I eagerly walk to my father's chambers the next morning, determination fueling my every step. As I approach the door, the guards move to announce my arrival, but before they can, I barge in without hesitation.
"Father," I say, my voice echoing through the room, "we need to talk."
My father looks up from his desk, surprised by my sudden entrance. He waves off the guards and gestures for me to sit. "Daniella, what is so urgent that you couldn't wait to be announced?"
"Father," I say in a more formal tone as I walk closer to where he is seated, "I need a proper explanation on why you chose for us to be dissolved. I can't rely on rumors."
My father signals for me to join him, and I take the seat next to him.
"To be honest, I'm tired of fighting everyone in this alliance," he says. I understand him completely; our nation has been at war multiple times with all sorts of people: colonizers, pirates, and the bandits that took the northern part.''
"Why give up now?" I ask. "What about us and Akim?"
"I have settled that we will keep our estates and family business but hand over the power of the state to Chai if Flora were to get married. But now she has vanished," he says, taking a sip of water and touching his head.
"Imagine your father tells you your union will cause your kingdom to collapse. You would have disappeared too," I say. He looks at me with an understanding look. I sit in silence for a solid minute before I open my mouth. "That being said, I shall not marry Prince Malo."
My father looks at me with empathy in his eyes. "You must," he says. "If Chai takes power, I need a queen consort I can rely on in Chai that I can trust will make good decisions for everyone."
"Queen consort has no mind of her own here," I say, looking down. "Father, Sinbad proposed a union between us."
"And what did you say?" he asks in an almost worried tone.
"I'm considering it," I say. My father hits his hand on the table.
"Not in a million years will I let you do that," he yells. "That man is insane. He destroys anything in his path."
"Father," I say, trying to maintain my tone, "he promises to help secure the kingdom."
"And have you questioned what he may want?" he asks in a rather angry tone. I stay silent as Sinbad hasn't mentioned what he gains from the matrimony. "Do you know what the other leaders call him?" I nod my head.
"We call him chaos," he says in a whisper. "That man only cares about his people. He will rain chaos on any enemies."
"I will be part of his people once married," I say. "So will the people of our kingdom."
"How guaranteed are you that he doesn't want to seize this territory for himself?" he yells.
"That is a gamble I'm willing to take," I say. "It's way better than being under Chai, knowing well enough that our people will never get to enjoy the fruits of their labour."
"Will Sinbad give that to our people?" he asks.
"As you said, he causes chaos to his enemies," I say. "I am not an enemy. The other 60 chiefdoms and 10 islands on this continent are."
"Allying with him will kick us out of the alliance."
"When and how has this stupid alliance helped us?" I yell at my father. "Please, all these leaders want all the minerals and coastline we have. Our kingdom has lived for 1,000 years. I don't think our ancestors will be happy if we let it go easily. Father, I promise if Chai dissolves our kingdom, I will rain hellfire on them."
My father looks at me with a mix of frustration and pride. "You have your mother's spirit," he says, his voice softening. "Very well, Daniella. If you believe Sinbad can be trusted, then I will support your decision. But remember, the fate of our kingdom rests in your hands now. Be wise, my daughter."
"I will, Father," I say, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "I will not let our kingdom fall."
"All I need from you is your trust and faith in me," I say, my voice resolute. "I don't want our kingdom to be dissolved. Even if, in the end, we are dissolved, we are not going down without a fight."
My father sighs deeply, patting my head. "I always knew one of my children would kill me with stress," he says with a weary smile. "But I will do anything to support you."
"For now, give me your blessing to marry His Majesty Sinbad," I say, kneeling down in front of him. He places his hand on my head, his touch both comforting and heavy with the weight of our kingdom's future.
"You have my blessing, Daniella," he says softly. "May you find strength and wisdom in this union. And may our kingdom find peace through your courage."
"Thank you, Father," I say, feeling a surge of determination. "I will not let you or our people down."
With his blessing, I rise, feeling the enormity of the task ahead but also a renewed sense of purpose. As I leave my father's chambers, I can't help but think about the challenges that lie ahead, but I am ready to face them head-on.
The future of our kingdom depends on it.
I walk around the palace, searching for Sinbad's chambers. Eventually, I spot him walking with Vider. With all the chaos, I hadn't seen Vider since breakfast 3 days ago. I bow to greet them immediately.
"I request to talk to you," I say to Sinbad, "alone."
He looks at Vider and signals for him to leave. "Would you prefer we talked in my chambers?" he asks, his usual charm evident.
I glance at him, then around us. "The gardens would be better. I don't want people assuming anything."
"You worry about people a lot," he says as he turns and starts walking toward the garden. We walk in silence, his calm and composed demeanor contrasting with the storm of thoughts in my mind.
Once we arrive, we sit down on a garden bench. I take a deep breath and start, "Not taking kindly to threats be a villain so you people can live in peace," I say.
He smiles at me. "It took you two days to figure that out."
"Not really," I say, "I figured it out sooner, but I was too depressed to see people."
He looks at me with a knowing smile. I wait for him to answer the question I had asked earlier. He leans in, grabbing the back of my head gently from the left side, pulling me closer. I feel his lips near my ear. "All I want from you is undying loyalty and an heir."
I turn to meet his gaze, our faces only inches apart. "Is that it?" I whisper, "Because I will offer you those two, but if your assistance comes with taking control of my kingdom, I don't want it."
His hand gently rubs the back of my neck, slowly moving down to my shoulder. My body shivers at his touch. "I won't touch your territory," he whispers, his eyes exploring my neck. "You will make sure your kingdom stays independent as promised."
I search his gaze for any sign of deceit, but all I find is sincerity. "Undying loyalty and an heir," I repeat, my voice steady. "I can give you that, Sinbad. But remember, if you betray my trust, you will face my wrath."
He chuckles softly, his hand still resting on my shoulder. "I would expect nothing less from you, Daniella. I will ensure the safety and prosperity of both our kingdoms."
As he speaks, I feel a strange sense of comfort and resolve. The path ahead may be uncertain, but with this alliance, I know we have a fighting chance.
"We can skip the courtship then," Sinbad says, his voice low as he slowly places his lips on mine. The unexpected kiss catches me off guard, and I pull back, glancing around quickly before standing up from the bench.
"That was unexpected," I say, trying to steady my breath. Sinbad rises as well, his tall frame looming over mine,'' I prefer to take thinks slow.''
"My apologies," he says, rubbing his lips thoughtfully. There's a calm in his demeanour, a tranquillity that seems unshakable.
"I need to request another favour," I say, my voice firmer now. He looks at me, nodding slightly, waiting for me to continue.
"May I borrow your canine?" I ask.
"I thought you were terrified of canines," he says, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tries to read my intentions.
"I am," I admit, "but I need its senses for something unless you offer another pet with the same skill."
He chuckles softly, his calm smile making me feel both challenged and reassured. "Can an elephant do?" he asks.
"That's perfect," I say, feeling a sense of relief mixed with amusement.
Sinbad steps closer, his presence both comforting and intimidating. "You surprise me, Daniella," he says, his voice gentle. "Most would crumble under the pressure you're facing, but here you are, standing strong."
I look up at him, trying to maintain my composure. "I don't have much of a choice," I say. "My kingdom needs me."
"And you have my support," he says, his hand brushing against my arm. The touch sends a shiver down my spine, but I stand firm.
"Thank you," I reply, trying to sound as sincere as I feel. "I'll need that elephant as soon as possible."
"Consider it done," he says, his calm demeanor unwavering. "Anything else you need?"
I hesitate for a moment, then decide to be honest. "Just your patience," I say. "I'm still trying to get used to... all of this."
Sinbad's smile softens, and he nods. "Take all the time you need," he says. "I'm not going anywhere."
The sincerity in his voice reassures me, and I take a deep breath, feeling a little more at ease. "Alright," I say, meeting his gaze. "Let's make this alliance work."
He nods again, his eyes full of confidence. "We will," he says. "we'll face whatever comes our way."
As we walk back towards the palace, I can't help but feel a strange mix of anticipation and trepidation. Sinbad's unwavering calm and level-headedness are both a comfort and a challenge, but I know that with him by my side, we stand a chance to protect our kingdom and secure our future.
"Yes," I say, trying to steady my breath. "May you be the one to mention your proposal in the king's meeting tomorrow?" Sinbad looks at me, confused. "In all honesty, I don't wish to present the news to any royal member of the Cai family," I continue. "Prince Maxim already thinks I had something to do with his bride's disappearance. And when they hear I'm choosing you over Malo, they'll go ballistic."
"You won't be a hero in your story if you're not a villain in others," Sinbad says, his tone calm and reassuring. "We shall announce it together."
I look down, trying to process the potential consequences. Would Prince Malo spill the tea about him deflowering me out of anger? What would Sinbad's reaction be?
"Don't worry about the royals," Sinbad says, gently touching my face. "I know how to shut them up." His confidence is palpable, and it gives me a small measure of comfort.
"Vider will bring the elephant," he continues, "but for now, I need to attend to some matters." He takes a bow and starts to walk away.
I head to my chambers, where I find Miss Motan seated on my bed with a serious look on her face.
"Good morning, Miss Motan," I say. "I see your senior lady get-together ended early."
"We couldn't do much with Miss Mary worried about Flora," she says, her face reflecting the same sadness. It seems she isn't here to scold me this time.
"I feel her pain," I say, sitting on the bed.
"How have you been, Princess?" she asks.
"Sad about the situation, but I'm slowly coming to terms that Flora will be fine," I reply.
"And you had nothing to do with it?" she asks, her eyes searching mine.
"Miss Motan," I retort, "I couldn't possibly do it. I'm not that outrageous."
"I guess it's not like you," she states, getting up from the seat. "With that out of the way, what the heck are you wearing? I go for a week and you decide to dress like a commoner. Where is your jewelry, and why the heck are you wearing red on a Thursday? Remove that abomination of an outfit."
"And the Miss Motan I know is back," I say with a smile as I get up to go change.
Miss Motan's fussing over my appearance is almost comforting in its normalcy. I choose a dress that meets her exacting standards and put on some modest jewelry. As I change, I think about Sinbad's words and the looming announcement. It will be a tumultuous journey, but for now, I focus on the small steps. One day, one decision at a time.