"Ly's Chancellor?" I couldn't believe what I just heard. "Chancellor… that is the highest official rank. A chancellor is someone who is under only the king. You are saying that kind of person of Ly is here!?" I screamed in my head.
While I was still dumbfounded at the sudden event change, Princess Sa Mi was ready to act. "Get me the fastest horse! I will be at the court immediately!" she ordered the servant. She then gave me Ly Giai's badge back. "We will come back to this at another time," she whispered and was about to storm off. But for some reason, My fingers, on its own, held her arm. "What are you doing?"
I realized what I did, but I didn't withdraw my hands. "Sorry I… felt strange hearing that name," I said with my mind not straight.
"What are you saying? What name?" Princess Sa Mi asked, her tone sounding frustrated at me for slowing her down.
"Ma La," I murmured like a lost man. "That name… is dangerous." A sudden ocean of fear and anxiety hit me out of nowhere, making me sweat cold while my eyes tremble in fear. "Your Highness… bring me as well," I uttered the words without thinking.
"What are you saying?" she couldn't understand anything I said. But upon seeing how bad I looked, she became concerned. "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
I shook my head violently. "I'm fine!" I raised my voice, unable to control my tone. I looked at her with desperation, urging. "You have to bring me with you!"
Princess Sa Mi forcefully removed my hand from her arm. It was not my intension, but I was unconsciously tightening my grip, hurting her. "Are you out of your mind?" she lowered her voice and gave me a cold look.
"I… I'm sorry! I wasn't in the right mind, but you have to bring me with you!" I apologized and continued begging.
The princess watched me closely for a moment, then crossed her arms and said, "Look at you, shivering beyond control. You are scared of Ma La, even though I don't know why you are so afraid of him. Why do you keep insisting to go see him despite being in fear that much?"
"I don't know. I don't know why that name is making me like this. I am very scared. Every hair on my head and every piece of my skin are yelling at me to avoid him, but there is something in me pushing me to see him no matter how fearful I am right now," I explained, nothing of it was logical enough to convince her, but I asked her one last time. "Please let me go with you to the court."
*Sigh
The princess let out a breath of defeat. "If you are that desperate, then come. But don't turn to me if this gets you in trouble."
"Of course not! Thank you so much!" I said with all my heart.
"Hurry! The court is waiting!" We rushed out the door and got on the same horse. "I will keep you hidden but close enough to see and hear the court. Be careful to not let anyone see you."
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…
Princess Sa Mi stuffed me in an abandoned room underneath the floor of the court. It must have been abandoned for a long time because the old smell of mold and the amount of dust in the air was overwhelming. "Stay here and don't make a sound," she warned me before storming off.
I was left alone in a dark and dusty room. The only source of light came from the top of my head, through the cracks above. Carefully placing my hands on the tiles and putting my eyes closed, I realized I was right underneath Sa's royal court!
Through the cracks, I could see there were tens if not hundreds of men talking to one another wearing long, grey fur coats with snow patterns, the symbol of Sa, that only government officials could wear.
"ATTENTION!" A voice shaking through the air from above was strong enough that I felt the vibration in the tiles.
I was shocked by the loud command, while the officials, as though they were customed to it, started to organize themselves into groups, standing left and right, leaving the middle of the court vacant. Luckily for me, this abandoned room was somewhere in the middle section, so I was able to have a good view. I would only be able to see a bunch of feet otherwise.
"KNEEL!" The same voice announced again, and as if they had practiced, the officials kneeled in sync, with their heads up and only their left knee touching the ground, like knights.
Then, without any announcement, the officials uniformly lowered their heads. I tried to look around to see if there was something that I missed, but because I was looking through cracks under tiles, my sight range was limited.
"Diplomat official. What is the situation?" a calm, deep, and soothing voice swept through the court. I couldn't see who was talking, but just his voice humbled me unknowingly.
"Your Majesty, Ly's chancellor, Ma La, and his people have been waiting outside. They can be called in at any time," the diplomat official replied with a shaky voice due to old age.
"Call them in," the voice of what seemed to be Sa's king said.
"SUMMONING LY'S CHANCELLOR!" the announcer yelled through the court to the outside.
A shadow showed up, and I tried to squeeze my eyes to the front to have a better view. It was a man, and behind him were more than ten people. They seemed to be his underlings. From my viewpoint underneath the floor, they looked so massive as they stepped in. The man in front of them caught all the attention of Sa's court.
A middle-aged man with tan skin stood out from any pale-skinned person. He had cleanly cut silver hair with a thin beard and mustache. To end it with a fancy and fashionable black coat with white fur decorated by gold flowers and patterns.
But the thing that stood out most to him was his eyes and smile. A pair of silver marbles as if they have seen the true essence of life itself and what it has to offer. A friendly smile that was both welcoming and endearing, yet at the same time showed power and confidence.
[Ma La's appearance with the help of AI.] [https://imgur.com/0zVL0ni]
His decisive steps captured the eyes and gazes of Sa's court entirety. The officials, with me included, held our breaths as he and his people presented themselves to our king.
The man and his people behind him stopped their feet when they were in the middle of the court. The tan-skinned man spoke loudly, "I! Ma La! Chancellor of Ly! Here wish His Majesty forever health and wisdom!" He clammed his fists together so loudly and with so much energy that a bang was heard inside the court. He then kneeled similar to how the officials did earlier, and the people behind him did the same.
Their sudden burst of energy was overwhelming Sa's official morale. Some tried to keep their calm, but they were sweating heavily.
"So this is Ma La," the king's voice, like a warm blanket swept through the court. It seeped into every official and helped them regain their confidence. "You can raise your head." Ma La and his people stood up.
The king continued. "I have heard of your many accomplishments. As expected, the aura you have lived up to my expectations."
"I am not worthy of your high praise, Your Majesty," Ma La humbly said, yet he smiled confidently, nothing humble about it. "Instead, it is my blessing to have a chance to hear your heavenly words, Your Majesty. Truly the voice of a ruler!"
From where I stood, I still couldn't see Sa's king, but he seemed to enjoy that, he had a light chuckle hearing Ma La's words of admiration. His laugh somewhat eases the tension of having the enemy's chancellor right in the middle of your royal court. When the chuckles ended, the king said, "We can cut the unnecessary back and forth. Let's get to the main topic. What are you here for? Ly's chancellor."
Ma La smiled. "I admire Your Majesty's straightforwardness. Then let's not waste time," he said and turned around to speak to Sa's officials, announcing his purpose. "As the chancellor of Ly. I am here to officially sign and complete the transfer of the eastern territory, that Ly has captured, back to Sa!" he announced and added "I know that there are many doubts and conspiracies about this agreement. I am here to listen and address any of your questions and concerns. I hope that my presence can ease and clear all your worries."