Swords of Justice
Chapter 14: (The Purpose of Marriage)
The Crown Prince of Foza, along with his escorts, finally arrived at the grand palace of the Kingdom of Darhomsan. They were welcomed with the finest reception, the royal trumpet was blown, and a herald cried out:
"Now arriving, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Foza, Mustafa Ibn Al-Aziz, accompanied by his ten escorts. They shall now enter the royal hall of His Majesty, King Hussein Abu Marwan of Darhomsan!"
The gates of the royal hall opened, and the guests walked in toward the king, who sat upon his throne. They bowed in respect, before Prince Mustafa of Foza stepped forward and delivered his greeting with polished words:
— "Your Majesty, King Hussein Abu Marwan, renowned for your kindness, generosity, and noble virtues. Our alliance against the wicked kingdom of Malakana stands firm. It is an honor to meet you personally. My father spoke of you, saying you are among the finest of men."
— The King: "Welcome, Prince of Foza. How fares your father, the King?"
— Mustafa: "He is well, though bound to his bed, lest his condition worsen."
— The King: "I am relieved to hear he endures."
— Mustafa: "As you have read in my letter, I have come to ask for the hand of your beautiful daughter, Princess Hasnaa Hussein Abu Marwan. This union shall strengthen the bond between our kingdoms, and make us mightier than ever."
The King, visibly uneasy, hesitated before answering:
— "Ah… yes. Indeed, I consent to this."
— Mustafa: "I did not come empty-handed. I have brought you the finest treasures and jewels."
— The King: "Your generosity honors us, Prince of Foza."
— Mustafa, scanning the hall: "But tell me, why do I not see her? Could it be that she is so shy?"
The King faltered, unsure of how to reply, when Minister Tahir swiftly stepped in to rescue the moment:
— "Her Highness felt unwell, so we sent her this morning to the royal physician. She will return shortly."
— Mustafa: "Do you not have a physician here in the palace?"
— Tahir: "Indeed, but the one we sent for is elderly, and we did not wish to tire him. He is also the most skilled in the kingdom."
Just then, a guard entered, announcing:
— "The banquet is ready."
The King smiled warmly: "Come, come, let us feast."
They followed the king, while Prince Mustafa whispered to himself:
"Are they toying with me? They knew I was coming today, yet they send her to a physician? Something must have happened… No matter. Truth be told, I was never eager for this marriage. This is nothing more than my father's dying wish—his final command to me."
A Few Weeks Earlier
After examining the ailing King of Foza upon his bed, the royal physician bowed for leave and quietly departed.
— Mustafa: "You heard him, Father. He said you will live for a few more years."
— King of Foza: "I fear not, my son. What troubles me most is leaving you to rule alone."
— Mustafa, joking lightly: "Do not worry, Father. As your only son, there will be no struggle for the throne."
— King of Foza: "You are mistaken, my son."
— Mustafa, confused: "What do you mean, Father?"
— King of Foza: "Before you, I had another son."
— Mustafa, stunned: "What!?"
— King of Foza: "He is older than you, born of a maidservant. I never wished to make him my heir. I had his mother killed to protect my secret, and I was on the verge of killing him as well… but I pitied him. So I spared his life and banished him from the palace at the age of ten. Years later, I heard rumors—he became one of the most cunning criminals in the kingdom, and grew incredibly strong. Surely, he still lives, and now he gathers an army to take vengeance upon me."
— Mustafa: "I cannot believe you hid something this important from me."
— King of Foza: "Forgive me, my son. But do not worry. The Kingdom of Darhomsan will always stand by you. Its king is my ally. Marry his daughter—she is a woman of great beauty. This union will strengthen our ties and secure their aid against your brother, Bilal."
— Mustafa, resisting: "But I have no interest in marriage, Father."
— King of Foza: "I know. But this is my final wish, my son. Please… do this for me."
In the Bandits' Village
Muawiya's fury grew ever stronger, his thirst for Hamza's blood more burning than before.
— Hamza: "Your tale makes no sense. You claim you killed them without reason—just to steal their style? Don't toy with me! Who would believe such nonsense?"
— Muawiya, enraged: "Cursed fool! I'll kill you now, and when you die, you can ask them yourself!"
He shifted his stance, abandoning the traditional mantis posture. Instead, he spread his arms in a strange, unsettling manner. Hamza seized the iron staff tightly, preparing himself for the bizarre assault.
The woman beside them grinned wickedly, her laughter echoing with madness:
— "Your time has come, Hamza… ahahaha!"
To be continued...