"This mysterious disease has so far only taken the lives of the weak old people so far. Thank heavens nothing happened to our small children, the light of the village." The old lady said at the end.
"True, I could only imagine the pain one must have to go through on loosing your child." Her husband added.
"So the disease only affects the low immunity people." Nayeon muttered to herself.
"Is there any link that connects all the villages?" Chaeyoung asked.
"As I told you about the Yawa river.. it is the stream from the main Kadiko river." The old man stated thinking.
"That means all the rivers on whose banks the village settlements are situated are linked to the same source?" Mrinalini asked as they nodded. They all got up.
"We will come again around this time." She said as they returned to the palace.
They discreetly entered through the gates making as low noise as possible although only Mrinalini's people were there. They just did not want to take any chances. As instructed, the warm water was ready for them to take a bath and change their clothes.
"Why did we come back without checking for the symptoms?" Dahyun whispered to her.
"I think the situation is something different. Tomorrow's breakfast would be done here." She told them before seeing them off.
Come morning everyone was gathered for the excuse of breakfast to discuss about yesterday.
"So what is the situation?" Jihyo asked at the table.
"Not good, the people are paranoid, and the village looks like a ghost village already." Nayeon said what she witnessed.
"Any hint about the symptoms?" Tzuyu asked.
"I think the disease is spread through water not air." Mrinalini explained.
"The water source for all the villages are ultimately the same. And if it was an airborne disease why would it leave the castle?"
Dahyun hummed before asking "but I believe that we are utilising water from the same source."
"Yeah but the water is thoroughly filtered and is made free from all the germs before it is consumed by us." Jungyeon explained.
Before they could discuss anything further, a servant came up with a letter. "Princess Mrinalini, a letter has arrived for you." She said. The glanced and quickly replied
"I will see it afterwards." She said returning her attention to the table but before she could say a word, she was interrupted again.
"Your highness, this one has a red seal on it." She said in an urgent voice. Everyone's attention snapped to the servant. The usual letters always had a blue seal on them. It meant everything was normal, but the red seal was only issued when there was a war about to break out or someone was about to take their last breath. She got up and hastily removed the seal. Throwing the envelope as she read the letter. She read and reread it twice, thrice. Tears welling in her eyes.
"What is it?" She flinched even when Jihyo kept a soothing hand on her shoulder. She sat down with a thud. Her hands going to her head as she gripped her forehead sorrowfully.
"Everything is over..." She whispered "my mother, the queen, she is gravely ill." She said as tears welled up her eyes. Few gasps were heard at the table. Nayeon's eyes quickly searched for Jihyo's expression.
"You must leave at once." She said.
"But.." before she could protest Jihyo said again
"at the end you should never regret...we are here, all of us. Don't worry. Your mother needs you." Mrinalini got up at once heading back inside the chambers. When it was time to leave, she met the nine princesses for the last time.
"The queen will get better, don't worry." Nayeon said reassuringly.
"A queen never stops fighting, I am sure your mother will try her best." Sana said.
"Even if the worst happens, god forbid, believe me your mother's presence will always be there with you, watching over you." Mina said.
She nodded finally giving Jihyo a box. "if our situation gets out of hand, if the secret is no longer safe..open this box. I hope it helps." Handing over the box she bid them farewell.
As they stood there watching the royal carriage leave, all of them shared a common thought 'no matter how perfect she is, she is still a human.' they hoped to see her soon. That day immediately after lunch they decided to go to soul in the forest. It's been a while and they wanted to take a break, moreover they were missing the mystical bird. Since time moved differently in that magical space they could be rest assured about not wasting any time. The bird chirped up at their sight. Although it's colour looked a bit faded, soul's eyes sparkled with a whole universe settled in there.
They played around her, singing various songs with their melodious voice. Danced around her forming a circle, laughed and chatted. It was really hard not to be happy and forget everything while with soul. The sense of pure satisfaction always enveloped around the bird. When they were tired enough to just sit down on the benches made of grass, were they had the sense of reality washed back into them. For a moment Jihyo thought if they were actually enchanted by the forest's spell. Everyone sat their in comfortable silence.
"Soul, what is all this happening here?" Momo whined at her.
"It's so tiring to deal with something like this." Another voice from Chaeyoung this time.
"I almost want to give up but I know we can't stop here." Tzuyu said leaning her head on Momo's shoulder. Again everyone fell silent thinking about what was happening. Hearing her friends being disheartened Jihyo jumped up to stand in front of them.
"We can't get tired now, I know we all are upset over Mrinalini's departure...but know that she trusted this situation on us. We promised to work for a huge cause...we can't back up now." They sat up straight hearing their unelected leader's speech.
"She even left half of her servants who can understand our language. Just so we can still use our route." Mina mentioned.
Jihyo's eyes travelled to soul and she didn't know if the bird blinked naturally or was she encouraging her, approving her actions by blinking at her. They hugged together a sense of relief washing over them when they realised they were in this together...no matter what. They bid soul farewell to discuss about their further plan.
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The Nine Dancing Princesses (TWICE FF)
FanfictionA story about nine princesses who were enrolled in an University of Royalties. Reluctant to even talk to each other at first they realise that they find a soothing comfort in each other. The university which they hated the most, gradually becomes th...
