We secure friends not by accepting favors but by doing them.

"Your highness has requested to stay back for few more days" just as princess Y/n expected the queen sent someone to convey the message. Initially they were supposed to leave today but the king and the queen asked them to stay till the new moon festival. This festival is the biggest festival in their kingdom. It will be celebrated to express their gratitude to the goddess for the rain and crops. Every year they make variety of dishes and wear new clothes and enjoy the festival.

They all come out of their houses on the streets and together they pray for the wellness and peace of the kingdom. This has been part of their culture until Prince Hoseok took over the throne. Princess Y/n has seen the records of this festival in the library. It is good thing as it gave her some more time to investigate. "Looks like we will be delayed" Prince Jin announced as soon as he entered unaware that news already reached her. "I have been informed"

"What is your next plan then?" princess Y/n titled her gazing prince Jin. She has to admit that prince Jin is an enigma. He only shows emotions when he needed to. He is perfect manipulator and good at hiding his emotions. It has been hard for Princess Y/n to find out his intentions. "I could ask you the same thing" she shrugged waiting for him to speak. "I haven't planned anything milady" she scoffed at his words. She wouldn't believe him when he said that. She is damn sure that he already has a plan carved out. "Let me reframe it then"

"How do you plan to use me as your pawn?" his eyes showed mild surprise at her words but as soon as it came it disappeared. For a moment princess Y/n thought that she must have felt she was imagining it. "I am afraid I don't understand what princess is saying" she sighed leaning away from him. "Prince Jin, our condition was to support each other when we married. If you don't trust me enough perhaps I should just stop helping you"

She knows he already has a perfect plan laid out. It is not that she can't work on her own but she isn't aware of her surroundings. It would have been great if she had knowledge about the future like those she read in books. Normally in reincarnation books and transmigration books female leads are aware of everything. They know what will happen and how to prevent it but it is different for her. She was pulled in to a body of her own ancestor who she isn't aware of.

The attack at the border, food poison attempt only made her more cautious. She realized it is better to learn more about these people. The only things she is aware of are about her kingdom and back story of Ina. It came as surprise to learn about the king illegitimate son. But then again Prince Jin is not someone who would easily give up the information. She has to make him trust her and share his motives with her. "What do you think I am planning?" she snapped out of her thoughts when she heard him speak. "How can I guess your thoughts Prince? You are more capable than the king himself"

"Really?" Prince Jin eyes glinted with happiness as she praised him. Despite the era men love when women compliment them. It boosts their ego and it seems Prince Jin is no different in that manner. "If I am to still guess I would say you must be planning to remove Mr. Huang from his position" she explained how he might want to return the position to Ina father. "Indeed expected from the future queen"

Since Princess Y/n already guessed his motive Prince Jin didn't hesitate to share his plan which he discussed with Taehyung and Jimin in the tea place. "You are lucky I have planned it and managed to get the invitations for the event" she took two invitations from her bedside table. "How did you get them?" Prince Jin has to admit he was surprised at her capabilities. He knows she has connections but he didn't think she would be able to beat him at his game. "I haven't given you wedding gift yet right?" Princess Y/n leaned on her hand and leaned closer. "This will be my gift to you"

"Wait" Prince Jin grabbed her arm when she was about to leave. Princess Y/n wasn't expecting him to pull her and in the process her foot caught in her dress. "Careful" he grabbed her waist and steadied her. Due to the event her shirt moved up revealing her waist and Prince Jin landed on her bare waist which made her breath hitch. She glanced up to see frozen man in front her. Despite his emotionless face his ears turned red.

She couldn't help but smile as she saw how innocent he is. She has been watching him for days and realized he is cunning fox who pretended to be a foolish sheep. But when it comes to women he seems to be aloof and inexperienced person. She observed his sparking eyes and plump lips which were tightly shut due to sudden events. "You are staring" she snapped out of her thoughts and moved a step back. She tidied her dress and once she was satisfied with her appearance she looked up to see what he wanted to ask.

"We will go for sightseeing after lunch then" Princess Y/n is aware that they can't just leave to the event directly. If the queen or crown prince gets the whiff of it they will ruin their plans. She has to be extra careful as crown prince Marcel has already warned her. She didn't inform Prince Jin about it as they already seen it in the tea house. They will have to pretend to be sightseeing before they enter the party. Prince Jin left after that leaving her alone with her thoughts.

"Amera call William" once she is sure he left she ordered Amera. "He is here" William bowed to her and waited for her orders. "Did Evelyn reach safely?" Evelyn is going back home with the guards William assigned but before that she asked her to pass a letter to Jungkook. "Henry informed me that they reached the north border and he met Commander there" that means she met Jungkook and would be safe with him. She didn't have to worry about Evelyn as Jungkook will take her there. "Commander sent a letter for you"

She took the letter and skimmed the details. It was plain letter which didn't seem suspicious. She then burnt the letter on the edges and few secret messages appeared on it. Her eyebrows furrowed as she read his message. Amera gasped on the side as she unintentionally took a glance of the letter. "Any further commands princess?" she tapped her fingers on the table thinking about it. She initially wanted to inquire about the attack that happened on her. It turns out Lady Oletta has joined forces with crown prince Marcel and the queen.

Jungkook mentioned in the letter that Lady Oletta is the one who leaked their departure details to the queen. It seems she is eager to kill her this time. As she heard the queen Y/n was killed after she ascended the throne then why did it change now? Could it be because she intervened and changed the marriage of the queen?

"Send this letter to Prince Hoseok and this letter to Jungkook" she passed two letters to both of them explaining further instructions. She asked Prince Hoseok to keep an eye on Lady Oletta. She previously asked Zedia and Yoongi to find weak points of the court ministers. She knows if situations arise in future it would come in handy. "Prepare the dress for me for this evening" she ordered Amera who got busy in the work immediately.

***

Princess Y/n eyes sparkled every time she saw a new thing. Currently they were taking a stroll around the city market. Since the festival is around the corner lot of stalls has been prepared in the market. Even in future she didn't have much experience in this kind of things. Being a princess she has been trained continuously from her childhood. Even when she has free time she couldn't visit market place due to her status.

Whenever there were festivals she has to visit as crown princess and attend the formal events. She never has chance to visit the stalls or market place that were kept around festivals. Now that she has chance she wanted to thoroughly enjoy this moment. "Is that moon cakes?" she awed looking at the cute shapes and steaming white cakes on the tray. "They are well made" she couldn't help but gush at the art made on it. "Please pack this" Prince Jin handed the money to vendor who in return packed the freshly made moon cakes.

"What is that?" she asked pointing to a stall where small crowd gathered. Prince Jin walked towards it along with her. They saw someone playing bowls game. He kept an item under it and people around were making bets on it. She observed the game and saw the vendor was playing tricks. "Prince Jin, can you lend me some money?" he passed it to her without asking about it. "I bet on it" she placed her money on one of the bowls making the vendor bewildered. She grinned at him knowing she won the bet. She has been trained in martial arts and she wouldn't fail to guess a small thing like this. Initially she didn't want to bet but seeing vendor dishonesty she played it and treated him a lesson.

They wandered around the market for a while and soon their sightseeing came to end. It was time to get back to business. They got in the carriage and rode towards the main event.  

Author Note:

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♥♥SN_Angel♥♥