The festival of Bastina was at its peak.

And after enjoying the first day of the festival it was time for everyone to get back to work.

Today Zhan had to present himself in the court after he came back from the war.

"I really don't want to see her face." Zhan grumbled, "Seriously, she is going to spout some nonsense again."

He said as he stood in front of the mirror and got ready, Yibo smiled as he heard his husband grumbling before he came to him from behind and helped Zhan put on his cape, Zhan smiled when he saw him through the mirror and Yibo gently massaged his shoulder as well.

"Just relax, okay?" He said, Zhan, sighed and turned around to face his husband. Yibo smiled at him, "We just have to tolerate her for a few more days."

Zhan's smile dimmed, "This rebellion... this is a good idea right?"

Yibo's smile slowly faded, "What's that supposed to mean? are you backing off? after coming so far?"

Zhan shook his head, "No, I am not, I just feel a little scared after coming from the battlefield I have already lost many soldiers, I know war, Yibo... I just don't want to lose you or anyone else."

Yibo gulped he can't even give Zhan any sort of assurance because death is a reality and it can happen to anyone at any time,

Yibo just gave him a small smile, "How about we forget these worries and only focus on each other? on our family?"

Zhan smiled, "That's indeed a great idea."

"Alright let's go no more talking."

~~~~~~~~~

"General Zhan!" Cassandra called out his name with a bright smile, and with enthusiasm, "I am so happy that you are back, and along with you, you have bought great victories yet again."

Zhan smiled as he stood before her and bowed, "You are really being generous with your words your majesty."

Cassandra laughed, "No, not at all the contributions that you have made towards this nation of us is really great, to honor your sacrifices and bravery I will award you with several gifts, hope you like them."

Zhan replied gently, "Whatever your majesty bestow upon me I shall except it... and your majesty king Orion Huxley, wants to pay you a visit in order to swear his allegiance to you."

Cassandra nodded, "Sure, sure, I would love to see how you managed to make that stubborn king surrender."

Zhan said nothing although he clearly heard mocking in her tone.

A few minutes later Orion walked into the court, and bowed his head before the Queen, "My greeting to your majesty."

Cassandra smirked at him, "My, my I never thought that one I will have a king as stubborn as you here." she mocked and Orion clenched his jaws but Zhan had already warned him about all this.

"I accept your greeting," she said, although she does not like Zhan and Yibo but these two people are really best at conquering nations and even conquering people's hearts.

Orion looked at her and said, "I hereby swore my loyalty to you, your majesty. I promise to never betray you or speak ill of you."

Cassandra smirked, "And what can you do to show your loyalty?"

Orion looked at her and at Zhan as well who just gave him a small nod and Yibo observed quietly.

Orion cleared his throat, "Your majesty I shall offer forty percent tax to The empire of Gealach."

Cassandra laughed as if she had heard something funny, "Forty percent tax? are you joking right now? What will happen by forty percent tax?"

Orion gulped and looked at her with worry she however stopped laughing and her eyes became cold, "the tax will be sixty percent."

Orion's eyes widened, "But you majesty that will not be good for my people..."

Cassandra interrupted him and said, "Seventy percent."

Orion looked at her with a horrified face and Zhan glared at her while Yibo was already looking down and rubbing his forehead, Orion looked at Zhan, who stood up and said, "Your majesty, the people of the kingdom of Inya, they won't be able to earn if we impose such heavy tax on them, they are already suffering so much because of the recent wars hence..."He stopped when Cassandra raised her hand.

She then looked at him and said, "If not tax then we have another way to conquer your land, I hope you don't want that." She said and Orion felt utterly humiliated and powerless his people are going to suffer either way, "Or... you supply slaves."

Orion looked at her and Zhan sighed,  these past few years, the treatment against lower caste people have improved they still suffer a lot but they are not taken as slaves many thanks to Yibo and his influence on the nobility since all of them want to impress him and want to be on the good side with him they don't allow ill-treatment of slaves in their territory.

However, if the slaves are from different countries then they will be treated worse and especially if they are coming to Cassandra and the temple.

Cassandra said, "You see, our land is really in need of slaves in order to thrive more and I have heard that your people are very hardworking moreover your nation is not as big as the Gealach empire.

You don't need much money to maintain your kingdom, while the Gealach empire is huge, of course, it needs more tax. To thrive and also to cater to the needs of small kingdoms like yours. I hope you understand, after all, no one wants bloodshed neither you nor us."

She said sweetly and gently, Orion felt so enraged that he might explode however he looked at Zhan who gave him a small nod.

Orion took a deep breath and gave her a small nod, "Yes your majesty I accept your offer, you shall get seventy percent of the tax." he said.

"Perfect." She said, "Now please stay for a few days and enjoy our empire's privileges, festival of Bastina is just here and I hope that you will love it... and if you have any problem then you can always go to general Zhan."

Orion closed his eyes and sighed before he face the queen again, "Of course your majesty, general Zhan is some that I admire from the depth of my heart it is only and only because of him that I am here and you got the profits of Seventy percent tax. In your empire, I find him the most worthy and respectable."

He said and Cassandra smiled but it was a cold smile, Orion knew that he should not try to act smart but his anger got the best of him, the thought that this Queen wanted his people as slaves made him go insane.

"Allow me to leave your majesty," Orion said.

"You are dismissed," she said and Orion bowed before her and gave one small nod to Zhan before he left.

The court meeting continued for some time more but one thing that bothered Cassandra was how much Zhan and Yibo had their influence in her kingdom.

Yibo had a good hold on the nobility while Zhan conquered so many nations and almost all were respectful to him while they clearly disliked her.

And all of this happened slowly, and gradually so naturally that she didn't notice but now she did.

And she did not like this, these past few years she did not bother anyone of from the dukedom because of Rufus, she listened to him since she trusted him but now as she saw the nobles giving Yibo respectful bows.

And engaging in conversations with him and admiring him she did not like this because before the nobles hated him and he hated the nobles but not now.

All of this gives her a very bad premonition that something is not right here.

And she never lets the evil rise, Cassandra has a habit, that whenever something bothers her even in the slightest she annihilated the cause of her worries in an instant.