The markets were bustling and busy like any other day. The sun was hot and shiny as it should but the people were rowdier and chiper than usual.
In a caravan, a large group were merrying and drinking alcohol even though it was still hot in the afternoon.
"I don't know if I respect her or hate her guts" one person spoke to his comrades but the group were loud so everyone in the caravan could hear.
"after all the vile things she's done, she poisoned herself to escape punishment, that just makes her all the more wicked, nothing to applaud there" another added slapping the head of the the first speaker
A small and timid looking man in the group shook his head "you guys aren't thinking of this critically, you're just believing everything that the Harbinger says when we know that the Harbinger is a vindictive paper that tells stories that are far from the truth"
"so the unconscious body lying in the hospital is a lie as well" one mocked
"I smell propaganda here. They keep telling us they have concrete proof that she's behind the trafficking business but never bring it to light and how can we be so sure that she poisoned herself, someone may have poisoned her"
"don't bring your conspiracy theories here. I am certain that she poisoned herself, because if she was indeed poisoned they would have done it to kill her not keep her in a coma. I say she drank the poison when the police came and she was certain that they would come to her rescue"
Across from their table was a small group of three people, someone from there, Joined the conversation.
"I don't know which one of you is stupid,
The madam who thought the best way to escape her crimes would be to temporarily evade punishment by falling into coma or you, who would even make that a theory."
The man frowned at this statement.
"so what do you think happened then?"
The other person shrugged "I don't know and I really don't care but I couldn't just bear the stupid ideas you were all spouting, there's only one sensible human in that group" the person nodded to the small timid man in the group who smiled appreciatively.
The person turned back to their own small group
"so much for being nonchalant, Jaslin"
Rivan rolled his eyes.
"what? no one could even tell that we're related? Plus they really where saying nonsense. I just want to burn down the Harbinger"
"and how's that going to help matters?" Rivan asked coldly
"well Melinda keeps peddling nonsense throughout Easteford it's so annoying and my cousin has to bear the brunt of it"
Rivan kept quiet and downed his bottle of beer.
"calm down" Jaslin muttered and shifted the bottle away from his reach "I don't know if you're mourning or celebrating your release"
He chuckled and blinked like he was trying to not be dizzy.
"to be honest, I'm a bit grateful that Qaya was arrested, that's the only way I could have been released"
"done being a saint? if someone hears you, they wouldn't even think that you were the one who voluntarily took the fall."
"well it's hard being selfless"
"I guess prison must have been hard"
A loud thud resonated through the caravan, Jaslin's group turned to see a large man lying on the floor, he was from the group of men who were talking about Qaya initially.
Jaslin heaved a sigh of satisfaction "those drunks are finally leaving"
"speaking of which, What Qaya did was so irresponsible" Rivan added
"very stupid girl, I tell you" Jaslin nodded in agreement
"you speak like I'm not here" Qaya pouted
"I mean you're meant to be lying unconscious and not here with us in a pub" Jaslin responded and dragged her cousin's cheeks
"enough with the chit chat, I have a limited time window, so how far with the investigation"
Rivan nodded and started explaining.
The investigation had progressed greatly though it was met by great hurdles. Since Awin was already aware of Rivan's side business, he had to disperse all his workers and have them work pseudo-independently and incognito.
So to Awin's resources, Rivan had closed down his business in fear but what really happened is that they were working underground.
"we looked into sunshine paradise, the trafficking hotel that caused all this in the first place and I found really interesting information."
He continued "Qaya, it would interest you to know that sunshine paradise is supplied by none other than Zajey"
"what?" Qaya shot up "why do I feel like the people Awin emancipated could be found there?"
"your guess is correct, those people were only emancipated on paper. From the sources I gathered, Awin has them working for him in so many covert organizations"
"why? I know that Awin is a powerful king but still, it's not like he's the king of the world. What's going on that would make Awin have such a hold over them"
"don't worry, my men are busy questioning a young boy that works there. Though it's really hard to because all of the people that Awin got from Zajey are under surveillance which, I hate to admit, is impressive."
"I knew Awin was a horrible man but he still managed to fall lower in my eyes" Jaslin added, as she listened on in shock.
"now we just need to find evidence and that evidence must be so strong that it trumps whatever stupid evidence Melinda has fabricated" Qaya stood up, her time outside was almost up, she'd have to sneak back before her caretaker came to bathe her
"I have to leave. I can only keep this act up for two nights, get the evidence by then. I leave my life in both your hands"
***
Qaya's caretaker barged in and it was obvious that she was in a foul mood.
She was mumbling.
"can't even live again, just have to keep taking care of this vegetable. I mean with all the evil things she's done, they should have let her die but I guess criminal or not she's the King's fiancee"
She turned to brush her patient's hair but was ghastly shocked when she was met by a pair of eyes.
The sight of a conscious but weak Qaya who'd heard everything she said caused her to stumble backwards and fall.
And that was not all, the care taker let out a deafening scream, that alerted everyone around.
Was there a better way to let them know that the madam was awake?
***
A little while later
"i don't know if you were misinformed, but I just regained consciousness, barely an hour ago" Qaya pointed out,weakly as she was being stuffed with food by her caretaker, who had gotten new-found devotion
"we are very much aware of that" the police woman that was initially tasked with leading Qaya arrest, replied "we've given you enough honour by not taking your unconscious body into custody."
"so you want to arrest me now when I can barely walk?"
"I believe so. I have so many questions for you. For starters what were you thinking trying to poison yourself, did you think—"
"why not wait till we get to the interrogation room?" Qaya cut her off and turned to her caretaker
"I've had enough pudding, see if you can get me a wheelchair, let them wheel me to the police station"
The police woman was taken aback by this woman's poise and elegance. She said that last statement like they were going to be carrying her in a __ through a procession and not to prison.
"so you're ready to go to prison, then why did you pull that initial stunt"
"I thought I asked that you save the questions for the interrogation room"
The ride to the police station was a quiet one, the police woman kept watching Qaya, who just appeared tired and bored. She would stare outside the carriage window occasionally.
She turned to look at the police woman who was startled that her gaze was returned.
"what's the time?" Qaya softly asked
"what? The time? Why do you need the time?"
"I wanted to just know, also so I could estimate the time I woke up but no worries, seeing you're so flustered by my question. It's okay many people find it hard to read the time. I guess clocks are complicated for you lot"
"what? I can read the time we'll. I was just—"
"it's okay, I said no worries" Qaya gestured as if to say; ' don't worry, your secret's safe with me'
This left the police woman seething. Why would she make her feel like a fool and what's with always cutting her off. Her frown was so obvious that Qaya burst into laughter.
"I'm sorry, I'm just horsing around. I was bored so I decided to mess with you, my bad" she laughed heartily and even wiped a tear.
The police woman scoffed as if in relief that Qaya didn't really think that she couldn't tell the time "I guess Qayas are like that"
Qaya mood shifted up on hearing this and she became a little bit serious "what? Did you know another Qaya?"
"not really, she was in our police station for something, I was still new to the force then. She would mess with the seniors like this too. Too bad she died recently"
Qaya became stoic "oh you mean Qaya Wright"
"yes! You know her"
Qaya was quiet for a while but then she suddenly became cheerful "yes, I do. She taught me that"
When they got to the police station, they met Madam Rachel and Jaslin waiting for them.
"I see you had your lawyer waiting for us" the police woman turned to Qaya who proudly shrugged.
"I request the release of my client" Rachel got right down to business
"no, we won't"
"well, you'll have to" Jaslin added "because we have evidence to prove her innocence"
"you have to follow protocol and–"
"you don't teach me protocol here" Rachel cut in " you people arrested my client based on a cheque to the sunshine paradise that had her signature in it. But we can prove that it was forged and not only that but we have undisputable evidence to point to the real perpetrator"
"I'll have you know that, that check passed the authenticity test twice but go on ahead, show me proof"
This time Jaslin stepped in "we have analysis from a forensic expert, that while the signature looks authentic, there's a mistake that initial tests to check its authenticity made and it's the fact that Qaya is ambidextrous and notoriously signs with both hands, the signature on that check is exactly identical to the signature she makes with her right hand but analyzing the stroke pattern and direction proves that this was written with the left hand, mind you Qaya's signature using her left hand is not exactly the same as when she uses her right hand."
the police woman nodded for a while "well that's debatable"
"but it isn't, anyway as I was saying" Jaslin continued. She presented two account books "this was not easy to acquire but when you take a closer look at the transactions here, you'll see that the account book of sunshine paradise directly and objectively corresponds with that of Baron Elrich"
The police woman's jaw dropped "are you suggesting that Baron Elrich is the secret sponsor of sunshine paradise"
Madam Rachel stepped in "I doubt this is even a suggestion. So far everyone has been presenting speculative evidence against people like my client and Rivan Ceria, but when there's hard evidence you hesitate? When you didn't think twice to arrest the King's fiancee"
"you wouldn't blame me, madam Rachel. Baron Elrich only received the noble title as a reward. Everyone knows that he is a pious man of the cloth and people say he is the Messiah of Easteford"
"you're a police, what does that matter? Arrest him or more appropriately invite him over of interrogation and investigate his household and estate"
"I know, don't teach me my job" the police woman cut in.
The atmosphere was stiff for a moment, so everyone was caught off guard when Qaya suddenly started laughing. They all turned to her.
She stretched and looked at the police woman's name tag "Gwen is a beautiful name. Anyway Gwen, my advocate has gotten my papers ready, so I imagine I'm free to get out of your hair. I have proven my innocence after all"
Gwen defeatedly nodded and left them. Qaya turned to Rachel and hugged her.
"thank you so much"
"it's no problem, I had to after all you have a mock exam next Tuesday and you can't do it from prison"
"what? exam? But Madame Rachel you see the situation I'm in"
"I'm not hearing any sob stories. Plus I know you can handle it, you complained so much about my assignments but still managed to make wonderful submissions, so I'm certain you can do well. I believe in you"
Qaya calmed down "when you say it like that? I guess I'm a good student and don't need to stress about studying"
"miss Heris-Mariale, I did not mean that"
"I know, I'm just pulling your leg"
Jaslin cleared her throat "so are you going straight to the palace to shove your victory down Awin's throat?"
" Eww no, let's go home, I also want to speak to father, he's been acting weird"
"then we should probably get some gifts on the way"
Qaya did a mock swoon "what would I do without you in my life"
And the girls giggled as they made their way home.
***
Melinda dropped the tray of rum and unpacked her hair as she settled down into her chair.
"Awin, what's the matter?"
Awin looked into the night sky, it was a moonless night.
"Qaya, that woman will be the death of me"
Melinda stopped herself from rolling her eyes "does her arrest perturbe you so?"
"for some reason, my men haven't gotten any information about what's going on? It's annoying. I know she can't back down easily, but no one's telling me if she managed to evade arrest and how she did so"
"you think they'll be someone more powerful than you in your kingdom, that's keeping information from you?"
Awin shook his head and grabbed a glass of rum and downed it.
"be careful" Melinda cautioned in an endearing smile
"are you in love with Qaya?" she asked hoping earnestly that he answer in the negative
"love? That's a complicated question. Love is a sickness with symptoms that differs for everyone. So how will I know if I have been afflicted with love"
This time Melinda rolled her eyes "tell me your symptoms, then"
"she reminds of my favorite horse as a child, Maxilian. He was a majestic stallion, that everyone would eye, I would show him off to everyone because I knew that, that's all they could do, they could only hope and wish they had one like mine. Maxilian would and should always be mine. Maxilian died"
"my condolences, no matter how late"
"you should have congratulated me" he took the second glass of rum, this time savoring it. "One day, my father invited a great king from a neighbouring country, I can't remember the country exactly and he saw my horse and wished to have him for so much money that my father couldn't refuse. I understood the sentiment, Maxilian was a unique horse. But I was the only one who deserved that kind of uniqueness, so in the night I went to feed him. He happily ate what his beloved master had given him, my heart swole with joy at his loyalty. That was his last meal"
Melinda beamed with a smile and got up "I understand the sentiment and I can say for certain that you haven't been afflicted with love"
Awin shrugged and was taken aback when Melinda sat on his lap and kissed him.
"miss Charmale, what do you think you're doing?"
"Maxilian's loyalty made your heart swell. I want to show you that I'm very loyal"
"tell me explicitly what you're doing"
"forgive me my king, but it wasn't only rum that you drank. I know you've been deprived by your fiancee. So here I am" she kissed him again and this time he returned it back with feverish earnestness.
***that same night
The footsteps of horses on soft grass comforted Zachary's ears; he was closer to Easteforde. He would soon see her, he wondered how she would react seeing him after so long, especially after what had happened to her.
Even when he left, he needed to know how Qaya was faring so he had some of his men gathering intel and send him information through carrier pigeons.
"your father doesn't like that you're leaving immediately after your installation as crown prince" Luciuz nagged
"well what would he have me do, the ceremony was done in secret so it's not like I can just go to Occident coast and assume my duties, can I?"
"regardless—"
" Luciuz, I told father, that I was going for work, for some reason I'm no longer comfortable with our people still staying in guilt land, so I have to get them transported to another settlement, far from Awin"
"of course, that's the only reason why you want to go to Easteforde, it's not like you want to see a particular person whose name you've been mumbling in your sleep"
"what?" Zachary turned to his companion, shocked
"forget I said anything and tell me this, why did you have your men intercept Awin's men, it's not like Awin won't eventually learn the truth?"
"I just wanted to buy her some time, no matter how little"