryn, Yetsune, Yettiri, Erya, Arya, and the servants remaining.

"Haha…" Lord Azryn breaks the awkward stillness. He scratches the back of his neck and looks at the spread of food before him. "I suppose it's up to us to devour all this food now."

"I shall take my leave," Yetsune says, rising from her seat with Erya's assistance as she holds onto her hand. She bows slightly to Lord Azryn and offers a faint smile to Yettiri before stepping out of the room.

"I, too, have lost my appetite for the food, so I will excuse myself," Yettiri says, offering a slight bow to Lord Azryn, who sighs in response.

With everyone gone, Lord Azryn surveys the table once more. "I suppose I'll have to take on the responsibility of finishing it all now," he remarks.

The servants exchange glances, unsure whether he means it literally or if he is being sarcastic. Their question is soon answered when he starts pulling the plates toward himself, ready to consume the remaining food.