The Queen's secret

The sun is slowly rising at the dawn of the day. Winds are blowing, swaying the trees to dance.

Queen Aliyah, Princess Mona, and the consorts of the crown prince gathered at the gate of the eastern palace. They came to bid farewell to Crown Prince Noel, who was fixing to leave the palace to visit Donghua.

Queen Aliyah embraced her son and shed a tear. Crown Prince Noel vowed to return with magnificent accomplishment.

He gets on the horse. The queen took out a pendant from her handkerchief and gave it to her son. The pendant has a design of Phoenix. She said to the crown prince, "Show this pendant to King Jamal and let him know this pendant belongs to your mother."

Princess Mona is not paying attention to their conversation. She was thinking of Mori and all she said to the crown prince was, "Return safely, brother."

He left the palace with several guards and maids, heading towards Donghua.

Prince Liam and Olena lurked at the crown prince from a tower of the palace. He said in a soft tone, "I will reveal our plan to them tonight. We need to investigate the crown prince."

The sun is setting down, painting a reddish sky. Prince Liam hosted a spectacular dinner as a gesture of goodwill. The purpose is to thank them for good teamwork. He invited Olena, Master Woon, Yoona, Mori, Sora, and Leah.

Prince Liam stood up amid the jubilant dinner and said, "Thank you, everyone, for your hard work. Crown Prince Noel just departed the country. I wish to investigate the case while he is away. I think we should meet the prime minister to seek his cooperation."

The atmosphere turns awkward. Everyone had laughing faces earlier, turned into downcast faces. Olena prompted, "It was your father. It should be easy for you to convince him to speak."

Before the journey to visit the prime minister's manor, they prepared some gifts for the prime minister.

Olena was complaining, distressed about the growth of her beard. "I am feeling uncomfortable with the beard. How do I get rid of the beard?"

Olena helps Prince Liam to wash his hair and apply oil to her body. It was a soothing feeling for Prince Liam.

Prince Liam helps her to shave. While he is shaving, in a very soft voice, he said, "Shaving is what we do to get rid of the beard. It is not too bad, compared to the menstruation pain that I am going through." He gritted his teeth.

Olena blushed and said, "Put a heating pad on the belly can ease the pain."

To avoid the unenjoyable discussion, Olena dragged Prince Liam to the carriage to start their journey to the Prime minister's manor.

At the prime minister's manor, the servants knock on the door and inform them about the royal visit. The Prime minister and his wife quickly greet them. They served them a sumptuous feast.

Olena looked at the dishes, "Thank you for the effort in preparing such a wonderful meal. We are a family now. You can serve the food that you usually eat daily. Don't have to prepare an extravaganza feast for us. We plan to visit more often."

While they were enjoying the food, Prince Liam spoke out, "What do you think about the queen? Do you know the list of ministers that work for her and the crown prince?"

The prime minister shot an angry face. He laid down his chopsticks and looked at her daughter. The Prime minister is getting worried, "Olena, please do not get involved with the queen and the crown prince. They are powerful people, and they have many hidden big supporters that nobody is aware of."

Olena glared at Prince Liam. She did not expect the prince would ask the question during the dinner.

Prime minister looked at the prince. Worried the prince might think that he is working for the queen. He explained, "You may think I am one of her loyal supporters... but this isn't true."

Prince Liam and Olena both look at the Prime minister anxiously.

A scowl on the face of the prime minister as he continued to tell them more about the queen.

"The queen gained a powerful force consisting of mighty warriors and wealthy corrupt officials backing her."

"If she requests something, it gives you two choices, you either agree with her or your entire family will die with you."

"The previous prime minister is someone honourable. One day, he strongly refuted the queen in a court meeting. That night, his manor exploded, causing a massive fire. He died with all his family members in the manor. The queen gave us a hint during a banquet hosted by her that she was the culprit who killed him for disobeying her."

"King George has many princes. Most of them died of an unusual disease, and their death remains a mystery. The ministers believed the queen poisoned the princes to enable her son to ascend to be a crown prince. Prince Liam is lucky to survive. She is someone who can kill a human just like killing an insect. If possible, please stay away from her."

"The queen family burnt down several villages to seize the herb's plantation and started monopolizing the herbs trading. Rumours going around that the unrested souls of the victims haunted the queen. She hired a powerful shaman to chase the spirits away. Even ghosts are afraid of her."

Prince Liam and Olena are furious. As they finished the meals, the prime minister and his wife walked them to their carriage. He reminds them again not to go against the queen.

As soon as they arrived at the palace, they assembled Mori, Yoona, Sora, Leah, and Master Woon. Prince Liam tells them about the ruthless queen.

Mori became upset and angry. He revealed, "My family is actually from the red village that the queen has burnt down. My parents were trapped in the fire. I escaped with bruises and injuries. It was Master Woon that saved me and adopted me ever since he found me." He is still grieving over the death of his family.

Master Woon remembered the moment he met Mori in the alley. He encouraged him not to revenge, "Every parent wishes their children will lead a good life. If they know you are thinking about revenging for them, how can they rest in peace?"

The moods turn sombre after hearing about the gruesome death of Mori's parents and start comforting him.

Master Woon continues, "The queen's bodyguards have excellent martial skills. Nobody has defeated them."

Olena and Prince Liam have not given up the investigation. They believe every problem got a solution to it.

Crown Prince Noel arrives in Donghua country. King Jamal is the ruler. He invited Crown Prince Noel to the palace and prepared a luxury banquet to serve crown prince Noel. Crown Prince Noel gave King Jamal a phoenix pendant saying that it belongs to his mother.

King Jamal grabbed the dragon phoenix that tied to his waist. He put the dragon pendant and phoenix pendant together, and it merged. King Jamal shedded a happy tear. He hugged crown prince Noel tightly. Crown prince Noel hugged back, thinking that it was part of their culture.

25 years ago, King Jamal was the lover of queen Aliyah. They both were in love with each other, but their parents disapproved of their relationship.

King Jamal's father is the previous king of Donghua. He refused to accept Aliyah despite her nobility status. She is not a citizen of Donghua. He arranged for King Jamal to marry Yasmin, a daughter of an aristocratic family. He threatened King Jamal that he would kill his mother if he disobeyed.

Whilst Aliyah's father is one of the most influential men in the country. He wants his daughter to marry the crown prince of the country, who is now King George.

Left with no choices, King Jamal got married to Yasmin, and Aliyah got married to the king.

Aliyah got pregnant. She told King Jamal that he is the father of her child. She gave him a pendant of a dragon design, and she showed him a phoenix design pendant. They can merge it to be one ying-yang phoenix and dragon pendant design. One day, their son will visit him to bring him a phoenix pendant.

During this trip to Donghua country, crown prince Noel enjoyed King Jamal's hospitality. It was as if he had shown him heaven.

Crown prince Noel asked King Jamal for a favour "I am here to seek a political alliance with the Donghua country. I wish to have more opportunities for trading between our countries."

King Jamal agreed to his request. He says, "This will not be a problem. I will fulfil your wishes."

King Jamal instructed his official to prepare an agreement to crown prince Noel. They further discuss the alliance in many terms. They have come into a compromise that benefits both sides.

Crown Prince Noel returned home with the agreement between Donghua and Shilla. He showed King George the royal decree from King Jamal. King George is proud of crown prince Noel, but he felt strange because it sounded too good to be true.

The news about Donghua retreating their troops from the border has reached the ears of the ministers at the court. King George rewarded crown prince Noel for his outstanding achievement, he was deeply impressed.