"What is the meaning of this?!" Cyrus raged. "Stand down."
The guards didn't bother to listen to the Sultan as they held Noor. Pulling her arm, Noor brought one of the guards closer to her so he could hear her whisper, "what nerve you have dear sir, I beg you listen to your sultan."
"I'm trying to protect you. Did you know what she's capable of?" The women spoke, glaring at Noor.
The sultan wasn't having any of it. "Marzaban!"
Quickly, the sorcerer whispered a few words before the two guards holding Noor went flying into the wall harshly. She softly rubbed her wrist, cursing under her breath at the red mark they've caused on her skin. What she didn't expect was Cyrus walking to her aid. He stood from behind her his hand tracing the marks on her skin.
"How dare you walk in here like you still have some authority?" he gritted, eyes full of venom.
"Whether you like it or not, Cyrus, I do have authority."
This made him chuckle darkly, making Noor flinch. "I should throw you into a dungeon instead. If you're foolish enough to think that your two guards who are about to be hanged shows your authority, then I might shed a tear or two from how unbelievably naive you've become."
"Show them," she spoke. It was for Noor. "Show them what you are."
Noor stood silently, gulping as the king slowly gripped her arm. "Please, Noor. Do tell."
"I don't see how will this benefit-"
"Noor."
she hesitated. Should she throw everything away and reveal her family's secret? To throw her promise when her father stopped? When his hold on her became tighter, she took a deep breath before uttering the words quickly. "I'm capable of what Marzaban does."
"Impossible," Marzaban stated, the calm expression still on his face. "If you were, I would feel the power radiating off of you."
"You see, Cyrus? Not even your wizard can detect her. What if she had already done something to you!"
Noor's eyes widened. She was beyond paranoid, thinking a girl like her would dare to harm the sultan when he could be avenged for it in seconds.
"Why would I risk everything to hurt the king?"
Noor wanted to throw a hand or two at the women. Badly.
"I'm not sure. Village girls like you always have something devious planned.
"I managed to cloak it. You seem like you've been studying the arts of Sorcery for a while now, Marzaban." Noor was done talking to the women, moving the conversation to the second sorcerer in the room.
He looked at her, shame in his eyes as he spoke. "I have. Most of my life has revolved around sorcery."
"Then I'm sure you know that cloaking one's power is possible."
Marzaban nodded, his posture slumping slightly. "I'm sorry, My king. I will see whatever punishment you see fit for failing to protect you."
Cyrus sighed, his hold on Noor loosened. "Everyone is dismissed. I don't want to talk, let alone see any of your faces today."
As the fallen guards were escorted, Noor was happy to be dismissed. She didn't want to discuss the reveal of her identity anymore. When she reached the doors, his voice stopped her.
"Except for you Noor. I'll be in your chambers not long from now. Try not to do something that'll cause more suspicion than there already is."
Her hand gripped the handle tighter before forcing out a "Yes, my sultan."
♔
Cyrus entered her chamber without care to politely knock or bother to see if it was fine to come in.
Greta quickly stood up, pulling Noor up with her.
"All of you. Leave us."
The servants bowed before quietly leaving the two alone. As the door closed, Noor's hands nervously gripped the skirt of her dress.
"Who was she?"
"My aunt. She was close to my father so he gave her some kind of spot into the family."
She watched as he sat on the couch at the edge of the room, patting for her to sit along.
"I-I think it's better if I stand. My legs are a bit numb from sitting today."
"Oh really? What other white lies you've got?"
Her eyes widened, brows furrowed. "I am not lying. I used to be a village girl if you have forgotten. My body is used to moving from dawn till dusk's last light."
He hummed, picking a grape from the bowl and biting into it instead of putting it all in his mouth. "Fine then. I believe you."
Her brows lifted, caught off by his sudden change of mood.
"Grab whatever you need for the night," he commanded as he got up.
"Why?"
"I'm taking you to the harem."
"The what?"
"You'll see."
They walked down the hall, guards behind them. On the way, they met Marzaban.
"Ah, sultan. Sultana. Is there anything I can do?"
Marzaban still seemed to be worried, his usual expression appeared nervous.
"Would you like to join us?" The unsettling feeling of his smile made her stomach churn.
"May I ask where?"
"As you've witnessed, Noor had kept something from us. I was wondering a night in the harem might make up for that."
Noor became alert when Marzaban's lips turned into a straight line. He didn't seem too fond of the idea.
"You seem troubled. Something wrong?" Everything seemed normal to Cyrus at the moment, in fact, he was enjoying this and Noor noticed it.
"I'm sorry, Sultan. I do not mean to defy your decisions. But, I've seen what these women can do. They tent to be vicious and I worry that the sultana will not..."
He paused, trying to find the right word.
"I believe that Sultana will be harmed in a way."
Panic rose in her as she backed up, her back bumping into the guard from behind.
Cyrus laughed, his eyes on Noor. "Noor can handle herself. If she couldn't, I don't think she'll make a good sultana."
"Why does everything seem like a game to you!" Noor barked, the fear in her turning to anger.
"Because it is a game." His hand wrapped around her wrist, dragging her harshly down the hall until they met the doors to the harem.
"It just depends if you can survive to win it."