Suspicion

"I can't believe you failed at it."

"I won't fail if I'm not bullied."

"Then what are you going to do next?"

"I will again infiltrate the Palace to retrieve it."

"Aren't you afraid of being found out like last night?"

"As long as that stupid prince doesn't know, I'll be safe."

"Up to you. But if you want to do it again, be careful."

"Hmm."

"Do you know the crown princess is very beautiful?"

"She's always been beautiful."

"But I feel like it's not her."

"I as well. Even I know who killed her at that time. So it's not her."

"Who is it?"

*****

During recess, Xavia chose to go to the library. She reads a book that catches her attention. The book is "Power of the Moon" a book that contains instructions for obtaining the power of the Moon. It also tells the history of the power of the moon formed. Xavia wasn't interested in studying the power, but she was interested in its history.

While she was seriously reading, suddenly someone came up to her and looked at her intensely.

"Who are you?"

"I should be the one asking that. Who are you?"

"Hah? What do you mean?"

"Say. Who are you?"

"I am Xavia."

"Not. You're not Xavia. You must be someone else."

"I don't understand what you mean, but I am Xavia. Who are you?"

The person completely confused Xavia beside her.

"You even asked who I was. If you are Xavia you should know my name."

Now Xavia's expression turned pale. Was the person in front of him another friend of Xavia?

"I-I forgot your name."

"Not. You didn't forget my name. But you don't know my name. I was right?"

Xavia's heart was beating fast now. She was really scared now. What if her identity is found out?

"Y-yo w-wrong. I-I completely forgot. Forgive me."

That person just looked at Xavia scornfully.

"You can't be Xavia. So tell me, who are you?"

"I am Xavia. Why are you accusing me of being someone else?!"

"Because..."

"William doesn't bother Xavia."

Suddenly, there was a female voice. It was Athena's voice.

"Athena. Long time no see."

"Yes. Then what are you doing here?"

"I'm just saying hello to my girlfriend."

The person named William glanced at Xavia. This made Xavia confused. Beloved? What do you mean by him?

"You have to remember, she is Azzamar's fiancé. Not your lover anymore."

"Is that true? I do not know that. Then I'm sorry. I'm also sorry for what I did earlier."

William said that while glancing at Xavia. After that, he left Xavia and Athena.

When William had left, Athena approached Xavia.

"You are okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

"I'm grateful."

"But is he my lover?"

"Um… that…"

Xavia looked confusedly at Athena. Why is she suddenly so grumpy?

"What is it, Athena?"

"Ah… n-no. We'd better get back to class now. Come on."

Athena pulled Xavia's arm to leave the library.

While someone who had been behind the bookshelf listened to everything. He thought he was the only one who suspected that the girl wasn't Xavia but someone else. But it turns out his brother also felt the suspicion.

*****

It's school time now. Xavia was picked up by a white horse and escorted to the Palace.

Before she went to the Open Hall, Xavia chose to go see concubine Lyonna. She wanted to ask a few things that she had been asking for a while ago.

When she arrived at the northern pavilion, she saw concubine Lyonna in Saung with a young man who this afternoon accused her of being someone else.

"Greetings, Mother concubine."

Xavia greeted her as a sign of his arrival.

The Lyonna concubine and the young man named William turned to Xavia.

"Greetings, crown princess."

Concubine Lyonna returned Xavia's greeting with a smile.

"Then I'll excuse myself, Mother."

William intends to say goodbye to leave.

"Where are you going, my son?"

"I want to see the Queen Mother. I didn't get to see her."

"In that case, okay? Give my regards to Queen Afia."

"Of course, Mother."

William left from there, leaving Xavia and concubine Lyonna.

After William's departure, Xavia sat in front of concubine Lyonna.

"Who is he, Mother?"

"He is my son. His name is William. Shouldn't you know him?"

"I-I forgot."

"It doesn't matter. Maybe someday your memory will come back."

"Concubine mother."

"What is it?"

"I want to ask something."

"What's that?"

"What is your reason for preventing me from killing the prime minister's family?"

"I didn't stop you. I'm just giving you advice. My excuse is that you and your family are safe. Life in the Palace was cruel. We don't know who is the enemy and who is the friend. Sometimes the person you think is good can stab you in the back. If at that time you decided to kill the prime minister's family, you could have gained more support from the ministers and put yourself in the position of Queen sooner. But they are all unbelievable. They could have betrayed you."

"Then if I save them, my family's life will be saved? No, right?"

"Of course not. But at least you've won their hearts even if only a little."

"Then what should I do to save my family's life? I don't want them killed."

"The real power holder is in the ministers, not the king or the prime minister. If you can show them your kindness, they will protect you. Vice versa. Even though you've only won their hearts a bit, at least you have supporters. It will give you power. You can ask for their help to protect your family from the prime minister's crimes."

Xavia nodded in understanding. So the suggestion that the concubine Lyonna made for her was to get some of those ministers to support her. When she already has the support of those ministers, she will have the power to protect his family. But how does she use that power?

"Then how do I ask them for help?"

"You will know later if they come to you themselves. For now, you just focus on studying to be the crown princess and show that you deserve to be the crown princess."

Xavia nodded in understanding. After that, Xavia said goodbye.

Xavia didn't understand Concubine Lyonna's words, but one thing she could take from Concubine Lyonna's words was that gaining the trust of the ministers was important because it could give her power. But some questions stuck in her heart. That is, if it is the ministers who hold power, then what is the purpose of the King and queen being formed? Shouldn't the holders of power be the King and Queen? Why even ministers? Xavia doesn't understand the rules and laws that exist in this Fantasy Land. The rules and laws that exist here are very different from where they came from.