Prince Edward brought out his magic necklace from his pocket. The power in this object could counter Patricia's magic necklace. He just had to be in closer proximity to her. He turned to his chief eunuch, "I want a full entourage. We are going to the temple. It will be great to speak to the gods today."
The eunuch looked alarmed, "My Prince, the weather at that spot looks treacherous. I fear it might harm your health, my Prince."
Prince Edward frowned, "Do you tell me what to do now? Do not make me get mad at you."
The eunuch bowed in fear, "I would never. I am only concerned for the Crown Prince's welfare. If the rain beats you and you fall ill..."
" I come from a great line of warriors. We fought under the sun and in the rain. Just do as you are told," Edward dismissed him.
The servants rushed out as the eunuch gave his call. Prince Edward walked towards the temple and was faster than usual. The servants had to keep up. When Prince Edward got closer to the temple, he slowed his pace. He cupped the necklace in his hand and whispered to it. The weather calmed in less than thirty seconds.
***
Patricia saw the clouds clear and she frowned. She could guess Philip was responsible for this. Only he could counter her magic necklace. Then she sighted Prince Edward coming with a lot of servants.
Her hand covered her mouth as she gasped, "What is he doing here? Oh no! Am I in trouble?"
***
The skies were clear, but Side Consort Eva and her maid were a complete mess. Side Consort Eva's makeup was ruined, causing various lines of colors on her face. Her clothes were soaked in water, and her hair resembled that of a mad woman.
She was on the floor breathing hard, after fighting against the rain. When Side Consort Eva sighted the prince, she was horrified. "If he sees me like this, will I lose face? What will he think of me!" She rose to her feet and tried to hurry away. She wondered if she could find a place in the temple to hide.
Prince Edward sighted Side Consort Eva and almost burst out laughing. Patricia was so petty. Why get revenge this way? At the heart of Eva's weakness. Eva was a vain woman and always proud of her looks. This attack was one targeted at Eva's self-esteem. Prince Edward smiled. He might give Patricia a little help.
"Who is that figure I see," he said to his head eunuch.
The head eunuch strained his eyes. On realizing who the person was, his eyes widened. Prince Edward noticed.
The head eunuch turned to the prince, cleared his throat, and said, "I do not know, Your Highness."
He was lying; the Crown Prince knew it. "Call that person," Prince Edward commanded.
The head eunuch hesitated.
Crown Prince Edward frowned, "Do it now?"
The head eunuch hurried away and began to yell, "Do stop. The Crown Prince asks to have a word with you at once!"
The figure pretended not to hear; she walked even faster.
The head eunuch shouted again. "Do you defy the Crown Prince? Stop at once!"
The figure stopped on her tracks and turned. She walked closer to the Crown Prince, her legs shaking, her head bowed.
"Lift up your head," the Crown Prince commanded. When she hesitated, he walked closer to her and used his hand to tilt her face upward. "Well, who do we have here? You look very familiar. You look like Side Consort Eva? Why do you look so... horrible?"
Side Consort Eva began to shake. "My Prince, it was the rain. I came here to get the flowers from the temple as you instructed. But the rain fell. It came with such strong wind..."
"The rain, huh?" The Crown Prince cut in. "Maybe the gods sensed your insincerity and sent this sign to warn you. Do you not think so?"
Side Consort Eva shook her head, "I am very sincere to the Crown Princess. I believe Your Highness will judge rightly."
"Hmmm, well, I am not pleased to see you like this. I like my women looking beautiful and attractive. This must never happen again. You must go to the Crown Princess's mansion and beg for pardon. But before you do that, I will have a change of clothes sent for you. You are still my side consort, after all. I would not want anyone else to see you like this. Hurry into the temple now." Then the Crown Prince turned to his head eunuch, "Make arrangements for my side consort."
The head eunuch gave instructions to some servants, and they hurried away.
Now that Prince Edward was done with Eva, it was time to turn his focus to Patricia. "Where could she be hiding?" He thought as he looked around. He considered spots where anyone could safely hide and yet get a bird's-eye view of the surroundings. He sighted the small house and smiled to himself.
"Head eunuch, I feel tired," he said.
"The Prince may rest at the temple," the eunuch responded.
"No, I want to rest there," the Prince pointed to the small building.
The eunuch considered it for a moment. "My Prince, that was the spot for the former guardian boy of the temple. We have not had a new guardian boy in years. That place will not be fitting for Your Highness."
Crown Prince Edward did not listen to the eunuch's blabbering. He just began walking swiftly towards that direction, and all the servants followed.
***
Inside the small building, Patricia could see the Crown Prince coming with his servants. Her thoughts began to go wild. "What the hell is this? Why is he walking towards this building? No, it can't be! He can't be thinking of coming here, can he? If he comes and he finds me, what do I do? Will I be in trouble? Think, Patricia, think!"