Two years had passed since the banquet and Shirazad's life had changed considerably. In those two years, doom had befallen the people of Persia. The king's heart had filled with hatred and he had killed his wife. Everyone was afraid for their daughters, afraid to even let them walk on the streets -- because the king could see them and take them away.
Shirazad was trying to calm down her father as much as this was possible.
Although she was a vizier's daughter, Shirazad had never been in the habit of visiting the palace. Grand Vizier Azdavan kept his children away from court intrigues on purpose. Shirazad had seen King Shahryar only a few times when he was younger, and the last time when she herself had visited the palace alone. However, she had heard a lot about his character from her father. The king was impulsive and stubborn at times; he had become king when he was too young and therefore was somehow used to having much power and to getting whatever he wanted. Actually, based on what she'd heard, Shirazad wondered if he really loved his wife that much or he just couldn't endure the wound she had inflicted on his ego. The person who had once, not too long ago, saved her from an unfortunate marriage with Lord Lhasa had gone into complete madness.
"He will come to repent his actions because he is acting in a fit of anger," Shirazad said.
"You should get married, Shira," her father replied. Again the old topic. "If I have to admit it, I am worried to have two unmarried daughters."
"You are afraid of King Shahryar?" Shirazad was surprised. True, other people were in a hurry to get their daughters married, but the king and the grand vizier were close after all. Shahryar wouldn't marry one of them.
"Not only because of this. You are already nineteen and it's high time you got married."
Shirazad frowned. She heard the door creak as Dunyazad came back from the garden.
"See, Dunyazad heard 'marriage' and came immediately. She wants to get married. Why don't you marry her? Then both of you will be happy," Shirazad commented.
Azdavan sighed. Shirazad was trying once again to make a joke out of it. This time her father's eyes were very serious.
"Daughter, I realize that a person shouldn't be forced about this. But I think that, having such a nice life in your youth, you don't realize a lot of things..." He didn't continue because he didn't want to have to explain that he wouldn't be alive forever and that their manor and their good life cost a lot.
"I give you one month to think about it -- just think -- about whether any of the noblemen appeals to you more than the others."
Shirazad frowned and returned to her room, where Dunyazad was waiting for her after pretty much having overheard the whole conversation. Shirazad sat on the bed and Dunyazad was near the cupboard. True, it wasn't right to annoy her sister in such a moment, but Dunyazad just couldn't help it.
"I wonder who the happy groom would be," Dunyazad said. "I'm curious whether he would be someone stupid as fish, ugly as a frying pan or haughty? -- Which do you think is the lesser evil? I bet my cheese pasty, which I just took from the bakery, on someone haughty. Because if he is smart and handsome, we can forgive him the rest, can't we?"
"You can keep your cheese patty," Shirazad frowned angrily.
I cannot understand why I must always be forced to get married... why should I get married anyway? Shirazad thought. Dunyazad knew her sister was usually funny and nice, so she asked her,
"Don't you want to be liked at all?!"
"Maybe it's better if you aren't liked," Shirazad sighed. "It is not easy to be liked. When they like you, they usually want something from you."
***
And while Shirazad was serious, Dunyazad exclaimed,
"Gosh, yes. Right."
In a moment, Dunyazad brought a small mirror to her sister,
"Look. Look at how cute you are," Dunyazad laughed. "I am also very cute." Well, Shirazad knew this was Dunyazad's way of dealing with pressure -- making things sound light. Dunyazad frowned, "By the way, I think we might be moving to another room soon." -- Although the manor was very big, in winter when it was too cold, the sisters often slept together in this room. -- Dunyazad continued, "There is a guy in the opposite house who keeps staring at our bedroom..."
"What? Really?" Shirazad exclaimed and looked out the window. Usually, Shirazad was absent-minded and Dunyazad was the one who noticed such things. "Are you sure he's looking at us?"
"It's not the first time I see him. I think he's a new tenant. We should go to the rooms overlooking the inner garden..." Dunyazad rolled her eyes.