On the fourteenth day of the fourth month of the nineteenth Year of his Living Majesty, the various dignified personages of the court of the Holy Ursan Empire celebrated the Feast Day of El-Daryum.
It was a warm, spring day in the beautiful land of Mille-Sezanse. A fact that was not to those who lived within pearl and lapis-lazuli halls of the Imperial Palace.
The sweet and savory scent of honey-glazed sweetmeats and spiced goat's milk and the delicious scent of roast pork and freshly-dressed venison filled the air of the palace courtyards–sometimes even penetrating the halls.
Everyone in court dressed in their finest native Ursan attire: the suroza, a deerskin or goat-hide riding gown reminiscent of the old days of the empire, for the men. And the kirila, a more colorful version of a riding-gown but one with that comes with a pleated skirt tied around the waist as well as a elaborate mantle that drapes and envelops the wearer completely.
Such as the kirila that Nuriya Li-Sasana chose to wear.
"Ah, Our Lady has such beautiful hair!" remarked Mafaye, one of her palace handmaids running her brush and her fingers through her voluminous pale-gold locks.
"Thank you, Mafaye," Nuriya brightly smiled. "After this? Let me do your hair too."
Nuriya sat in front of a grand mirror as Mafaye helped dress and made her up. Like all the other girls in court, she and her handmaid were dressed in their kirila – trying to look their best today. Mafaye picked a dress of wood-green and pink; Nuriya chose grass-green and silver.
"Oh, no need My Lady! Honest!" Mafaye waved a hand. "Just tell me how your day with Our Prince goes! Oh, and don't spare the details!"
Mafaye continued to brush and dress her lady's hair and helped wrap her soft, shining locks in her favorite ribbons. Nuriya delighted as she saw her attire come into completion.
"There! Finished!"
Long waist-length hair of spun sunlight.
Soft and fair skin.
Cherry lips, a pretty and gentle face, a single inkdrop mark in the corner of her left eye, and a dignified, careful bearing of her frame that made her seem to be walking on air.
Nuriya was a beautiful girl of sixteen.
Maybe too beautiful.
On one hand? This was definitely one of the reasons she's quickly gained a following in court. No doubt it was one of the reasons the imperial household approved of her engagement with the crown prince. Hers was a beauty that some have described as brilliant and warm–while some have described her as eerie and frightening.
Probably because of her eyes.
Her one feature which people debated whether or not took away from her beauty–or enhanced it.
Her sharp eyes were a golden shade of amber.
Some have said it made her look like a fox.
Or a demon.
But to those comments? Nuriya gave no heed.
Today? All she wanted was His Highness' approval.
She wanted to be pretty for him.
"Thanks again, Mafaye," Nuriya bowed to her handmaid's embarrassment. "You sure you don't want me to help you with yours?"
"I'm fine, My Lady!"
"Very well," Nuriya smiled. "I'll be sure to put in a good word for you with His Highness. Oh, and I'll tell you how the day goes later."
"Very kind, My Lady."
"I just have one more request…"
"Which is?"
"Can you help me outside? I'm a little embarrassed to go out to town like this. I have no idea where to go–this one part of the capital is larger than the town I grew up in."
...….
Mafaye accompanied Nuriya on their way out of the palace while casually chatting amongst themselves.
While they were crossing one of the halls, they crossed paths with someone making his way towards the opposite direction.
He was dressed in soiled and freshly bloodied hunting clothes. No doubt one of the people responsible for the venison being dressed for today's feast. He carried with him a bow in one hand, a quiver on his hip, and in the other hand he grasped a pair of hareskin gloves red with the blood of his prey.
"My Lady? Isn't that?"
"Yes…It's him."
It was Isetzar Li-Sasan.
Immediately, Nuriya's mood began to sour.
They had one brief look into each other's eyes and that was it.
Setzya, as she calls him, was her older brother. He had accompanied her to court as part of her household. Essentially? He was assigned as one of her guards. Setzya was seen as an unfortunate member of the House of Sasan–a family known for producing mages.
Isetzar was "ungifted"; he could not communicate or command the spirits of the world like a lot of his family or his sister can.
But he was seen as a strong young man. Towering in stature with a keen sense for fighting and the thrill of pursuit. Many had remarked he may have what it takes to be a great soldier–maybe even a knight of the Imperial Household. And in the palace? It seems he's taken to hanging with and assisting the palace guards and His Majesty's huntsmen.
His coloring was almost completely the opposite of hers. Giving him a darkly handsome appeal. While Nuriya's hair was white-gold? His was jet-black. His once fair skin had kissed the sun more, and his demeanor was described as belonging to one proud and cruel with none of the gentleness or the kindness associated with his younger sister.
The only thing they had in common were their eyes: his were gold too. And on him they looked undeniably sinister.
"Where is your lord brother going now?"
"I don't know," Nuriya said with a scowl. "But it looks like he has just finished with the hunt. Perhaps he's going to the kitchen? Or maybe he wants to rest up before the feast."
"Should we greet him or–?"
"--No."
Nuriya closed her eyes, and took a quick breath.
"No, dear Mafaye. We leave him be."
"I see…"
Mafaye crossed her arms in understanding and sighed.
"Is your lord brother envious of you, My Lady? I always thought he might be. You two have been here for almost a year now and I've barely seen you two interact for longer than a few seconds."
"Well, we've both been very busy. But, no, I don't think my brother is envious of me. I understand that much at least."
"Then why is he so?"
"Because he's a stupid, bloody fool whose heart is full of unfathomable caprice."
"My Lady?! This is the first time I've seen you like this!" Mafaye remarked.
"Is it? Oh my, apologies!" said Nuriya. "But I've been like this with the other handmaids too, ask them, My brother just has this…incredible talent for irritating me."
"Oh, I don't mind! It's kinda refreshing, actually!"
The two of them shared a light laugh.
"Still, how sad…" Mafaye said. "You two don't get along with each other, don't you?"
Nuriya smiled and lightly chuckled. "Indeed. We do not. In fact, I barely understand him sometimes."
Mafaye looked into her lady's eyes.
"!"
Mafaye saw. While Nuriya's lips were curved into a smile, for a moment–just a flash of a moment–she could swear she saw her face twist in either pain or fury.