Chapter 21
A za bathes in hot water, trying to wash away the day, the memories, the everything in between, but neither heat nor time can erase the past. So she dries herself off and stares back at herself in the mirror.
Her eyes droop, and the circles under them are getting larger.
Aza rummages through her bag for anything that might cover it and make her look less exhausted.
She sets aside what she’ll use and reaches for her hairbrush first.
As she brushes out her hair, she pulls part of it into a high ponytail and lets the rest fall down her back. She takes two strands of hair to leave out on either side of her face to frame it.
Aza covers the exhaustion and stress on her face with powder, then uses kohl to darken her lashes and eyes.
Then she coats her lips in a deep red. Aza doesn’t usually put all of this on her face, but if this is one of her last chances to gather information, she is willing to play every card she has, no matter how foolish it feels.
One thing Aza has learned as a woman is the power of seduction, both its good and bad aspects.
Aza makes her way over to her wardrobe and pulls out the red dress Jahar had stopped on earlier. She puts on her undergarments and slips into the dress.
The dress is gorgeous. Aza cannot deny that.
Half of it is strapless, the other side held up by a thick strap with flowing layers.
The neckline accentuates her breasts and dips low between them.
The corset top runs down her stomach and stops at her waist, cinching in.
From there, the fitted skirt with a slit up her right leg.
Behind her, layers of fabric cascade down like a soft train.
This dress will turn heads. She had just wished she were wearing it for different circumstances, like maybe a nice, romantic picnic with Jahar, one where the night would end with her dress on the floor and Jahar inside her.
Focus!
Aza has to scold herself to stay on track and not let her mind wander.
Besides, she was still mildly upset with Jahar.
She’s pretty sure that his intentions were purely for her sake and safety, but sometimes she wished she wasn’t coddled so much, that her thoughts, opinions, and ideas weren’t shut down so easily.
She wished she had more power in her words, her actions, her fight.
Tonight, she was trying to do that, even if she didn’t know how it would end.
When she is as ready as she will ever be, Aza steps out to meet Jahar. She was surprised to see him.
“Are you guarding alone?”
“Um, no… Ramsee had to relieve himself. Actually, he’s been gone for a little while…” his voice trails off as he looks her up and down, “Wh-what are you wearing?” he stutters.
“A dress. Do you not like it?” Aza does a little twirl, “This is the dress you picked out earlier.”
“Mhm, and I remember you saying some things about it earlier. What are you playing at?” He asks quizzically.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Aza says, feigning innocence, “would you please see to it that the King knows that I am ready for dinner at his earliest convenience. Thank you.”
Aza quickly turns and reenters her room.
Still, she doesn’t miss the way Jahar’s gaze drags slowly back up to her face.
She gives him a teasing smirk, and he looks as though he is restraining something far more dangerous than a snarl.
She shuts the door on him. Aza grabs a book and sits on her bed to read, passing the time.
It isn’t very long until Jahar knocks on her door and enters the room.
“The King is ready for your company, Princess.” Aza can hear irritation in his voice.
“Thank you, Sir Jahar. Has Ramsee returned so that we may go?”
“Yes, Princess. We are ready to escort you,” Jahar announces as Aza slides off her bed and adjusts her dress, “And Princess.”
“Yes?”
“You will not be left alone with the King tonight. Am I clear?” Jahar commands.
Aza should feel angry at being ordered around, but instead, heat unfurls low in her belly instead.
“Yes, Sir.” She purrs, brushing her hand along his arm as she walks by.
Jahar grabs onto her arm and spins her back around to face him. He tips her chin up with two fingers. He looks down at her with a stern face, but heat darkens his eyes, and he’s suppressing a growl.
He wraps his fingers underneath her chin to hold her gaze in place, "I am serious, Aza.
Never. Alone." He commands. "This is a dangerous game you are playing.
You know nothing about this king or what he has done, and now you are throwing in blatant seduction.
Even decent men have lost themselves in it, and I do not believe he is even a decent one. "
"He may not even care. He seems to only care about himself and his empire’s wealth."
"Some men consider having certain women wealth too, and no one would be able to not fall under your seduction spell."
"Even you?" Aza asks softly, looking up at him through her lashes.
He lets out a rough sound before releasing her face. He turns to walk away, but Aza catches him by the arm and pulls him back. Without hesitation, he hooks an arm beneath her thighs, lifts her, and pins her to the wall.
"You keep testing every scrap of resolve I have built over the last few years.
" He purrs in a low tone, "Princess, I consider myself a good man, but you make it so incredibly hard to remain so.
If you insist on one last meeting with this king, then go now, before I decide you are not leaving these chambers looking like this.
If I can barely hold back, I fear what a man like him would do. "
All Aza can do is take in a sharp breath.
No words form on her tongue. She can't think past the heat of his breath, the hand firmly behind her, or the dripping wetness between her legs.
She is half tempted to kiss him right here and now and see how far he will let them go, but she knows he would not want that here, and this is not a safe place to test him.
Her point is proven as Ramsee enters the room without warning. Jahar takes one giant step backwards. Aza can see the worry in his expression at getting caught in such a predicament.
"Hello, Ramsee. Jahar was just helping me fix my necklace so that we could head to dinner. All is set now, and I am ready to go." Aza says, reaching for the first excuse she can find, for their closeness.
Aza isn't sure whether Ramsee believes it, but he doesn't seem to care much about her or his job.
"Very well." He replies, unenthusiastically.
Aza makes her way past Jahar, who starts to trail behind her, and Ramsee does the same.
They arrive at the grand dining hall and are greeted by the King, seated on his throne, speaking to a guard kneeling before him.
His eyes lift briefly, then drop again. There’s a moment of shock before he looks back up at Aza, and his eyes widen in surprise.
A sinister smile curls across his mouth.
He waves the guard away and stands, walking towards them.
"Good evening, Princess Amiaza."
"Good evening, King Abasi," Aza says as she curtsies.
When she looks back up and starts standing, she can see his eyes lingering on her breasts. The look makes her inwardly shiver with apprehension, but her face remains neutral.
"I look forward to our feast."
"Of course. Please be seated." He gestures to the set table, his place at the end of the table and hers to his right.
Her guards fall back into the shadows of the back wall. Abasi glances at them but says nothing. She takes her seat, and he does the same. The plates, silverware, and even the goblets that hold their wine appear to be pure gold.
Aza cannot fathom how much wealth lies within the castle walls and the surrounding cities, yet the few willing to answer her questions spoke of immense poverty outside the main walls.
How could there be such a disconnect? How could a king allow this to happen?
“Forgive me if this is too bold, but I can’t help but notice the immense wealth of your empire. You say you do not participate much in trade, so how do you remain so well taken care of? It is quite admirable, I might add.” Her tongue feels as if it is on fire, sputtering these vile lies.
“My people are well skilled in providing for themselves and this empire. What we do not have, we create. What we do not know, we learn. And it doesn’t hurt that we have a large gold mine, but that is as much as I can say on that.
Fine, valuable metals can make men and kings very greedy, so I assume you understand why one would keep such a thing hidden.
I must keep my people and resources safe.
Even if someone were to try to take what is mine, they would not make it very far past my soldiers and guards.
” Aza feels certain he is hinting at something, but she cannot distinguish what.
“Yes, I could understand that. I was merely just curiously in awe of your empire’s beauty. We have many beautiful things and luxuries in my kingdom, but yours seem to surpass.”
“Mhm, is that so?” He asks, trying to hide his snarky tone, confusing Aza as to why, considering she just gave him a significant compliment.
“What is it like being the King?” Aza asks, changing the subject.
“It is endless work, we may have many luxuries, but they were not merely given; they were forged through blood and sweat, acquired by force of will, and extensive planning and execution of such plans. My job is never done. I must rule over all my subjects, command a massive military, and protect all within my empire. It is not for the weak of heart.”
“How large is your military? Where do they stay? I’ve only seen a few soldiers in the markets and occasionally in the castle, but I mostly only see guards.”
“I have nearly fifty thousand soldiers, and they live in specific villages and camps around the Empire lands.”