Chapter Five
Conquest
It was strange. Although she didn't much care for either Steven or Joseph, she found herself missing them after leaving Obren as she had grown accustomed to them both, despite the near constant threats from Steven and unnecessary insults from Joseph. They were the only ones who she could be her true self with and now knowing they weren't going to be around had her realizing how alone she really was. They claimed to have spies in castle Craorus but the truth of her identity was much too huge a secret to trust with just anyone, so if ever she felt lonely and needed just a moment to reflect on who she really was, she would have no choice but to look within for comfort. She folded her hands in her lap and looked out the window at the billowed clouds she sailed over within the confines of castle Obren's private jet. Without warning, her kiss with Edgar flashed in her mind so vividly just then that she could almost feel his lips like a bruise against hers, taste the nectar of his tongue in her mouth and feel his hands on her thighs, causing her to physically wince. 'Stop it,' she told herself. 'Your life won't be with him. Accept that now before you land.' She rested her forehead against the window and desperately tried to think of nothing the rest of the way there which proved to be an impossible task. After another hour, she was sure she was about to jump out of her skin, when she felt the plane dip forward as it finally started to descend into Craorus. The land was bountiful and lush in a way Obren wasn't. Beyond the grounds of Castle Obren, the people were divided with some holding an unwavering loyalty to the reigning crown, while others felt it was past time for a new rule. Those who wanted King Sadiki and Queen Omolara out, were only unwilling to descend upon the castle because of the weapons they possessed and dwindling army of gifted knights who were left to defend it. Due to their missing military, Obren was on the brink of lawlessness and had been for some odd years and now after seeing the stark differences between the two countries with her own eyes, Ayanda fully understood why the king and queen were so willing to let her go so soon after her arrival and why Steven and Joseph were willing to go to the lengths they did with kidnapping her and making her impersonate the princess no matter how wrong and dangerous it was. Ayanda couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed when she was driven up to the castle in Craorus as their grounds greatly exceeded Obren's. 'Edgar must've been so unimpressed when he first saw Obren,' she thought sarcastically to herself while she admired the vast land. She audibly gasped in awe once she laid eyes on the castle that was twice the size of the one she left. 'Steven and Joseph said that they already rule another country and even want to conquer one more. Why on earth would they need to when they have all of this?' Her eyes scanned every part of the castle she could see as she was led up the grand steps to the entrance after exiting the plane. The castle of Obren was like something out of a history book with a few modern upgrades but Castle Craorus? It looked like it was plucked from a present-day fairytale. The grand mosaic doors swung open to reveal an eagerly awaiting staff who instantly greeted her and took the few things she hadn't sent ahead of her arrival to where her room was. She was then approached by a tall, ashen woman with a thin frame, round glasses with gray rims, tight mouth, and black hair pulled back into a bun, dressed in a classy, knee length, silver suit with matching heels, resembling a high-priced assistant of an executive billionaire. She and two other castle personnel showed Ayanda around the main parts of the castle where she would be spending most of her time during her stay like the grand ballroom where the weeklong gala would commence, the main dining room where she, Cesar and the other bridal candidates would enjoy their meals, and lastly the main reception room where Cesar and most others spent their free time. After the mini tour, Ayanda happily retired to her room for the rest of the day as being shown around after her long flight proved to be quite taxing for her. She laid back in bed and frowned. "My bed in Obren is much more comfortable than this one," she turned around and beat on her pillows a bit to try and make them more comfortable. She shrugged when she laid back against them and found they did feel better after her adjustments. She let herself sink down into the bed and swiftly drifted off to sleep.
Ayanda awoke with a start to the same tall, thin woman named Katherine who had shown her around the prior day, yanking on a silver rope that pulled back the thick purple velvet drapes of the large bay window in Ayanda's room, bathing the entire room in sunlight and hurting Ayanda's tired eyes. 'The main thing I miss about life before Obren is sleeping in late,' she groaned in her mind as she quickly rubbed her face with both hands to help wake herself before sitting up. Katherine stood before Ayanda in the same silver suit and heels she wore yesterday and holding the same clipboard that Ayanda believed was an extension of Katherine's arm, while several younger women stood behind Katherine all dressed in matching simple black pencil skirt suits with silver trim. 'Obviously their official uniforms,' thought Ayanda. "Good morning, Princess of Obren," Katherine bowed her head and turned with her arm out to gesture to the women behind her who all bowed their heads in unison to Ayanda like Katherine had. Ayanda's eyes stretched as she greeted them all back. "Uhh good morning everyone." "These young women will be your personal attendants during your stay. If you wish to know their names, let me know and they each will be adorned with a personalized nametag." Ayanda's brow furrowed. "I'm so- I mean I don't understand what you mean when you say if I wish to know their names?" "Since we are unsure of who the king-to-be will choose as his queen, many of the other visiting royals have requested to simply refer to their temporary ladies-in-waiting by pseudonyms made up of the first letter of my name followed by numbers," Katherine moved to place her hand on the woman closest to her. "K1, K2, K3 and so on." Ayanda's jaw almost fell open. 'The other candidates for Cesar are so uppity that they think they're above learning people's names? Especially the names of people who will be serving them during all our stay?' Ayanda cleared her throat to keep from shaking her head with a scowl and said, "I'd like them all to wear nametags please." "Very well." Katherine stated before nodding to the women who all reached into the pockets of their blazers to pull out nametags to pin to their chests. 'This lady is super-efficient,' thought Ayanda. "I will check in once or twice throughout the week, but it is these fine young women who will attend to your every need with the greatest efficiency." Katherine declared before nodding once to the woman she had called K1 and taking her leave. Ayanda was astonished at the vast differences between how Castle Craorus ran compared to Castle Obren. Her ladies-in-waiting didn't aid in her personal grooming or dressing unless specifically asked which Ayanda was grateful for but found it was something she had to get use to again after being waited on hand and foot during her time in Obren. After getting ready for the day ahead, her ladies led her to the foyer where at least twenty other female monarchs were waiting for Cesar's arrival. He had been out of town for the past four days on business and was returning home today, which helped to give all his bridal candidates time to acclimate to his castle and prepare for the grand introduction. Ayanda looked out at the crowd of women with their personal attendees and realized that Steven and Joseph weren't kidding when they said Cesar had a type. All the women looked like high fashion super models, who were nowhere close to matching Ayanda's complexion or body type. She was beginning to feel like a real odd man out, save for a few lightly almond skinned individuals who Ayanda guessed were from areas close to Spain and Arabia due to their features. The room quieted a bit when they noticed her, making her feel even more like a spectacle than she already did. Ayanda stood straight and greeted each woman with a shy smile and nod of the head. They all politely returned her smile, but most seemed to be unable to keep from staring at her as though she had two heads. Ayanda was beyond thankful when the royal speaker stepped up to announce Cesar's arrival, taking the unwanted attention completely off her. The women were all instructed to form an arch around the middle of the foyer to make it easier for Cesar to see and greet them all. Two of the male staff pulled the doors open from the inside and Ayanda's eyes grew wide when two more men came in from outside and zipped past them all while rolling out a red carpet. Some of the princesses who were in the way, moved to the sides as everybody looked down the hallway and watched while the carpet rollers finished smoothing it out just in time for the royal speaker to say, "Now welcoming his royal highness, our king-to-be, Cesar!" The women who had moved got back in place as the speaker bowed out. Many of them gasped and spoke in hushed tones as a remarkably handsome man with light bronze skin, soulful eyes like silver, a full head of jet-black hair coifed to the left with a side partition that hung just below the nape of his neck, a dazzling smile hidden behind a pair of rounded lips, a long stubble beard wearing an unbuttoned white collared shirt under a modernized, navy blue, silver trimmed medieval suit jacket, black slacks, and knee-high boots to match made his entrance. Ayanda couldn't help but to gawk at him while Katherine began introducing him to the women one by one. He greeted them each with a sly smile and kiss on the hand which caused many to blush coyly and others to give him a subtle come-hither look. 'Oooookay I see why everyone wants him,' thought Ayanda as she watched him go down the line. 'I can't deny that he's incredibly good looking and dresses very well. If he were to make babies with any one of these women they would easily be the most gorgeous kids ever,' Ayanda was so distracted by her own thoughts; she hadn't noticed when Katherine finally got to her. "Meet Princess Ayanda of Obren," Cesar snapped his fingers and pointed at Katherine. "Ah yes the famed missing princess I've heard about," he then turned to Ayanda who curtseyed with a smile. "It's an honor to meet you milord," said Ayanda. He barely gave her a once over before instantly moving onto the princess beside her. Ayanda stayed in her curtsey a tad longer than needed due to the complete and utter shock of Cesar's treatment towards her. Not only had he barely given her one second of his precious time, he also didn't even deem her worthy enough to touch or speak directly to. Heat rushed to her face as she felt liken to an actor on stage standing in front of a full crowd while under a string of hot lights who had forgotten their lines. She sucked in her lips and slowly straightened up, keeping her gaze on the ground as she was too humiliated to look up. "The pleasure is mine to be had," Ayanda heard Cesar say to one of the other monarchs before leaning in to place a lingering kiss against her knuckles like he had with the other princesses who were Ayanda. Ayanda's head tilted to the side and her eyes narrowed while she sneered inwardly. Receiving a royal kiss-off from the man she's somehow supposed to seduce into marrying her over every other woman there in front of everyone was bad enough, but for him to act so charming with the rest of his potential brides after being so uncouth with Ayanda had her fuming.
After the introductions were over, Cesar went to his bedroom to rest before the first night of the gala began. Ayanda wanted nothing more than to call up Steven and Joseph and let them know they had sent her on a fool's errand. Not only was she competing for the hand of a highly desired prince against other actual royals who could win beauty contests in their sleep, she was apparently so far off from his type that Cesar had hardly bothered to look at her. Ayanda sat on the side of her bed and fell back. She then draped her arm over her face and let out a long, heavy sigh. "How the f.... " she groaned in irritation at being able to hear Steven's scolding over her use of bad language in her head despite being miles away from him. "..... how am I supposed to convince Cesar of anything if he won't give me the time of day?" she thought aloud as her mind automatically travelled to Edgar. The first time they met was like fireworks. The connection was so intense and instant it felt like she was tethered to him rather than being held to the earth by its gravity, but with Cesar... he was attractive there was no denying it but beyond that, trying to start a fire in the middle of a snowstorm by rubbing two icicles together seemed more probable than Cesar ever even feigning interest in Ayanda. She audibly groaned and sat up. "I need to at least attempt to do what I was sent here for," she said to herself as she headed to the closet to pick out an outfit for the evening.