"I see your finally getting interested, your highness" a man cheekily commented. Hearing this voice, Ariya knew all too well his identity. The chancellor, Akim. A cunning man. But a wise and loyal servant to the sultan. Almost too loyal. Akim never liked Ariya. No, he despised her. And shows no effort to conceal his disdain towards her.
"Good evening chancellor Akim" the princess turned to look at the man while holding the book in her hands.
"Good evening, your highness" slightly he bowed.
"You have found yourself a good book. Very wise princess. It will surely assist you in your, future endeavors" added he.
"Ahh yes, a means to feed my curiosity but of course, a man such as you would surely be more knowledgeable about such kingdom." The princess smiled at the man who was wearing a smirk in his face the whole time.
"You flatter me your highness, my knowledge about the East is far too limited and inadequate."
"Is that so, Akim? And here I am hoping to hear more from you." Ariya said. Seeing Ariya taking interest of the East added fuel to his desire to see the proud princess to tremble. He knew of her opposition to this marriage and knowing that soon, the princess will finally leave the kingdom, left his ego satisfied.
"Oh but I do have some information that your highness would surely find it...enthralling" Akim was grinning from ear to ear. He knew that the princess will surely bite his bait, after all it is the princess that is the main concern for this news. Ariya flinched at his words. She had a feeling that it was anything but good news, at least for her.
"Apparently, the King from the East has written a letter" the cunning man added in a sly voice. Like a snake, his voice slithered is Ariya's ears.
"A letter?"
"Yes, you wedding, your royal highness, shall take place earlier than anticipated" The news crept into her. Although quite shock, she quickly masks her emotions. Her eyes held nothing but coldness as she slightly raised her head to stare at at man in front of her.
"I see. Very kind of you to inform me of such crucial information chancellor, alas you have proven yourself once again. Tell me, Akim..."
She took a step closer to the man, eyes as keen.
"From whom did you hear such compelling news?" The man eyes widened.
"This marriage, is no simple by any means Akim. That fact should already be understood by a wise man like you. I am marrying no ordinary man. And as far as I remember, this agreement is highly confidential between close parties only. Should the king send a letter, Father would have informed me first." Akim, shrudded at at her words. Power. She holds that much authority. She was no pity little princess, she was the heir of the Sultan. And she has seen right through his words.
"I....." Akim stuttered. Unable to answer directly.
"But then again, I know of your ways Akim. Tsk tsk tsk old habits really die hard, I'm dissappointed Akim, you should know better" Ariya stared into his trembling eyes. She smirked at him.
You're barking at the wrong tree. Ariya hummed in his silence. Like a child caught of doing mischievous act, he shut his mouth and continued to glare.
"Very well, I shall inquire my father of this matter." Ariya handed her book to Akim and turned her heels to meet the Sultan. She walked with such confidence out of the library. She didn't dare to look back at the man, but continued straight to the Sultan's office.
The guards announced her presence and the doors opened. Now alone with great Sultan in his office, the light from the setting sun seeps through the windows, illuminating only the parts in which it hits. The corners of the room held the abyss of the shadows, seen but hidden. Although the ceilings were high, the room carries so much weight that whoever enters the room shall be burdened. Although the room was wide, each stride felt like a narrow passage. Although the room was filled, it felt empty. Everything was familiar yet unfamiliar. Everything seems to be the contrast of their very presence. And in the middle of this forsaken chamber, he resides. He who has to carry it all, burdened by the weight. He who has everything, yet nonetheless none at all.
"Father" Ariya, in her soft voice, called him. It seems that Ariya's rage has cooled down for her to adress him as her father again.
"Ariya, "peeking through his old circular reading glasses, he glanced at his daughter.
"I heard a quite interesting news, father, from one of your, loyal servants"
"And what might that be?"
"My marriage" The Sultan stopped writing and placed his quill down. Now, she got the full attention of her father.
"Go on" the Sultan commanded.
"I heard that it shall push through earlier than what was agreed."
"From whom did you heard such news?" Ariya didn't answer but stared right back to her father.
"It seems that it is true. Father, Akim told me of a letter sent by the King of the East" Ariya went near her fathers table and places her hands top of it "Did you tell him of this matter before me?"
The King stayed silent. It seems that Akim may have placed his hands on the wrong letter out of curiosity. He never told him the contents of that paper nor even told him that such letter arrived. It was considered a grave sin for an official to go through the documents of the King without his consent. Now that his daughter had suspected it, Akim cannot avoid facing the accusations and possible punishments of his crime.
"Akim, is a loyal person, Ariya" He averted his gaze from his daughter.
"Loyal? You call that loyal? He dared to peer onto your letter Father! Without you even knowing it! And you know very well it isn't the first time that he did this!"
Nothing more than truth, did Ariya's words carry. But he cannot dismiss Akim out of his position. For the very reason that Akim, has known too many secrets of the Sultan. He has been his most trusted ali. But he cannot bear to accept Ariya knowing fully well that she is an illegitimate child. Akim was the brother of the late first wife of the King, Sanaya. This is why he bares so much hatred to the poor princess, believing that it was Ariya's mother who caused his beloved sister to perish. Hence were the reasons of his actions, his pitiful provocation to the princess, although Akim was a very wise and useful hand of the Sultan, he never comprimised his work with him. But alas, he needs to learn that Ariya is also the princess of this country thus deserving the same respect that he gives him.
The Sultan sighed.
"I shall handle this matter alone, child. As for the letter that the King sent, what you heard was right. He wishes to proceed with the wedding a bit early. He will arrive here about a month time"
"A month?" Ariya was confused as to how to process the information that she just heard. When she heard about her wedding being rushed, she didn't expect it to be this fast. She knew she was getting married in 6 months, which for her, was an ample time to prepare herself for what's to come. But a month? A month would mean only few weeks. And a week only consists few days.
"But why? Why does he need to rush the marriage father? "Too frantic to hide her emotions, Ariya's mind was totally in chaos. It was as if her nightmares are upon her. Seeking to see her crumble. Seeking to see her downfall.
"It was a matter we needed to decide. Ariya, you need to understand this first, the purpose of your marriage is not solely to establish peace among two kingdoms, it was for a greater cause."
"What are you trying to imply father?"
"Your marriage was agreed in order to unite our kingdom's forces, it was countermeasure to prevent an enemy from gaining too much power. It was a necessity, child" The Sultan who was now standing beside Ariya, places his hands on her daughter's shoulders.
"I am aware of the heavy burden this purpose has placed upon you and the sacrifice you have to make, which with all my heart am grateful for. The young King of the East and I have been exchanging information for quite some time now and there is no greater bond, a greater relationship that will allow the two kingdoms to be united than to have you marry him, the daughter of this very kingdom."
"Father..." Ariya was lost for words.
"It was a decision I had to make. I knew the King of the West is far too greedy, far too cruel to establish an empire Ariya. He has been planning this for years now. Words have already spread that he is building an army, numbers far too dangerous, that might become an end for our people."
Ariya's heart was beating rapidly. If her suspicion is true, then that means if the West will not be stopped in time, it would mean another war. A war that could possibly end them. War that will allow greed to reign. She knew that war would only mean chaos. War would only mean destruction. War would only mean death. Blood will stain the land, lives will be lost, chaos will prevail. It was for a noble cause after all. Her father didn't want to cast her away. It felt as if her heart was now a little less heavy but is burdened again with another weight. The Kingdom of the West was the first ever kingdom that was established in the land of Vashnara. Their history goes far beyond the South and East combined. This made the West into believing that they are far too great and far too supreme among any other kingdoms. They believe that every nation, and every person, royal or not, should bend under their reign. For eons, the West has been trying all means to gather power that will enable them to conquer what they think was rightfully their own. Now, with the reign of Valtazar, the current King of the West, who is driven by his bottomless greed, seeks to bend the knees of his neighboring kingdoms and finally establish the empire he dreamt. Where everything is under his fingertips, where everyone is under his mercy.