Nilla sunk into the smooth pool of milk, letting her skin absorb the moisture as her servants gently lowered the curtains of her private bathing area.
She enjoyed the garden of herbs that surrounded her and the sweet lull of the string quartet and drummers that played an oddly satisfying fusion of Cumbian and Victorian music.
"Maestro," her honeyed voice called. "Play me a song by any famous musician."
"As you wish," the gentleman said.
The sound of the song 'the lovers' filled the air and whispered into her ears the secrets that bled through the Palace walls.
Like the rose wine of that woman, laced with aphrodisiacs to lure the King into their palms. The delicate yet dangerous sound of her sweet whispers, clear calamity ensuing the day she arrived in the Kingdom of Azura.
There was much to think about, many plots and planned executions waiting to occur, everyday screeching of sorrowed howls, the stench of death thick in the air, hazing above them all.
But, as Nilla was taught, she kept herself together. God's mercy and wisdom the only thread keeping her mind from unravelling. If only it'd would end, in a glorious swell of trumpets where the Lord would descend from the heavens and rapture them all. But alas, that was not the reality of the world. They still had far to go. Evil still alive and well, running rampant in a cascade of bloody wars and revolutions. The sickening trade or bartering nations, only to keep them stuck in commerce of high-born families.
Thank the lord she was a high born. Not just a high born, but a royal borne of golden blood.
In her bathing area, soaked in pure milk, she let her qualms seep into the milk and drift away. There was only so much she could do with the little time. A ceasefire the only thing she had, but that would have to suffice, for now.
Nilla could wait.
But how long could the citizens wait, holding their breaths.
Her closest companion in the Palace, Lady Daphne Valentine, sprinkled rose petals into the pool. She sat down on the periwinkle tiles and played with the coils of Nilla's thick hair.
"Have you seen anything?" she asked, ridden with curiosity.
"Qué será será."
Daphne pouted, leaning onto Nilla's shoulder. "I figured, "she sighed. "I know I shouldn't rush you, but the anxiety is killing me. I really wish we could see what they're planning, find a way to expose and defeat them."
"Likewise."
"You know..." Daphne said, watching the rose petals drift in the pool.
"Can't you try one more time to get Asale and Kisasa involved. I know they declined your request, but can't you just push the issue on them. Perhaps they'll feel some sort of empathy and help us. Or, at the very least, convince the rest of the world to boycott the Kings.
"It won't work," she said, her eyes hard and wary. "They've made their position clear; the situation is too delicate and fragile for them to get involved. Don't get confused. I'm not here as a Crown Princess suggesting aid from Kisasa, I'm here as the Selati Clan leader."
"But the Kings," Daphne started as she picked up a nacre comb and began gently brushing Nilla's hair. "They'll destroy us if we don't act. Remember what happened to Kune..."
"I know," Nilla said, sighing as she pinched her brows together.
The story was written on the face of one of her dear clansmen. A story of slaughter and sufferage. A planned culling of humanity by their own government. It made her blood boil to think about it, seeing how the patterns of Kune and Azura suspiciously aligned.
Nilla looked to the walls, her heart pacing as she thought about what may lay beyond outside the smoothened marble walls.
Earlier at dinner, Jonathan had excused her from the feast to let her clean up. Who knew what he was doing while she bathing, or who was next at the chopping block.
The two ladies continued chatting back and forth about what to do but reaching no conclusion. Thirty minutes passed and a visitor came knocking at her bathing quarters door.
Daphne went ahead to see who it was, peaking through the crack in the wall. Her face immediately froze in fear, bowing down as a young man with neat blonde hair walked in.
He cheerfully shot passed Daphne, zoned in on Nilla. His dimples prudent with his playfully smile, kneeling by the poolside and tapping against Nilla's shoulder.
"Good morning your highness," he said, stroking her skin.
"Hello Jonathan," she responded, her voice bland and dull.
"Don't you think it's inappropriate for an unmarried man and unmarried girl to be caught together in a bathing pool. Especially with the knowledge that the other is naked and unarmed?"
"You don't need to worry," he said, trailing his fingers up to her neck. "I know what that would provoke..."
"..... the wrath of Kisasa and her allies," she finished up. "I find your presence quite disturbing, so I'd appreciate it if you tell me why you're here."
"To make a simple enquiry; Have you considered our demands?"
"Why don't you ask Crown Prince Orion that? This is his nation, not mine."
"True, but right now, he has no power. I mean, the military is on the verge of deserting him, and the rallies for a new leader are proving quite successful. House of Erato has failed its people in many ways, forcing them into a bind that banks on you to call the right decision." Jonathan got up and went to a basket of rose petals that had been on a table.
He picked a hand full and tossed them into the milk pool. He then crouched down and began stirring the waters, pushing them up to Nilla's body.
"You, on the other hand have insurmountable power," he started. "You're the Crown Princess of a wealthy nation, a descendant of the Black Pharaohs. You're the leader of the acclaimed Selati Clan. You have allies wrapped around your finger and the Imperial Guard under your belt. Your word is law, which is why we need you to deal with the concessions."
Nilla batted her eyelashes, " I'm flattered," she said. "And I've gone over your demands countless times. On the surface, they seem reasonable, but I've carefully dissected what you truly seek. If I agree to all of them, this nation will turn into Banana Republic in the blink of an eye. Which I certainly will not have."
"Well, that's quite the accusation," Jonathan pouted, raising his arms up like a man at gun point.
Nilla was disgusted by his facade, the way he acted and talked and the audacity to stroll in on her bathing.
"If I didn't know any better," she said, playing with a rose petal, still listening to the string quartet, "You're trying to act like the Vernon's." It wasn't hard to uncover, and Nilla didn't need to look through the Vault of Heaven to see their intent. The Kings and the Vernon's had been long time competitors. But in recent years, the Vernon's had surpassed the Kings on the global market by a long shot, owning arable land in various countries, leading the steel and iron industry, and not to mention the startling amount of money they earned thanks to fashion and film consumerism. They were icons. People to be envied. The Kings were still rich and powerful, but the gap between them and the Vernon's was widening as they were losing shareholders and partners. They had to act quick, going back to their roots in dominating the fruit and vegetable market.
"You have a few factories in Msitu, but their government policies prevent you from earning much. So, you're trying to bank of Azura's crooked past. Reminding the Erato's of the debt they owe from way back when, repossessing land, and destabilizing their government."
"Impressive," Jonathan admitted. "Who knew you would catch on so fast."
"I wasn't born yesterday." she smirked.
"No, but for a seventeen-year-old, your quite smart."
Jonathan up, walked to the door. As he was about to leave, he turned around and gave Nilla a glance, smiling. He said softly, "We both have powerful people in our back pockets. Let's roll the dice and see how this game turns out."