Chapter Eleven
Unexpected
The night was warm and welcoming while the royals and noblemen alike gathered under the tented canopies that sat by the lakeside to watch the ensuing battles. Ayanda sat on the left side within the largest canopy with the other princesses while the nobles sat on the right side with Cesar settled right in the middle, separating both parties. 'Mmm. The men and women usually aren't apart like this. Wonder what prompted it,' Ayanda thought to herself while she watched the staffers finish setting up at both ends of the lake. When they were done, the games were announced and a short male assistant in a purple tailed, silver trimmed coat with red hair presented Cesar with an antique pistol which he stood to shoot in the air through an opening in the canopy that his attendants had folded back for the occasion to officially begin the start of the battle.
Ayanda thought on how she had learned that there are hundreds of miniature ships made a year by hand, and then stored away so the-king-to-be can have these battles whenever he wishes without any worry about delay due to a lack of vessels. 'It's no wonder why he feels so entitled when he wants something. His parents probably ordered the castle personnel to keep an overflow of whatever he likes when he was little and the staff just kept up with it as the years went by. I wonder how I might've turned out had I been born into royalty,' she contemplated while comparing how differently she behaves now, as to how she was before ever having set foot in Obren. She jumped a little when the first ship was sunk and the nobles proved to be more raucous and lively than they were during the practice battles which Ayanda hadn't realized was possible. Watching the men go crazy over the little vessels reminded Ayanda of how her cousins and uncles were during almost every sporting event. whether they witnessed it on television, or in person. It made her wonder if she had even the slightest chance of going home again without Steven and Joseph's threat coming to fruition. 'Don't be foolish. They specifically want Craorus united with Obren so if you can't deliver on that then you know what'll happen.' She sighed and tried to shake her mind of the dread that promised to spread throughout her whenever she dared to remember where she came from and if there were any way to go back, no matter how pointless that train of thought was.
As the battle continued, Ayanda found watching the nobles reactions to each victory for some and loss for others to be much more entertaining than the actual show, that is, when she was able to keep her mind from going to Steven's promise to tear her country apart and make sure her family suffers most. 'If I just knew for sure whether or not I still had any semblance of a chance at getting Cesar to marry me or not, it would help me not feel so obsessive.' She forced herself not to look Cesar's way even once during the night in hopes of not bringing on a panic attack. 'If I look at him and find that he's looking at me, it'll send me into a tailspin because I won't know for sure why he's looking at me. And if I look at him and he's not looking at me, that'll drive me crazy too!' She shifted in her seat as she groaned inwardly and waited for the fight between the ships to come to an end so she could retire to her room as soon as possible and scream into a pillow.
Ayanda had barely noticed when the last vessel sank and one of the staff gave the official announcement that the battle had come to an end. She straightened up and forced a smile when she stood and watched the nobles shore up their bets. 'I am going to miss these men. Their kind and welcoming nature towards me was easily the best thing about this whole visit.' She thought sadly as each one of them approached her to say goodnight before heading off to their respective homes. Ayanda found she had to fight back tears with each farewell as she felt it would be her last time ever seeing any of them again. She hadn't realized how attached she had gotten to the nobles until this moment. 'Keep it together. Remember, Yikon and Craorus want an alliance so if I sell it right, maybe Steven and Joseph will accept my marrying Temir instead of Cesar... assuming Temir was actually interested in me, rather than just wanting to get under Cesar's skin..... also assuming Temir is looking to be married,' she inwardly bemoaned as she said her last goodnight before hurrying to her room.
"Oh yeah. Lying here staring at the ceiling is much better." She thought aloud while she laid on her back in bed and tried to force her mind to shut off. Finally, she groaned loudly and threw the covers off herself before jumping out of bed and pacing around the room. "What are your options and be realistic Ayanda." She halted when she realized that she likely didn't have to refer to herself as that anymore. After working so diligently to accept the name as her own and step into the identity of a lost princess from a foreign land, would she even be able to go back to all she was before this whole thing started? She shook her head. "I can't do this. I can't just sit around and wait for Cesar to take one of the other princesses as his bride which will send Steven in particular into a rage. I have to.... I've got to.... leave. I'll leave. Without me around to witness it, their threat will be meaningless so I'll just run away and disappear and they'll have no choice, but to just forget the whole thing!" Ayanda immediately began searching for a practical outfit to wear when she heard a strange noise outside her door. She felt her stomach drop as she called out to see if one of her attendants had caused it. The door crept open and Astra peered in. "Are you alright milady? I heard you pacing." Ayanda's heartbeat raced as she eyed Astra. "Were you listening outside my door for something?" Astra stepped fully into the room and hunched into herself while looking down as a form of respect to Ayanda's status. "Oh no your highness! I was making my nightly rounds and wanted to ensure you weren't in need. Please forgive my intrusion." Ayanda felt her defenses flatten a bit as she saw how contrite and submissive Astra was. She straightened up and made sure to speak with a softer tone when she addressed Astra again. "It's alright. Forg- Excuse my suspicions. I am unable to sleep and it has me acting out of sorts." Astra looked up from the ground. "Would her highness like something to help her rest?" Ayanda wanted to say no and send Astra away so she could continue attempting to make her getaway, but a thought occurred to her. 'The castle is never empty. Not only are there cameras practically everywhere, but there are always personnel walking around and none of them would ever let anyone, especially not a visiting royal just move around without knowing exactly what they're doing and why. Sure they'd be humble and respectful so the royal's authority wouldn't feel challenged, but they'd still make sure to find out what's happening. Plus, I don't know my way around Craorus at all and I don't speak the language. There's no way I can realistically disappear around here, or in even Obren when I have to return tomorrow.' Ayanda felt dread begin to consume her as she realized how truly hopeless her situation was. Automatically she nodded to Astra in response and Astra led her back to her bed and tucked her in before handing her a sedative, which Ayanda gulped down dry. "There. Her highness will feel much better once she gets some rest." Ayanda laughed to herself over how some of the servants spoke directly to the royals about said royals, as though they were speaking about someone else. Her eyelids grew so heavy and her mind finally began to shut down when she wondered something, ".... Why'd you... have a..... sedative... on you?" Ayanda could barely see as unconsciousness began to take over. "Shhh sleep now and remember to stay the course."
Ayanda awoke feeling so groggy that her attendants had to help her with most of her daily morning tasks. Since the gala was now officially over, Katherine and her workers studiously packed the belongings of the visiting royals after the last breakfast. Ayanda had felt so out of it upon rising that she skipped breakfast entirely and waited in one of the empty studies until it was time for them all to make their departure. One of her ladies came to get her once everyone was ready to leave, and the princesses and queens all lined up in the foyer to receive a proper goodbye from Cesar. Annoyance filled Ayanda as she was not alert enough to hear the other royals whisper about how snobby they felt she was due to her lack in attempt at being around them and spending all her time with the nobles. She tried to ignore their painfully obvious and slanderous insinuations about her and the noblemen, when Cesar appeared with his entourage and caused the gossiping women to quiet down. Cesar smiled as he eyed them all while the grand speaker addressed the royals. "As you all know, a point of this weeklong gala was to get to know other monarchs from both neighboring and far off countries so necessary alliances and negotiations could be made, but the main reason was so our king-to-be could find a bride. Prince Cesar with blessings from both the king and queen who send every regret at not having been able to meet any of you, has accomplished all he sought to do. The king-to-be and all of Craorus wishes each of you a fond farewell, and may your reigns be long and prosperous." The royal speaker for castle Craorus announced their departures one-by-one as they made their leave, each receiving a kiss on the cheek from Cesar when they passed him. Ayanda didn't want to face him after how badly she botched her chances at making this union happen. She was afraid she'd fall apart the moment she saw his face again, and beg him to have her hand in marriage. She knew all that would do is show her desperation which she had been able to hide incredibly well over the course of the week, and brand her country as weak in the eyes of every other ruler there. She drew in a deep breath and made ready to be ignored by Cesar like he had done when they had first met, but he surprised her by taking her hands in his when it was her turn to walk out, causing her to look at him for the first time since their incident in the throne room. His gaze burned into her like an iron brand as he brought her hands to his lips and kissed the back of one, then the other before stating, "It was an honor to meet the famed lost princess of Obren," "uhh," Ayanda mentally smacked herself into remembering to play her part. "... The pleasure was all mine milord." He slowly released her hands and wished her safe travels as she walked out their doors and down their steps where one of the staffers waited to escort her to the car that would take her to one of the helipads on the grounds of the castle where castle Obren's jet waited to take her back.
Hollow. Like all her organs and bones had been punched out of her. That's all Ayanda felt when she returned to Obren. She was felt both thankful and guilty when King Sadiki and Queen Omolara's welcome home greeting to her were short-lived due to their shared declining health, and also worried when Steven and Joseph hadn't so much as attempted to seek her out after her return. 'Maybe they know the whole thing ended up being a bust.' She stood in her room, got undressed, and looked herself over in the mirror. She had finished using the tube of cream Steven and Joseph had one of their spies sneak to her when she was in Craorus so now, every blemish, scar, crinkle or any other mark considered an imperfection, was completely gone and replaced with hydrated skin smooth as a flower's petal that glowed like the moon in the dead of night. 'I guess I should be grateful I got a thicc body and healthy goddess like skin out of all of this since I have nothing else to show for my efforts.' She sighed and mentally prepared the speech she was going to say to Steven and Joseph as to why they shouldn't destroy her country, torment her family and lay all the blame at her feet just because she couldn't get Cesar to marry her.
"Steven, Joseph, things don't always work out as we hope or plan they will. It doesn't mean we need to act rashly. It just means we need to step back, regroup, and find another way to get what we want. When I was in Craorus, I made a possible connection with an emperor. The trade routes of his country are greatly coveted by many, including Craorus so I propose that I set my sights on marrying him instead and then impress upon him to befriend Cesar so Yikon and Craorus can align themselves and that's how you both will get the access to Craorus you want. Sound good?" "Yes Ayanda, that sounds completely reasonable, or at least it would if you could assure us that Temir is even looking for a wife and would pick you to be her and if Cesar and Temir didn't have enough animosity between them to rival the Hatfields and McCoys. Now let's go murder your family in front of you and bring your home to ruin." Ayanda laughed bitterly at her practice conversation with Obren's ambassadors before throwing on her pajamas and jumping into bed. She nestled against the soft sheets, firm pillows and warmth of the fluffy comforter. "So many things were better in Craorus than here, except for the bed." She declared with a sigh of content while she drifted off to sleep.
Servants happily woke Ayanda, grateful to have their princess back. "We certainly hope her highness enjoyed her rest." Ayanda groaned from having to leave the comfort of her bed and face reality. She sat up and forced a smile as she greeted her ladies. "As they say in the states; there's no place like home." "Oh did her highness not enjoy her stay in castle Craorus?" asked Elna while she and two of the other servants flitted about the room. Ayanda lifted her hands and let them roll back the covers before climbing out and preparing herself for them to dress and ready her for the day. "I did. They were quite accommodating, but the bed of the room I stayed in left something to be desired," "I wonder if prince Cesar's bed would've been more comfortable." One of the servants muttered, which instantly earned her a chastising look from Elna. 'Gossip spreads quicker than wildfire,' Ayanda thought while pretending she didn't hear the attendants remark or notice the look Elna had fired at her. She rubbed the back of her head and asked how long she had been asleep for. "Since noon yesterday princess." 'Yeesh!' Thought Ayanda upon hearing she had slept twenty hours. 'Jet lag is no joke.' Once she was finally dressed and ready for the day, Ayanda decided to eat breakfast alone on the terrace facing the east garden before greeting the queen and king whom were in a meeting she was told. She sipped on a glass of fresh squeezed guava juice left over from her breakfast as she strolled down the hall to look for her parents. Elna followed closely behind her while a male guard walked behind them both. Ayanda exhaled to herself as she had to get use to the vast differences of both castles, when Elna caught her attention to let her know which door her parents were behind. "The meeting they and the ambassadors are attending is quite important princess. It may be unwise to disturb them." "I'll just peek in to see who they're speaking with... wait. The ambassadors are in there as well?" "Yes highness." Ayanda grabbed the handle and opened the door before her mind had a chance to go to the worst case scenario.
As the door swung open, she heard the voice of her faux mother ask, "and you have traveled all this way to ask of me and my king..?" When another familiar voice chimed in, "for your daughter's hand in marriage." The heads of King Sadiki, Queen Omolara, Steven, Joseph and the advisers to their majesties along with Cesar's and his entourage all turned toward the door when they heard the glass Ayanda had been drinking from, shatter against the floor at her feet while she stood there with her eyes so wide they threatened to pop right out of her skull.