The sound of clashing swords echoed throughout the training area, the intensity of the sparring match palpable. It was clear one was stronger, the other more skillful, a perfect balance of power and finesse. Sweats dripped, shouts punctuated each move. The maid's attention was captivated by her majesty's graceful sword mastery. The way she moved, the way she evaded, she was both strong and graceful, as if dancing with the sword. Her black hair flowed freely in the air, her blue eyes focused on her opponent. Her white skin shone, her rosy lips hinting at a smile. All her grace, her beauty... it was almost unfair. A goddess had descended upon their empire. Her opponent, Saron, her mirror image, the tallest man in the castle, and in the coming weeks, the heir to the throne. Every girl dreamed of being by his side, but the maid also pitied the woman who would marry him; she might faint from the sight of his beauty daily. They were the pillars of their empire. Lost in thought, the maid was startled by the shining sound of the swords, now pointed at each other's necks. Freaking out, the maid ran, "Aha! Brother, you lost again!" "No, Khanzad, it's a tie!" Khanzad looked at him playfully, "Hehe, admit it, I was the one to put the sword first!"
Saron moved his hand and grabbed Khanzad's ear with a flex of movement and pulled her ear gently. "Hey little girl, who do you think taught you swordplay, huh?" She quickly grabbed her ear, then her brother's hand to release her ear as she quickly said, "Ou, ouch! Sorry, sorry!" Saron released her upon her apology and smiled, showing his white teeth. "Brother, you're so jealous!" "Lady Layla will be angry with you again! How can you grab a lady's ear?" With a sudden appearance, that is exactly true. The foot and voice sounded from the lady in the white dress from their back. Her brown hair looked light in the sun. Her green eyes narrowed at the both royals. "How many times have I told you both, no training during this hour? Oh god, Princess, look at your hand, it's chapped again!" Hahahaha, laughed troubled Khanzad as she was looking at her and her brother trying to sneak out. Khanzad directed the fight back to his brother, saying, "But brother, Saron suggested!" "I even rejected!" She turned to him almost instantly. "Hey man, what did we agree on?" Then she suddenly started crying, "How could you both do this to me? You know it's my wedding soon, and you both keep making me more stressed!" The both of them tried to calm her down as the maids behind them laughed in secret. "Haha, Lady Layla knows how to get both of these troublemakers as always."
The castle doors slammed shut behind them, echoing through the grand halls. A blue carpet stretched from the windswept training grounds high above to the dining room, a journey in itself. Three friends, buzzing with anticipation, filled the air with chatter. "When does Father depart for Laroe Castle?" Khanzad inquired, her voice laced with a hint of urgency. "The preparations are complete, I made sure of it. And, of course, the arrangements for your wedding and coronation, brother," she added, a shadow of melancholy crossing her face. Saron, ever observant, swiftly moved to her side. "Ah, my Khanzad," he murmured, gently stroking her hair, "You'll miss me when I'm king." A wicked laugh escaped him, quickly followed by, "By then, you'll all be begging for my return... MUHAHAHA!" Layla quickly smacked his arm, instantly sobering him. "Easy now, little sister, there's always time for you. After Mother's passing, I raised you as my own. How could a father ever neglect his only daughter, eh?" Layla and Khanzad exchanged incredulous glances. "Wow, I never knew he had it in him!" Khanzad exclaimed. "You should have told me, my husband is a doting father," Layla chimed in, standing beside Khanzad. Khanzad, however, quickly retorted, "No, sister-in-law, believe me, I had no idea he was capable of such... eloquence."
The weight of their conversation settled upon them as they entered the dining hall. Each took their seat, the clatter of silverware a stark contrast to the tension hanging in the air. As the aid announced the arrival of his Majesty, the king, they all rose, a silent acknowledgment of his power. The king, once seated, signaled for his meal, and the room settled into a semblance of normalcy.
But the tranquility was shattered when the king spoke, his voice cutting through the quiet. "I will be moving to Lare castle. As you know, Saron, you and Layla will be married, as we agreed."
Saron's response was immediate, a simple, "Yes, your Majesty."
Then, the king turned his gaze to Khanzad. "Khanzad, you are to be engaged to Sir Mir, the general commander and the prime minister's son."
The words hung in the air, heavy with the king's decree. Saron stopped eating, shock etched on his face. Khanzad's own surprise was evident. She looked at her father with disbelief.
"But, Father," Saron began, his voice laced with agitation, yet carefully controlled, "Khanzad has never met the man. She has never left the castle. How can you just decide this?"
The king fixed Saron with a glare, but his voice remained calm, laced with authority. "It is not her place to decide. She is a woman, and her fate rests in the hands of her father or her brother. As long as I live, I will make these decisions."
Silence descended upon the hall. Even though they were seething with anger, they knew the futility of protest. It was the way of their world, the way women were treated. They continued to eat, but the food felt like stones in their mouths.
Soon, the king departed, his health failing. As soon as he left and no one was in the room, Saron slammed his fist on the table, the sound echoing in the now-empty hall. "I wish he would just die already, old man." He turned to Khanzad, his voice softening. "You don't have to listen to him. As soon as I become king, even..."
Khanzad's voice was steady, her face a mask of unwavering resolve. "If this is a decision made by Father, like any woman in this country whose fate is predetermined, like my own sister-in-law... I will not rely on anyone's aid. I will face the same destiny as my people."
The others stared, their faces a mixture of shock and something akin to grudging respect. Then, a strange sound escaped them—laughter. "We knew each other," one finally managed, "We weren't forced into this."
As they sat together, Saron shifted, wrapping an arm around Khanzad's head in a gesture of affection. "You've grown up fast, haven't you?"