"What is Your Highness suddenly talking about?" Erya asks, confused by her declaration.
Yetsune lifts her gaze from the map to meet Erya, her eyes gleaming with exhiliaration as she leans forward on the desk. "I am saying we are going to make a short trip to Aushasal, all by ourselves, the both of us."
"What!" Erya exclaims, her eyes wide with in shock. "Surely Your Highness must be joking," she chuckles in denial.
Yetsune looks at her in silence, batting her lashes and Erya's laughter gradually subsides at the realisation that Yetsune is being serious. "You are not joking?"
Yetsune folds her lips in and nods in affirmation. Erya feels her head spin, she quickly leans on the desk for support. "Why on earth will Your Highness want to go to Aushasal?" she asks, unable to comprehend what is going on in Yetsune's mind.
Yetsune clasps her hands beneath her jaw as she gazes into the distance, imagining the thrill of the escapade. "Freedom."
"Freedom?" What freedom could you possibly get by going to Aushasal, with time you will be married there anyways?" Erya tumbles out, desperate to make her come back to her senses.
"Because I need to see for myself, what kind of place Aushasal is, who I am going to be married to before I reconcile myself with the marriage," Yetsune answers, her chest rises with the pitch of her voice and falls when she concludes her answer.
Erya runs her lips over her mouth, rubbing her throbbing temples as she turns her back on Yetsune. When she finally finds the words to say, she turns back to face her. "This is insane, Your Highness," she insists, taking the map on the desk. She turns it to Yetsune, pointing at the red line that marks the journey.
"Never before have you had to wade through the oceans or such dense forests. This is not a journey you can take alone," She reasons.
Yetsune pinches her brows together in confusion. "Who said I am going alone? Didn't I just say you are coming with me?"
The map slips from Erya hands s she stumbles back, her face turning pale. "You shouldn't jest with such costly matters, Your Highness. If I go with you, the King will have my head, no…the Queen…I mean the First Princess will execute me on sight!" She wraps her hands around her neck, holding on for dear life.
"That is why I have a plan." Yetsune beckons Erya to come close then she whispers into her ear.
Erya widens her eyes in stupefaction and her jaw drops as Yetsune whispers the details of the plan into her ear. She has long known that Yetsune has a screw loose in her brain but had no idea it has finally driven her insane.
"Isn't it perfect?" Yetsune clasps her hands together, a spark of anticipation shining in her eyes as though she expects applause for her meticulous plan.
"Lord Azryn made a great mistake in giving you this map. I must seek him out immediately and let him know of your madness," Erya says, darting towards the door but Yetsune quickly goes around the desk, nimbly snatching her hand before she gets to the door.
She spins Erya around and firmly clasps her hands over her mouth before she has the chance to protest. "You will not speak a word of this to anyone. Remember your pledge of loyalty to me," Yetsune asserts with authority, her eyes boring into Erya's.
Erya glances between Yetsune's eyes, witnessing a level of determination she has never seen in Yetsune before. She forces Yetsune's hand off her mouth, sucking in a deep breath.
"Fine," she concedes. "But what happens when they discover that the commoner who has tricked her way into the imperial palace is the appointed Crown Princess of Aushasal?"
"Nothing," Yetsune answers, returning to her seat. "The mischievous Princess simply entered the palace ahead of time to catch a glimpse of her future husband," she adds with a confident smirk.
Erya rakes her fingers into her hair, trying hard to accept this madness. She narrows her eyes at Yetsune at a thought. "Your Highness has had this plan in mind for a long time," she ponders aloud. "Those items you had me purchase from outside the palace, it is all for this plan of yours."
Yetsune tweaks a brow with a lopsided smile, proud of herself for tricking Erya for this long. Her mouth hang open in disbelief that the princess she's served for so long is actually this scheming.
Later that night, Yetsune unexpectedly receives a message from a servant in Yettiri's palace inviting her to the family dinner. Upon arriving at the dining hall, the servants at the door announce Yetsune's presence and the double doors are opened to allow her in. Lord Azryn greets her with a smile while her parents regard her with stern expressions and Yettiri averts her gaze.
Yetsune walks towards them, coming to a stop in front of the table, and gracefully lowers herself into a curtsy. "Your Majesties," she greets her parent then she turns to Lord Azryn with a faint smile and greets, "Uncle."
"Why stand there?" Lord Azryn gestures her to take her seat beside him. Yetsune glances hesitantly at the King and Queen before settling next to her uncle.
"I was worried you might starve yourself while studying the map," Lord Azryn remarks, sliding a bowl of soup toward her. Yetsune smiles at him, appreciating his caring gesture.
"What map?" the Queen inquires, turning to Yetsune. Yettiri also looks at her sister, wondering what map their uncle is referring to. She shares a quick glance with Erya, silently requesting her help.
"Her Highness was studying some books on Aushasal and asked Lord Azryn for a map to aid her studies," Erya quickly fabricates a lie. Arya, who stands behind Yettiri, narrows her eyes suspiciously at her sister.
"It's good that you're studying about Aushasal, but you should remember that there is a time for everything. Why did you miss the sword training today?" the King questions, his voice as cold and terrifying as ever.
Yetsune swallows hard, balling her fists as she feels her chest tighten under his intense scrutiny. Yettiri curses under her breath, realizing that Sersi must have informed their father. She forgot how simple-minded Sersi is, that he would report everything to the king without hesitation.
"S was feeling unwell earlier today, so I suggested that she rest," Yettiri covers for her. Yetsune glances at her in surprise.
"She's always tired!" the King raises his voice. "Yettiri can hardly be defeated by many in the Aisin Kingdom, yet you can't even defeat the weakest woman in Aisin," he berates her in a condescending tone.
"I apologize," Yetsune responds like she always does.
"You will be alone in Aushasal with Erya in the future. How will you protect yourself if she is not there to protect you?" the Queen adds, further fueling the fire.
Yetsune clenches her teeth in an effort to withhold a retort, but she fails. "Is Mother genuinely concerned about my safety, or do you fear that I might bring disgrace upon the Aisin royal family?"
"How insolent!" the King thunders and the Queen breathes "What," in disbelief.
Lord Azryn and Yettiri are taken aback by her nerve. She might be rebellious at heart but she never voices her grievances or talk back to her parents.
"Yetsu," Lord Azryn whispers to caution her, then turns to the King with a placating smile. "I'm certain she won't miss any more training. Now, let us dine in peace," he says, attempting to defuse the escalating tension in the room.
The King abruptly rises from his seat in anger and commands, "You will copy the Analects on virtue and obedience one hundred times before dawn." He glares at Lord Azryn and Yettiri, warning, "None of you are to help her." Then he storms out of the dining hall.
The door attendants quickly open the doors to allow his exit. Yetsune stares ahead, her eyes devoid of remorse. Disappointed by Yetsune's disrespect, the Queen follows after the King. The room falls silent, leaving only Lord Azryn, Yetsune, Yettiri, Erya, Arya, and the servants.
"Haha…" Lord Azryn breaks the awkward stillness. He scratches the back of his neck and looks at the spread of food before him. "I suppose it's up to us to devour all this food now."
"I shall take my leave," Yetsune says, rising from her seat with Erya's assistance, holding onto her hand. She bows slightly to Lord Azryn and offers a faint smile to Yettiri before stepping out of the room.
"I, too, have lost my appetite for the food, so I will excuse myself," Yettiri says, offering a slight bow to Lord Azryn, who sighs in response.
With everyone gone, Lord Azryn surveys the table once more. "I suppose I'll have to take on the responsibility of finishing it all now," he remarks.
The servants exchange glances, unsure whether he means it literally or if he is being sarcastic. Their question is soon answered when he starts pulling the plates toward himself, ready to consume the remaining food.