Night lay heavy over the palace when Prince Bazi entered his parents' chamber.
The torches along the walls flickered softly, casting golden shadows across carved pillars and embroidered curtains. King Antivo sat beside the window, reviewing documents, while Queen Waridi stood nearby, her expression calm but weary.
Bazi bowed respectfully.
"Father. Mother. I need to speak to you about something important."
King Antivo looked up immediately, surprised by the seriousness in his son's voice.
"Speak freely."
Bazi took a deep breath.
"I wish to speak bluntly about matters of the heart."
The king leaned back, amused.
"That already sounds dangerous."
Bazi ignored the joke.
"I know that as crown prince my duty to the kingdom must always come first. But there is someone I love."
Queen Waridi stiffened.
"I want to marry her," Bazi continued. "Having her beside me would not only make me a better man—it would make me a better ruler."
King Antivo burst into laughter.
"I have never seen you so passionate about anything before."
His eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"So, tell me. Who is the young woman who has captured my son's heart?"
Bazi's voice softened. "It is Stara."
Silence filled the chamber.
King Antivo and Queen Waridi exchanged a glance.
"But Stara is studying to become a physician," the king said carefully.
"I will not stop her," Bazi replied quickly. "A queen who understands healing and knowledge would only strengthen this kingdom."
The king nodded thoughtfully.
"You make a compelling argument." He smiled. "Your mother and I will discuss it. But first we must hear Stara's answer."
Hope lit Bazi's face. He bowed quickly and left the room.
As soon as the door closed, King Antivo turned to his wife. But Queen Waridi's expression had changed completely. She looked devastated.
"They will never be happy," she whispered.
The king frowned.
"Why would you say that? Stara is intelligent, kind, and honorable."
"I know," Waridi said quietly. "I raised her."
"Then why object?" he asked gently. "We only need to wait for Tapa's vision. If the gods approve, the marriage can happen."
Waridi's eyes suddenly filled with tears.
"Tapa already had the vision."
The king leaned forward eagerly.
"And what did the gods show him?"
Her voice broke.
"The gods are cruel, Antivo." She covered her face as tears began to fall. "They want Stara."
King Antivo stared at her in disbelief.
Waridi shook with quiet sobs.
"She came to me when she was just a tiny child. I held her in my arms. I watched her take her first steps. I heard her first word."
Her voice trembled.
"And now the gods want to take her away."
The king's face hardened. "You are not thinking of defying the gods, are you?"
Waridi laughed bitterly.
"Do you think I'm brave enough for that?" She wiped her tears. "I have been mourning her death since the moment Tapa told me."
She straightened her posture.
"Bazi must never know about the ritual."
The king hesitated, "He would never allow it."
Waridi's voice turned cold. "So, we will not tell him."
She walked toward the door.
"This will happen the hard way."
And she left before the king could answer.
...
The evening air around the palace pond was cool and still.
Omuro sat alone at the water's edge, her skirt gathered around her knees as she stared blankly at the rippling surface. The pond reflected the fading colors of the sunset—deep orange melting into violet—and the gentle croaking of frogs echoed softly through the garden.
She picked up a small stone. Without much thought, she tossed it into the water. The ripples spread outward in widening circles before disappearing into the darkening surface.
Her eyes were swollen and red.
Another stone slipped from her fingers. Plop.
Footsteps approached quietly along the garden path, though Omuro didn't notice at first.
From a distance, Queen Waridi had spotted her.
The queen paused for a moment, observing the lonely figure by the pond. Something about her girl's posture, small and hunched, told her everything she needed to know.
She walked forward.
Omuro finally noticed the movement and quickly stood, wiping her face as she bowed deeply.
"Good evening, my queen."
Queen Waridi studied her closely.
"Your eyes," she said softly. "Have you been crying?"
Omuro hesitated. "It's just… um…"
The queen tilted her head slightly.
"Stara and Bazi," she said. "It broke your heart."
That was all it took.
Omuro stepped forward and suddenly embraced the queen, her composure collapsing as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.
Queen Waridi gently wrapped her arms around her girl, allowing her to cry.
"There, there," she murmured softly, comforting her.
After a moment, she asked quietly,
"Do you love him that much?"
Omuro nodded against her shoulder.
"What if I promise you that he will soon be yours?"
Omuro slowly lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes searching the queen's face.
"I would say that's impossible."
The queen gave a small, knowing smile.
"Dreams come true."
She brushed a strand of hair from Omuro's damp face.
"He's yours, isn't he?"
Omuro hesitated, then nodded slowly. "He is."
"Then trust me."
Hope flickered faintly inside Omuro's chest.
"Do you think…" she asked hesitantly, "that you can make them fall apart?"
Queen Waridi's gaze sharpened slightly.
"That is possible."
Omuro's hope faltered again.
"But… the baby."
The queen stiffened, horror slowly oozing out of her eyes.
"What baby?" she asked, praying she'd heard it wrongly.
Omuro looked up at her nervously.
"Stara is with child, Your Highness."
Queen Waridi's reaction was immediate. Her hands shot forward, gripping Omuro's shoulders tightly.
"What?" Her voice was sharp with shock. "Are you certain?"
"Yes," Omuro said quietly. "She confessed it to me just a while ago. That's why I ran here."
Queen Waridi released her and began pacing along the pond's edge, her mind racing. The evening breeze stirred the surface of the water as she walked back and forth, her face tense with thought.
Finally, she stopped. She turned back to Omuro.
"Listen to me carefully."
Omuro straightened.
"Do you want to be the Queen of Natron?"
The question struck her like thunder.
"Yes," Omuro answered without hesitation.
"And do you want to spend the rest of your life with Bazi?"
Omuro's voice softened, but her answer was just as certain. "With all my heart."
Queen Waridi studied her for a long moment. Then she nodded once.
"Good." Her voice was now firm. "Then you must be ready to do exactly as I say."
Before Omuro could ask what she meant, the queen turned and hurried away down the garden path, her robes sweeping across the grass.
Omuro remained standing beside the pond. The rippling water reflected the first stars appearing in the sky. Hope stirred inside her chest—but so did something else. Confusion.
And a quiet, growing fear about what the queen might ask her to do.
***