The king stood frozen, he doesn't even know what to think or how to react.
He simply just gazed at her, squatted with a finger stuck to an already broken cup like it was glued together.
Prince Aurel however is on his last string, trying to stop himself from doing anything impulsive.
"You bitch, do you know how valuable this jade cup is to the outer realm"
He rushes over to her with his hands raised in the air, he has the very intention of hitting her in the face.
But sadly, his hand got stuck mid air, he couldn't move it, and he couldn't move himself also.
The king finally took notice of Prince Aurel's hands that was raised up to Elara.
"What do you think you're doing?" The king asks as he slowly walks up to Prince Aurel.
It was like prince Aurel was frozen in time, except for the fact that he was breathing and could move.
Elara was oblivious to what was happening until she turns around to find the king holding off prince Aurel's arm.
How could prince Aurel possibly move when it seems a blind force is stopping him from touching her.
"Look I'm sorry but I can fix it" Elara whispers almost scared that the men might attack her.
Prince Aurel pushes back with a mischievous grin that betrays the storming rage inside him.
"How can you fix something made by the gods?" He scoffs looking at the king.
"Okay, how can you fix it?"
Both Elara and Prince Aurel look to their king whose face is blank and unreadable, what could he be possibly thinking.
"Uhh,,. I just need some gold" prince Aurel bursts out laughing hitting the king in the chest.
"So you hear this crazy lady? Do you think we're stupid. You want some gold so you can go ahead and escape right?"
Elara scoffs, standing up with the cup hugged to her chest.
"If I wanted to runaway, I would've done that weeks ago. Without any gold or anything" she defended herself since the king seems to be lost.
"Look girl, you are not getting that—"
"Done. I'll get my general to bring you gold" the king interrupts prince Aurel.
He turns around to get away from they're banter when Elara spoke.
"I don't think his majesty should go to the hall of sultans yet. I suggest you follow me until we've fixed this then you can go"
The king glares at her, how could he be so reckless, he should've known never to give her such an important task.
Only the king knows why he brought Elara to the secret room of the temple.
He couldn't just say, he got her the cup just because he wanted to see her on stage and everyone else to know that she is his.
"A king can be fashionably late" she reassured. Prince Aurel scoffs before leaving the scene.
He made sure to take the back door of the temple, meeting up with a mysterious woman with her cloak on.
"Well? Did you get it?" She asks with her hands on her hips.
Prince Aurel shakes his head. "The king and his consort were there. But don't you worry, I don't think they'll be able to use it"
The woman in the cloak shakes her head disappointed.
"This has proven your loyalty does not lie with the Westmar kingdom" she turns to leave.
"No no no, it does, it really does. Please don't tell king Toran" he folded his hands together.
The woman ignored him and just walks back from where she came from.
Meanwhile, over at the house of petals in Elara's room. The king leaned on the door while Elara is in the lower halls melting the gold.
She was pacing the room impatiently her mind in overdrive. How is it possible that the jade cup that has been in the outer realm just break by the graze of her finger.
Once the gold has melted down, she picks up the hot pan, all but rushing to the house of petals.
"I'm here, I'm here" she whispers loudly for the king to open the door.
The king ensured to take his precious time before opening the door for Elara.
"Don't make haste on my account, it's not like I have a pot of burning gold in my hand or anything"
He rolls his eyes as he continue to lean on the wall farthest from her.
"Okay" she whispers rubbing her hands together.
She picks up a single piece of the broken cup with a sweaty hand. The piece slipped from her fingers to the floor.
"Oops,.." she gives the king a goofy smile. She picks it up, focusing seriously on the task at hand.
The hall of sultan is buzzing with chatter and gleeful glances. Everyone is anxiously waiting for the king to arrive.
Queen Gabriella frowns still confused as to why the king is late. This is the first time he's been late to anything.
He wasn't late even when she put sleeping pills in his drink just to avoid marrying him.
So why isn't he here yet while she patiently waits for him on the throne?
"Your majesty, here's a letter for you" the maiden hands over a blue envelope.
"A letter for me? Who gave this
to you?"
"It was an old man, said it's urgent" the Queen takes the envelope to check what's inside.
Two words were scribbled on it. I'm outside. Queen Gabriella knows that scribble anywhere.
She shivers softly as she looks out the window, but she saw nothing there.
House of petals.
"How much longer do we have to be fashionably late?" The king asks, he's patience existent to non.
"All done," she stands up and turn to him with the cup good as new. "Let's just hope, the gods are angry"
She pushes past him to the door with the intention of leaving. The king then grabs her arms.
"What do you mean by that" Elara just smiles at his question and gestures for him to follow her.
The moment they stepped out, a full strong wind slaps them on the face, the body and the clothes.
"See, the god's are on our side" she turns the king with a big warm smile on her face.
The king stood frozen, it was like he couldn't move, couldn't blink. All he could stare at was her smile and the way the wind made her into an art form.