Chapter 3
A za’s father had set up this party to celebrate Aza’s twenty-first birthday and her blossoming into a beautiful young woman who would bring light and prosperity to her kingdom and would one day forge a strong alliance with another kingdom through marriage.
It was time to start meeting suitors. Typically, this started at the age of seventeen, but Baba had put it off as long as he could, probably longer than he should have.
Although Aza knew this was part of her princess duties, it did nothing to quiet the anxiety gnawing at her.
She would do anything to keep her people safe and flourishing as they had been, but the thought of marrying a man she hardly knew, having to lie with him before she was ready and become a vessel for birthing children didn’t quite sit well with her.
But this was the way of the world. A marriage alliance and a promise of an heir were the strongest ways to connect kingdoms and keep resources flowing in and out.
As if that wasn’t frightening enough, she also had the little matter of her seeing and hearing things that weren’t there.
It was easier to keep it hidden in her own palace walls and her people adored her, so the ones who noticed she was different didn’t say anything about it.
Still, she knew it wouldn’t earn her any marriage offers if suitors knew that their future queen might be a little crazy.
That’s how the healers had essentially put it.
They didn’t exactly come out and say those words, but when they looked at her and her father with pity in their eyes and told them there was nothing physically wrong with her and nothing they could heal or fix, they might as well have said it was all in her head.
Aza finally told the healers about the visions, the voices, and the nightmares after her mother’s passing.
At first, they wrote it off as grief, but it never went away.
But it wasn’t as though her mind didn’t work or was completely broken. She still had a lot to offer. She didn’t present herself as simply a royal above everyone else. She used her status to help others.
She was known as the most beautiful maiden in all the lands.
With her reddish brown waves that flowed down her back, her rosy pink full lips, freckles that adorned her cheeks and nose, the honey glow of her flawless skin, the captivating sky-blue of her eyes, and the petite curves of her small frame.
She was the embodiment of beauty. She only worried the darkness hidden inside her would eventually corrode all that beauty.
Although she did everything she could to prevent that.
But here she stood in front of much of her kingdom in the grand dining hall.
Her father was still dragging on about all that she would one day bring to their kingdom, while she had endless thoughts swirling around in her head.
She knew her father meant well. He wasn’t a bad guy or a bad king.
He was just a little inattentive sometimes, especially to her.
He ran his kingdom well. His people prospered, and the streets were filled with music, dance, and parties, and everyone worked together to raise food.
But she felt sometimes that it was hard for him to look at her.
She wondered if she reminded him too much of her late mother, and he never quite healed after her death.
She had taken her own life unexpectedly when Aza was around the age of thirteen, and he never truly understood why.
He thought that they were happy, that she was happy, but Aza didn’t think he ever really saw past her beauty and quiet nature, didn’t truly see the shadows hiding in her eyes, the days and nights when she seemed lost or somewhere else.
Even though Aza was a young child when her mother was alive, she could still remember the times her mother’s smile never really reached her eyes or the times she would stop speaking in the middle of a sentence and just stare.
She thought that Mama had done her best to hide all this from her husband, but she didn’t hide it as well with Aza.
Aza had wondered much of her life if Mama was afflicted with the same condition Aza had, but it wasn’t something she could talk to her father about, and her maternal grandmother was never around. So, everything was still a mystery.
But here Aza was, standing in the great hall, surrounded by some of her kingdom’s people, many faces she recognized, but some she didn’t, for there were visiting dignitaries and some royalty coming to see the beautiful princess that would now be on the market for marriage alliances.
She wasn’t ready, but it didn’t matter. It was time to start at least looking and discussing marriage alliances. Most princesses didn’t get the luxury of waiting or having a little more time. So she was thankful for what her father had given her, but she was still anxious nonetheless.
This evening she was dressed in a gorgeous, pale pink gown.
The neckline dipped low, exposing some of her cleavage, and the silky material clung tight to her curves.
From the shoulder straps hung layers of fabric that cascaded down her arms and flowed when she moved.
Gold flowers detailed the bodice and neckline.
A dainty gold chain with a flower- shaped cluster of diamonds rested against her chest, her mother’s necklace.
Her shoes were golden heels with straps that wrapped around her legs in spirals.
Aza had lost track of how many eyes lingered on her in this outfit.
But all the attention she was getting was making her a little queasy.
She had spent the last half hour shaking hands with various guests—mostly dignitaries, royal advisors, and such who had traveled far and wide to meet the Princess.
There were a few of her kingdom’s people who came to wish her a happy birthday.
They would never know how truly grateful she was to them, not only for their kindness but for the small break from her anxiety she would get from seeing a familiar, friendly face, rather than the hungry eyes of men who wanted something from her.
But nevertheless, she had to remain poised and in character.
Her father, King Nefir, was a modestly tall man with a slightly rounded belly that he tried to hide under his large royal overcoat.
He had tanned skin that was beginning to show more spots with age, and grey hair that curled and slightly touched his shoulders.
His green eyes were kind, but she could see the years weighing heavily on him.
But in a setting like this, his smile, whether real or fake, never faltered.
Aza guessed that’s what years and years of practice did.
The next guest in line to meet her looked like the definition of royalty.
He wore a dark blue, large jacket with square shoulders and accents of gold.
The man—though more boy than man in Aza’s eyes—had golden blonde hair that was cut short and stacked on top of his head.
He had dull blue eyes, a hooked nose, and patchy blond stubble trying desperately to grow in.
Aza never understood why the responsibility for an entire kingdom and all the people living there could be entrusted to such young and inexperienced people.
Marriage did not prepare someone to rule, and Aza never understood why, for the most part, that was the qualification for becoming king and queen.
Aza sure didn’t feel ready to rule. Not that queens got much of a say in anything, but nonetheless.
Aza had helped her father and his advisors from time to time, and she couldn’t remember a time her ideas had failed, but she still wouldn’t consider herself anywhere near ready.
And maybe one never truly was, but she thought that experience should be taken into consideration for qualification instead of marriage.
But who was she to truly make decisions?
She was just a pretty face, a bargaining tool, and that was exactly how this young man in front of her was looking at her.
“King Nefir Rashidah,” he starts with a bow, “my name is Prince Evander Oberon of the Lethius Kingdom. It is with great pleasure that I traveled across the Ocymas sea to meet you and your daughter. I know that we haven’t even spoken yet, but I have been watching, and not meaning to come off as too bold, I must say I think she would make an exquisite addition to my kingdom, and we could foster a strong alliance and trade agreement. ”
An exquisite addition? What was she, a trophy? A collector’s item? Aza thinks, appalled.
“It is an honor to us that you have travelled all this way to be present at my daughter’s birthday celebration. Your words and offer honor us, and we can discuss this further, but as of right now, I would like everyone to enjoy the celebration.”
Prince Evander looked a little taken aback, as though he’d never heard no—or even maybe—before but despite the brief slip-up, he continues in his collected, sugar-coated, yet slightly arrogant demeanor when he says, “Of course, Sire. I was merely just putting my thoughts out there. In the meantime, however, I would love to be so bold as to request a dance with the beautiful Princess when the time comes.”
“That can certainly be arranged. Again, thank you for travelling all this way, and we will have our discussion. Please enjoy the rest of the festivities, and if you require anything during your stay, please don’t hesitate to ask.” Aza’s father gives a polite nod of his head, a silent dismissal.
He gave King Nefir one last smile and bow, and he glances at Aza and takes his leave.
“You know, for someone wanting my hand in marriage, he could’ve at least looked at me.” Aza blurts while still trying to hold her ever-so-gentle but entirely fake smile as she looks out into the crowd.
“He asked to dance.”
“Baba! He asked you if I could dance, not if I wanted to dance.” Aza says with a small sigh.