The next morning, I dress in the black and white attire required by the court, the somber colors reflecting the gravity of the situation. I feel a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach, making it impossible to eat breakfast. With every step towards the courtroom, my nerves grow more intense.
On my way, I stop at my father's chamber. He seems to be eagerly waiting for me. His eyes light up with a mix of concern and pride as I enter.
"Good morning, Father," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Good morning, Daniella," he replies, his tone gentle yet firm. "Are you ready for today?"
"I suppose as ready as I'll ever be," I admit, taking a seat across from him. "It's just... a lot to take in."
He nods, understanding etched into his features. "I know, my dear. This isn't an easy task, but I have faith in you. You are strong, just like your sister."
I feel a pang at the mention of Flora, but I push it aside, focusing on the present. "Thank you, Father. I just hope I can make the right decisions for our kingdom."
"You will," he assures me.
I nod, taking a deep breath. "I appreciate that. Truly. And I need to tell you... Sinbad and I will be presenting our proposal. It's going to cause a stir, but I believe it's the best course of action."
His eyes widen slightly, then he sighs. "I expected as much. Just be prepared for the backlash. The Cai royals won't take this lightly."
"I know," I say, steeling myself.
He stands up and places a hand on my shoulder. "Then let's face it head-on. I'll be right there with you."
We walk together towards the courtroom, the weight of the day's events pressing down on us. The palace is bustling with activity, with servants and guards moving about with purpose. As we approach the grand doors of the court, I take one last deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.
The doors open, and the room falls silent as we enter. All eyes turn towards us, a sea of expectant faces. Sinbad is already there, seated and composed, his presence commanding the room. He gestures subtly, inviting me to sit next to him. I feel a surge of reassurance at this silent acknowledgment of our engagement, a bold statement to everyone present.
My father and I take our seats, and I can feel the tension in the air. The Cai royals are already whispering among themselves, their expressions ranging from curiosity to thinly veiled hostility.
As the proceedings begin, I glance over at Sinbad. He meets my gaze and gives a small, reassuring nod. The court is rather full, more so than usual my father states, with royals from all races and kingdoms in attendance. I notice that the room is arranged by importance, with leaders of the strongest kingdoms and empires in the front rows. About 100 people are present, and Miss Motan had insisted on the black robe. I wonder why, as the white robes seem fewer.
One person I don't see is Alibaba, though his mother is present. The King of Cai stands in the middle and claps his hands. "Discussions can begin," he says, and everyone settles comfortably in their seats.
"The matter today concerns the Far South Kingdom territory and the way forward," he announces. Great, all the topics concern our kingdom is the hot topic. My father stands up and greets the crowd.
"We shall not be giving power to the Cai Kingdom," he declares, taking a deep breath before adding, "and we are leaving the Agri Alliance."
The whole room erupts in murmurs and yells, except for those in the front row. I glance at the second row and see Prince Malo glaring daggers at me. At that moment, I spot Alibaba sneaking in and taking a seat next to his mother.
"Silence," says the chair of the meeting, and everyone falls quiet. "What has caused this sudden change? The last time I checked you were on your way to agreeing with the dissolution."
My father tries to compose himself. "I realize that this alliance and the union of our territories benefit everyone except us," he says. "As a nation, we haven't grown economically because you all keep exploiting us. All the nations in the Agri Alliance have at least once thought of taking our land or have exploited us. Correct me if I'm wrong."
The room goes silent for a moment, most people looking guilty.
"I have decided to break off from the alliance so we can make our own rules and also let our land heal," my father states as he sits down.
"Understand that you won't have our protection," says the chairperson, king of Cai.
My father simply nods his head.
"Your territory has been a target to many, I admit," says one of the chiefs from behind. "But leaving the alliance makes you more vulnerable."
"I understand very well and we have already outweighed the cons and pros," my father replies.
Sinbad rises from his seat, and everyone seems nervous. I knew he was feared, but not this much.
"I have decided to ally myself with the Far South Kingdom," Sinbad announces. His sentence hangs in the air for a while, and no one seems to disagree. He slowly turns to the back and looks at the crowd, but his gaze seems fixed on Prince Malo. "Through matrimony."
The whole room breaks out in murmurs.
"And all northern and those in the UONSAT will back me up. Any disagreements or any member belonging to UONSAT disagree?"
The room is silent, the tension thick. Prince Malo's face contorts with anger, but he remains seated, his eyes burning with barely concealed rage. The murmurs die down as the weight of Sinbad's words settle in.
No one dares to challenge Sinbad openly. I can see the calculation in their eyes, weighing the risks and benefits. UONSAT is powerful, and an alliance with Sinbad could shift the balance of power significantly.
"I will make it clear," Sinbad continues, his voice calm and steady. "This is a strategic alliance, meant to ensure the stability and prosperity of the Far South Kingdom. Any attempts to undermine this alliance will be met with resistance."
The chairperson clears his throat, breaking the silence. "Very well. If there are no objections, we will proceed with the understanding that the Far South Kingdom is now under the protection of Sinbad and his allies."
The room remains silent, and the chairperson nods. "Then it is settled. We will move on to the next topic."
"Wait," says Alibaba as he stands up. "May I add something?" The chairperson nods.
"I have been politically neutral for a while now," Alibaba continues, glancing at his mother before facing the court again. "I've finally chosen my allies." The court murmurs. "I will ally myself with the Far South Kingdom as my only ally, in efforts to increase defense I will contribute to their military strength, thank you," he declares as he sits down quickly.
The whole court seems frankly unsettled by this. One of the gentlemen behind me grabs my hair, leaning in to whisper, "You stupid bitch, what witchcraft did you use to get them on your side?"
"Let my daughter's hair go," says my father. But before he can get up, a great force pushes the man back into the table behind him, causing the shattered wood to stab him in the side. I look at him in shock and turn around to see who did it.
"I think I didn't make myself clear enough," says Sinbad, his eyes dark with a menacing intensity I hadn't seen before. "Any threats to the Far South Kingdom will be handled accordingly."
I quickly rush to help the man with his wound, trying to stop the bleeding with magic. Luckily, it didn't hit any vital organs. "Is this the man you choose an alliance with?" the injured man on the ground says. I focus on his wound, trying to heal it.
"You just want the same thing we want from the Far South—all those minerals, the gold, the magic, the gems," the man yells.
Sinbad walks toward me and grabs my hand. "Let's go," he says. I try to object, but fear consumes me, and I can't find my voice to refuse. My father follows right behind us.
"Stop," the chairman yells. He slowly walks toward Sinbad and me. "What is your game plan here, Sinbad?" he asks. "You're creating more enemies with this strategy."
"Yes, he is," says Alibaba, maintaining his composure, "but with time, the union will see who the real bully is."
The room falls silent, the tension thick and palpable. The chairman's gaze shifts between Sinbad and Alibaba, trying to gauge the situation.
"We are done here," Sinbad declares, pulling me closer. As we leave the courtroom, I can feel the eyes of every royal and dignitary on us. The air is thick with uncertainty and unease. Once outside, I finally find my voice.