I decide to return to the bridal shower, and Sinbad heads to the bachelor party. Despite the weight of his offer, I'm not ready to make a decision so quickly. I try to keep myself composed as I rejoin the ladies, who are all painting. Unsurprisingly, everyone's focus is on painting my sister, Flora.
Painting isn't my strongest skill, but I join in nonetheless. As I move around, I engage in light conversations with the other princesses, trying to keep my mind occupied. The room is filled with the scent of fresh paint and flowers, and the chatter of the princesses is a constant background hum. We're served a wonderful lunch—an assortment of delicate pastries, fresh fruits, and refreshing beverages. The atmosphere is cheerful, filled with laughter and excitement. Despite the lively surroundings, my thoughts remain a swirling mess.
After lunch, everyone retires to their rooms for an afternoon nap. I lie down, hoping to clear my mind, but my brain is still swimming with thoughts. Sinbad's words echo in my head, and the gravity of his offer weighs heavily on me.
I get up and pace around my room, unable to settle. The news of the looming threat, my sister's wedding, and Sinbad's proposal all blend together, creating a tumultuous storm in my mind. I decide to take a walk to clear my thoughts. The palace gardens are quiet and serene, a stark contrast to the chaos in my head. The scent of blooming jasmine and roses fills the air, and the sound of trickling water from a nearby fountain is soothing.
As I wander through the gardens, I think about Sinbad's offer of protection and the implications it carries. His resources and power could indeed safeguard my kingdom, but what would be the cost? And how would accepting his help affect my future and my family's legacy?
Lost in thought, I find myself near the spot where Flora and I had our earlier conversation. The tranquil surroundings offer a brief respite, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing mind. The birds chirp softly, and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze is almost hypnotic.
Just then, I hear a rustling behind me. I turn to see Flora approaching, a concerned look on her face. Her long, flowing gown trails behind her, and her eyes are filled with worry.
"Daniella, are you alright?" she asks softly, her voice gentle.
I look at her but can't bring myself to relax. "Actually, I'm not." I pull her closer and tell her everything that Sinbad said, every single detail without missing a word. The shock on her face is clear.
"He's lying! Father wouldn't let it happen," says Flora, her voice rising with a mix of anger and disbelief.
"Our kingdom will be dissolved by the Cai kingdom because there is no legitimate heir to the throne," I say, trying to make her understand the gravity of the situation.
"What about Akim, our brother?" she asks, desperation creeping into her voice.
"As I said earlier, Akim is not a legitimate son of our father," I say firmly, but still lost in my own thoughts. Thinking about Sinbad's alliance, what if it's also a means for him to gain power in the southern territories? "One of us needs a son, and quickly."
Succession rules in the Agri alliance state that only a man can inherit the throne. A princess, however, can accede to the throne if married to a nobleman who will take the title of king consort, but in short, the man still controls the queen. Flora, being next in line to the throne, though she's younger than the rest of us, is the daughter of father's first wife.
This whole thing has made me come to the realization that Maxim may not really love my sister, and he's just a pawn like all of us. And with Prince Malo marrying me, it will strengthen the ties to our kingdom as he will ascend the throne as king of Cai and his brother as king consort of the far south kingdom. I can't even find a loophole in the rule.
With Sinbad's offer, if I marry him, he promises to keep both states independent. According to the discussion they had earlier in the king's meeting, if the spinster daughter of my father marries Prince Malo, the kingdom will be one, but it will be under the kingdom of Cai. On the other hand, if I don't choose to get married, the kingdom is still at risk of invasion if it has no protection from Cai. Sinbad suggests our union could delay it as I think of something as he is the one sponsoring the arm research facilities in Cai they don't have power on their own to invade.
Flora looks at me, her eyes wide with concern. "What are we going to do?"
"I don't know yet," I say, my voice trembling. "But we need to figure it out soon. For now, let's focus on your wedding. We'll deal with this after."
"There should be a deeper reason for it," she asks. I don't want to share the deeper reason though Sinbad told it to me rather clearly. "We are not broke, are we?"
"We aren't," I say.
"So why are we getting dissolved?" she asks, looking at me with confusion. I didn't do very well in political studies. "All immediate members of the royal family have to sign and hand over power."
"Yes," I reply, "but only the males and the unmarried daughters."
"So that leaves you and Dad," she says.
"I'm not in line for the throne," I remind her.
"But you are our father's daughter. Denounce the treaty," she says. "Please."
"I can't do that, Flora. The treaties and alliances are complicated, and any misstep could lead to war," I say, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on me. "We need to be smart about this."
Flora's eyes fill with tears, and she hugs me tightly. "We'll find a way, Daniella. We have to."
I hold her, feeling the enormity of our situation, and silently vow to do everything in my power to protect our kingdom and our family.