~Chapter 7: Dance Reception~

Everyone was in the ballroom, duo-dancing as the musicians played slow, soft music, with Benja and Sayaka slow-dancing with each other.

Raya and the other four Princesses, however, had joined hands, forming a circle, and were dancing with each other and were the only people in the room who weren't duo-dancing.

"Are you happy...to me back to my old cheerful self?" Benja asked.

"Hahaha." Sayaka laughed. "Yes. You will no longer be seen as someone to be pitied. It's happy Chief once again from here on out."

"You know, it's like...despite all that happened last year with Runa's death and what i've been through since then with my sorrow...she's still my wife...and i'm still her husband. And nothing's ever gonna change that. Not even death." Benja said.

Sayaka smiled warmly at Benja, glad see him smiling and happy again after twelve long months. She knew he would come around eventually, she just didn't know when or how. Never-the-less, this celebration had got the job done, and she was glad that Ezra had clued her in on planning it. It made her feel like she had played an important role in Benja snapping out of his depression. And for that, she was grateful.

Dang-Hai walked over to Benja and Sayaka. "Congratulations on the celebration."

"Aw, thanks." Sayaka said before Dang-Hai walked off. "Oh! Almost forgot." She said as she stopped dancing with Benja and turned away from him. "Everyone?! May i have your attention?!" She shouted, getting the people's attention, making them stop dancing and focus on her, with Raya and the other four Princesses letting go of each other's hands, breaking the circle they had formed, and they looked at Sayaka. "Thank you." She said. "So, uh, in the absence of my dear friend, Runa, i guess it leaves it to me, her best friend-the palace maid, to make this speech, so i am happy to do that. I knew Runa for a very long time. We use to talk about Chief Benja a lot. Good stuff, of course."

The people erupted in a brief laugh.

"She was always smart and kind, and of course, Chief Benja fell in love with her when they were in their 20s. Runa had grown up among the people of Heart and, uh, Chief Benja had grown up here in the palace as the Prince of his parents, the now late Chief and Chieftess of this nation, who have sadly passed on. Sorry, Chief." Sayaka said.

"I'm alright." Benja assured, with a smile on his face.

"Hahaha!" Sayaka laughed. "But the one thing they did have in common with their son and Runa is that...they loved each other so much. And...even though they're not here now...none of us have forgotten about them. And when we all came together today...and the time was right...Chief Benja brought us together to honor Runa's final wish for Kumandra. And...i am so happy that we are here today. To Chief Benja of Heart. May you be happy...and cheerful...for the rest of your life."

All of the people applauded and cheered after hearing Sayaka's speech, along with Raya and the other four Princesses.

"Is it always this exciting here in Heart?" Sakura asked.

"Not always. In fact, you could say that this is the first time we've had any excitement around here in months since my mother's death." Raya said.

"Sorry for you loss." Tami said.

"It's alright, that was twelve months ago. I'm completely over what happened to my mother and i've made peace with it. I mean, if my father's finally moving on, so should i, right?" Raya said.

"I suppose. I mean, it has been a year since your mother died after all. I would say it's time for you to move forward in life. Go for it." Umeko said.

"Thanks, i will." Raya said.

"Excuse me." Namaari said. "If you don't mind me asking...where was your mother laid to rest after the accident?"

"We buried here in the temple of Heart. After we had her funeral, we carried her up there in her coffin and placed her in her grave. She use to go up there a lot to see Priest Ezra when she was growing up. She loved hearing him tell the story of the legend of Kumandra and how one Dragon saved the whole world from a bunch of monsters known as the Druun with some gem and then disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again. Supposedly the gem is hidden somewhere in the temple, according to legend." Raya answered and explained.

"You're mother actually thought that the legend of Kumandra was real?" Sakura asked.

"She not only thought it, she believed it." Raya said.

"Seriously?" Tami said.

"Oh, yeah. She firmly believed that legend was true. I think that's why she shared it with me so much over the years." Raya said.

"Can you show me? Where your mother is buried, i mean." Namaari said.

"Sure." Raya said.

"Can we come too?"

"Yeah, absolutely. We'll sneak out to the temple tonight when everybody's asleep. Deal?" Raya said.

"Deal." The other four Princesses agreed.

Little did the five Princesses realize that after tonight none of their lives--or the world--would be the same ever again.


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