Kaida looked out of the carriage window in wonder, it was more than a year since she had traveled to the village and it was a big difference to see it so alive now.
The fields looked healthy despite the weather. Koto had made ponds around the fields so that they could provide the fields with sufficient water and did not have to walk that far anymore. The ponds were now frozen and children were playing on the ice.
Kaïn had surpassed himself by renovating the buildings and houses in the village. Although they had used wood, it suited the style of the north. The buildings and houses were spacious and luxurious. He even had renovated the gates of the village.
When the carriage came to a halt, Kaida got out quickly and looked around, it seemed to her that she was in a whole new village. She thought it was beautiful.
When Huli came to stand next to her, she pointed to the inn where she had stayed during her visit
But before she could say anything, she heard a familiar voice
"I apologize to the King and Queen of the Fox Tribe for welcoming you so late, but everyone has been busy since they know the Queen is coming to visit again"
Eiko bowed and then smiled
Kaida stepped forward and smiled broadly
"Rise, an excuse is not necessary, I am happy to see that you are doing well and the village looks great!"
Just then Daisuke came running out of his Inn followed by a few men holding a large cake
"Your highness you are here, my wife has been busy in the kitchen since she knew the exact day that you would arrive, since you loved her cooking skills last time"
More people followed Daisuke who came to greet Kaida and within a few moments she was surrounded by the villagers. She received presents from all sides. But mainly barrels with alcohol since everyone knew that the queen liked alcohol.
Huli was only a little bit left out, and despite the fact that most of the attention went to Kaida, he thought it was no problem. he was very proud of his wife
Various people addressed Kaida
"How is your health after the birth?"
"How are the triplets doing? The third prince did not have such a good start is he doing well now?
An older woman looked at Huli and grabbed the hands of Kaida
"Put him to work as well, it is not only the mothers' job to raise children! And even though he looks cold, our king has a heart of gold, but you would know that by now "
Eiko coughed and gestured that everyone should be quiet. When they were quiet he turned to Huli
"Sorry for the hold your king"
Huli stepped forward and waved his hands and stood beside Kaida
"No problem, I deliberately chose to visit your village last. Since this village is the only one who has enough supplies and helped to replenish the supplies so that we could give extra supplies this year. You have my thanks "
All the villagers looked proud when they heard the words of Huli. It was indeed that despite the village's years of serious shortage of harvest, they had more than enough this year for the first time after a long time.
Koto had created extra fields to harvest seeds that were not normally harvested in the north, but because the village was close to the border of the south, the weather was more favorable and at times it was warmer there than further north. In addition, the winter started later here and they had the advantage that it also stopped earlier.
In addition, Koto had taken into account seeds that could be harvested in the winter so that they could harvested in both the summer and the winter. As a result, the supplies of the harvest were increased in large quantities. In addition, they now also had vegetables that they normally bought from the south
Daisuke stepped forward and pointed at his inn
"Your king and Queen I understood that you are supposed to stay in the village for a few days. It would be an honor if you were staying at my inn "
Huli nodded and extended his hand to Kaida, she took his hand with a broad smile
"I like to stay at your inn, you and your wife received me with warm hospitality during my first visit"
they walked in to the inn
"Your highness tonight is our annual harvest festival. Even though we are now also harvesting in winter, this is a habit of ours, it would be an honor for you to celebrate it with us"
Kaida walked with Huli towards the stairs
"We are happy to be there as soon as we have taken our rest we will be present!"
....
Kaida was prepared by various village women. They were busy helping her put on a light gray silk kimona. The obi was made of light blue silk.
When Kaida was dressed, the women put up her hair with silver pins and colored her lips red, the color matched her eyes and hair well. They made her red eyes stand out even better by drawing a black line under her eyes.
Kaida smiled in the mirror and admired herself. Daisuke's wife clapped her hands and gave Kaida a fan that fitted well with her outfit.
"Although it is cold, the fan belongs to the outfit, the fan is also used during the first dance"
Kaida looked at the fan and then looked up at Daisuke's wife
"But I don't think i know the dance"
The wife of Daisuke and the other women guided Kaida to the front door of the Inn.
"It doesn't matter, as long as you follow the king it will be fine, since he was a child he could dance all the dances of the foxes tribe very well"
When the doors of the inn opened, Kaida looked around in surprise. The village looked beautiful. The buildings were decorated with beautiful lanterns in different colors. In addition, a table was set with drinks and food.
In the middle of the village the men were dressed in all kinds of different colors of yukatas. Kaida immediately noticed Huli and she noticed that he was wearing the same color Yukata as her kimono.
Looking around, she saw that Daisuke was wearing the same color Yukata as his wife's kimono. Only then did Kaida realize that the couples wore the same colors.
When the men saw the women, they stepped forward and reached out to their wives. The men who did not yet have a partner seized the opportunity to court the remaining women.
"My queen you look beautiful, just like a fox tribe woman"
Kaida laughed
"But my king, I am your wife, that makes me a fox tribe woman even though I was born in the dragon tribe"
Huli smiled and gave her a kiss on the crumb of her head.
Meanwhile, the villager looked with happy faces at the royal couple who showed their affection for each other.
"My king, I hear that the fan is used during the first dance, can you explain to me how it must be used during the dance "
Huli looked at Kaida and nodded
"My queen, we start the dance close to each other facing towards each other, as soon as the music starts we both take a step to the right and you blow the fan to your left along side your face. After that we both take a step back, then take a step to the left and then you blow to the right with the fan along side your face. When you have taken a step back, the women dance around the men while they blow their fan. When the women have completed the round, both the men and the women take two steps back and then take another two steps forward. When the women and men are standing in front of each other again, the woman raises her left hand and her fan in her right hand. The man raises his right arm and their left hand behind their back and the man and woman turns around while their hands are connected. During this round the woman waves the fan in front of the man, to wave good luck. These steps are repeated until the music is stopped "
Kaida swallowed and looked nervously at Huli
"I have already lost half of what you said, my king"
Huli laughed and accompanied her by the arm to the dance floor
"My Queen you only have to follow me"
Huli grabbed her by the waist so that she stood very close to him and whispered in her ear
"I think it will only be one dance tonight, my queen. You look even more beautiful today than usual, I can hardly control myself "
Kaida looked with red cheeks at a smiling Huli as the music began to play..