The Prince had even less interest in his children. Occasionally he would awkwardly pat one of the children on their heads but for the most part he actively avoided talking with them or dealing with them. The children did not mind, for they had their mothers and each other, and their father did not seem to be impressive in any way. Life continued on, but things took an unexpected turn for the worse soon after. When the fourth wife’s stomach swelled up with life, the enemy country unexpectedly decided to attack the border. 

The area they attacked was very close to the second wife’s family and she soon received updates that the enemy country was actively trying to seize the border territories for themselves. The woman informed the husband of this, but he deemed this to be a dramatic letter and indicated that his sources had relayed that forces had gathered at the border but had not yet made any move to cross. Dismissing his upset wife, the Prince went back to discussing with the other male nobles, unaware that his actions would lead to dire consequences.

Soon more letters came in, written in hurried handwriting and signed with drops of water scattered throughout, indicating that the writers had been crying. With great sorrow, the second wife learned that the invading forces had attacked her homeland and her father had been injured fighting the enemy. Distraught at the news, the woman again approached her husband, begging for reinforcements to be sent and for their people to be saved. Once again, she was turned away, the Prince insisting that his sources had been reporting no new behavior. Horrified by his response the woman returned back to the Princess Palace and asked the other women for advice on what to do.

The Princess thought long and hard about the current situation and soon, with a heavy sigh, got up and grabbed a chessboard. The other women watched with wide eyes, because they knew that the Princess only grabbed the chessboard when she was thinking through a very complex problem. The Princess began muttering and setting up the chessboard, her fingers deft and quick as she set up the board, moving pieces out of the box they were stored in onto the board with efficient grace. The board soon became a complex mix of white and black pieces, displaying a pattern that only the designer seemed to understand.

After much thought, the Princess tilted her head and made one final adjustment of pieces before her face seemed to turn grim and her eyes became hooded. The Head Lady-in-Waiting also looked at the pieces on the board, her face taking on a grim look, and hands clutching the tea she had brought tightly. Based on their looks, the others knew that whatever the Princess had deduced would not bode them well. With hesitance, the other wives asked the Princess what her conclusions were, and she simply responded with a shake of her head and a hand wave to the Head Lady-in-Waiting, asking for a pen and papers with haste.

Soon the Princess sat the others down, the letters having been written quickly and then sent out to their intended recipients. The Princess soon explained that they were all in grave danger and that it seemed that a group of insurgents had worked together with others from the neighboring party as part of an effort to overthrow the kingdom and create an empire. Those who assisted would have been promised higher ranks and riches for their efforts she was sure.