One hour earlier, at the castle...
"Your Highness... It's time," Lady Avelyne said as she approached the queen.
"Yes... Avelyne. How do I look?" Elizabeth asked.
"You look majestic, Your Highness. I bet everyone at the festival will lose consciousness when they witness your presence," Lady Avelyne replied.
"You're making it worse. Forget I ever asked for your opinion," she said angrily.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. You should take my head."
She knelt and placed her sword before the queen.
"Ah... Avelyne, are you that confident in your neck muscles?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, Highness... Why?"
"Because you keep asking me to cut your head off every minute," Elizabeth said with a smile.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I will not ask for that again. If I do, you can have my... Oh..."
Lady Avelyne started to blurt out the same swear again.
"Hahaha... Let's go to the festival," Elizabeth said.
Lady Avelyne smiled in embarrassment and walked alongside her.
At the city...
Everyone was focused on the festival. There were musicians, dancers, and multiple artists performing on stage.
Elizabeth watched the dancers with amusement. She was enjoying their performances.
"Quite a marvelous performance, eh...?" A man approached the queen and asked.
"Ah... Sir Christopher! How are you doing?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.
"I'm almost delighted that the queen asked about my well-being," he said with a smile.
"Hah... Still got that sweet mouth," Avelyne said to him.
"Oh... Lady Avelyne! I didn't see you there. How are you doing? Is your age going backwards? You're still looking beautiful after all these years," Sir Christopher said.
"Hah... I can't..." Lady Avelyne smiled, looking at Elizabeth. But Elizabeth was watching the dancer without taking her eyes off him.
The dancer made his final move and bowed to the audience.
Elizabeth clapped and called him over.
"Your performance was marvelous. Which town are you from?" Elizabeth asked him.
"I'm from Tynor, Your Highness," he replied, bowing.
"Oh... Tynor. Isn't that the one just outside the castle?" she asked.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Here's a little present from me. I loved your performance. I would like to see it again if I could," Elizabeth said, taking a small bag from her dress and giving it to him.
"I can't express how happy I am right now. I will surely perform for you if I ever get the chance," he said before returning to the stage.
Elizabeth smiled and walked ahead with Sir Christopher and Lady Avelyne.
"So, what's the agenda?" Elizabeth asked.
"Today, after the performances, we'll have your coronation ceremony along with the birthday festival. First, the cake-cutting ceremony. They have prepared the biggest cake of the century for you, Your Highness. Then your speech. After that, the coronation, and your title as queen will be officially announced to the world," Sir Christopher said.
"Hah... Can I breathe freely today?" Elizabeth asked.
"Haha... Yes, Your Highness. You have 45 minutes to breathe freely," Christopher replied with a laugh.
"Come, Avelyne," she said to Lady Avelyne and headed towards the market.
At every step, people greeted and spoke to her. She didn't avoid a single person.
She was slowly losing her only free time.
"Your Highness, that's enough. I can escort you to the market right away without all these interactions. You haven't visited a single store yet. It's getting close to the starting time," Lady Avelyne said.
"Don't mind. It's my duty to speak to my people," she replied and walked ahead.
Finally, she arrived at the market.
She looked at a fragrance stall.
"First, let's look for some good fragrances," Elizabeth said.
"Yes, Your Highness," Lady Avelyne replied, escorting her.
"Excuse me... Can you show me the available fragrances?" Elizabeth asked the storekeeper, who was half asleep.
"Yeah, yeah... I can— Oh... Your Majesty! Forgive this peasant. I didn't realise it was Your Highness."
The storekeeper jumped from his seat and bowed.
"It's okay. Now, present the best fragrances you have for me."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This is the best shop in the market for fragrances. We have... Slept lavender, Gorus lily, jasmine, green till grass, and more..."
He nervously placed all the fragrances on the table.
"These are good," she said after smelling them all.
"Which one do you want, Avelyne?" she asked.
"Oh... I... I don't use fragrances, Your Highness. I'm delighted that you asked me," Avelyne said with a smile.
"Just take one," Elizabeth insisted.
"Oh... In that case, I would like the slept lavender one," Avelyne said.
"Oh... What a surprise! I liked it too," Elizabeth said, looking at the storekeeper.
"Yeah, give me two of the slept lavender," she ordered.
Suddenly, a man ran towards the shop and slammed his hands on the table.
"Give me the damn cenche now!" he shouted.
Elizabeth looked at him. It was Kevin.
Her eyes widened. Her face turned red.
It's him, she thought.
"Excuse me. I think I came here first," she said to the man.
He slowly turned towards her.
Their eyes locked.
Elizabeth was dying inside.
It was a long-awaited meeting for her.
"Um... Hello," she blurted out.
"Give me the cenche, please," Kevin said slowly.
The storekeeper handed a pouch to her.
She slowly walked away, giving Kevin a firm look.
"Come, Avelyne," she said to Lady Avelyne, who was already reading the bloodlust in her eyes.
Avelyne walked alongside her.
As soon as Elizabeth turned away, her face became red and her legs trembled. She tried hard to suppress her excitement.
Oh my God, why is he here? I never thought I would meet him here. What should I do? Elizabeth's mind screamed.
"Is there a problem, Your Highness?" Avelyne asked, noticing her behaviour.
"Nothing. Let's go to the next shop," she said, taking a deep breath.
She looked around and headed towards another shop.
At the same time...
Kevin was heading towards his father's shop with the fragrance.
"I can't believe I just saw the queen! I'm pretty sure I've seen her somewhere before... Ah, I can't remember," he said to himself as he walked.
"But she was..."
Her face came to his mind.
"Beautiful..."
His mind whispered.
A small smile appeared on his face.
He walked ahead and reached the area near their shop.
There was a quarrel going on, and a crowd had gathered.
He pushed through the crowd and moved towards the shop.
He saw that the entire stall had collapsed, and his father was sitting on the ground with an injury on his head.
"Father!"
Kevin ran towards him and grabbed him.
"Son..."
"What happened?" Kevin asked.
"I..."
"Oh... So you are his son?" A man interrupted his father.
"These worms... How did they allow all of you inside?" the man shouted.
He was wearing royal attire, with an emblem on his chest.
"What did you do to him?" Kevin asked.
"You...? You worm! Don't you know who I am? And you're questioning me?" the man shouted.
"Son, don't... He is the Duke of the Northern Region. He's royalty," his father said.
"Royalty, my ass. I'm gonna..."
Kevin stood up and walked towards him.
"You insolent fool! Kneel! I'm Sir Delonet Septor the Third, the Duke of the country's Northern Region. I can have you killed with a single command!" he screamed.
"I don't care. Why did you injure my father?" Kevin asked.
"Ha... I like your bravery. I'll tell you now, if that makes you happy, because you're going to be imprisoned for life. Your bastard father tried to put up a fruit stall near my son's stall, invading our space. The place where you put your stall belongs to us," he said.
Kevin looked at his father.
"Father, do you have the documents?" Kevin asked.
"Yes... But..."
His father hesitated.
"What?"
Kevin turned towards the Duke.
"Look, we have the documents. So we can put our stall here," Kevin said.
"Then show me the documents," the Duke said with a grin.
Kevin looked back at his father. He understood from his expression.
He looked down and saw pieces of paper scattered on the ground.
"You... You tore them, right?" Kevin asked the Duke.
"What...? You bastard! Are you trying to accuse me of something I didn't do? Ask your father. He thought he could sneak in and put up a stall, impressing the queen. You are all worthless! Thinking you could loot money illegally. You worthless scums! Your father is the worst one I've ever seen in my life. Haha..."
The Duke laughed.
Kevin's hands trembled. He looked at the Duke fiercely.
"Keep your head down, you insolent fool! Guards, arrest him!" the Duke ordered.
The guards slowly approached him.
Kevin took a deep breath. He sprinted forward, dodging the guards, and reached the Duke.
He raised his leg high and kicked the Duke in the face with all the power he could muster.
The Duke fell to the ground unconscious. Blood flowed from his head.
The guards were shocked. The entire crowd froze.
"Keep your filthy mouth closed from now on. If I'm going to prison anyway, I'm going to make it worth it," he said and spat on the Duke's head.
Everyone screamed.
"He assaulted royalty!"
"Arrest him!"
"Kill him!"
Shouts came from the crowd.
Kevin looked at them.
He stood exactly as he had years ago, holding the gun.
"It never changes, huh...?"
He looked at the sky as the guards grabbed him and slammed him onto the ground.
"My fate... As I thought... I don't deserve this life," he said, looking at his father.
His father was crying, desperately trying to reach him.
"I'm sorry... Father... I can't..."
Kevin said.
"So this is how it ends."
He closed his eyes.
"What is happening here...?"
A high-pitched voice echoed through the market.
Kevin's eyes opened.
Everyone searched for the source of the voice.
Elizabeth entered the scene. Her presence stood above everyone, as usual. Everyone bowed.
She looked at Kevin. A slight anger appeared on her face.
"Release the gentleman!" she announced to the guards.
The guards loosened their grip.
Kevin looked at her face. Somehow, he felt a little hope.
"What happened here? Explain," she asked.
"Ah... This commoner questioned a royal and assaulted him. He is unconscious," a guard replied.
"Who...?"
She looked around and saw the Duke lying on the ground with an injury on his head.
"This is a serious crime. We should bring him to court," Elizabeth said.
She then noticed Kevin's father crying, with an injury on his head.
She slowly walked towards him.
"You, sir. Tell me what happened."
"Oh, my queen! Forgive my son's foolish actions. He is just a child. Punish me for his crime!"
He bowed his head to the ground.
"Raise your head. Tell me exactly what happened," she said.
He slowly raised his head.
"I... I have the paperwork to put the stall here. But Sir Delonet was saying that it was his son's place and destroyed my stall. When I showed him the paperwork, he tore it apart. Then he punched me in the head. When my son came and saw this, he acted foolishly. I beg for your forgiveness," his father cried.
"So that is what happened...? Thank you for being honest," she said.
She crouched down, took a kerchief from her dress, and gave it to his father.
"Wipe the blood off your head."
She rose and turned towards the guards. Her face became serious.
"I ask that these two be questioned right now. Avelyne..."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Ask the court officials and Lord Valethorn to be present here at once," she ordered.
"Yes..."
Avelyne conveyed the message to a messenger.
"Do you have anything to say? If you don't, be prepared," Elizabeth said, looking at Kevin.
"I don't care," Kevin replied.
"You..."
Avelyne unsheathed her sword.
"AVELYNE!"
Elizabeth screamed. Her voice echoed through the market.
Even Avelyne was shocked. She had never seen Elizabeth this angry before.
"Why...?" Elizabeth whispered.
Within minutes, a small court was prepared in the market.
Elizabeth sat on a throne at the front.
Kevin and the Duke, who had regained consciousness, stood opposite her.
"The incident that happened in the market is now being judged. The first defendant is Joel Lowborn, son of Jason Lowborn. The victim is the Duke of the Northern Region, Sir Delonet Septor.
"The case will be judged by our honourable Queen Elizabeth Avastine Claustes."
Lord Valethorn announced.
"Sir Delonet, you may speak. What happened there?" Lord Valethorn asked the Duke.
"This worthless scum put his hands on me! Everyone at the market saw it. There are witnesses. He did it without any provocation or assault!"
The Duke shouted.
"Does the defendant have anything to say in his defence?"
"Yes, my lord. He is wrong. I didn't put my hands on him. I kicked him with my leg. He is wrong," Kevin said.
A couple of laughs echoed through the market.
"Silence! So you admit that you assaulted him?" Lord Valethorn asked.
"Yes..." Kevin replied.
"Can you explain why you assaulted him without any provocation?" Lord Valethorn asked.
"Without provocation? His whole existence is provoking me. He thinks too highly of himself. He can call me anything he wants. But I'll never forgive him for speaking badly about my father and punching him in the head," Kevin said.
"He is telling lies! I did not do anything," the Duke claimed.
"Let his father speak," Elizabeth said.
"Yes, Your Highness. Jason Lowborn, you may speak now," Lord Valethorn ordered.
"Oh, my lords. I was selling fruits there, and Sir Delonet came there claiming it was his place. But I had the paperwork. Then he punched me for saying the law and destroyed my shop. My son came and saw this, then kicked him. That's what happened," his father said.
"Had...? What happened to the paperwork?" Elizabeth asked him.
"That's... Sir Delonet tore it to pieces," his father replied.
"I... What lies! I did no such thing! This is a direct insult to my position and royalty!" the Duke shouted.
"So you don't accept the accusation?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, my queen."
"So what is this, then?"
She took something in her hands and showed it to him.
The Duke began sweating.
"This was something I found on the ground. We can clearly see the seal of the Three Gods, proving that this is official paperwork. It seems they are telling the truth, Sir Delonet," Elizabeth said.
"My queen, are you siding with these lowborn scums instead of a royal like me? They are useless! I am a Duke. I have duties. I'm worth a thousand times more than them!" the Duke asked the queen.
"Here we go," Avelyne sighed.
"What...? What did you just say? You dare question my honour? I show no discrimination. I stand with the truth. And here, it stands with these gentlemen. You know what could happen to you, right? You will be stripped of all your duties. If you want that, I could just snap my fingers!"
Elizabeth shouted.
The whole market became silent.
The Duke sweated heavily. His breathing became heavy.
"I find Sir Delonet Septor guilty of questioning the law, insulting the seal of the Three Gods, and assaulting a middle-aged man. What is the punishment, Lord Valethorn?"
"It's three hundred gold coins and one thousand lashes. If he cannot pay, imprisonment for five years," Valethorn said.
"Forgive me, Your Highness! I beg for your forgiveness!" the Duke pleaded, bowing to the ground.
"Yeah, have it that way."
She ignored him and turned towards Kevin.
"And you... Even if the truth is on your side, you shouldn't assault a Duke. You should be punished for that as well. Lord Valethorn?"
She asked the lord.
"Ah... For assaulting a superior-ranked man, the punishment is one hundred gold coins and five hundred lashes. If he cannot pay, three years of imprisonment. Considering this case, however, we can make some changes," Lord Valethorn said.
"Oh... My queen, I beg of you!"
His father cried and bowed to the ground.
"Ahh... Have any suggestions, Lord?" Elizabeth asked Lord Valethorn.
"No, Your Highness. You can decide and give the judgement."
"In that case... Hey, you!"
Elizabeth looked at Kevin.
"You have ten minutes to impress me. He called you worthless. It's time to show your worth. Show me how you can be useful to us," Elizabeth said, sitting down.
Do something, her mind whispered.
"Is that okay, Lord Valethorn?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, Your Highness. Even if he assaulted him, confessing to a crime can be considered an act of honesty. It is completely legitimate," Lord Valethorn said.
"So you may start," she said to Kevin.
Kevin looked around.
What can I do? I only know how to dance and drink. How can I be useful?
"It's better to do something than die with nothing."
"What...? You don't have anything to show?" Lord Valethorn asked.
"I can dance," Kevin said.
Silence.
Then everyone laughed.
"Dance?"
"Who else can't dance?"
"He is making fun of the court!"
The crowd laughed.
"Silence! The man said he has a talent. Dance is a valuable art, and professional dancers are rare these days. You may proceed," Elizabeth said.
A musician came forward and began playing an instrument.
Kevin took a deep breath.
Complete silence.
He moved his hands around.
Everyone was still laughing.
But then... Just when the music shifted, he began his performance.
He used all his experience from both worlds and moved across the market like a bird.
His movements were incredibly smooth. His styles were unfamiliar to them, almost impossible to follow.
Everyone's laughter disappeared. Every pair of eyes locked onto Kevin.
Elizabeth looked at him like a child. Her mind seemed to drift away.
Even the Duke was shocked.
Kevin moved like a feather, occupying every corner of the performance space.
The musician almost lost track of him because he couldn't keep up with his movements. With no other option, he slowly brought the music to an end.
Kevin read the music and stopped, striking an elegant pose.
Once again, silence spread across the market.
A faint clap echoed.
The crowd joined in, and soon it became a huge round of applause.
Tears came from his father's eyes. This time, they weren't tears of sadness.
Lord Valethorn looked at Elizabeth.
She was still looking at Kevin without blinking. A faint smile appeared on her face.
Lord Valethorn smiled and stood up.
"Joel Lowborn, you are hereby invited to the castle to perform," Lord Valethorn announced.
Elizabeth snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Valethorn. It was as if he had read her mind.
"The court is dismissed," he announced.
Everyone returned to their stalls.
Kevin ran towards his father.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"My son... I'm proud of you," his father said, patting Kevin.
"That was amazing," Lord Valethorn said as he approached them.
"You may come to the castle next week to perform in front of the queen. Keep your head up. You may get a position in the castle," Valethorn said with a smile, handing him a letter.
"Thank you, my lord," his father said, bowing.
Elizabeth turned around and walked with Avelyne towards the stage.
She looked back at Kevin and smiled.
"I'll wait for you," she whispered.
"What is it, Your Highness?" Avelyne asked her.
"What...?" Elizabeth replied.
"No, I heard Your Highness say something."
"It's nothing," she said with a smile.
Avelyne looked at her in confusion.