IN HAVEN STATE
In Haven State, the early morning hours shrouded the First Prince's residence in a quiet stillness. Prince Eyrin stood tall as his maids dressed him with precision and care. Once they finished, they curtsied and departed, leaving him to his thoughts.
His mind wandered to Prince Khane, and his gaze fell upon the box containing Prince khane bloody blue robe .He approached the box, lifted the lid, and his eyes widened in shock - the box was empty.
"Palov!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the halls.
His personal guard burst in, bowing hastily. "Your Highness!"
Prince Eyrin's anger flared. "The blue robe, where is it? Did I instruct you to move it?"
Palov met his gaze, equally perplexed. "I didn't touch the robe, Your Highness. I'm surprised it's missing too."
Prince Eyrin's expression darkened. "Summon all the servants in my residence. Interrogate them, and find the one responsible. I must know who did this."
Palov hesitated, "Your Highness, we need to depart for Tamil State with the others soon—"
Prince Eyrin cut him off, his anger intensifying. "That's all the more reason to start now. Find the culprit, Palov!"
Palov bowed again before hurrying off to carry out the prince's orders, leaving Prince Eyrin to seethe with frustration and concern.
Palov summoned the guards and servants, and they assembled outside the prince's chambers.
He announced the missing robe, and a timid maid stepped forward. "I washed it, I didn't mean to cause trouble," she said, trembling.
Palov led her to Prince Eyrin's bedchamber, where the prince awaited, his anger simmering.
The maid fell to her knees, kowtowing repeatedly, and begging for forgiveness,her head hitting the floor. "The chamber reeked of blood, and I smelled it from the box, so I washed it," she explained, her forehead bloody from hitting the floor.
Prince Eyrin's who was disgusted by her blood became furious. He dragged her up by the arm, demanding, "You washed the robe, now where is it?"
The maid dared not meet his gaze, instead looking down. "His Majesty has it," she whispered.
Prince Eyrin's eyes widened in shock.
He slapped her, and she fell to the floor, tears streaming down her face. "You foolish slave! How did the robe reach the Emperor's hands? Why did you touch something you shouldn't have?
Do you know the robe's significance?Do you know who wore it?" he thundered, unsheathing his sword.
The maid cowered, anticipating the worst, as Prince Eyrin's anger reached a boiling point.
"Your Highness, please, you mustn't do this now, before the journey," Palov cautioned, trying to reason with the prince. "Be calm."
Prince Eyrin's laughter was laced with venom. "Calm? Be calm? You know who had that robe, Palov! How do you expect me to be calm?" He glared at Palov, his anger boiling over.
Palov turned to the maid, his voice firm. "Speak now, how did it get to the Emperor?"
The maid trembled, "Yesterday... I was leaving your bedchamber with the robe, but I bumped into him.
He came to see you, but you weren't around. He saw the bloody robe and ordered his guards to take it.
They did, and left. Your Highness, please forgive me, it won't happen again."
Prince Eyrin's fist clenched in rage upon learning the Emperor had the robe.
With his sword in hand, he strode to the door, then halted, as if collecting his thoughts. There was tension and Palov's eyes darted between the prince and the maid, sensing the gravity of the situation.
"Indeed, I'll make sure you won't," Prince Eyrin said calmly while his eyes darkened as he turned to the maid.
"I'm grateful, Your Highness, I'm grateful," she stammered, bowing repeatedly, unaware of the fate that awaited her.
"Palov!" Prince Eyrin called out. "Since we're leaving this morning, there's no time for torture.
Order the guards to flog her to death,while her body is in a mat. I want to see her lifeless body when I return,buried or not.Dont play tricks with me palov,I'm aware of what you did last time."
The maid's eyes widened in horror as she realized her mistake. "Your Highness, please!" she cried out, but Prince Eyrin had already turned his back on her.
Outside, Prince Eyrin mounted his horse and rode to the Emperor's palace.
Upon arrival, he was stopped by the palace guards. "The Emperor is still asleep," one of them said.
Prince Eyrin's face twisted in anger. "Should I pluck out your eyes so you can see who I am, or cut out your tongue so you can't speak?
I have an urgent matter to discuss with the Emperor, and I won't be told he's still asleep at this hour. It's almost time for the meeting with the officials."
The guards exchanged nervous glances, sensing the prince's fury and power.
The guards, intimidated by Prince Eyrin's anger, stepped aside and allowed him to enter. He strode to the Emperor's chamber, his footsteps echoing with urgency.
"Announce me," he told the Grand Eunuch stationed by the door.
"His Majesty is being dressed, he will attend to you later," the Grand Eunuch replied.
Prince Eyrin's anger simmered. "It's an important matter."
The Emperor's voice came from within, "He can come in."
The door opened, and Prince Eyrin entered, kowtowing deeply. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The Emperor dismissed the servants with a wave of his hand. "You all can leave."
Once they departed, the Emperor turned to Prince Eyrin. "You came for the robe, didn't you?"
Prince Eyrin began to rise, but the Emperor's words halted him. "Did I say you should stand?"
Prince Eyrin's eyes locked onto the Emperor's as he placed his knees back on the floor. "Forgive me, Your Majesty."
The Emperor's gaze seemed to bore into Prince Eyrin's soul as he placed his eyes behind him. "That was Prince Khane's robe, wasn't it?"
Prince Eyrin looked up at him.
"Words travel fast, indeed," the Emperor said. "I heard rumors of your involvement in Prince Khane's demise so I decided to see you yesterday myself but you were not there.
And now, I find you searching for the robe."
Prince Eyrin's eyes widened,then he looked down, his mind racing. "Did you...did you bury it in the Imperial Mortuary?" he stammered.
The Emperor's laughter sent shivers down Prince Eyrin's spine. "Bury it? Why would I?
I sat outside my residence, watching it burn, feeling the satisfaction of seeing it reduced to ashes."
Prince Eyrin's face contorted in anguish, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Stand up," the Emperor commanded and he obeyed .
"Why do you look so pitiful? You're the one who killed him. You should always be proud."
As Prince Eyrin struggled to his feet, the Emperor's words cut deep into his heart.
"Forgive me, Father. I have to leave for Tamil State now. May you live long," he whispered, his voice barely audible as he walked out,his legs feeling heavy.