The Moon and the Little Sun had made their way into the long hallway leading to the plaza's balcony and had met briefly with her father who would enter first. To say that he was stunned when he saw his daughter was an understatement. He was smitten. But he composed himself soon after. Today was a day of great importance.

Helmear was trailing behind them, remaining silent and vigilant, while looking his best.

Aenith was escorting Nashakra their arms intertwined.

“Are you ready?” he asked them both.

“Yes father.” she replied while her mother said “Yes, dear. Let us begin.” while looking at Nashakra and smiling down at her.

The Great Sun of Triakith nodded and left in direction of the plaza.

Soon enough the gong was heard and the announcement was made, this was their cue to move out.

They walked slowly and with a head held high onto the same balcony.

The real sun would soon reach its highest point in the sky and was shining brightly upon them from a cloudless blue sky.

“The Moon and the Little Sun of Triakith.” the same servant announced them just as he did the entrance of the King.

The entire audience watched while holding their breath. It was deadly quiet. Everyone had long anticipated this event. And they were not disappointed.

The Little Sun now stood at the front with The Sun and The Moon to the sides a foot behind her so everyone could get a good view of her. Helmear stood further behind them.

They were shocked and stunned speechless. They had never seen someone with white hair. They also wondered what the paint on her skin was for. Simple decoration? Still, it could not be denied that it did enhance her beauty. And her appearance was mesmerizing. Her clothes were well chosen and fit her perfectly.

Some people could not help but break the silence and start chattering amongst themselves.

Many thoughts were going through the heads of the attending people. They were talking about her hair color the most since it was really eye-catching. They had never seen such whiteish hair color. Some started to doubt whether the king was really the father and the queen may have betrayed him with another man. Quite the scandal of course no one said anything.

The more faithful people saw it as a sign of the gods and believed the little sun to be blessed. While there were a handful of people who even saw this as an omen. That humanity had disappointed the gods and they were being punished. Why else would her hair not have the same color as everyone else?

They were so stunned that they even forgot to bow and greet her, more interested in their chatter. Not really an insult considering the circumstances but still not right either.

Nashakra did not bother to read any of their thoughts. It was already clear what she would be seeing.

The king nodded to a servant and the gong sounded once more across the plaza. It snapped the people out of their thoughts and back to reality.

“We Greet the Little Sun of Triakith,” they said while bowing.

“Beginn the rites, bring in the prisoner,” the King commanded.

Two guards were escorting the prisoner, he was gagged so he would not scream and tightly bound with chains. He knew what awaited him and would surely struggle. More guards came and helped to secure him to the altar with ropes on his wrists and ankles when he tried to fight them, a last-ditch effort to save his life but it was no use.

No one had pity for him. He was a bandit leader and the people he led had murdered guards and merchants of a caravan, they slaughtered even the children. Just as they showed no mercy they would not receive any. The other bandits had already been executed their bodies hung from the Great Wall as a warning to all others who thought of breaking the law.

His crimes had been made known before so they did not need to repeat it at the ceremony.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Nashakra would sacrifice him to show the people that she would do everything to ensure justice and be fair to them. To lessen their fears. It was quite the spectacle for many, public executions were always visited by huge crowds.

Once he was on the altar he still continued to squirm and tried to scream through his gag, they were muffled. The guards had left and returned to their former positions while those who escorted the prisoners stood by the sides of the altar making sure everything remained safe. It was then that Nashakra began to move from the balcony along the stairs towards the altar.

The priest with the sacrificial dagger was walking to the side behind her while two guards were also escorting her. They would not take any chances with the Little Sun’s safety..

She moved with beautiful grace that mesmerized the people who watched her and she received many lecherous stares. The initial excitement of seeing her had worn off and now many saw something that they desired.

Once she reached the altar she turned her head and looked at the audience who stared back with anticipation. Nashakra did not want to make this too much of a spectacle. The priest moved beside her and bowed presenting her with the dagger.

She looked at it, it had a handle made of gold set with many different jewels, rubies, emeralds, smaragds, and more as well as elaborate decorations together with the Symbol of Triaktiths Royals. The blade was simple shining steel reflecting the sun.

“Praised be the Gods.” She said while bowing to the altar.

Nashakra then held a small speech about how she would protect the people and further their kingdom.

She took the blade from its pillow with a single motion and slit the criminal’s throat, allowing him to bleed to death. He deserved it. While the prisoner was gasping for air the crowd was excited once again. Some looked a little sick. Especially the princesses and princes.

Since this rite was only for the True Heir they had not killed anyone ever and had a different ceremony for their introduction to society. One princess most likely the youngest one even wanted to leave but she was held back by her mother. She had to watch this if she ever wanted a chance at the throne.

Life in high society was not without bloodshed. In fact, they only stood higher than others because they were willing to trample upon those who they perceived as weaker.

Nashakra smiled at everyone then returned the dagger to its pillow and made her way to return to the balcony, the guards once more falling in line with her while the two who came with the prisoner were preparing to remove the body once the prisoner had died.

When she had returned the High Priest stood behind her and spoke.

“As the High Priest of the Sun, I hereby proclaim Nashakra, as the next Great Sun of Triakitk”

“May the Gods blessings be upon you,” he said and then placed the tiara on her head.

—

Arwyth was fuming with rage once she was back in her chambers. She was stunned when she saw the girl. Was she really the king's daughter? No one had such hair color. The bitch Queen must have lain with a demon or some other unholy being.

Triakith had changed much in the last decade, her influence and that of her family had shrunk considerably. She may be a princess but she had been wedded off, and money was far more attractive. Money which Triakith was swimming in right now.

She could no longer wait for someone else to get rid of the girl. She needed to do it herself.

—

Stancre had just left the chambers of his mistress. He had been attending the Rite of Passage of the little Sun just as she did. He was glad and thought himself lucky to finally have left his mistress alone. They would be burying two bodies tonight, it was getting harder and harder to conceal the evergoing stream of missing servants and it got more expensive.

The mistress had been so displeased she even disregarded her father's warning, the letter in his hands was proof of this. She would take matters into her own hands. He would deliver it to a messenger outside who would deliver it to a group of bandits that were under mistress Asund’s protection. They would be ordered to kill the little sun.

Once the messenger going by the name of Aten received the letter he got on his horse and rode off, it was deep in the night yet the moon was clearly visible. A bad omen, it felt like the Queen was watching but he could not stop.

He rode along the road until the morning came, leaving the path and going into the jungle, the sentries had seen him long ago but they recognized his coat of arms so they let him pass unmolested.

“Greetings, I carry a message from the mistress for the leader,” he said.

“This way, he is waiting.” one of them replied. And Athen followed silently through the cave they entered in the mountainside, it was a natural cave lighted with many torches. They had worked hard on this hideout and even installed some doors and built rooms in a cavern.

They stopped outside a room, moaning and the sound of slapping could be heard as if flesh hit flesh. Aten was uncomfortable but he needed to get through this. He needed the money for his sick son. The doctor's elixirs were expensive and his wife was not doing well either not that he cared much about her his child was more important.

The Bandit knocked on the door just as a scream could be heard from the inside.

“What is it?” thundered the voice of the bandit leader.

“A Messenger from the Mistress Great Lord.” the bandit replied a little cowed. He even addressed their leader with such a stupid title.

The door opened and a grisly scarred face with black hair that went to the shoulders appeared.

Aten could see three women inside the room, they were beaten black and blue while being naked. None of them moved anymore.

“A message from the mistress huh? Is she unhappy with our loot? Or does she just want to complain to someone about her oh-so horrible life?” he said in a condescending tone while laughing.

“Follow me,” he commanded.

The Bandit leader found it hilarious that a noblewoman like Asund who had almost everything and was even a king's mistress would sponsor them. It was however none of his business if the wench wanted to spend her coin on them he would gladly take it.

He liked to be the master of his own life, everyone quivered in fear of him and the women were great.

They moved down the hallway and went into another room. It was bare there was nothing there.

Aten suddenly got a really bad feeling about this but he could not turn around now.

“Now that message, where is it?” the bandit leader demanded.

“Here,” Aten said while taking the crumpled letter from his pocket. He was about to hand it over when it was already snatched out of his hands.

And just as suddenly a dagger was buried in his chest. He did not even have the time to register what happened, he just dropped to the ground dead.

“Stupid fool.” the bandit leader said to the dead body while laughing, even more, then he went outside.

“Clean up the rooms, make the bodies disappear like always,” he commanded the bandit who lead the messenger to him with a stern and authoritative voice that told everyone mistakes would not be tolerated.

Now he needed to read that message, just what did the bitch want now.

Maybe invite him to her bed? He would love to teach her some manners.