The morning sun had barely climbed over the palace walls when Sirene burst out of her chambers.
Her veil trailed behind her as she ran across the courtyard toward the quarters gate. The moment she saw her mother waiting there, she threw herself into Foni's arms.
The tears came instantly.
"My dear," Foni said, alarmed, wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter. "Are you alright?"
Sirene clung to her.
"I am now."
...
Inside the consort chambers, the scent of jasmine tea drifted through the air.
Sirene poured tea into her mother's cup with careful hands, though they trembled slightly. Foni watched her closely, worry etched across her face.
"You've grown thin," Foni said quietly. "Not just in body. In spirit."
Sirene forced a small smile. "I'm fine, mother."
Foni did not smile back. "You must try harder if you want to lie to me," she said gently. "I know you too well."
Sirene sighed, "My soon-to-be husband has not visited me once since I arrived."
Foni raised an eyebrow. "That is what troubles you?"
Sirene nodded slowly. "It doesn't feel like avoidance. It feels like disinterest. Perhaps this marriage is nothing more than an arrangement."
She looked down at her hands.
"Maybe he doesn't care about me at all."
Foni leaned forward and took her daughter's hand. "It is too early for those thoughts."
"But the queen told me this is normal," Sirene said quietly. "She said royal wives are often ignored. She told me to have children quickly because they would be my only friends."
Foni considered this.
Then she smiled faintly. "The prince is being cautious."
"Cautious?"
"You are a beautiful girl, Sirene," her mother said plainly. "A man alone with you might forget himself."
Sirene was a bit confused.
"You must remain chaste until your wedding night. Perhaps he fears temptation."
The explanation seemed to settle something in Sirene's mind. Her shoulders relaxed. "Maybe you're right."
Foni nodded approvingly. "You must remove such dark thoughts from your mind. You are not like the other royal women."
She leaned closer.
"And remember what the village women taught you when you came of age."
Sirene flushed.
"How to hold a man's attention," Foni said bluntly. "Unless there is something terribly wrong with him, no man can resist the right woman."
Sirene nodded slowly. "I understand."
Foni studied her face. "But you still look troubled."
Sirene hesitated. "It's Khari."
Foni's expression immediately hardened. It's almost like she saw it coming.
"What did she do now?"
Sirene shook her head quickly. "I don't know if she actually did anything. But everyone in the palace is talking about her. The queen. The concubines. Even the princess."
Her voice lowered. "She is more talked about than I am."
Foni frowned. "And that bothers you?"
"It worries me." Sirene clasped her hands together. "I feel as though she may have caused trouble. But that isn't like Khari. She would never do anything to harm my future here. I'm doing this for all of us."
Foni's expression darkened further.
"Do you know that she was against this marriage from the beginning?"
Sirene blinked, "I don't believe—"
"She was." Foni's voice sharpened, "If it were up to her, you would never have stepped inside this palace."
Sirene shook her head. "That's not true."
"There is bitterness in her heart," Foni insisted. "This opportunity was meant for her. But fate chose you instead. So if I discover that she has created problems for us…I will not be pleased."
Sirene reached for her mother's hand. "Please do not be harsh with her."
Foni remained silent.
Sirene continued softly.
"This situation is overwhelming for everyone. For me. For you. For Father. And especially for Khari."
She gestured toward the palace walls.
"We now live in a completely different world. Every movement is watched. Every word is judged. There are rules for everything. The spoons we use. The colors we wear. The beliefs we follow."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"It is exhausting." She forced a small smile. "The only reason I remain strong is because my family is here with me. So please…"
She squeezed her mother's hand.
"Let's not fall apart now. We survived two years of drought together. This palace cannot break us."
Foni sighed. "If you say so."
Sirene stood. "I will investigate what people are saying about Khari. I'm sure it is something small. And I will fix it." Her voice regained its confidence. "Everything will be fine."
Foni nodded slowly. "Very well."
At that moment a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Sirene said.
The door opened and Maya stepped inside.
She bowed respectfully.
"Consort Sirene."
"Yes?"
"You have been summoned."
"Summoned?"
"By the royal concubines."
Sirene and her mother exchanged a puzzled glance.
Neither of them knew whether that invitation was a good thing or whether it had something to do with Khari's overnight popularity after all.
...
Lady Gema's chambers felt colder than the rest of the palace.
Sirene stood quietly before the table where Lady Gema and Lady Erini sat together.
Neither woman looked pleased.
Gema's voice broke the silence, "I am disgusted."
Sirene blinked in confusion. "My lady?"
"How does a girl from such a poor background dare to reach for the clouds?"
"I don't understand." Sirene's confusion deepened.
Lady Erini leaned forward. "Your sister has been seducing the king."
Sirene felt the world tilt, "What?"
"I saw it myself," Erini continued sharply. "She wrapped herself around him like a snake."
Lady Gema's eyes burned with contempt. "I warned you about bringing commoners into the palace. You claimed your family is honorable and I remember telling you that we'll see" Gema spoke with disgust in her tone, "I told you, Sirene; Nobody can pretend for too long. Here we are."
Sirene instantly dropped to her knees. "I swear to the gods we never intended anything like that!"
Erini folded her arms. "And yet your sister clung to our husband."
Sirene's voice trembled. "Please… give me a chance to fix this."
Gema raised an eyebrow. "What if she refuses?"
Sirene clenched her jaw.
"She won't."
"And if she does?"
Sirene swallowed, "Then punish her however you see fit."
Erini smiled coldly.
"You have one chance."
Gema added quietly:
"Today."
Sirene stormed out of the chambers moments later, anger making her resemble a bull. Her mother was right after all. Khari had become a hindrance.
Her hands were clenched into fists.
"Go to the south residence," she told Maya furiously. "Drag Kharivanpa to my chambers immediately."
Maya bowed.
"Yes, consort."
***