Xinatta
Cliss released Xinatta's hand and apologized sarcastically, "Oh, your highness! Haven't seen you for a while, eh? Didn't know she's your woman. So--rry." Finn's hand clenched into a fist, his eyes darkening. Xinatta tapped his back lightly to calm him down, "It's fine, Im okay."
Finn nodded and turned to Cliss. "Leave her alone, brother." Then he grabbed Xinatta's hand, bringing her along with him to leave.
After they entered their room, Finn locked the door and turned to face her. "Don't go near him." Xinatta nodded, "I won't." She doesn't want trouble, it'll affect her mission.
"Don't misunderstand, I still don't like you. I did that because I don't want him to steal what's already mine, like he always does." Finn added while crossing his arms.
She sat on the couch unsurprised, "Okay but im not yours, I belong to myself."
He shrugged, "Whatever helps you sleep at night." Then left without waiting for a response.
Finn
Finn knocked on a door styled with aesthetic painted glows of the sky. A shy, timid and fragile-looking girl opened it and welcomed him to her chamber. Liu'ers room, his dearest beloved wife.
"Your highness." She didn't finish bowing because Finn stopped her. "I told you, don't bother with such formalities. Call me Finn like you used too."
Liu'er let out a giggle while staring softly at him, "So childish, things are different now your highness."
He's aware of that. He just doesn't like it. "You're acting like I've changed. You're still the only girl I love." Finn muttered with a hint of sadness. She sighed, "You've just married your Queen, this is inappropriate."
He held her cheeks using both his hands, gently cupping it, "You may not compare to her in rank but you're the number one in my heart. Isn't that what's important?"
Liu'er turned away, not answering. Her grip of her velvet-pink handkerchief tightening. Maybe this isn't the right time, he thought to comfort himself.
"Okay, then I'll be going." Finn reached for the door, carefully avoiding looking at her. He won't be able to leave if he sees her solemn pretty face.
Xinatta
It's already dark and still Xinatta accomplished nothing. After Finn left the room, she decided to stay inside. Just incase Cliss is still out there. That man is a big flirt. A big trouble.
She pounded on the bed in front of her. It felt warm and cozy. The light fabric and soft cotton made it even better. Slowly, she fell asleep.
The next morning, Xinatta was visited by a servant saying the Queen and King wanted to meet her downstairs at the grand-forum room. She stood up, currently rubbing her unprepared eyes.
A while later she finished dressing. She wore the first clothing her hand touched. It's a dark violet gown engulfed in gold sparkles from bottom to hip. It ranged from large to tiny like some sort of pattern.
Xinatta hurriedly went downstairs and by the time she reached the end of the palace's glittering shiny stairs, another servant escorted her, "Your Majesties, the crown princess is here."
She bowed to the rulers like she did to Zekerie. No sincerity. Her acting made it look otherwise.
The Queen spoke, "You must be Crystal. We didn't call you in yesterday because we figured that you might need time to adjust."
"Thank you for your concern. I'm much better now." She said in a formal tone, matching the Queen's.
"We're glad the dispute between our clans is over. However, during your stay here you'll have rules to follow." The Queen stood and gestured to the servants beside her. The servants then handed Xinatta a scroll wrapped in a black ribbon.
The King patted the Queen's back-arm,"Annalise don't be so serious, you're going to scare her."
"I'm not, im just.."
Xinatta ignored their conversation and cautiously opened the scroll. It's a list. A list of all the stuff they restricted her to do.
1. You are forbidden to go out without permission from your majesties.
2. You are forbidden to commit adulterous acts.
3. You are forbidden to slander.
4. You are forbidden to steal.
5. You are forbidden to start a fight with any of the crown prince's wives. Consort or not.
6. You are forbidden to disobey rules enlisted in this scroll.
7. You are forbidden to...
It went on and on, until number 32. Xinatta wasn't upset, in fact she's astonished. Whoever wrote this really gave their all. They even wrote "You are forbidden to eat a rotten apple."
Annalise interrupted Xinatta's thinking and asked, "Will you obey?" Her strict voice a little suppressed than earlier.
"Yes, this subject will obey." She replied.
The Queen nodded in satisfaction and the King stayed quiet and unbothered. They act like polar opposites.
Xinatta left the room after Annalise dismissed her. She went straight to the library. The shelves were almost as high as the ceiling, each filled with categorized books.
This didn't unmotivate her, she knew exactly where to start. Just find a book about Immortal Clan's history. Surely it'll mention the clan's prestige and treasures. Maybe even the map will be showed.
She used a ladder to hand-pick several books and set it on a table. She sat and begun drowning herself in every page. None of the books mentioned the treasury room but one caught her attention. There were words scribbled in the lower portion of the last page. Its so little, barely readable.
"Under a lonely tree standing aloof. There unexpected will appear."
Xinatta gulped, is this a hint? Is it talking about the room she's looking for? She wasn't sure but one thing's certain. She's going to uncover this message.
Not now though, she's gotten tired from reading all those history books. Its time to head to her room.
The dim halls were lit by torches just inches apart. The once golden carpet darkened and turned to a shade of orange. She walked on it for what felt like an eternity and finally reached her room-- and Finn's.
Sebastian
"What?! You sent her to play Crystal's part?" Zekerie was enraged by his father's ruthless action. His voice distinctly raised.
However, Sebastian doesn't seem to regret his decision -- not even a little. "So what about it? Or do you really want your sister to be taken hostage?"
Zekerie's brow twitched even more, this time because of guilt. "I- I didn't mean it like that."
Sebastian rubbed one of his temple in disappointment. To think that this easy to manipulate sensitive kid is his. Devastatingly unfulfilling.
It's also the reason why he chose Crystal as his heir. The girl's cunning, sensible and most importantly, her heart isn't so soft and merciful. Sebastian chuckled in his mind, she'll make a good leader.
"Stop ranting then. Get out of my sight." He said in a deep voice, gesturing to Zekerie.
Zekerie didn't try to argue any longer and left while stamping in vexation. A while later, Crystal -- still wearing an armor, entered and introduced her presence, "Father."
Sebastian smiled, "Ah yes, my good daughter. How is it?" Crystal handed him a written report before speaking, "I have succeeded in sealing the information. Our mortals pleaded to never tell anyone outside about me switching with that girl Xinatta."
He can't contain his grin anymore after hearing the pleasant news, "Oh really? And the casualties?"
The girl responded proudly, "I merely set an example for those who disagree. An execution on public with my own sword. I've also sealed off all exits, only those with permission from us can pass."
Sebastian laughed, "You truly are a smart woman worthy of being my child! Now let's go eat, we deserve a feast."
Xinatta
Rummaging from the halls caused Xinatta to get dress and go outside early in the morning. She asked the servants for information but they ignored and even glared at her.
"I may not be from this clan but I am the crown princess, I deserve to know."
The servants stopped and trembled at the mention of her title. "Your highness, there has been a commotion going on. Her majesty, the Queen's jewelries were stolen yesterday. We are tasked to search each room."
Stolen? Xinatta was confused. The Queen's room is tightly guarded. Who would dare to do that? But the fact that the thief succeeded also means something.
"Okay, get going." Xinatta motioned a bit to the side to give them space. The servants set foot on her room and started searching.
She watched them, observing silently.
Half of the servants went for the drawers and shelves. There's nothing. While the other half checked her bed and pillows. There's also nothing. Then finally they opened a compartment just under her bed. Its shaped like a square. There were several shining jewelries stored like earrings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants.
Xinatta rubbed her eyes just to make sure she was seeing all of that right. Soon, she was collected by armored men and sent to prison.
"I didn't stole any of those let alone storing it in a place I never knew existed." She explained calmly to the girl assessing her who intruduced herself as "High Guardian Lehua."
"Stop lying. The jewelries were found in your compartment. Who else besides the crown princess can have access to that?" The guardian grew more suspicious and distrustful of her for every second that passes.
"The crown prince? And also, you have to consider that I was summoned by the King and Queen yesterday. The thief might have use that time to place it there and set me up."
Lehua hesitated. After a few seconds she responded, "Fine. You have a day. Find the thief and we shall release you."
"5 days." Xinatta leaned on the table dominantly.
Lehua shook her head, "2 days."
"4 days."
"3. That's as much as you can get."
Xinatta sat back at her seat, seeming satisfied.
After the guardians released her, she started to investigate. Starting from the Queen's guards. "Are you sure no one entered here when we were discussing at the grand-forum room?"
The two frantically nodded. If so then where did the thief come from? It's impossible for the thief to use the barred-windows and the room only has one exit and it's this. Guarded by them. Not to mention the room's also protected by a spell that blocks any other spells casted.
"Ah! Yesterday Baozhai sent us a yonen -- her specialty, it's very known. We ate it and.. Uhm.. I'm not sure what happened next. I forgot." The guard pondered deeply, searching for answers.
"Who's this Baozhai you're talking about?" Xinatta asked, snapping him back into the world.
The other guard answered, "Sorry your highness, this idiot forgot that you're not from our sect. Baozhai is a famous lead maid of the chancellor." He then added while blushing, "She's.. Quite a beauty."
There's only one chancellor here in the royal palace. That means he is talking about chancellor Ether.
"I see. Do you two have anything left of that delicacy? A crumb will do."
The guards scratched their heads and one of them spoke up, "No. However I do remember sending the plate to the kitchen."
Kitchen? It's not yet washed is it? Xinatta hastily rushed to get the said plate. When she got there, the servants stared at her in surprise. One approached her, "Crown princess? Do you need anything?"
She nodded instantly, "I need a plate. The one the Queen's guard sent here. Unwashed."
The servant exchanged glances with the others before facing her again, "We're sorry, but we think that we've already washed it yesterday dawn. It's part of our daily schedule."
Xinatta stayed calm on the surface but inside, she felt a wave of disappointment.
She sighed, "Okay, but if you guys have time can you check for it? I'll comeback tomorrow."
The servant nodded, "Certainly, crown princess."
"Thank you."
Xinatta headed to her room while musing. If the plate's already washed then it'll be a dead end. No evidences to follow.
Although there's still two days left, she couldn't help thinking about what happens if she fails to find the culprit.