Black Letter

The study to become a crown princess was over, and it was now evening. Xavia and Vamery were currently in the palace garden. She sat on a large rock near a small pond.

"It turns out that this palace has a very beautiful garden, huh?"

"This park is very beautiful indeed. They created this garden at the request of the Queen."

"At the request of the Queen?"

"Yes. I heard that when the Queen was pregnant with Prince Quintis, the Queen wanted a garden similar to the gardens in the human world. The King granted the Queen's request, and this garden became. This garden is also the Queen's favorite place until now."

"Is that true? How did you know that?"

"Of course, I know. Didn't the Queen ever talk to Miss? The lady herself said that to me. Miss said that Miss really wanted to go to the garden that the Queen meant, and now Miss is in this park."

"Ah… really?"

"Hmm. Then how do you feel now that you are here?"

"Happy. This place is relaxing. I like it."

"I will make sure that Miss becomes the crown princess and continues to be in this place."

"Hmm. I doubt that."

"Why?"

"I feel unworthy of the position of crown princess."

"And let your family be put to death?"

"I don't want my family to be put to death. I only..."

"Miss. Listen to me! I'm sure the lady will be able to occupy the position of crown princess. The king and queen themselves chose you, lady. If it weren't for those ministers' damn mouths, the lady would have occupied that position without the hassle of competing."

"But who do you think the prime Minister's daughter is?"

"I don't know. But I hear he's often at Merry Blossom."

"What is Merry Blossom?"

"Merry Blossom is a brothel. All the women sold by her family will work at Merry Blossom. The place is very hidden. I don't know exactly what the place is like, but many say it has a beautiful view due to its high altitude. But even so, I still never want to set foot in that disgusting place."

"Hmm... I see. Do you think Prince Quintis has ever been to that place?"

"Hmm? Why did you ask that?"

"Not. I'm just curious. Because he knows so much about the daughter of the prime minister who works there."

"I thought it was impossible. The prince knew that because it was an open secret. Everyone here knows that."

Xavia nodded her head.

*****

It is now 7 p.m. Xavia who was tired of being in her house, kept pacing back and forth. If you're wondering where Xavia sleeps, then the answer is in the east pavilion. The Vriarealas Kingdom Palace had four Pavilions. The special western pavilion of the King, Queen, Prince Quintis, and Princess Floressia before marriage resides. The southern pavilion was exclusively for all the servants who worked in the residence. There was even a kitchen and storeroom. The northern pavilion dedicated to the King's concubines from level one to level five resided. While the East Pavilion is reserved exclusively for the future Queen or Crown Princess stay. So only Xavia, Vamery, and a few maids who were ordered by the King to serve Xavia during their stay in the Palace remained in the east pavilion.

The eastern pavilion was different from the other Pavilions, as it had only one residence and was reserved only for future Queen candidates. Even there is provided a garden and a small beautiful pond. They took the pool water from Moon Mountain. So when the night comes with a full moon, the moonlight will reflect towards the pool water and create a beautiful and amazing atmosphere. Unfortunately, tonight's moon did not appear. It made Xavia feel bored.

"Are you bored, miss?"

"That question of yours doesn't seem necessary for me to answer again, Vamery."

Vamery chuckled, "if you are bored, come with me."

"Where to?"

"Night market."

"Is there a night market here?"

"Yes. Miss want to go?"

Hearing that made Xavia excited and nodded her head.

"Can. Let's go!"

Vamery smiled when he saw his lady returned to her spirit and was not bored anymore.

The two of them finally went out of the palace to go to the night market.

The night market was very busy. Lots of vendors sell various kinds of goods and food. There were so many people coming to the night market that they were crammed into it.

"Tonight there is a festival of light. Do you want to come along?"

"Festival of light? What's that?"

"The festival of light is a ritual of prayer and hope written in the form of a letter. The letter was folded and placed on a white plate and then given a candle and then drifted into the river. It aims so that our prayers and hopes reach God."

"Interesting. Let's join the festival."

Vamery took Xavia to one of the places that sold all the equipment for the festival of lights. Xavia began to write down her wishes. She then put the paper with the hope written on it on a white plate. Xavia then lit a candle and put the candle on the paper. Then, Xavia and the others started to wash the plate into the river.

While everyone was rejoicing in this festival of light, suddenly an arrow shot toward Xavia. Luckily, Xavia had good reflexes, so she didn't get hit by the arrow. All the residents who witnessed it immediately panicked, as well as Xavia.

"Is miss all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine. But what was that?"

Suddenly from the sky came down a black paper with red writing. Everyone took the paper and read its contents.

"Justice is only for the elect. While the punishment applies to everyone who is guilty. Even if facts become mistakes and mistakes become facts, the rulers don't care about that. They only know to punish without hearing an explanation until there is no justice until the last breath." Xavia read the contents of the paper.

Honestly, she was confused by the contents of this black paper.

"Do you know what this letter means, Vamery?" Xavia turned to Vamery who was also reading the contents of the paper

"I'm not sure about the meaning of this letter. But many say they relate the contents of this letter to the death of concubine Lyra."

"Concubine Lyra's death? Who is concubine Lyra?"

*****

Now Vamery and Xavia were at one of the food stalls at the night market. They ordered a serving of subu with a wine-flavored drink.

"So, who is Lyra's concubine?" Xavia again asked Vamery.

"Concubine Lyra is the first wife of King Cassian. You could say, concubine Lyra was the first Queen before Queen Afia during the reign of King Cassian. King Cassian married the concubine Lyra at the behest of his mother, Queen Fairynn. Many say King Cassian was not so happy with his marriage. Concubine Lyra, who was currently occupying the position of Queen, was very sad because King Cassian did not accept her presence. Many say that the concubine Lyra tried to make King Cassian love her, but it didn't work. Until where King Cassian met Queen Afia on a mountain and fell in love at first sight.

King Cassian finally brought Queen Afia to the Palace and appointed her as a concubine in a white dress that had an immortal flower motif. Not only that, the community considered the presence of Queen Afia as a substitute for Lyra's concubine, who at that time occupied the position of Queen. Of course, that made concubine Lyra angry and jealous. Finally, Lyra's concubine did various ways to get rid of Queen Afia. One of them is by inserting poison into Ratu Afia's herbal drink.

But King Cassian discovered her actions and angered the King. The king finally gave the death penalty. But Queen Afia prevented it and asked King Cassian to forgive Lyra's concubine. The king who heard Queen Afia's request did not sentence Lyra's concubine to death.

Saved from death, did not make concubine Lyra thank Queen Afia. In fact, it made concubine Lyra hate Queen Afia even more. Until where the concubine Lyra was pregnant with her first child with King Cassian. At that time, Lyra's concubine hoped that King Cassian would love her because she was pregnant with his child. But King Cassian didn't love concubine Lyra either and instead was in the North Pavilion every night to see Queen Afia.

This again made concubine Lyra jealous. Finally, Lyra's concubine came to a black magician and asked the witch for help to kill Queen Afia. That night, Queen Afia almost died. But thanks to the help of the white magician, Queen Afia survived. The white magician who was sent by King Cassian also revealed who was the mastermind behind the plan to kill Queen Afia. Knowing that it was Lyra's concubine who did it made King Cassian very angry.

The next morning, Lyra's concubine was brought to the center of the field and the King announced the death sentence for Lyra's concubine. When concubine Lyra wanted to drink poison, again Queen Afia stopped her. Queen Afia said she couldn't bear to see Lyra's concubine die while pregnant. King Cassian at first did not want to listen to Queen Afia's request, but Queen Afia did not give up persuading King Cassian not to carry out the death penalty on Lyra's concubine. King Cassian finally melted and asked Queen Afia to give his punishment.

Queen Afia gave the punishment to be demoted while the Queen became a second-level concubine. But it did not satisfy King Cassian with the punishment, finally decreed the abdication sentence for the concubine Lyra and exiled for 500 years on the devil's island. After concubine Lyra abdicated, Queen Afia, who was still holding the position of the concubine, finally ascended the throne to become Queen until now." Vamery's story on Xavia

"Then, how was the death of concubine Lyra?" Xavia asked Vamery