"Saridayang, do you remember Prince Twelve Ashburnham of Aryela Kingdom who attended your banquet a week ago? He's here today to properly introduce himself." The Head Maid informs me as if she is talking to a grown woman who understands what she's talking about and not to a child who has just had her first birthday. Nanny Fida is short and athletically built with olive skin, her fine, dark brown hair is in a sleek bun. She has these keen hazel eyes that are continuously watching me with stern and love.
Prince Ashburnham steps forward and greets me the Damari way without a flaw. Tsk. "Greetings to the Hope of Amari Kingdom, Saridayang Iris. I am the twelfth son of King Kong Fergus of Aryela Kingdom, Prince Twelve Ashburnham. May the benison of Kismet be bestowed upon you."
I admit. The kingdom's language is pure gibberish and doesn't have a proper structure, which makes it hard for me to learn. It's like a non-native English speaker trying to communicate with Pidgin, a language that is told to make English easier but is a total bullshit if you don't know English that well in the first place. But this one, he still pronounces every word perfectly. I was only a kid when I started imagining this world, so it was expected that the worldbuilding would be trash. If only I knew… hay…
"He came here to play with you today, isn't that great? You now have a playmate!" Jenna, one of my attendants, adds excitedly, her wonky accent showing, making it known that she is not born in the Capital.
"Uhm… why don't you… ah…." Opal, my other attendant, fiddles as she looks back and forth at me and the Prince. She doesn't know what to do. No one actually knows what to do. There is no Royal Decree or any kind of order passed down to any of the attendants on how to accommodate the delegate. The Prince is still bowing and since there's no way I could acknowledge him, he could not lift his head.
Sitting on my high chair, I observed the Prince closely, not even bothering to blink. His shiny black hair is neatly pushed back; not even a strand is askew.
"I-uh…." The Prince's eyes flicker in awkwardness. "I'll step back and let you do your work. I'll come back once Saridayang Iris finishes with her meal," he says, his voice and posture now full of confidence after he composed himself.
"Of course, Prince Twelve," Nanny says, unsure of her own response. "I shall call upon you after the Princess is ready to receive guests."
"Do so," he replies.
Our eyes meet and neither of us look away; the two of us sizing each other. His red eyes look straight back at me; they are not big yet not small, just the normal size, but lack life. 'Ah, right, he was thrown away by his father not long ago.'
I have come to the conclusion that what Father is thinking at the banquet is probably right. There's a slim chance that this Prince gave up his right to the Aryelan throne just to be my designated friend. He is most likely a spy sent by his father King Kong. I unconsciously reach out my hand to him, which he reluctantly reaches for.
'Ashburnham is a very long name, it would be hard for me to pronounce… and his name isn't that appealing… I should call him Ash from now on,' I thought.
Out of nowhere, gasps are heard from everyone in the room. I got startled and held onto Ash's fingers tighter. I saw his pupil dilate and felt his hand shake a bit. I tilted my head in confusion, silently asking him what's wrong, but he doesn't seem to get what I am trying to convey; so, I turn to Nanny instead. However, Nanny Fida has her hands on her mouth and is clearly stunned as her hands also tremble. She is also not of help, just like everyone else.
'What is happening? What happened?'
"Ca-call Dan El Haluman and the Royal Consort. Saridayang… Saridayang Iris has finally said her first word!" Jenna tremblingly shouts. [1]
'What?! What now? H-how?'
I ransacked my brain and tried to recall what I said because, honestly, I didn't even know that I said a word out loud. All this time, I've been talking only to myself, and I never once let what I was thinking slip out of my mouth.
'What did I say? I don't know what I said!'
I looked back at Ash to look for an answer, but it was no use as he is still stupefied.
The door to my room is suddenly flung open by a strong gust of wind. In walks my father, whose royal garb is unkempt and his hair bouncing off his head as he runs towards me at great speed. Doing so, he pushes Ash to the side, which the latter doesn't mind… or doesn't dare mind.
Father snatches my hand that is holding the young Prince's and kneels in front of me. Smiling like a fool, he asks, "Say it. Come on, say it, saridayang. Say 'Dana.' Come on, don't be shy. Or you can say 'Mama' too if you want… but I would be more delighted if your first word is 'Dana.' But anything is fine… really… I won't get jealous… or mad… I swear, my saridayang. So just repeat whatever word you said earlier so that I could also hear it, okay?" He rambles as the warm emits from his hand that holds my hand ever so gently. His eyes sparkling in joy and anticipation. [2]
"H-hwan…" Nanny Fida tries to catch his attention but to no avail.
Not long after, Mother came trotting in and kneels beside Father. She also held my other hand and patiently told me to repeat whatever word I said moments ago. However, I really have no idea what word I accidentally blurted out since I wasn't even planning to talk until I was old enough. I was planning to pull an Einstein here, people!
"Your Majesties… the thing is, Saridayang didn't say any of those words…" Nanny's voice quivers as she treads carefully, catching my parents' attention.
"Oh, really? What is her first word then?" Mother turns her attention to Nanny, her genuine soft smile still plastered on her lips.
"Saridayang's first word was… was…" The woman in uniform looks around, putting both hands together in an attempt to stop them from trembling.
Mother's smile starts to fade, and Father knitts his eyebrows, both indications that the two are getting impatient; however, beads of sweat only form on the muted Nanny's forehead, and no words come out of her mouth.
"Tell me what my daughter said," Father demands using the voice he uses in Court, a booming powerful voice full of command. He and Mother stand up, still holding one of my hands in each.
All attendants automatically look away and step back. Nanny, on the other hand, couldn't back away since she is personally addressed by the King. All she could do is look away and stare at the floor as she bites her lips. "It's… it's Ash, Your Majesties."
'Ah, oh. That explained the whole situation.'
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[1] Dan El Haluman = another term for addressing the king of Amari Kingdom. This title is used only when speaking about the king and not when talking to the king. It is the Damari equivalent for the term His Royal Majesty.
[2] Dana = a universal term for the word Dada, Daddy or Papa, anything to address one's father intimately.