Xinatta
High Guardian Lehua stood in the front, with other officials sitting beside. There were also maids watching outside awaiting the judgement of Xinatta's trial. The room felt very tense and suffocating. As if the air was sucked away by the glares the officials were giving her. Although the room is light-painted, it didn't help much.
Xinatta glanced at the back-window for a second and she spotted Jiselle waving and showing a thumbs up. It made her relax a little bit. Jiselle's personality is really as bright as Zekerie's. She then started to present her evidence calmly, "I believe Baozhai had set me up." Lehua's eyebrows raised in anticipation and she faced her troop guardians, too loud for a whisper, "Call for Baozhai."
After a few minutes, Baozhai showed up, obviously panicked and confused. Lehua sat and expressed in a formal yet strict voice, "Xinatta here thinks you set her up." Baozhai responded quickly, "What? I did not!" It echoed through the spacious large room.
"I have proofs." Xinatta inserted, almost too tranquil and cold. For a suspect, she sure is rest assured. She gestured to the two Queen's guards. They stood up and joined her in the center. "Is this the delicacy Baozhai gave to the two of you when I was discussing in the grand-forum room with your majesties?" She pointed to the plate with leftover crumbs one of them was holding. The two nodded, "yes, it is."
"This delicacy contains Exint and Kumo herbs, anyone who eats this will be put to sleep temporarily." Xinatta explained. The guard beside her exclaimed, "Oh! So that's why I remember nothing after eating the yonen." Lehua didn't trust her though, she called for a food examiner, incase Xinatta is lying.
"Yes, Exint and Kumo herbs were part of the ingredients." The food examiner confirmed after testing it out with his needles and other tools. Lehua nodded, "What's your defense Baozhai?"
Baozhai was fumbling, though she stood sternly, "I did cook that. However, I didn't add any herbs." Xinatta then added, "That's not all. I have another witness." The old lady stood up while gently holding her aching back. Xinatta assisted her and when they reached the center, she asked, "Can you tell us what you saw?"
"I saw her." The old lady pointed at Baozhai. "She unlocked your door using her hairpin, that blue hairpin!" Baozhai was enraged, "No I did not!" The arguing voices filled the once silent room.
"You did not?" Xinatta asked sarcastically as she took out a token from her pocket. Baozhai's eyes grew wide in shock, she trembled and sweat even more. Lehua stood up, "Isn't that a token for lead maids?" Xinatta nodded, "Yes, in fact every lead maid has this."
"Then why do you have that?" Lehua asked curiously.
"I found this in my room."
"Then there's no doubt that a lead maid set you up."
"Exactly, if Baozhai can show us her token right now, it's not her." Xinatta turned to the nervous shaking Baozhai, "So will you, Baozhai?" The lead maid's knees finally gave up. Baozhai fell on the floor, with tears streaming down her face. She stayed like that for how many seconds and as if her brain worked again, she stood up pleading, begging to Xinatta, "Your highness! it's my fault, please. Please. Im sorry!" Baozhai shouted over and over again while tugging Xinatta's gown holding and gripping on to it for dear life.
Baozhai's POV
Xinatta took out my token from her pocket. By that time, I knew. I messed up. I scrambled to her. Crying. Begging. Pleading. "Your highness! It's my fault, please. Please. Im sorry!" Over and over again. However, I stopped after looking up at her face. Her eyes were dreadful and cold. There was no trace of sympathy. It's like she didn't care at all. I've seen a lot of unmerciful people in this lifetime but hers, her eyes were the scariest. So I gave up and submitted myself, wiping my reddened eyes.
"Arrest her!" The high guardian ordered. Several troop guardians obeyed, they restrained me, took me out and threw me into prison.
Xinatta
A great amount of rumours about Xinatta unfolded in the royal palace ever since that trial. People noticeably started to treat her a lot better than before. It reminded her of a quote her older brother once made, "People won't treat you right unless you prove them wrong." By now, she's proven that she's not only a mindless offering for peace. She has her own ground and she'll stand by it. No matter what, she won't tolerate being done wrong.
Regarding Baozhai, she chose her doom. She picked that cruel path. If you're ready to wreak havoc on other's life, you must also brace for the effect of retaliation.
Finn
Finn and his troops are halfway through their destination when they decided to camp. The sun had just settled down and their feet are very worn out from travelling. It's the perfect time to rest. "Take out enough food and water. Then burn some of the firewood." He ordered precisely.
The place he picked is surrounded by trees. Its expanse is somewhat shadowy intimidating. The smell of damp moss and wet tree trunks also persevered, perhaps it rained in here earlier. The troops' members have to be more careful. To not slip, and to be ready for what's lurking in the dark, if ever. Thankfully, Finn's capable subordinate Haoyu immediately acted to the crown prince's command and guided them, resulting to less pressure.
"Watch out, don't drop those firewoods or it'll be hard to light it. Our crown prince is not as young as before." Haoyu jokingly reminded Ethan, Drew and Oliver with concern, the three troop members in charge of positioning.
Haoyu then gestured to High Guardians Aliyah and Zion, "And you two over there, make sure to count and weigh our food supplies right or you might have to replace what's lacking!"
"Yes Haoyu - xama." They responded then giggled a little. Haoyu's jokes are either corny or dark. There's no in between.
After a few minutes, everything was set up. Everyone gathered at the fireplace to warm up and eat. There were a lot of different chitchats like "What if we die tomorrow?", "How strong are they at the north?", "Ah, it's delicious. Might as well be my last meal." It died down later on when each of them started to enter their own assigned tents.
All four High Guardians inhabit the first tent — fairly commodious but not as large as the 2nd and 4th where each half of the troop members laid. While Finn and Haoyu occupied the 3rd tent, a private area that restricts ranks lower than Supreme - xama — Haoyu's rank, next in line to the crown prince Finn.
Haoyu can't cast spells like the royal family but he is very skilled with combats. His knowledge and experience are vast. The only fact Finn knew about his past is that he applied to join Immortal Clan's Yuga Troop at age 6 and started official training at 7, he excelled most out of all the other trainees. A literal prodigy.
Several hours have past. Finn and the Yuga Troop finally arrived at the north barbarian's locality. They got there faster than estimated. That just proves that the rest they took yesterday was a necessity.
The Seacrest town's view from where they were isn't that bad at all. It looks normal, like there's no menace residing. In fact, they're very lively— comparable to Ospina. Chatting, shouting and loud town criers. Not to mention their abundant wealth. Each house has their own garden and even carriages. Also a very big gap between each homestead, about ten meters. How enormous is this town anyway?
Finn scanned more, invested to know if the barbarians caused any damages. He found nothing. Not a single one. Is that even possible? The reports stated that the barbarians are dominant in here. Yet everything's so full of life. Children playing, people laughing and the woosh sounds coming from the waves of the ocean beside. This is... Confusing.
"Haoyu, are you certain it's the town we're looking for?" He asked with a doubtful stern tone.
Haoyu faced him and nodded, "Yes crown prince, this is Seacrest."
"Suspicious."
"Isn't everything suspicious to you, your highness?" Haoyu jokingly teased.
Finn gave him a look, "What? Not at all."
"Well, when I gave you a present at your birthday, you said it was suspicious. When your highness Liu'er delivered food, you said it was suspicious. You also find your highness Crystal suspicious. And now this town."
"I have my own reasons you know. I found your gift suspicious because you never gave me any gift before, dimwit. I found Liu'er giving me food suspicious because she always stays in her room. I find Crystal suspicious because she is. And I find this town suspicious because of that damn report you sent."
Haoyu laughed, "'Kay I get it. Stop being so strict and serious."
Finn shot him another look," You know if you're not you I would have drowned you in that salty ocean."
"You may be cruel but not that cruel." Haoyu responded carefreely while shrugging his shoulders.
The whole troop stayed silent after that remark. It's kind of true though. Haoyu then proceeded to suggest a plan, "Your highness, what do you think of casting a spell for us to blend in? Our armor stands out too much."
"I know, I'm thinking about giving us all a different set of clothes."
"Go ahead and do an abracadabra!" Haoyu chuckled while motioning some odd movements only a clown could think about.
After witnessing such horror, Finn can't help but face-palm. When will Haoyu stop his corny jesting?