Kazi followed Azrael's orders, making her way through the palace halls to the prince's chambers. Her heart raced with a mixture of anger, frustration, and fear. Every instinct screamed at her to refuse, to walk away from this ridiculous situation. But the weight of her mission, the knowledge that any defiance could arouse suspicion, forced her to follow him.
They reached his chambers, Kazi walked through another set of doors, and there, lit by the soft light of a few flickering candles, was the bathing chamber. It was a large room with a bathtub that could fit three or more people comfortably, marble floors and walls, and a fireplace in the corner. The air was warm, and steam rose from the water, filling the room with a soothing aroma.
There in the large bathtub was Azrael submerged up to his neck in warm water, his long white hair spread out around him like a halo. He looked up at her as she entered, his expression unreadable.
"Took you long enough," he drawled, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "Hurry up and get to work."
Kazi's hands clenched into fists. "Work?" she repeated through gritted teeth.
"My bath, of course," he replied, gesturing towards a stack of luxurious sponges and soaps. "What did you think I meant?"
Kazi's heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs. This was even more humiliating than she had anticipated. Silently, she picked up a sponge and slowly walked towards the edge of the bathtub.
She knelt reluctantly beside the bathtub, avoiding eye contact with Azrael.
As she hesitantly began to scrub his back, her fingers brushed against his smooth skin, sending a jolt through her. Heat rose to her cheeks, and the air around them seemed to crackle with unspoken tension. Why was her heart pounding like this? Why did his bare chest send a shiver down her spine?
Kazi pushed these unwelcome feelings aside, focusing on her task. After a few tense minutes, she announced, "You are done, Your Highness."
With a sense of relief, she stood up, ready to escape this bizarre situation. But before she could take a single step, Azrael's hand shot out, grabbing her arm with surprising strength.
"Done so soon?" he said, playfully. Before Kazi could react, he yanked her towards him, sending her tumbling into the water with a surprised shriek.
Cold water engulfed her, taking her breath away. She sputtered and surfaced, glaring at Azrael, who was now bursting with laughter.
"This is not funny!" she snapped, her voice dripping with anger.
Azrael wiped a tear from his eye, his laughter subsiding into a chuckle. "Oh, K, lighten up," he said, his voice teasing. "It is a little funny."
Furious and soaked to the bone, Kazi realized the gravity of her situation. In her rush to get ready for bed, she had removed the cloth covering her chest, revealing her feminine form beneath her masculine attire. Panic surged through her. Instinctively, she reached across her chest, desperately trying to cover her wet chest area.
Azrael's laughter died down, replaced by a surprised look.
"Why are you doing that?" he asked, his voice suddenly serious.
Kazi stammered, her mind a whirlwind of panic. "I, uh, I get cold easily," she blurted out, the lie sounding pathetic even to her own ears. Without waiting for a reply, she scrambled out of the bathtub and bolted towards the door.
She did not stop running until she was back in her own chambers, slamming the door shut behind her. Leaning against the cool wood, she took deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. Azrael's unsettling stare, the way his eyes had lingered on her chest, sent shivers down her spine.
One thing was clear: this mission was getting far more complicated than she ever imagined.
Kazi ripped off the wet clothes, the fabric clinging uncomfortably to her skin. Grabbing a fresh set of clothes, she changed with trembling hands. Standing in front of the mirror, she looked at her reflection.
"Please," she whispered, a silent plea to the heavens, "do not let him suspect a thing." She carefully wrapped a thin cloth around her chest, hiding her feminine form beneath the rough fabric of her masculine disguise. It was a tight fit, uncomfortable, and restrictive, but it was the only way she could keep from revealing her secret. As she fastened the cloth, she couldn't shake the memory of the bathroom incident, the feel of his strong hands on her skin, the heat of his breath against her neck.
"He is a spoilt and arrogant prince!" Kazi reminded herself, trying to shake off the disturbing thoughts. She took a deep breath and with a heavy sigh, she climbed onto the bed, exhaustion finally claiming her.
The morning light caused Kazi to toss and turn, the rays of the sun casting long, intrusive fingers through the slits of the window shades
The morning light caused Kazi to toss and turn, the rays of the sun casting long, intrusive fingers through the slits of the window shades. She sighed; her eyes heavy with exhaustion as she stared up at the canopy above her bed. It had been a restless night, plagued by fitful dreams and unwelcome thoughts of the bathroom incident. She had tried to push them aside, to focus on her mission, but the images kept creeping back into her mind, making it impossible to find any real rest.
Kazi got out of bed with a groan and got ready. She wore Ren's clothes again. She never thought she would say this, but she missed wearing gowns. She missed the freedom of movement, the way a well-made gown could flow around her body.
Running her fingers through her short afro, she reached for the jar of coconut butter. With a sigh, she smoothed the product into her hair, making sure it was curly and well-groomed before she left her chambers. Looking at her reflection, she couldn't help but feel a pang of longing, she missed her short braids and the way they swung freely when she moved. But then she reminded herself that she was here to blend in, to be someone else.
"Just get this mission over with," she muttered to herself, adjusting Ren's loose-fitting clothes. "Then you can go back to your life and forget about this charade."
She had been in Althea for about 1 month and a half and she was yet to find any clues about the traitor. Everyone seemed suspicious at one point or the other. With a deep breath, Kazi exited her chambers and made her way to the dining room. Today, she needed to be extra cautious. One wrong move, one slip of the tongue, and her carefully constructed identity could come crashing down.
After breakfast, Kazi walked behind Azrael as they made their way through the castle grounds. The sun was shining brightly, and the air was filled with the scent of spring. Despite the warmth, Kazi felt a chill run down her spine every time Azrael glanced at her. She had to constantly remind herself not to react too strongly to his stares, lest she give away her true identity.
"K," Azrael said, his tone nonchalant. "I am famished. Fetch me a plate of pastries from the kitchens?"
Kazi stopped dead in her tracks, her fists clenching at her sides. This was not a request; it was an order. An order that treated her like a servant, not a bodyguard.
"Your Highness," she began, her voice dangerously low, "I believe we have had this conversation before. I am your guard, not your personal errand boy."
Azrael rolled his eyes, a familiar smirk playing on his lips. "We have been over this, have not we? A guard anticipates his master's needs. Now, pastries, chop-chop."
The air crackled with tension. Kazi's patience, already stretched thin, snapped. This was not just about fetching pastries; it was about the blatant disrespect Azrael held for her, for her position, for everything she had sacrificed to be here.
"No," Kazi spat, her voice low and dangerous. "I. Am. Your. Guard. Not. Your. Servant." She enunciated each word slowly, carefully, as if she were speaking to a child. "I will not fetch you pastries, or anything else, when you address me in such a disrespectful manner. You may ask politely, and I will consider it. But until then, you can go without."
"Are you commanding me?!" Azrael shouted.
"I am not commanding you, Your Highness," Kazi said, her voice firm. "I am merely stating the terms of our arrangement. You can either respect those terms or face the consequences. I suggest you choose wisely."
"How dare you!" Azrael shouted; his face flushed with anger. "Do you know who you are talking to? I am the prince of this kingdom! I am above such insults!" He took a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides.
"No! How dare you!" Kazi snapped back, her face burning with anger. "Do you have any idea what it takes to be a guard? The training, the discipline, the constant vigilance? And you treat me like a glorified errand boy!"
"Do as I say." Azrael's words were like acid on her skin.
Kazi scoffed, the sound harsh and bitter in her ears. "You are the most arrogant, spoiled, and insufferable man I have ever had the misfortune of encountering!" she spat; her fists clenched at her sides. "And do you know what the worst part is? I am supposed to protect you! To keep you safe! But how can I do that when you act like this? When you treat me like dirt?!"
Azrael's eyes narrowed, but Kazi did not back down. This was not just about the pastries anymore. It was about her dignity, her mission, and everything she had endured to get this close to the truth.
"I will not tolerate this treatment any longer!" she continued, her voice ringing through the castle grounds. "I will request an audience with the King and demand a reassignment. Clearly, Prince Azrael, Your Majesty does not require a guard, but a babysitter!"
A stunned silence filled the air as Kazi's words hung between them, heavy with the weight of her anger and determination. "Perhaps Princess Athiel could use my services. Even with three guards already fawning over her, I am sure one more would not hurt." She bit back a snide laugh, the sound grating on her ears. "Or perhaps the stables could use another hand. At least there, I would be respected for my skills, not treated like a servant."
With that, Kazi pushed past a speechless Azrael, her shoulders squared, and her head held high. The air around them seemed to crackle with tension as she strode away, her steps purposeful and confident. She knew that she had gone too far, had risked everything in that moment, but she couldn't bring herself to regret it. She had been holding her anger in for far too long, and now, finally, she felt free.