Queen Without Crown

Chapter 46 The Arrival of Foreigners

King Satria took a thousand soldiers to the Bay of the Mermaid Princess. It was located at the very end of the coastal region of the Elfian kingdom. To get there it takes a day of riding.

King Satria reached the coastal area just before dawn. The dark sea began to appear golden when the sun began to rise at the end of the horizon. Salty-scented sea breeze waving her hair that was as color as sand.

"How's the condition?" King Satria took binoculars from the hands of Suseno, a border guard officer.

"There are three ships that have double sails, front and rear. According to information from the soldiers who were on the reconnaissance ship, the foreign-flagged ship sailed at a speed of 13.7 knots. They're expected to reach the shoreline in about 8 hours."

The young officer gave an explanation to King Satria who was observing the ocean using binoculars.

"Command the soldiers to stand by. We don't know yet whether they came with good intentions or otherwise." Her purple eyes glittered in the morning sunlight.

"Your Majesty." The young officer immediately left to organize his army.

Then King Satria entered into his tent which was set up not far from the location of his Summer Palace. The man closed his eyes for a moment, resting to relax his muscles after an entire night of riding.

Around noon, as the shadows began to shift slightly from overhead, on the horizon lines began to be seen the silhouettes of ships with bulging sails.

King Satria again observed from his binoculars. But there was no sign that the ships belonged to the pirates.

"Be prepared!" His order.

All eyes were on the ships that had a large stern on the side of the hull. When it had reached the shoreline, the ships began to roll up its sails. In the middle of the blue-green sea, the crew was seen throwing anchors into the sea.

Each of the ships took down a small boat. Some people came down using a ladder made of rope and boarded a boat. The small boats then glided slowly towards the beach.

Each boat was filled with four men. They waved the white flag of peace towards the Elfian soldiers who had been on standby ever since. The skin of the pale white Elfian soldiers, now looks reddish due to exposure to the sun for too long.

Then when their boat had set foot on the sand, the men descended into the sea water soaking their feet into the calves. They dragged the boats and set them on small rocks.

"Greetings to the Elfian King!" Call them in a polite manner.

The king of Satria nodded his head at them. Simultaneously bows belonging to Elfian soldiers who were ready to throw arrows were immediately lowered.

"Who are you?" Asked King Satria while looking at the oriental-faced foreigners.

"We are merchants and acrobats from the mainland East Sea. We're here to try our luck in this country." Said a handsome-faced man whose black hair was pigtied and tied with a white cloth.

"Acrobat?" King Satria raised his eyebrows.

"We present magic shows, walking skills on ropes and also animal shows." Answer the handsome man.

"So you're a circus troupe? Can you show me your official documents?" King Satria asked while looking at their unusual appearance.

The man took out the folded letters from under his clothes. Suseno's officer immediately picked up the letters and then checked them out.

With a nod, Officer Suseno hinted to King Satria that the documents they had were legal. From the stamps found there, indicating that they are used to trading in various countries.

"Alright, you can trade and perform in the territory of the Elfian Kingdom. But you are not allowed to carry weapons of any kind!" King Satria.

"Thank you Your Majesty!" They all bowed respectfully.

King Satria then walked towards his tent, but he whispered something to Officer Suseno. And the officer nodded his head.

After King Satria returned to the tent, the soldiers went to their ship to check. It turned out that they were carrying animals in iron cages. They also brought tents and horse carriages.

*****

People from the mainland East Sea held their wares at the market of a small town called Luz. The location is not far from the Bay of Mermaid Princess.

In addition to carrying various ceramic crafts and watercolor paintings, they also perform art and acrobatics performances.

The residents immediately crowded their booths and were willing to pay a fortune to buy show tickets.

The group formed a caravan by riding several chariots. After two months of moving from city to city, they finally arrived at the capital of the Elfian Kingdom.

"I heard that the merchant troupe from the East Sea has already reached the capital?" King Satria asked Atmaja, his guardian of trust. They were currently in one of the watchtowers in the Elfian Palace.

"Right be Your Majesty."

"Has there been anything suspicious about them?"

"So far there's nothing to suspect."

"Alright, keep an eye on them and tighten the guard at the palace!"

After Atmaja left, King Satria again watched the colorful tents whose roofs had taper tips from the watchtower. For a long time no circus company came to this country.

When King Satria returned to his residence, his wife was putting their baby to sleep. The tiny baby looks so adorable lying with his eyes closed in the crib. A lullabies song flows beautifully from the lips of the mother.

"Gaalon mein khilti kaliyon ki mausam

Aankhon mein jadhu honthon mein pyar"

King Satria hugged his wife's waist from behind and kissed her head.

"I'm always curious about the song you're always singing."

"That's the song you used to sing to me as a kid."

"What does that song mean? I don't understand the language."

"Flower season will bloom on her cheeks. Magic will emanate from his eyes and affection from his lips."

Queen Gita slowly unraveled her husband's embrace. Then hesitantly he turned around and looked into the eyes of King Satria.

"That's the language used in the Kingdom of Dewanata. My mother was actually a Princess of that Kingdom!" Her speech.

King Satria was shocked. He did not expect that his wife had the same blood as King Bharata.

"Why didn't you ever say that?"

"Because I don't think it matters. But after learning that the Dewanata Kingdom attacked the Elfians, I became even more hesitant to say so."

King Satria was silent looking at his wife's worried face.

"But I swear that I do not know King Bharata! Since I was a child I have lived in my father's palace."

"It's okay. I get it, don't worry about it."

King Satria hugged his wife. He did not want this to affect their relationship. The bloodline his wife has is not a sin.

"I want to take you out tonight, do you want to?" Say it while peeping the cheek of Queen Gita.

"out? You mean get out of this guesthouse?"

"Get out of the palace. I want to ask you out." A very charming smile adorned his face.

That pair of beautiful eyes instantly sparkled.

"I want to."