Syring got out of the carriage and saw a huge mountain standing in front of her. She then turned back toward the coachman. She looked at him for a few moments, struggling to decide whether he was trustworthy or not.
"How do you know about this route?" Syring asked.
The coachman was taking his belongings out of the carriage, preparing to walk through the mountains.
"Princess, everyone in this town knows about this route. But whoever has tried to take this path has never come back alive," the coachman said.
He looked at her as if he were trying to frighten her.
"It's fine. I know how to protect myself," Syring said. "But aren't you scared? You might die."
"It's my responsibility to take you to the palace," the coachman replied. "I can't leave you here alone."
Meanwhile, in the capital, Laurel had been searching everywhere for the Northern Prince, but he had failed to find him.
Finally, one of the royal guards said, "Dianthus, I think we should inform the General."
Laurel looked at him furiously.
"You can't even take care of one prince. What were you doing?"
The guard lowered his head and silently listened.
"I instructed you that nothing should happen to him," Laurel said.
But before they could inform General Ivy, the news had already reached the palace.
A man came from the palace to deliver a message to Laurel.
"Dianthus, the General wants to see you immediately."
Laurel thought, That means they already found out.
Inside the royal court, Queen Violas was listening to a dispute involving a saleswoman who had been thrown out of the market by the other businessmen.
A man representing the businessmen's side stepped forward.
"Queen Violas, this Monarda woman is a widow. She has been running her late husband's business in the market."
The Monarda woman defended herself.
"Queen Violas, my husband died, so I am the only breadwinner left in my family. My children are still young. Please show me some kindness."
The man argued again.
"Queen Violas, according to our laws, women cannot hold property."
Queen Violas looked at him.
"What is the problem? She was simply running her late husband's business."
One of the ministers stepped forward.
"Queen Violas, according to our laws, a widow from the gladiolus, Monarda and Dianthus families cannot go outside to work. Only Attis women are allowed to work, and even then, only as laborers."
Queen Violas asked, "Then what should be the solution?"
The man representing the businessmen replied, "Queen Violas, we should give the property to a male heir in the family and ask him to look after the business."
The Monarda woman looked at Queen Violas.
"Queen Violas, my late husband built this business and property himself."
Queen Violas asked, "What if they don't have a male heir?"
The man replied, "Queen Violas, her late husband has an uncle. He is willing to look after the business and property."
"What about the woman and her children?" Queen Violas asked.
The late husband's uncle stepped forward.
"Queen Violas, I will take care of her and her children."
"And since she is a Monarda, we can let her go with a warning," the minister added.
Queen Violas looked at him.
"What order did I give regarding the Royal Guard and the Monarda case?"
"Everyone is allowed to conduct business," the minister replied.
"That means women are included as well," Queen Violas said. "So she can run her late husband's business herself."
Anemone furiously stood up.
"Queen Violas, but the property—"
Queen Violas interrupted him.
"Anemone Dianthus, I am not finished yet."
Anemone was furious, but he could not show his anger in front of everyone. He forced himself to remain calm.
Queen Violas continued,
"From now on, all women whose husbands have died are allowed to inherit and hold their husbands' property."
"Queen Violas, this is not part of our laws. We should not challenge the laws established by our ancestors," Anemone argued.
"Aren't our laws also written that the Gladiolus King and Queen are chosen by the gods themselves?" Queen Violas asked. "Are you questioning my decision?"
"Queen Violas, this could create chaos in the country. I request that you think about this again."
"I have already made my decision. There is nothing more to discuss."
Before anyone could raise another objection, Queen Violas rose from her seat and dismissed the court.
General Ivy was waiting for Laurel in his chamber while instructing his forces to search for the Northern Prince.
"Finally, you came."
"General, how did you find out?" Laurel asked.
"That isn't important right now," General Ivy replied. "We need to find him as soon as possible before this news spreads and creates chaos outside."
"What about Queen Violas?" Laurel asked.
"Not yet. But we can't hide it from her for long."
"Who wants to harm the Northern Prince?"
"Can't say," General Ivy replied. "But probably the same person who has been trying to harm the Gladiolus for the past few years."
Laurel looked at him.
"But this proves that the South has nothing to do with all those incidents."
General Ivy looked at him seriously.
"You don't understand. When it comes to the throne, people can even kill their own brothers."
Laurel sighed.
"I've searched almost everywhere. What should we do now?"
Laurel observed General Ivy carefully. He looks worried, as if he knows something.
"Search the jungle too," General Ivy ordered. "And send more forces. If someone managed to kidnap him under such strict surveillance, then either the prince trusted the person, or the person came from inside the capital."
Laurel nodded.
Anemone angrily walked into his chamber, followed by Minister Lobel. The moment he entered his room, he furiously threw everything within reach onto the floor.
Minister Lobel tried to calm him.
"Anemone, we have other ways to deal with her."
"She intentionally tried to challenge me," Anemone said angrily. "No one has ever humiliated me the way she does."
"Anemone, calm down. What if someone hears you talking about the Queen like this?"
"I am not afraid of anyone. I made this country what it is today," Anemone said.
Minister Lobel replied, "You don't have to worry about this order. It will be just like her previous order."
"Previous order?"
"She ordered that anyone could study in our schools, even Thistle and Attis. But no Attis or Thistle has ever come. They don't have the courage to go against us. So no matter what order she gives, nothing will change until we want it to."
"You don't know her, but I have known her since she married the late King," Anemone said. "She also knows that her previous orders meant nothing, but she still does it just to humiliate me in front of everyone."
"Why would she do that?" Minister Lobel asked.
Anemone furiously grabbed his bedsheet.
"She just wants revenge against me. But no matter what she does, she can't reduce my status. I will always be Dianthus."
Minister Lobel interrupted him.
"Revenge for what?"
Anemone paused.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you some other day."
Minister Lobel then asked, "What about the chaos you mentioned last time?"
Anemone looked toward the door.
"It has already started."
Queen Violas was lying on her bed in her chamber when a lady entered.
"Queen Violas, your medicine."
Queen Violas noticed a white pigeon landing on the balcony. She sat up on the bed to get a better look at it.
She took her medicine and then said,
"You can go now."
The lady left the room.
Queen Violas walked toward the balcony. The pigeon was sitting on the railing. She picked it up, took out a small note, read it, and then released the pigeon.
The note contained only one word:
Capital.
Queen Violas immediately burned the note after reading it.
Suddenly, General Ivy entered the chamber.
"Queen Violas, you called for me?"
She walked back to her seat.
"Yes. I want to know whether you have found the person who attacked Anemone."
General Ivy replied, "Queen Violas, I questioned people around the city. They said they saw an unfamiliar man wandering around the capital."
"Then did you find out who he is?"
"Not yet," General Ivy replied.
"Make sure you don't kill him. I want him alive."
General Ivy looked at her.
"Do you care about Anemone's life?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Queen Violas replied. "By now, I'm used to him. If he dies, I'll have to tolerate another fool."
General Ivy nodded.
"Queen Violas, how is your health?"
"Find him before Anemone does and bring him to me without anyone knowing."
The sun was about to set when Amaryllis and Marantaceae entered the new town.
The entire town was illuminated by the light of fires. It looked as though the people were celebrating a festival. Shops were decorated with garlands, children were playing in the streets, and families were eating together outside their homes.
"Hey, wait here. I'll be back in a minute," Amaryllis said.
Marantaceae nodded.
Amaryllis entered an antique shop.
Marantaceae watched him from outside and thought, Does he want to buy something for his business? Maybe I'll visit his shop someday.
Meanwhile, Marantaceae noticed a young man selling candy at a stall near a shop.
"What is happening here?" he asked.
"They're celebrating the river," the candy seller replied.
"The river festival?" Marantaceae asked curiously.
"You aren't from this town, are you?" the candy seller asked.
Marantaceae shook his head.
"I just arrived."
"According to our ancestors, every year around this time, a drought would come, and many people would die or suffer. To prevent this, our ancestors began praying to the dry river. Then the river listened to their prayers, and it started raining. So every year around this time, everyone in the town prays and celebrates to honor the river."
Marantaceae looked confused.
"But how do they decide which day to pray?"
The candy seller became confused by the question.
"I don't know. If you don't want to buy anything, then don't bother me," he said irritably.
Marantaceae turned away and watched the locals praying.
Then Amaryllis approached him from behind.
"This is for you."
Marantaceae looked at what he was holding.
"A candy?"
"What? You were talking to that candy seller, so I thought you wanted one."
"I was just asking him about the festival."
"I asked about it too."
Marantaceae then looked at Amaryllis's wound.
"Let's find a place to rest."
"Let's stay here for a little while," Amaryllis replied.
"You need to change your bandage, or your wound won't heal properly."
Amaryllis looked at him in surprise.
"Are you all right, Marantaceae?"
"Why?"
"You've been strangely polite."
Marantaceae stopped and gave him a long look.
"Would you prefer me to be rude?"
Marantaceae started walking toward the town, looking for a place to stay.
"No," Amaryllis said, following him. "It's just... unusual."
Marantaceae remained silent for a moment before saying, "You said we're friends."
Amaryllis smiled faintly. "Yes."
"Then you should get used to it."