Queen Neemah is livid. The emir had the guts to shun tradition and mock her orders. The painful truth is, she cannot call him out for it. She had ignored his orders first!
She is still waiting for the result of the investigation about how Aairah got out of that maze. It's too strange to blame it on luck. If Aairah is that lucky, she wouldn't have been in the maze in the first place.
How can such a good opportunity pass so effortlessly? It is pure horror imagining a second Aaidah. Each day that she had spent at the palace, brings forth a crashing wave of eager wrath that threatened to consume her. She was lucky she never really had the emir. Or her death wouldn't have been so swift.
Now Aairah...
The emir's strong reaction came as a surprise. It betrayed his rage which cannot be contained just because Aairah was hurt. It also went without saying that something fishy is going on. He cannot fall in love easily. Even if they looked the same, there is no way he will love two sisters in a short period of time. She has this nagging feeling that she is missing something.
She had sent for Basma and is wondering why her friend is taking so long to appear before her when the doorkeeper announced that Lady Basma has arrived.
Queen Neemah sighed in relief. For she needed true companionship that day. The grey areas in her heart keeps amassing territory. She needs to talk to someone and unload or she might just go crazy from everything!
"Your highness!" Lady Basma bowed.
Queen Neemah dismissed the pleasantry by waving her hand. "Sit" she ordered.
Basma sat and looked at her through shrewd eyes.
"Aairah is proving difficult isn't she?" She mocked. If the queen wasn't so afraid of the emir, the girl would've been reduced to nothing by now. She does not pity the queen's situation.
"You can pretend to be a little understanding" Queen Neemah stated dryly.
"But you still wouldn't believe it either. We both know that this problem is a situation of your own making. Destroying her family would've terminated the marriage between her and the emir. Or at least, she would be nothing but a tier below the concubines, forgotten and dismissed. She would be no threat at all! But you had to care about his highness's feelings and reactions! Time heals all wounds. He would have forgiven you in time. And that is, if he had found out!" She exasperated.
"You fool!" Queen Neemah growled. Her anger took over and the frustration chafing her restraint sprang free with a staggering force. "I wanted that more than you damn you! But my freaking father took an interest to her elder sister and would be marrying the whelp in two weeks time! My father is not emir! Destroying her family will not terminate his marriage contract! It will ruin us too!" She spat angrily.
Basma kept her mouth shut. But she is silently cursing the mrithi Bini for being a randy idiot who cannot control his impulses! It is true. Queen Neemah must be cautious about tainting her family name. If the Abdulaziz clan is accused of being demonic, it will raise the question of whom she had affected and why the mrithi Bini had decided to marry her. Perhaps the mrithi wanted something from the family like spelling the emir or hurting him to prevent fingers from pointing at the queen..' they will think. There are a number of things the queen lacks, biggest of all, heirs. And could therefore be able to seek spiritual help even if it is on the other side!
"But I won't have a child taking what is mine! I want to destroy that girl. But slowly and painfully Basma. It is time I begin to oust the little devil and make an example out of her. After Aairah, no woman will want to marry the emir even if she is half crazy! I swear it!" She vowed.
Basma frowned. "How do you propose to go about it?" She asked. Tired of talking about the sane thing over and over again!
She would have talked. But her most discreet maid and informant came to tell her that one of the elders is here to see her. Queen Neemah knows that if elder Abu is here, then there is something very serious he wanted to report.
The elder Abu is the only elder she had successfully integrated into the besluitnemers whose loyalty is not to the emir. It was hard work. She needed to do all sorts of things to make certain the emir does accept him as one of them. He knows better than to come see her in the open. So he always sent her must trusted maid, Hara, and she would arrange a discreet meeting.
Queen Neemah nodded and she excused herself for a moment from the Lady Basma's side. Once she came face to face with the elder Abu, she instantly knew that there has been a new development which is not in her favor. This man is extremely loyal to her. He owes everything to her. And the way he is sweating with his body language all tense and worried, she knows that the meeting did not bode good news for her.
"Speak!" she stated impatiently.
"The emir is electing female besluitnemers" he began hesitantly, pausing to see her reaction.
"And?" She demanded with some growing annoyance. The worst the emir could do is add Aairah within their fold and therefore draw some power to her. As a besluitnemer, Aairah will not be easily shaken or accused. She would have people clamoring to gain her favor and might even be popular if she played her cards right...
"And he is calling them Wamuzi" he added, his eyes blinking with tension.
He wasn't sure the queen will remain so calm after what he is about to say. So he scanned for exits. She is so feisty when she is angry. And one never knows when the next vase will fly over their head! If it didn't hit the head! Or more seriously, injure it in the process.
"Do I look like I have time to waste Elder Abu? Who cares what they are called? It's the same thing damn you!" She snapped crossly.
"He wants the new wife to lead them. You will not be a part of it!" He told her, squinting his eyes to gauge her reaction in the not so bright room.
She froze for several seconds straight.
Queen Neemah blinked furiously, trying to understand the impact of those words. A crazy laugh pulled free from her throat. "Hhaahhaa impossible!" She mocked. "It will happen, over my dead body!" She enunciated every syllable with a chilling clarity!
Elder Abu became concerned. Wasn't it better if she threw things? She is looking really crazy right now...
"Calm yourself your highness. It can be changed if you placate his majesty. Solve your differences" he implored with worry..
He did not anticipate the vase that came for him. But the queen is furious and needed to let out steam! She cannot do that in her room because Basma will see! She snapped, throwing things to relieve her stress. When the crash explodes, it gives her a sense of destruction that she needed to feel so she proves to herself at least that is less than useless.
The elder Abu ran off in a hurry since he got lucky and the vase didn't injure him too deeply.
When the queen came back to her room, she looks somewhat okay. But nothing could hide the wild look in her eyes. Basma likes what she sees. When Neemah gets wild, things are bound to happen. It's been too still at the palace. It is time that things move and change and opportunities which where previously closed could open again and power shift is eminent. Ma sha Allah!.
"It is war" she promised.
Basma pretended surprise and added for effect "are we still talking about Aairah and her exile?" She asked.
"We are talking about Aairah" she confirmed. "...and about power" her smile could chill glass as she added "and yes. About wolves and sheeps and foxes"
"Ooookay?" Basma implored. Now she need not fake it. She is more than just surprised.
"It is time we elect the Daja Gburugburu" she announced.
This leaves Basma wondering how it all came about.
Queen Neemah is busy calculating the events that must unfold. You wish to snatch my power from under my nose Aariz? She mused. You don't know who I am.
I am a shadow princess. Not just your queen!
Go ahead, elect them. Let us see if Aairah can lead them while I elect my own version with stronger loyalty to me. I will die before any lady becomes loyal to Aairah. I will use their desires and conquer them. I will leave no doubt that I am sovereign and I cannot be challenged!
"But you must think Your highness. If you revive the Daja, you will chance exposure. The risk is too high. I don't believe the Bini clan will accept it" Basma warned.
"If you become Sultana. And I am queen, there will be no one left to challenge me" she pointed out.
"What about his eminence?" Basma inquired. "He is the total power and he has too many loyal subjects. How do you bypass him?"
Queen Neemah frowned thoughtfully. "One day, even he will be my slave" she vowed. "From today onwards, it is his love or his will" she decreed.
Basma smiled with relief. What are men good for anyway? They are better off as pawns or slaves to fulfill specified goals.
...
The day opened with a fresh meat to devour by the masses. The news that the elder council are choosing female besluitnemers caused such a rippling sensation.
Every shop, office or joint cannot help but discuss the issue. The law has passed that morning. Of course everyone approved. Choosing female besluitnemers is a great opportunity. Clans are divided into tiers in Maicki. Every tier is according to the ladder of social hierarchy. The great seven clans are the first seven on the first ladder. Lower nobility are clans on the second ladder. They include a number of prestigious clans who have contributed in some way or the other to the development of Maicki. The third step on the ladder are ordinary citizens and everyone else that is unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
Maicki is divided into zones. Every zone has its Hertog and every city has its earl. There is at least one high nobility in all the zones. So if the emir is choosing female besluitnemers, then of course there is a great chance that one will fall from their vicinity. Having a besluitnemer in a zone is a privilege not all can boast of. It comes with its own package of goodwill. They will have a voice directly at the top.
But the issue is that everyone is expressing their grief that the queen will not be leading them. Some feel betrayed. The queen is generous and kind and cares about them. Some began to attack Aairah. She is just a little girl with a shady past. She wasn't good enough for his highness in the first place. But now she aims for power? She cannot be up to any good. What had she done for the people? Nothing! And she thinks she can waltz in and rule them! Impossible! The outcry burst from social media. Aairah is cursed for being a witch that uses underhanded tactics. In fact, queen Neemah's supporters began to riot and things began to take a drastic turn.
The Royal publicists put heads together to find a solution. In the end, they formed a pressed conference so the queen can address her people and calm their fears.
Queen Neemah swallowed her anger and appeared for the press conference. But she wouldn't have known that Aairah, too will be there.
Aairah, whose head is bald and her brows gone, appeared frail and sickly. Her skin has a white pallor, making her seem all but ghostly. Fortunately, her group of stylists, did their job. And even that negative quality, made her appear regal with a touch of youthful frailty. Fake brows are attached perfectly to her face and perhaps, she is wearing a wig underneath her elegant turban. She wore a red cape dress with a small hijab. She didn't look extravagant, but by God! She looks Royal.
Queen Neemah hated the sight of her life foe. What audacity! She has the gall to look beautiful in spite of all she went through!
Aairah smiled innocently at her and bowed low to greet her in front of all the cameras.
Queen Neemah walked over to her, fake smile in place and hugged her while she pulled her up to a standing position.
"You are my sister. Don't be so formal!" She laughed gaily, dismissing the greeting as if Aairah was being ridiculous.
Aairah blushed, her eyes looked at Queen Neemah with mocking intent. But her face showed none of it. She bowed her head and murmured "Adda Neemah thank you"
Queen Neemah tasted bile. Who is her fuckin Addah eh!
She held Aairah's arm and led her to their designated place at the high table. They sat and the queen released her hands. She smiled at Aairah again, her eyes boring into her with a promise of retribution. Aairah smiled back, her eyes indifferent.
When they faced the camera, the queen stated "it is my pleasure to address my people today. I am honored that my loving subjects care so deeply. But the Royal code is intricate and cannot be understood at one glance. Please, don't fight yourselves on my account. I am responsible for making my dear sister the head of my noble subjects. Where love blooms, hate cannot fester. In your hearts there is love. So love my sister the way you love me"
In Royal press conferences, the queen talks, no one else. Ots a show of total dominion.
The audience gain exclusive rights over the interview. So a round of applause ended it all. Aairah is only there to show the people that she and the queen are very chummy and there is no cause to worry. They are to feel that there is a bond deeper than superficial announcements and that the queen trusted her enough to let her assume such an important role.
Once the reporters left, it was just queen Neemah, Aairah, Madame Yula and a number of others there to make sure things run smoothly. The chief Royal publicist thanked the queen for her magnanimous support. Ignoring Aairah, he too left. He is particularly miffed that Aairah had been giving him headlines to worry about and the royal house is beginning to think he cannot do his job.
She didn't seem to have noticed the slight. But queen Neemah did. She invited Aairah for lunch, which she declined by giving out a silly excuse.
"It will be good for your new status if my people see us interact on a frequent basis" queen Neemah explained bluntly.
"But I will need to go back to the Sultanate. The plane is taking flight in one hour" Aairah insisted.
"I will see you by eight. Dinner sounds wonderful" queen Neemah ignored her and acted as if she has agreed already.
She kept her peace because arguing will not solve anything. This woman is dead set on making her life miserable. So she forced a stiff smile and said "as you wish"
Smiling smugly, Queen Neemah said "you are learning quite quickly sister. Don't be late" she walked past Aairah and left.
"That was mighty dangerous" Madame Yula observed.
Aairah blinked once. "About what exactly?" She asked. She isn't quite used to this way of talking that people at the palace like to use. Nobody wants to speak like normal people. They will just say things in a roundabout manner hoping you misunderstand so you make a fool of yourself!
"Letting her touch you was a grave mistake your highness" she explained with a deep frown.
"I don't understand" Aairah complained. What is so bad about the queen hugging her? Did she even have a choice?
"We shall speak of it freely when we have more privacy your highness" she stated in a clipped tone of voice.
Aairah is feeling really weak. So they adjourned to her old chamber since the queen has yet to give her fitting chambers.
Actually, she did went to the Sultanate after his highness took her to the private jet where she and Madame Yula were flown over with much haste. But barely after twenty four hours, orders came for them to return to Raome because Aairah needed to attend the press conference. She hasn't even seen the place she is to live out many years of her life. The Taha clan had staged a grand celebration in their home to welcome her. There is no rest whatsoever. So all the stress is coming back to her in full force. Madame Yula allowed her to sleep for a few hours and only woke her when it was close to dinner time.
Aairah was dressed speedily. It only took a few minutes.
"I am afraid to meet the noble ladies with a wig and fake brows Madame Yula! What if they somehow found out and I get humiliated? They will post about me on the net and I won't ever look at anyone without feeling the shame of it!" She fretted.
"Calm your feathers your highness. Nothing of the sort will happen. Lady Alkali will be there and I know she will champion you just to annoy Queen Neemah" she explained. "Besides, his highness's sisters will attend it as well. They won't stand for their name to be tarnished. They are not timid sorts your highness. I just pray you don't look so timid yourself. No one will take you seriously" she warned.
Aairah grasped for courage but found none. She said "I thought he has one sister that isn't married?" She asked.
"Yes. Princess Nailah is not yet attached. His highness has allowed her to choose a groom for herself. He is very fond of his youngest sister. Fortunately for you, the queen never liked her. And she never liked the queen either" Madame Yula explained.
"Well, I am officially doomed to look like a fool tonight! All that grace from Royal children will surely snuff out the courage in me. I was never quite a graceful child. Now they mock me and call me Lady socialite. How laughable!" She agonized.
"The nobility mock everyone. It is the only way others feel good about their own situations. You just need to make them respect it" she advised.
"I am surprised you are not asking me to walk this way and talk that way" Aairah teased,ignoring the talks about respect. That is something unattainable in the near future from the really bad start she has.
"It isn't time yet. You won't learn anything in ten minutes. It is better to let you go with your natural attributes. Besides, the only thing you will require today is that you must look cool as you please and downright confident. You must" she warned.
"I can't believe you are teaching me to be arrogant" she exclaimed.
"I haven't began any lessons yet. I want you to give them the impression that your natural character is definitely strong. Intimidate them by not letting them intimidate you" she explained the best way she could think of.
"Don't I need to be nice to his sisters?" She inquired.
"No need. In your current station, it is better when others are nice to you. That is the only signal for you to ease up a bit for them. Your image is very important"
"Now you are asking me to be superficial" she complained yet again.
"Nobility is all about charm and dominance your highness. Power comes with mastery" she nodded.
Aairah stood, forcing Madame Yula to smile at the image she presented. " may I say, you look ravishing your highness. You don't need anything to look good" she praised. "you have won a quarter of the war with your looks alone. Now you can vanquish them with your character" she advised strongly.
Aairah felt her cheeks heating from the praise. She said "thank you Madame Yula. You will approve of how bratty I can get when I am ill" she announced.
Madame Yula nodded with a small smile of encouragement. " That should be your last smile for the day" she warned though.
Aairah nodded. Then right before she left, asked Madame Yula "why can't the Queen touch me?"
Madame Yula chose her words carefully.
"Because your royal highness, you never know when the touch carries vice"