"This humble servant welcomes her highness," a minister dressed in a maroon robe said before returning to his seat. The ministers were introducing themselves one after another as they came forward to stand in front of the throne before greeting the queen.
It had been hours since Jwala and Maan took their seats to start the customary meet and greet. Sitting on the throne while the ministers came up and gave a piece of their minds - a very bothersome situation for Jwala to be in but for Maan, it had become a habit.
Jwala paid attention to those who were too happy, too cheeky, or too grumpy when adding one or two extra lines before they repeated the usual 'welcome your highness', those were the big players with the most at stake and even the slightest shift in the palace's authority can affect their lives for better or worse.
"All the leeches are gathered here," Jwala mumbled to herself watching all the ministers and their minions who were responsible for the corruption in Hanna.
"My queen, you said something?" Maan said turning to Jwala. He was enjoying this, watching his bullies struggle mentally under the intimidating aura of his queen - it was an experience in itself.
"When will this end?" She whispered without moving her lips.
"Take a break. It will take time. The officials from outside the palace are still waiting…" One side of Maan's downturned lips stretched to form a grin. "Should I call for a break?"
"No. Let's get it over with," she sensed the challenge in his voice and sat upright to face this ordeal and come out victorious by the end.
Another round of men dressed in different colored robes introduced themselves. Jwala's eyes lit up, "Green robe… inspector general…" she recalled and surveyed the room for the one who owned dragon-like eyes with a fierce look in them.
And there was that familiar figure, standing at the right side of the hall. His tall figure was towering over most of his peers.
The Inspector General, wore a dark green half robe, a wide leather belt on his waist, and a headband that had his insignia of 4 stars and a roaring tiger's head embroidered on it, his spine straight, and his eyes that she remembered looking at her 'very suspiciously', those piercing eyes were zoned out.
Finally, it was the turn of those who worked outside the palace to greet her. Jwala was excitedly looking forward to it.
"The Inspector General of Hanna's civil department, Sum In Jheng of the Jheng family." A clerk announced.
Maan's shoulders tensed up, he adjusted his footing like preparing to take a blow. The changes in his posture were subtle.
Meanwhile, Jwala's eyes were fixated on Sumin as he walked towards the throne with his head low. Like enjoying this command over him she smiled faintly.
"Your humble servant welcomes her highness to the great nation of Hanna." His loud voice said plainly.
Sitting on the higher platform in the hall, gave Jwala a peek at the small hairpin with small red beads in his top-knotted hair that was tied neatly. When he lifted his head to bow again, she lazily observed his features other than those eyes.
He had a high forehead, a broad nose with a round tip, thin lips, an oblong rectangular face above a long neck, and a very obvious bump on his neck, it explained his deep and authoritative voice.
Mitra was noticing the change in her queen's expressions as well as the reason for that.
Sumin bowed humbly and took a few steps backward before returning to his seat.
Jwala's eyes had stayed on Sumin until he was out of her sight, she was pleased that the boredom she had to endure was fairly compensated.
"The civil department has recruited all the tall, young men of Hanna…" Jwala said after the next officers of the same unit greeted her one after another. They were all tall and well-built.
"That is one of the required criteria for the job in the inspection and military department, my queen," Maan answered gesturing at Kinn Son, who was standing beside him and highly triggered whenever his eyes caught sight of Mitra.
"A required criteria for the job…" she repeated his world slowly while she watched the person of interest.
A middle-aged man dressed in a maroon robe, black trousers, and a flat hat with thin rims walked up, lowering his head. There was hostility in the way he walked.
"This humble follower welcomes the queen to the great palace of Hanna," he said and gave an obligatory bow with a cold expression. He had come up unannounced and shoved his greeting right at their faces.
Jwala could sense the bluntness lingering in his words. The way he was staring right at her and Maan, he didn't even care to show the 'fake respect'.
'Who is this to show disrespect with such confidence?' She wondered.
She noticed Maan shifting in his seat with a narrowed gaze at that arrogant man, his hand gripped the wooden handrest of the throne and he side eyed the curtained space in the hall.
"The royal advisor, Bei Un Jheng, the head of the Jheng family." The clerk announced.
'Jheng…" Hearing that word again, it sounded familiar to Jwala. She thought hard, 'The selected queen was of a Jheng family, right?'
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As Sumin sat in his seat, he tried to not look too much at the queen since she was dressed differently and gathering everyone's attention. He sat upright, looking straight ahead waiting for his turn.
When his turn came, he took small steps towards the throne with his eyes on the ground as per the custom and said, "Your humble servant welcomes her highness to the great nation of Hanna."
As he lifted his head to bow properly, his eyes froze on Jwala for a second. Particularly on her glimmering eyes under that golden piece of jewelry that covered one-third of her forehead… he quickly lowered his head before anyone could notice.
'Was she smiling?' he thought as he walked backward for a few steps before returning to his seat.
His heart was palpitating from that small direct eye contact with her. He had been experiencing such palpitations whenever he recalled their first encounter or the second. It kept replaying in his head involuntarily and each time he uncovers her face in that memory his palpitations grew stronger.
"Her swordsmanship is very commendable…" he reasoned, it was his way of coming to terms with those memories. Being a remarkable martial artist and swordsman himself he took it as the curiosity for an uncommon swordsmanship style and appreciation for the wielder of the sword.
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Soft and gentle wind carrying the fragrant smell of lotus from the lake at the shared palace, the subtle waft added to the already enchanting scenery in front of Jwala's eyes. She was sitting beside the lake, watching the lotus flowers gracefully float on the surface.
Behind Jwala, Mitra was standing, alert and on guard. Her one hand was on the hilt of her sword and the other lowered to her thigh. Her navy blue outfit from the day was shining under the moonlight. Her brown elongated and small eyes glinted like the water droplets on the lotus leaves.
"Isn't it peaceful, Mitra?" Jwala's said softly as she half lay on the grass on her elbows.
"Yes, my queen," Mitra said.
"Hmm… Is it?" Jwala sighed. "Name three things that you like about this moment."
Mitra's alert eyes danced looking for the answer. "The water, moon, and…"
"Don't you dare lie to me!" Jwala's voice was soft as she complained. "I told you to only stay if you are going to relax here with me…"
"Apologies, my queen," Mitra said with a bow.
"What are you apologizing for? For lying or disobeying?"
"Who has the audacity to disobey my queen?" Maan said as he walked up to them. Behind him was the group of his attendants that he left at a few meters distance from the lake, with Jwala's attendants.
"I will punish them." Maan took a seat next to Jwala.
"I will see to it. Do not worry yourself." Jwala said as he side-eyed Mitra.
"As my queen wishes," Maan said enjoying the gentle breeze that brushed past him.
Maan's addressing of Jwala as 'my queen' caught Mitra's attention and she glared at Maan's head. Her fingers lingered on the hilt of the sword like she was contemplating pulling it out.
"The selected queen was from the Jheng family?" Jwala asked to clear her doubt.
"Yes. The daughter of the Jheng family was most likely to be appointed as the queen." Maan answered.
"From the royal advisor's family?"
Maan nodded. "Yes. His daughter."
'Now I understand the arrogance of that man.'
"The royal advisor is also the half-brother of Queen-mother," Maan added. "As you might have noticed they have total control over the palace."
"And you…" she said staring at the sky.
Maan lowered himself to match her position. "Yes, and me…" he said gently.
Jwala gestured for Mitra to leave with her attendants. Mitra was reluctant but she had to respect her queen's request and privacy even though she didn't trust Maan.
"How did you end up here?" Jwala said turning to face Maan. "Your mother ran away with you…"
"That's a story." Maan gave a chuckle before answering.
He then told her that when he was 20 years old, one day a few armed men showed up at his house and told them to visit the palace in one week's time. But his mother had refused and went into hiding in one of the villages on the other side of the mountain. Eventually, the men found out and had taken both his mother and him to someplace and offered a deal, to either get adopted by the Queen-mother and be the puppet king or die.
"It is obvious what I chose." He smiled as he drew a long breath.
"Your mother, where is she?"
"She got severely sick a few months after I came to the palace." He sat up. "But I was fortunate. I got to bid her farewell. She died in my arms." He pressed his palms together after rubbing them.
Jwala's jaw clenched to watch his saddened form. She sat up and placed a hand over his shoulders, squeezing him. "She must've been too scared for you. The palace hasn't been kind to her."
"It has given her nothing but pain." He made himself smaller as he said.
They were quiet for a long minute before he said, "My queen, I was sincere when I said to be faithful because I owe you my life." He paused for a second. "I just wish to live. Is it that big of a crime…"
She was perplexed at his words. He appeared to be sincere and desperate. She saw his helplessness. He wasn't any different than that from those villagers that were singing her praise after being rescued.
His dark, deep-set eyes were twinkling when he stared at the sky, a soft smile on his coarse lips as did a teardrop in his eye.
He appeared like a child, innocent… whose only wish was to live. Even the smallest creature deserves a chance at life but his chance was always so slim and in the hands of his oppressors. He had been through so much from such a young age, it ached her heart.
Guilt filled her consciousness thinking that she was thinking of using him as a pawn to overpower the palace. 'It's alright. I will be able to protect him like this.' She reasoned as she looked at the bright side of marrying Maan. She was glad that she confronted him before taking any steps that she would regret later on.
…