Chapter Two
Connection
Robyn's stomach was in knots the moment she set foot in the resplendent palace. High pearl white ceilings, elegant crystal chandeliers which appeared to float above the long tables in each dining room. Sleek, onyx wooden floors, marbled spiral staircases with golden railings and dozens of bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, dens, and living rooms all made her feel even more overwhelmed. 'How the hell am I supposed to pretend to be royal?' She thought to herself when she entered what was once the actual princess' bedroom, leaned over and placed one hand against the wall as she began to heave. She shook her head and thought about what Steven and Joseph had told her before they went to brief the king and queen. She ran her hands through her curly mane and breathed in deeply through her nose. "What if they don't buy it? Their daughter may have been young, but she was still their baby. Won't they be able to tell the difference between her and a complete stranger?" She groaned audibly and then jumped as the bedroom door opened and a stiff, official looking woman peered in. "Madam, King Sadiki and Queen Omolara await you in the foyer." She announced in an accent so thick Robyn could barely understand her. Robyn gave her a small tense smile and nodded once in response before allowing her to lead her to the people she would have to call her parents from now on. Her heart was pounding so much she could hear it in her ears. She continuously flexed her damp hands as she thought to herself, 'you can do this. You HAVE to do this.' Her legs felt like they were wading through a thick bog of tar as each echoed step she took drew her ever closer to her new future. Her mind raced with a million different possibilities of how this first meeting which the king and queen thought was a reunion might go. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and suddenly felt all the air go from her like a deflated balloon when she finally came face to face with the rulers of Obren. A tall slender woman with tightly curled hair pulled up into a bun atop her head which was surrounded by an elegantly modest gold leaf head piece, radiant mocha skin, wide nostrils, raven eyes, and plump lips dressed in a high collared, golden flowing gown embroidered with black vines and leaves stood with her hands clasped next to a man of equal height, carob skin, a bald head adorned with a simple gold headband crown, and gray eyes wearing a black suit, resembling a daishiki embroidered with gold. Their eyes bored into her for what felt like an eternity until Robyn randomly croaked out, "Hi! Uh hello!" Much louder than she would have had she known she was about to say it. The five feet they stood apart from each other felt like a mile wide chasm and Robyn felt her jaw begin to cramp as she grinded her teeth in embarrassment at her blunder when the king and queen both began to cautiously approach her. Robyn gulped making her realize just how dry her throat was as Queen Omolara hesitantly reached out for her. Robyn instinctively tensed as she felt the queen's slim fingers press against her cheek. Omolara gasped and reached up with her other hand to hold Robyn's face as she looked into her eyes. She whispered something in her native tongue that Robyn had no hope of understanding before swiftly pulling Robyn to her with a gleeful cry. Unsure of what to do, Robyn held her own arms tightly at her side as her faux mother held her and said what sounded like a grateful prayer in the official language of Obren. Robyn finally took a breath as Omolara released her so Sadiki could also welcome her. He tilted his head to the side and squinted as he looked her over while holding her at arm's length. 'Oh God,' thought Robyn. 'He can tell I'm not his daughter. He's probably gonna have me beheaded or ripped apart by horses!' She felt like a boulder had dropped into her stomach while she thought of all the ways she might be punished for impersonating a royal as Sadiki continued to study her. Finally, his eyes brightened, and he released her. "The smile of Yah is upon us now. Our Ayanda has returned," he declared before placing his hands on either side of her face and gently tilting her face downward so he could place a kiss atop her head. Robyn's jaw nearly dropped. 'I can't believe it. They really think I'm their kid.' Her gaze traveled from the king to the queen and back. 'I know the men of this country aren't allowed to press their bodies against women they're not married to, but I'm supposed to be his daughter that he likely thought was dead for twenty-plus years. My dad would practically squeeze me to death if I was gone for just an hour and he didn't know where I was.' She thought which made her heart ache for her own family more than she ever knew was possible. She cleared her throat and forced a smile. "Thank you and I'm sorry uhh I apologize," she turned her attention to the queen. "I don't know your language." Queen Omolara shook her head and cupped Robyn's chin. "I am forgetting. We will adjust. All that is important is that you are home again." Although she didn't know them, Robyn felt an overabundance of love flowing from them both which had her feeling immense guilt. It felt wrong to mislead them like she was but since the alternative meant incurring the wrath of Steven and Joesph to attack her true home; she felt she had no other choice but to endure.
Robyn spent the next few days touring the castle, being photographed with the king and queen, answering questions as vaguely but also believably as possible with members of the press, meeting with many different people some who were instructed to put together a celebration for her return at the behest of her faux parents, and others who were invited to attend the gathering along with the rest of the kingdom and having to get use to answering to the name Ayanda. She stood before the mirror in her room and allowed herself to think on her new reality and all that came with it. "My mother is Queen Oh-ma-lar-uh. My father is King Sa-dee-key. I have a brother who I don't really remember that rules in another land. I was taken from my bed when I was a child and raised by..... strangers who knew nothing of my... real family or that I was kidnapped. Obren is my home and I.... am princess Eye-on-duh." A tear she hadn't realized was forming slipped down her cheek causing her to breathe in sharply through her teeth. It was only now in that very moment that it hit her like an oncoming locomotive; she wasn't just saying goodbye to her family, friends, where she lived, her possessions and the city, state, and country where she had been born and spent all her life in. She was saying goodbye to her entire sense of self. All that she was and had ever been, was now gone and could never come back. She brought her hands to her face to stifle her cries as her mind lingered on every memory of her past. She wanted nothing more than to crumble to the floor and fade away but instead, she reached deep inside herself and found the strength to carry on. She cleared her throat, wiped her face, straightened up and clasped her hands together. "Robyn doesn't exist now. Robyn.... can't exist ever again. I am Ayanda."
A month passed before word of an upcoming visit from the ambassador of Craorus who also happened to be the older brother of Cesar was set to happen. Steven and Joseph sat across from each other at a glass table on the south terrace overlooking the nocturnal garden which looked dull and lifeless in the light of day. Joseph leaned forward with a grunt and moved one of his chess pieces while Robyn sat against the stone railing nearby with her arms crossed. "Cesar has an older brother?" asked Robyn who began referring to herself by the name Ayanda in her mind to help herself not only maintain the ruse but also to let go of her old life. Steven nodded in response before moving one of his own pieces. Ayanda threw one of her hands up without uncrossing her arms. "I don't understand. Doesn't the oldest son usually ascend the throne? Why aren't I trying to marry him?" Joseph sighed exasperatedly and moved another piece. "Because he is the son of the queen's previous marriage. Only heirs of currently married and ruling monarchs can rule or even hold titles which is why Edgar is an ambassador like me and Steven instead of a prince." Ayanda rolled her eyes. "All these rules. I thought you guys said no one leader can rule so how did she manage to keep her crown after divorcing her first husband?" Steven brightened as he got Joseph in check before answering her question. "Royals do not divorce but there are exceptions that can be met for a second marriage. If the reigning monarch falls deathly ill before their heir is old enough to marry, their spouse can look to remarry. Once they find a.... well, replacement, then they both sit vigil at the dying ruler's side until that ruler passes. Once they're gone, the surviving monarch and their betrothed give a shout of mourning in respect and then immediately marry with the blessing of the old spouse's spirit among them before it departs to the great beyond." Ayanda gave Steven a wide-eyed stare. "You're telling me they gotta sit and wait for their wife or husband to die with their new beau uhh fiancée at their side and then instantly marry the new person before the old one has even gone cold? That's beyond messed up. If my husband pulled that crap, I'd haunt him and his likely younger, big-boobed thot for the rest of their rotten lives." Steven's brow furrowed and Joseph chuckled while dragging a hand down his face. Joseph moved to protect his king while Steven continued conversing with Ayanda. "We've told you many times that you must cease with the cursing." Ayanda hunched her shoulders. "What'd I say?" "Crap is not befitting of a princess. And although I don't understand the other words you said after, I'm fairly sure they aren't proper either." Ayanda snorted. "My bad or oh I do apologize," she said with a posh tone while uncrossing her arms and straightening up. "By big-boobed thot I meant a woman with large breasts who allows men to hump her without much effort put forth," she continued mockingly. Steven moved his knight only to have it stolen by Joseph before Joseph side-eyed Ayanda. "Speaking of, those are the only things you have going for you when it comes to attracting the king-to-be so you must remember to use that to your advantage." Ayanda's eyes widened, and her lips parted in shock. "I beg your pardon?" Steven glared at his colleague before placing his king in check once more. "Excuse Joseph. He just meant that the king-to-be like many men enjoy large breasts especially when accompanied with a sizeable... backside, both of which you possess so acquiring his attention will be easy," Joseph saved his king and took another one of Steven's pieces before adding, "the true task is keeping his attention." Ayanda exhaled dramatically and pulled at the collar of one of the new outfits she had been showered with upon her arrival after having met her faux parents. "It's really nice to know that no matter where I am in the world, there will always be shallow men around to objectify women." Steven got Joseph in check again which made him exclaim in irritation and surprise. "I'm not entirely sure what objectify means," said Steven as he watched Joseph contemplate his next move. "Yeah, well figure it out." She replied before Joseph chimed in again after taking yet another one of Steven's pieces. "Although the point of Edgar's visit is to judge whether merging our countries will be beneficial and not necessarily about you personally being a good match for his brother; any discourteous behavior coming from you or your parents could possibly affect his decision. The king and queen are not at their best due to their failing health but, they're both still elegant, discerning, and well-mannered so we only have you to worry about." Ayanda's eyes narrowed as he continued. "I know it's difficult for you but try and be pleasant during his time here. A popular saying I've heard is, 'Silence is golden' perhaps you should practice that." Ayanda clicked her tongue and scoffed, annoyed with Joseph's constant put downs and strict monitoring of the diet and exercise regimen he and Steven had her start after arriving in Obren to help increase her chances of being chosen for Cesar's bride. Steven happily declared checkmate before turning his attention back to Ayanda. "Robyn-" Although it wouldn't be strange for anyone to hear her being called something other than Ayanda due to the story about her having been raised overseas after her abduction, the air instantly filled with tension as they each took notice of Steven's faux pas before he corrected himself and Ayanda and Joseph calmed themselves. "I apologize, my tongue slipped. If Edgar decides unifying our countries is the right thing to do, it will take no time at all for you to be invited to their home. Meeting the prince will be the most important moment of your life second only to when you were reunited with your parents," the faces of her real parents flashed in her mind for the briefest of moments before Ayanda recomposed herself. She cleared her throat and clasped her hands together at her waist. "When the time comes to meet him, I'll be ready." Joseph breathed out exasperatedly while he studied the chess board. "How on earth did you get me in checkmate?" Steven smirked. "By giving you what you wanted," the corners of Joseph's mouth pulled down into a frown, making Steven chuckle. "You believed the elimination of most of my army would grant you victory but in truth, all it did was leave you vulnerable for a less than hostile takeover," intrigued by both Steven's explanation and Joseph's awe, Ayanda stepped forward to get a better look at the game. Joseph's forehead wrinkled while his eyes intensely darted back and forth over the pieces of the board. Steven interlaced his fingers and rested his hands atop the table. "The trap that usually ends you is the one you set yourself." Ayanda's gaze travelled from Steven's amused face to Joseph who was still vigorously searching for where he went wrong as she let Steven's words settle in her mind.
The way the castle was decorated for her welcome back celebration had Ayanda thinking of the many princess movies she grew up watching. She looked up and twirled as she entered the ballroom in awe of its magnificence. 'It's even more elegant than it was when I first arrived,' she thought to herself, fighting the urge to offer her assistance with any last-minute touches. Getting acclimated to the life of a royal was something she was sure she would never fully get use to. Queen Omolara approached her from behind and rested a hand on her shoulder. Ayanda practically jumped when she saw her as it wasn't customary for the king or queen to call on her directly. Ayanda forced a smile and quickly curtseyed, making Omolara laugh. "Is something the matter mother?" asked Ayanda whose stomach automatically flipped whenever she had to interact with her faux parents. "I would like to get ready together," answered Omolara. Ayanda's eyes widened. "Oh! Uhhh sure yes!" She said to Omolara's delight. They were tended to in Ayanda's room as it was considered inappropriate for single persons above the age of twelve to be in the bedrooms of married persons except on special occasions like preparing for weddings. Omolara broke tradition once more by taking care of Ayanda's hair herself and requesting the servants to leave. Omolara hummed as she stood behind Ayanda and combed her curls from tip to root while Ayanda sat in front of a tarnished golden vanity and watched Omolara through the mirror. Because of how well she carries herself; Ayanda had never noticed how frail Omolara actually was. Although she had no idea what exactly plagued her faux parents, she knew it had to be bad as simply standing and doing Ayanda's hair seemed to be pretty taxing for her. "What's that song you're humming?" The mood shifted a bit as Omolara locked eyes with her through the mirror. "You recognize it?" It suddenly felt like a ten-ton boulder made of molten steel dropped into Ayanda's stomach. She gulped. "It's very pretty and sounds familiar to me. Umm like I might've heard it before," she said with instant regret. What if Omolara asked her more questions about the song? Questions only her actual daughter would have the answers to? Ayanda could hear her own heart beating in her ears as she watched Omolara's every move like a hawk. What could she really do if Omolara figured it out? Would begging for mercy and outing Joseph and Steven as the orchestrators of this plan even help? Omolara parted Ayanda's hair horizontally through the middle and set down the comb which clinked against the vanity while she gathered up the top part of Ayanda's hair and began to make a braid. "I sang it many times when you were small. It fills my heart that you remember." Ayanda felt her jaw unclench. "Really? Wow it's crazy that I still know it in some way." Omolara finished the braid, wrapped the base with a hair tie and tucked the tip in with the base before starting on the bottom braid. "No matter life's challenges, love stays with us. You were so little when you were stolen, I feared you had forgotten us," she said with a cough while she did to the bottom braid what she had with the top. Ayanda's eyes widened as she admired how the hair style looked on her. Omolara cleared her throat and smiled as she grabbed hold of both Ayanda's shoulders and said, "I should've known better. You will always know us as we will always know you." Ayanda looked to Omolara's smiling face through the mirror and felt a pang of guilt claw at her chest. Omolara was obviously suffering and yet she found the strength to push through so she could spend as much time as possible with the young woman she thought to be her child. "Mother, may I ask you something?" "Yes love?" "...I was away for so long and I've only just come back.... why are you and father okay with sending me away again?" Omolara's bottom lip pushed up against her top one as she exhaled heavily through her nose. "When Sadiki and I married, we both learned two things; our children would one day be missing from us, and duty always comes before love."
The party was a blur in Ayanda's mind as she lied in bed and stared up at the ceiling. Dozens of people expressed how glad they were she had returned home, bowed to her and even lavished her with extravagant gifts but all she could focus on was Omolara and Sadiki. Physicians disguised as guards lingered closely with the personal security of the king and queen to tend to their every need the entire time of the celebration. Sadiki and Omolara both smiled and greeted every guest, but Ayanda noticed how they stuck to their thrones as much as possible and often shifted slightly in discomfort. It birthed a question in her mind that proved to leave her restless; is it wrong to allow someone to die believing a lie if the lie granted them peace in the end? She hastily turned to her side, sure that she wouldn't be able to sleep a wink with the amount of shame she felt from the moment she saw the love for her in their eyes. She audibly groaned and flopped onto her back again before tightly closing her eyes. "You are Ayanda. Omolara and Sadiki are your parents. You are the princess and will go to Craorus to marry Cesar. Now go to SLEEP!" She quietly hissed aloud while attempting to will herself to sleep. After having breakfast with the king and queen and sitting with them on the terrace for a while, Ayanda decided to go for a dip in the indoor pool before facing the rest of the day. She floated on her back and stared up at the scattered billowed clouds in the sky through the crystal roof and cleared her mind of everything but how the water swayed her. "Enjoying your swim?" She gasped and immediately stood to find both Steven and Joseph standing poolside and staring at her. She rolled her eyes. "Don't you two have anything better to do than constantly bug me?" "We're adept at handling many different tasks at once," teased Joseph before sitting in one of the nearby deck chairs. She waded over to them and said, "Do you always have to be together?" Steven looked back at Joseph and gave a thoughtful frown before facing her again. "We're colleagues. Practically all of our responsibilities require us to work with one another." "Yeah, about that. I know next to nothing about the work of ambassadors but I'm sure it doesn't involve constantly annoying the royals." Joseph scoffed and Steven said, "It does when they're as special as you." Ayanda folded her arms up on the pool's edge. "Obviously you both have something you wanna tell me so get on with it." Steven took a seat near Joseph who said, "so hostile. And here I thought we were becoming friends." Her jaw practically dropped at the ludicrous statement. Joseph squinted at her making her scoff and shake her head when she realized he was joking. "I had no idea you had such a twisted sense of humor or actually any sense of humor to be honest." "He also has the most terrible singing voice in history when he's under the influence of alcohol," teased Steven before responding to her earlier question. "We're attempting to make your transition from this castle easier since we're the only ones who know the truth about you." Her eyes narrowed while her brows pulled together in confusion as Steven went on. "After Edgar's visit, you will hopefully be invited to Craorus to meet Cesar so he can determine whether or not you'd be a good match for him," "I already know this Steven." "Yes, but what you don't know is that you will be competing for his affection." "What do you mean? On the plane you made it seem like mine and Cesar's marriage was a sure thing?" "In a sense it is but the king-to-be is highly desired by princesses and even a few queens of other countries so our sources have informed us that he decided to invite every potential bride to his country for a weeklong gala of sorts to help him determine whom he should choose and why." Ayanda held her hands up. "This doesn't make any sense. You said his kingdom needs our weapons to invade another country and that Obren has the best arsenal on the planet?" "You're correct on both parts." She let out a laughing breath in disbelief. "Then aren't I and Obren the obvious choice? The best choice?" "Not when the other candidates' can offer weaponry while also appealing to his carnal predilections." Joseph nodded in agreement at Steven's statement. Even though she had lost a considerable amount of it since arriving, once again, Ayanda was reminded of her weight which only furthered her anger at the entire predicament she had been forced into. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply through her nose before saying, "so I guess that's it then." They both gave her a look. "I'm unsure of what you mean?" asked Steven. "Well he has other options now, better ones so why would he choose me or Obren?" Steven and Joseph looked to one another as she climbed out of the pool and grabbed a nearby towel to wrap around herself. Steven stood and held up a finger. "You're not suggesting-" "That you two take me home? That's exactly what I'm suggesting. This guy never came off as prince charming to me anyway, but now that he's demanding me and however many other women line up like show ponies just to try and win his hand when it's been made crystal clear that my chances are slim to none all because of how I look? Uh-uh no thank you. Time to accept the loss and move on." Joseph hung his head and sighed heavily as Steven told her, "you are home and this is not yet over." "Oh but it is. Find another way to get ahold of their medicines or whatever because I'm going home one way or another." Steven's gaze narrowed as he raised a brow. "Meaning?" She stepped up to him. "Meaning I will go into the king and queen's room right now and tell them and all their servants that you and Joseph forced me to pretend to be their daughter." Tension between them rose like rice in a boiling pot as both held their ground. "I've been sick of this whole thing since the moment you two assholes kidnapped me. All your threats and claims of mutual destruction don't change the fact that THIS has all been for nothing! Joseph has so much as said so on multiple occasions that Cesar wouldn't want me even if I was the last woman on earth so now that he has more choices, our plan is obviously done." After an intense moment of staring one another down, she shook her head with a dismissive huff and turned away from Steven to head back into the main part of the castle. "267 Daunting Lane." Feeling her blood run cold, Ayanda stopped in her tracks and slowly craned her neck to look back at Steven. "What did you say?" He shifted to fully face the back of her. "The address of your parents. Lovely couple. I believe at this moment your mother is tending to her garden while your father plays checkers online with your uncle." Out of the corner of her eye she saw Joseph hand something to Steven which he then held out to Ayanda. She turned around to face him and took the small black tablet which showed a live overhead feed of her parent's home. Her heart beat wildly in her chest when Steven pressed something on the tablet that gave her an inside view of their house where her dad sat at the computer laughing and joking with her uncle through his computer screen. Her breath caught as she looked up at Steven whose icy stare shook her to her core. "You've become complacent. Is this enough of a reminder of our agreement or shall I clear up your obvious confusion with a more permanent demonstration?" Her hands shook and her palms went damp as she gave him a quick shake of her head in response. Steven settled back into his usual warm demeanor and removed the tablet from her reluctant grip. "What's the phrase? I'm glad we're on the same page, yes?" Ayanda nodded with a sniffle and turned her head to the side while she wiped away a tear. Although she had distanced herself from them a while ago, seeing her dad like that after forcing herself to accept she would never see any of her real family again was jarring. "What happens if he doesn't choose me?" she whispered. Joseph chose to answer her question. "As far as we're concerned, that's not an option. Whatever is necessary to make this happen must be done. So do it." Steven leaned forward a little to get her attention, a small smile spread across his face when she looked up at him. "When you are in Craorus, you will essentially be on your own. Our sources in the castle have no idea who you truly are and neither Joseph nor I will be able to aid in your deception or offer any sort of comfort from that point on." Ayanda couldn't help but to laugh a little at his idea of support as he went on. "Every reservation you hold must be eradicated before you take your leave. You won't be pretending to be Ayanda; you will have to be her at all times for the rest of your life lest you risk revealing the truth." Ayanda made a fist with one hand and held it sternly at her side while grasping tightly at the knot of her towel with the other. She breathed out tersely through her mouth as she struggled to regain her composure. Though it made little sense after all they had put her through, she quickly realized Joseph and Steven did offer her some form of solace. Seeing them and speaking with them in hushed tones around the castle allowed her to hold on to who she truly was, but if everything goes well with Cesar's brother and she must leave for Craorus, then the woman she was will be gone with no hope of being revived.
Ayanda's stomach was tied in a permanent knot once Edgar's visit was only a few days away. And no matter how much she tried, she just couldn't make herself relax. The ever-present threat against her family and true country if she were to fail in anyway, the overwhelming guilt she felt every time she looked into the eyes of her faux parents and saw nothing but love and admiration looking back, the gut-wrenching ache of knowing she would never see her family again all weighed so heavily on her that she was terrified she would break. And her fear only worsened as Edgar's arrival time grew nearer.
"The ambassador of Craorus is set to arrive tomorrow morning," announced the royal speaker to Ayanda and the king and queen one evening after supper as they were relaxing in one of the castle's many sitting rooms. King Sadiki sat at a small table near the window with a book in hand while his queen knitted a sweater on the satin purple loveseat that sat in front of the fireplace Ayanda stood beside just lost in an ocean of her own thoughts before the speaker's announcement commanded her attention. The king and queen nodded in acknowledgment at the royal speaker before he took his leave. They both then turned their attention to their faux daughter. "Tomorrow is important. You should rest." Suggested Sadiki with an encouraging smile from Omolara. "Your father is right. I will help you to get ready in the morning." Ayanda bid them both goodnight with a formal nod before heading to her room. She felt like a python was constricting her chest as she forced herself to dress for bed and lie down, hoping sleep would help calm her frazzled nerves. Steven's threats played in Ayanda's mind like a broken record, causing her to hyperventilate so loudly she thought the entire kingdom could hear. Suddenly she sat straight up and grasped at her chest, her heart pounding away like a jackhammer while sweat drenched her forehead. "I can't do this," she said aloud while reaching out a shaky hand toward the phone next to her bed. Unable to properly grasp it, Ayanda knocked the phone off the receiver and pressed the button that alerted her personal attendants. Hardly two seconds later, four maidservants showed up in her room and asked what they could assist her with. She stared at them as her heart beat in her ears and her vision blurred. 'Could they actually help me? Would they actually help me?' She shook her head of the thought of coming clean and urged them to bring her a glass of water and something to help her sleep. Two of them stayed with her to make sure she was alright while the other two sped off to fulfill her request. They came back and helped her take the sedative as she was in no shape to do so alone. A minute after gulping it down, she felt every muscle in her body loosen and her eyelids droop as her servants helped her lay back against her pillows that now felt like clouds to her. She moaned and closed her eyes, the warmth of her comforter engulfing her as the attendants draped it over her before taking their leave. "Mmm.....Robyn....me...." she mumbled as the drug took hold and lulled her into the deepest sleep of her life.
She awoke to the sounds of her maid's greeting her with modest curtsies after having pulled back her curtains, filling the room with sunlight while informing her that her mother would be entering shortly to help her get ready. Ayanda felt the fog slowly lift as the dread of what was to come set back in. Although it made her feel bad, she found herself grateful for the queen and king's shared illness since it kept her faux mother from even attempting to insist on seeing Ayanda to bed the night before. She knew that if Omolara had come with her to her room last night, Ayanda would've blown the secret wide open. She stretched out dramatically as the effects of the sedative fully wore off before the queen was announced to her. Sadiki and Omolara's resolve never ceased to impress Ayanda. Although they were both so sick, they possessed such poise and grace that none would be the wiser unless they were directly made aware of their conditions like Ayanda was by Steven and Joseph. Although Ayanda could tell it took a lot out of her, Omolara stayed strong while assisting Ayanda in getting ready before heading off to officially prepare for Edgar's visit herself. Ayanda looked at her reflection in the mirror after Omolara left. Female monarchs were allowed to wear make-up in Obren, but it had to be subtle. Thin, all-around eyeliner and flecks of gold accompanied by the lightest touch of blush and rosewood lipstick graced her face while a long sleeved, high collared, wax fabric, floor length royal blue gown glittered with gold covered her body. She glanced down at her dress, which was two sizes smaller than the ones she had been gifted with when she first arrived. "Joesph will be ecstatic to know the diet's working," she thought aloud to herself with a derisive scoff. Her head titled to the side. "I wonder if they accessorize every outfit with something gold in Craorus like they do here," she wondered before heading out of her room and down to the grand foyer to await Edgar's arrival with the king, queen, Joseph and Steven. Her faux parents stood a foot ahead of her while the speakers stood ahead of them ready to introduce them to Edgar and Edgar to them in a grandiose way once the servants opened the doors. Ayanda breathed in through her nose, out through her mouth and shook out her arms while constantly changing the position in which she chose to hold her hands. 'Relax, relax, relax,' she thought to herself as she fought against the increasing urge to vomit and run away. She felt Steven and Joseph's eyes boring holes through her while she tried to hide her nervousness. She nearly jumped out of her skin when the doors opened and she heard, "Please welcome Ambassador Edgar of Craorus and his entourage!" Ayanda shut her eyes and clenched her fists at her sides. 'You have to do this!' She told herself while simultaneously planning out the many ways to escape the situation. A dull ringing settled in her ears as her eyes closed tighter. 'Get it together! You can do this! You have to do this!' She shouted in her own head as she heard the words, "....and their beloved daughter, Ayanda." from one of the speaker's mouths which somehow made it through the inner ringing. 'Too late to turn back now.' She thought to herself as she forced her eyes back open to see Edgar; a tall man with an athletic frame donning a black, vintage medieval tux with silver trim, khaki colored skin, warm brown eyes set in a chiseled face with dark hair styled in a short buzz cut and a nicely trimmed long stubble beard surrounding a pair of full lips standing in front of her. Suddenly it felt like everyone else in the entire world had vanished, leaving only her and Edgar behind. Ayanda's hands relaxed on their own as she took a step forward, the intensity from their gaze making her knees feel weak as she broke eye contact with him for a moment to greet him with a curtsey, which caused the room to go tense as royal women were only to greet royal men in such a manner. She looked back up into his eyes, neither one of them seeming to notice the shift in atmosphere as she said, "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." She slowly stood up straight and felt her pulse quicken when he slid his palm into hers bowed at the waist to her. "I'm thankful you were returned safely to your home and am honored to meet you." His thumb caressed her knuckles before he released her hand and straightened up, their lingering touch far too intimate for the likes of those in Castle Obren, especially Steven and Joseph who were watching Ayanda's every move like lions on the prowl. The royal speakers caught Edgar's attention to introduce him to Steven and Joseph who happily offered to show him and his attendants around before Edgar apologized for taking Ayanda's hand in his, as he knew their customs frowned upon any sort of intimacy between non-familial and especially unwed members of the opposite sex. "I was just so captivated that I forgot my manners. I humbly ask your forgiveness," he said with a bow to both the king and queen, and even Ayanda. Sadiki and Omolara graciously accepted his apology while Ayanda just stared at him, practically stunned. Joseph cleared his throat, causing Edgar to turn his attention from Ayanda and smile while he motioned for them to lead the way. When they began to leave, Edgar suddenly turned back to Ayanda, inclined his head and said, "until my eyes next rest upon you." Sending a shiver up her spine. She watched as he and her ambassadors grew ever smaller down the long hallway before disappearing around a corner, feeling like her every nerve had been set ablaze.
The intense impulse to run before having laid eyes on Edgar was now replaced by something even stronger that compelled her to take every opportunity to seek him out. While Steven and Joseph showed Edgar and his staff around, Ayanda was gently reminded by the king and queen not to curtsey to him again as he was not recognized as royalty. She took their warning in stride and set off to find Edgar once she heard his tour of the castle was over, only to be halted by Steven and Joseph who had left Edgar and his staff in the hands of the servants of Castle Obren whom all helped them to settle into their rooms. Ayanda leaned against the wall with her arms crossed as Steven and Joseph scolded her about the importance of appearances inside the South wing's indoor patio where they had some much-needed privacy from prying eyes and listening ears. "He has royal blood," she stated. "EXPIRED royal blood." Ayanda scoffed at Steven's words. "That makes him sound like a zombie or something." "You must remember your place Ayanda! You can't afford to make these types of mistakes when you are in Craorus where we won't be able to correct you," "oh my gosh it's not like I jumped up and wrapped my legs around him! I just curtseyed. It won't happen again," she retorted. Joseph who sat while they stood, held up a finger. "It better not as you seem to need reminding of whom it is that you're supposed to be seducing." Her brow furrowed in confusion. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" "Language!" Joseph snapped before continuing. "Everyone witnessed the interaction between you and Edgar when you met." She felt her chest tighten as she responded, "I'm not sure what-" "Do us the courtesy of not feigning innocence. What you feel and whom you feel it for matters not. Your focus must be on getting the prince to the alter and producing an heir." Added Steven. Ayanda's jaw clenched. Although she had only been around Edgar for a moment, they connected in a way she never had with anyone else before. It was the kind of connection that could only grow in the face of adversity, not wither away like Joseph and Steven were obviously hoping for. She stood straight and said, "I don't need the constant reminders of what I'm here for. I'll marry Cesar and pop out a damn-oh, I'm sorry. A baby like you both want because that's obviously all I'm good for!" She angrily replied, causing Joseph to say, "it seems you are finally learning," in a calm but mocking tone, causing her to storm out of the patio and away from them both.