The Kings Mistress Chapter 31

[ … words ]

“Ida, what about regular folk? Do they get blessings from the Patrons too?” she asked.

The maid pondered in thought for a moment before answering, “We do! But the ceremony is tedious and time-consuming to prepare. Not to mention expensive too. Hence, not everyone would partake in the Resonance. But there are some who are compelled to do so. Especially if their families worship a specific Patron for a period of time.”

Sierra nodded. A smile formed on her face knowing she still had a chance. Looking out at the open sky beyond the window, she wondered what would happen when she partook in the ceremony.

Will she be blessed by a Patron? Or perhaps this was where her journey in Drakin would end. Just then, a servant came up into Sierra’s room.

“Kai? What is it?” Ida asked as she looked over at the young man who was no older than fifteen.

“Queen Roxine has given an order. She has invited all the princesses in the Celestial Lodge to take a tour of the Patron Hall!”

The Patron Hall was where the statues of each of the six Patrons were kept, it was also where the Resonance would take place. When all the princesses and their attendings arrived at the Hall, they were in awe. None of them had ever had a Hall with such a unique structure.

It was a rotunda, a circular room with a statue of each of the six Patrons and a corresponding altar in front of it. Two scholars were invited by the Queen to give the princesses an educational tour of Patron Hall.

They started off by introducing each of the Patrons to the princesses.

“There are six Patrons in total. Krysa the Crystal Tiger, Kitsu the Nine-tailed Fox, Marin the Sea Serpent, Nysa the Jelligent, Bouris the Chimera, and Twylight the Pegasi.”

Everyone marveled at each Patron’s carved marble statues. Intricate detail was carved into each one of them. Their eyes were encrusted gemstones, glistening under the sunlight that shone in through the windows near the roof.

“I heard there’s eight, not six,” Princess Agnes voiced as she folded her arms.

“You must be referring to the Celestial Pair, Dravin the Dragon, and Fyra the Phoenix,” the guide explained.

Sierra looked all around the Rotunda. She did not see the statues for the Celestial Pair that the guide had just introduced. Were they especially hidden away from the public?

Before she could open her mouth to ask, someone else bit her to it. The guide was more than happy to explain. There are few people, regardless of the class they belonged to in society, who have ever been blessed by the Celestial Pair.

Some say that in order to receive a blessing from the Celestial Pair, it would take great sacrifice or strength and willpower.

“There have been those in the past who have been driven mad by the powers granted by the Dragon and the Phoenix. Those who survive don’t have their minds intact and those who don’t make it simply return to dust.”

Some of the princesses began whispering amongst themselves. While they did not pay much mind to the warnings about the Celestial Pair, they were keen to know which of the Patrons would favor them.

But Sierra was curious to know more and she was not the only one.

“But King Alistair resonated with Dravin the Dragon, did he not?” Princess Cassandra asked.

“Yes, that is correct.”

As expected from the King of Drakin. It could not be more fitting. The King blessed was blessed by the Dragon itself, there was no greater honor, no greater power.

Having heard about the Celestial Pair, Sierra was intrigued. She wanted to see them for herself. When she approached one of the guides to ask about it, she was unfortunately declined.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Only the Shrine wardens, the Head Shrine Priest and Priestess, as well as the Royal Family, would be allowed to view the Celestial Pair.” the guide explained.

“What about during the Resonance? Even if someone resonates with one of the Celestial Pair, they won’t be able to view the Patron who has blessed them?” It did not sound right.

Princess Cassandra scoffed, “Someone like you would never receive a blessing from the Celestial Pair. So I suggest you don’t fret over detail like that.

After all, in Drakin’s recorded history, only members of the royal family had ever resonated with the Celestial Pair. It’s clearly impossible.”

Sierra frowned as she narrowed her eyes while looking at Cassandra. But the princess did not even give her the basic respect one would give to a fellow human. The guide could feel the tension between them choosing to remain silent for a moment.

But to prevent the awkward silence from going on any longer, the guide explained to Sierra that Princess Cassandra’s information was accurate. To have someone who resonated with one of the Celestial Pair was not an everyday occurrence.

Some even say that it takes over a century or longer just for one to appear.

“Is it true that offerings to a Patron could increase the chances of gaining a blessing?” Another princess asked.

This question caught everyone’s attention. But before the guides could answer, one of the maids whispered to the princess she was serving.

“I heard that one of the nobles made several offerings to the Nine-tailed fox and eventually got their blessing!”

This certainly got all the princesses talking. Even Myra was thinking of what she should prepare. Sierra did not really pay it any mind. Ida could tell from her expression.

“Would you like to prepare an offering for the Patrons, Your Highness?”

Sierra bit her lip and shook her head, “I don’t think I will. Feels a bit too much like bribery if you ask me. I don’t think bribing a diety is a good idea.”

Ida smiled as she nodded her head. She agreed with Sierra, the whole idea seemed a little off. After the tour concluded, each princess was given a few books that had information about the Patrons.

Some did not pay it any mind but Sierra was intrigued and ready to find out more. As the princesses were escorted back to the Celestial Lodge, they made their way through the castle grounds on foot.

It was a warm-weather day, with the sun hanging high up in the cloudless sky. Some of the princesses had their maids open up an umbrella for them or were fanning themselves with a folding fan.

Sierra did not mind it at all. She looked up at the sky to look at the birds flying by as they continued on their way. She wasn’t looking where she was going and was about to bump into the princess in front of her if Ida had not caught her in time by her sleeve.

“Thank you, Ida. You’re a lifesaver,” Sierra thanked her in a whisper with a grin.

When she turned back to look forward, she was surprised to see that all the princesses have stopped in their tracks. Up ahead, there was a familiar figure riding on horseback. Sierra shielded her eyes from the sun as she narrowed them, hoping it would help focus her vision.

“It’s the King! It’s King Alistair!” One of the princesses exclaimed with glee to her attending maid.