The salty sea air filled Kazi's lungs as the ship finally pulled into the bustling harbour of Althea. Weeks at sea had left her body craving the feel of solid ground beneath her feet. Disguised as a young man named "K," nephew to Queen Nia and General Kazi, she stepped off the boat, careful to maintain her low profile.
As the ship docked, a tall figure with striking blue eyes walked towards her. Kazi's breath hitched in her throat as she recognized the person. It was Seraphinael...
"Greetings," Seraphinael addressed K. "You must be K, nephew of Queen Nia and General Kazi. We have been expecting you."
Relief washed over Kazi. He had not recognized her! She extended her hand, the voice she had been practicing for weeks coming out smoothly, "Indeed, Seraphinael. Thank you for having me."
Seraphinael, however, simply stared at her outstretched hand, his expression unreadable. "We do not shake hands in Althea," he said, his voice cool. "It is not our custom."
Kazi cursed inwardly. She had forgotten the Althean customs. Quickly, she bowed her head in respect. "Forgive my rudeness. I am unused to your customs. I will remember from now on."
Seraphinael gave a small nod before walking towards the waiting carriage and Kazi followed suit. As they made their way through the bustling streets of Althea, she pretended to be fascinated by the sights and sounds around her, all the while studying Seraphinael from the corner of her eye. He seemed to be studying her just as closely. She wondered if he had any idea who she really was.
Breaking the silence Kazi spoke, "Your kingdom is truly beautiful." She had to keep the conversation going or Seraphinael might grow suspicious.
"Beautiful, is it not? The architecture, the white and pristine buildings, it is all designed to reflect the purity of the goddess Althea, our patron deity," Seraphinael explained, his expression proud. "We take great care to preserve our heritage and culture, ensuring that it remains untarnished by the influences of other kingdoms."
Kazi glanced around, trying to mask her true feelings. The blinding white buildings, the marble streets, and the people dressed in their pure white clothing all made her feel uncomfortable. She was black, she had short curly hair, and she did not fit in. "It is...certainly unique," she managed.
"Unique, perhaps," Seraphinael replied, his voice tinged with a hint of defensiveness. "But It is also a testament to our devotion to Althea and her teachings. You will get used to it in time, K."
Kazi gave a small, forced laugh, trying to hide her discomfort. "I am sure I will, Seraphinael..." she trailed off, glancing out the window of the carriage.
"You know, you remind me a lot of your aunt, General Kazi." Seraphinael said, surprising her.
Kazi's heart thumped against her ribs. "Really?" she managed to say, hoping her voice did not betray her surprise.
"Yes," Seraphinael said, his gaze lingering on her. "There is a certain... intensity in your eyes, a determination that reminds me of her."
Kazi desperately wanted to disappear. This conversation was turning dangerous. "Perhaps," she managed, forcing a laugh. "It must be the 'K' name. People always say we look alike, Auntie Kazi and I."
Seraphinael raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps," he said.
The carriage rolled to a stop before a grand palace
The carriage rolled to a stop before a grand palace. Kazi's heart pounded in her chest, a mix of anticipation and nervousness churning in her stomach. Stepping out of the carriage, she was greeted by the same castle she had left weeks ago.
Standing on a raised platform, bathed in the warm sunlight, was the royal family of Althea. King Eldarion, a short and stout man with a long white beard and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward with a welcoming smile.
"Welcome to Althea, young K!" King Eldarion shouted, his voice loud and commanding. "We have been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
Kazi, maintaining her disguise, lowered herself into a respectful bow. "Your Majesty," she said, her voice pitched slightly lower as if she were in fact a man. "The honour is all mine. The journey was long, but the beauty of Althea makes it all worthwhile."
King Eldarion chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling. "A loyal nephew indeed. You do share a striking resemblance to your aunt, General Kazi."
Kazi laughed nervously, glancing at Seraphinael beside her. "Yes, well, I suppose we do share some similarities," she said, hoping her voice did not betray her unease.
The King's gaze moved over to his family on his left before settling on an older woman with flowing white hair, pale skin, and blue eyes. But unlike most Altheans, she had a mole on her cheek and a scar above her eyebrow.
"Queen Evangeline," the King announced, gesturing towards the woman, "allow me to introduce General Kazi's nephew, K. He has travelled far to be with us, and we are honoured by his presence."
Queen Evangeline offered a small, polite smile. "Welcome to Althea, K. We are honoured to have you as our guest." Her eyes flickered briefly to Seraphinael, but she said nothing more. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension, and Kazi could feel the weight of expectations bearing down on her. She forced herself to breathe deeply, trying to steady her racing heart.
Kazi inclined her head respectfully. "Thank you, Your Majesty. The warmth of your welcome is truly appreciated."
"Queen Evangeline," Seraphinael said, "Is the mother of Aradiel, heir to the throne and the youngest and only princess, Princess Athiel" he explained, gesturing to the prince and princess stood beside the Queen.
Kazi turned to face the two Althean royals, Princess Athiel and Prince Aradiel.
Prince Aradiel had short white hair, piercing blue eyes and was around the same height as Kazi. 5'10. He had an air of calmness and confidence around him, which was understandable as he was 30 years old and had been trained since birth to one day rule Althea. Princess Athiel, on the other hand, had long flowing white hair, pale skin. Her eyes were a vibrant blue. She was slightly shorter than Kazi at 5'8 and had an ethereal beauty that seemed to draw everyone's attention whenever she entered a room.
Beside prince Aradiel stood another woman, who was shorter than him, and had curly white hair. Her features were soft and delicate, and she looked more human than Althean. And she looked pregnant.
"Welcome to Althea, K," Prince Aradiel said, his voice deep and commanding. "It is a great honour to have you here." He gestured to the pregnant woman beside him. "This is my wife, Lady Layil." Lady Layil smiled shyly, her cheeks flushing pink. "Hello, K. I have heard so much about you."
Kazi bowed her head respectfully. "The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness."
Kazi then turned to Princess Athiel, who seemed to be studying her intently. "Your Highness," she said, dipping into a respectful curtsy.
Princess Athiel, however, seemed frozen, her eyes wide and fixed on Kazi. There was a strange intensity in her gaze, a spark of something Kazi couldn't quite identify. After what felt like an eternity, the princess finally responded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, General." Her words were clipped, her tone cool.
Then Seraphinael stepped forward and gestured to rest of the family stood beside the king on his right. Seraphinael, gestured towards an older woman with short white hair and blue eyes, she was shorter than the king and had a kind energy about her. "This is Concubine Coriel, second wife of the King and mother of Prince Azrael, the second PrinceĀ Azrael and Prince Akiel, the third prince." Coriel bowed her head politely in acknowledgement.
Kazis bowed her head respectfully to Concubine Coriel. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness," she said sincerely. As she straightened up, she locked eyes with...Prince Azrael.
She scoffed internally remembering their encounter back in Ivamis'. The man had the nerve to think he was better than her. She just hoped that she would not be assigned to be his personal guard, though the thought of him commanding her around made her blood boil. She forced herself to keep a neutral expression as she acknowledged him. "And it is a pleasure to meet you, Prince Azrael." She inclined her head slightly, not offering a curtsy.
Azrael, however, remained silent, his jaw clenched tight. The air between them seemed to crackle with tension. After a few moments, his mother, Concubine Coriel, nudged him gently, urging him to respond. He forced a polite smile, though it did not quite reach his eyes. "Welcome, K."
Kazi's gaze finally reached the final family member, Prince Akiel. He was shorter than his brother and gave Kazi a small smile as he bowed his head in greeting.
"My youngest prince, Akiel, is mute. He is unable to speak, K. I apologize if he seems distant. He can hear and understand you just fine," Concubine Coriel explained gently.
Kazi nodded in understanding, noticing the way Akiel seemed to watch her with an intense curiosity. "It is quite alright, Your Highness," she replied, her voice calm and reassuring. "I am honoured to meet you all."
"Enough dawdling! Let us go inside and make our guest comfortable. We have much to discuss." King Eldarion clapped his hands, his voice loud. With that, the King turned and walked towards the castle doors. Kazi, her mind racing with questions, walked behind everyone, the weight of her secret identity pressing down on her. This was going to be a long mission...