[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: ROLLING DEEP~ ADELE]
Almaria pushed her heavy gown to the side as she tried to step down from the carriage. They had traveled for a long day searching for the people who could defeat the White Lords; she was already exhausted and wanted to give up when the coachman announced that they had arrived.
Almaria noticed discoloration on her skin, and it was due to the harsh weather and bathing conditions she was subjected to during her travel. She couldn’t wait to go back to Morado and enjoy her skincare routine. She turned to look at her cousin, who appeared not to be affected by the harsh sun or the rough journey.
"Big sister, have you been here before? This harsh sun doesn’t affect you?" Almaria asked, hitting her neck to kill the blood-sucking insect that latched onto her skin.
Deonisia stepped down from the carriage, handing over a pouch containing coins to the coachman; she waved for him to go ahead.
"It’ll surprise you to know where I’ve been. Behave yourself; if these men know you have never stayed in this kind of place, they’ll want to take you as their wife." The older woman warned Almaria, who had been acting dramatic since they arrived in the Badukeh kingdom. A kingdom very far away from Morado, unlike Morado; this kingdom was sandy, too sunny, and the weather was very harsh, making most of the people there cover their skin with layers of garment, including their faces, leaving just their eyes open.
Almaria took out her shawl, wrapping her face properly; she started walking forward, keeping her eyes on the ground so she won’t trip on anything. "Why would anyone here want me as their wife?"
Deonisia ignored the question that Almaria asked; she continued to drag her feet on the sand, which was dragging them back as the harsh wind tried to blow away their dress.
As they got to the huge gate, which had two huge horns at the side of the gate, making the entrance look spooky, it was still being protected by two fierce-looking men who had huge swords on their waist, but they stood tall like the weight of the sword was not affecting their balance.
"Who are you looking for?" One of the guards blared in a harsh tone, his eyes scrutinizing the women who appeared that they were not part of them.
Deonisia took out a crest from her dress and waved it to the guard. Before saying,
"Tell the supreme King Venantius that Deonisia of Taire is here to see him." She said speaking gracefully to the guard. The people of Badukeh were known for their quick temper for no reason, so she had to keep in check how she spoke to them, and she hoped that Almaria doesn’t slip out because this kingdom doesn’t bat an eye to cut down any act of insubordination.
The guard glared at the older woman for some time; he shifted his gaze to look at the woman beside her. Then he called for the other guard, whispering something inaudible to them before sending him away. When he turned to look at Deonisia, he didn’t say anything; he kept watching the new visitors until the other guard arrived and also spoke to him in hushed tones.
"The supreme King is ready to see you, but first you’ll be searched." The guard spoke; this time his voice was not as harsh as before but it still retained its hardness.
Deonisia raised her hands to be searched before she was allowed to step inside the palace. When it was Almaria’s turn, she scrunched her face in disgust; she didn’t like how the guard was feeling her whole body. Almaria held her breath until the search was over, then she joined her cousin inside the palace.
Unlike what she had seen outside, the palace appeared to be very beautiful. With flowers hanging on each pillar then torches that were on each stand. The palace looked larger than that of Morado, and the floors were designed with marble. Almaria saw a big pool; she was surprised to see a man step out of it. The man was wearing a small short, just outside with a lot of maidens who were also unclad sitting around the pool.
"We don’t have all day Almaria; hasten up." Deonisia commanded her sister who was lost in space looking at the people swimming.
Almaria turned her head and followed her sister, but before she entered the main building, she glanced at the waterside again.
The guard led them through the corridors until they got to a particular room. He then stopped and knocked twice before opening the door, staying behind while Deonisia and Almaria entered inside.
The room was very large, twice the size of the king and queen’s chamber combined. The usual candle stands were absent in the room; Almaria noticed a long chain holding glass from the ceiling. It was very beautiful to look at. The design patterns were very different from what she was used to; everything
about where they were was very different. She wondered how her cousin found this place to start with.
As they stood in the vast room, waiting to be hosted, a door that Almaria didn’t know was inside the room because it looked like the wall opened, she caught sight of two naked women lying on the bed, with their eyes closed.
The figure that stepped out was an older man, in maybe his early fifties but his body was well-built, and his midnight black hair was weaved in long cornrows. The man donned a robe over his shoulder with the loose pants he had on his waist. Almaria took notice of the muscle lines on the man’s stomach, for someone this old, the man looked very healthy.
"Deonisia...." The man who stepped out of the room trailed, looking at the older woman he was very familiar with.
"Supreme king Venantius, it’s an honour to be in your presence." Deonisia bowed deeply, giving Almaria a side-eye to bow with her.
Almaria was surprised to hear that the man in front of her was the supreme king; she had been expecting someone very old with grey hair and beards who couldn’t stand straight. When she saw her cousin bow deeply to the man, she snapped out of her thoughts and joined in bowing.
"Deonisia, you didn’t contact us again after my father died. You thought Badukeh would be weaker without him right?." The man asked, touching his cornrows as his eyes briefly met that of Almaria.
Deonisia raised her face, "No Supreme king, I had to clear up things on my side." The older woman said with a smile.
The supreme king hummed, gesturing for them to have a seat. Then he crossed his leg, picking up a grape that was on the table; he popped it into his mouth.
"And your lover who betrayed you...did you get to finally erase his descendants?." The man asked casually sucking the fruit that was in his mouth.
Deonisia nodded her head before picking a grape from the basket, she looked at it closely before taking it into her mouth. "I did, but there’s a last of his descendant who is proving to be stubborn. That is why I am here."
"Hm...Is the boy that strong?" The supreme King asked, his eyes filled with curiosity of who this person was, who Deonisia couldn’t scrap that easily as the woman was known to be tenacious.
Deonisia reclined on the chair, "I would have been happier if it was a boy....it’s a girl.. His granddaughter, Kitanna." She replied.
Almaria now turned to look at Deonisia; she was lost in the discussion. Who was Deonisia’s lover who betrayed her? And how did that relate to Kitanna; her eyes widened in surprise when she added two and two together. When Deonisia asked her to come to Morado, it was just to conquer the throne; her cousin didn’t tell her the backstory.
"Seems your friend here is lost....did you not tell her of the affair you had with the elder Morgair and how your love was betrayed." The supreme King asked looking at Almaria, his eyes filled with mirth.