Act 2 Chapter 93
JAYLAH
It had just finished raining. Seeing the sky had begun to clear from the tropical storm that gripped the city for a day and a half, Adrik expressed his desire to accompany Jaylah outside.
Her lip curled. "We are meant to be discussing wedding plans. Your father will not be pleased if we are late."
"He'll survive. Humor me. We do not have grounds like this at home."
Jaylah shrugged. "If your father is upset, I will tell him this was your idea."
A snort blew from Adrik's nose. "He's more infatuated with our marriage than we are."
"He is eager to enter an official time of peace." As she said it, Jaylah watched the Czarevich's expression to find whether he suspected his father's motives were less than respectable. She was still not sure how close their relationship was or how many of Ermalai's schemes Adrik condoned.
Together, with their train of soldiers eternally following at a respectful distance, they ventured outside and passed under a series of vine-ridden archways. "At our wedding, I want to have a cake taller than me," Adrik said, his face flashing in and out of the hazy sunlight. "What about you?"
"I want to have a dress so extravagant it becomes a thing of legend."
"Not too extravagant, I hope, or you'll make me look like a heathen dressed in rags next to you."
"Do I not already?"
"Ouch."
"If you are feeling especially generous, you may dress down to make me appear even more beautiful by comparison."
"Then the legend will become about how slovenly the fiancé of the beautiful bride was," he complained. They entered back inside through a hall that would end near the gardens.
"It can be your wedding gift to me." The air was already becoming fresher than that of the stuffy palace.
"Fine. But you have to get me a disgustingly luxurious one in return."
"I am already giving you my hand in marriage. I think that should be more than enough compensation, Czarevich."
"Only that?" He swung his hands a little as he walked. "Perhaps I should rethink this engagement."
It was moments like this in which Jaylah thought it might be possible that she could enjoy a marriage to Adrik Morokov. She would never be in love with him, but it would not be a loveless marriage. So far, he had been nothing but kind and attentive to her emotions. So far. Still, he'd expressed annoyance toward his father already. Though he might not fight for her in the overarching war, he was clearly on Jaylah's side for this battle.
Then they reached an intersection of pathways, populated by a group of Navrikans who straightened at the sight of Adrik. Cuff links adjusted, coats smoothed down. Alexander was a part of that group, though he notably did not alter his openly shifty demeanor like the others had.
Adrik must have seen Jaylah looking, for he called, "Hey, Khan, why don't you walk with us?"
Jaylah's heart plummeted right to the floor. Alexander's brows pulled together as his gaze swiveled between Jaylah and Adrik. He looked as though he was about to be accused of something, but he had no choice. He stepped away from his visibly jealous comrades with a frown. "If you two are away from him, I should really check in on His Majesty the Czar."
"Nonsense." Adrik waved a hand as of batting away his excuses. "You've been working alongside my father so dutifully, and I'm sure you could use a break."
Jaylah's eyes bored into the back of Adrik's head, fearing what this connection between her and Alexander could mean from his point of view. Did Alexander tell him about her lie to see him sneaking out the other night? And worse, were all three of them allying against her?
Easygoing as Adrik was, Alexander could not defy him. He approached with no reluctance in his gait, though Jaylah knew it was hidden. As they began on their way to the gardens again, Alexander walked at Jaylah's side, not Adrik's. It was a pointed move, though she could not find the reason for it just yet. She did not think her skill at winning him over had worked this quickly.
"My father tells me you and Her Majesty have become friends," Adrik said to Alexander, and Jaylah's mind latched onto the sentence's first half. So Ermalai was threatened by the claws she was sinking into his mercenary. It only made her want to do it more.
"I suppose," Alexander said. He walked as easily as ever, but Jaylah could read the discomfort in his posture. "We have not had many intimate moments yet, but Her Majesty has expressed her desire for more."
When Jaylah tried to shoot him a death glare, he was looking forward, a small collected smile on his lips. Adrik was blissfully ignorant, saying, "Yes? And what do you think of her?" Jaylah got the sense Adrik was trying to feel out whether Alexander had social-climbing motives for befriending her.
"She is...truly one of a kind. You are a lucky man to have her hand in marriage." Then muttered to Jaylah in the Eastern Language, "And the key to her royal coffers."
Jaylah gave a laugh that was too loud and fake. "Oh, Khan. You are too charming." To Adrik, she said, "You must spend more time with him if you want to be moved to tears of laughter. I am thinking of making him my court jester."
The soldiers ran ahead to open the glass doors for them as they left the castle into a hedge-lined path. Adrik leaned forward to fix Alexander with a thoughtful furrow of his brows. "I am glad to hear that. Any friend of my betrothed is a friend of mine." He faced forward. "I know this integration of Navrikans and Oceanics has been tense, but it gives me hope to see that you two hit it off."
"Yes. It was an immediate connection," Alexander said, which made Jaylah think of his nearly slitting her throat that first night. "As stoic as she is, I had her doubled over in laughter that first day. I was surprised at how...open she can be in particular company."
"Just delightful." Jaylah's fake smile was plastered too wide on her lips. "Speaking of delightful, my crowning ceremony is in a few days. Will you be present, or will you be too busy doing whatever His Majesty demands of you?"
"Oh no, I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Good." Jaylah bobbed her head. "I will put in word for you to be stationed beside Adrik. I am sure you will appreciate being in the presence of a familiar face, as I know how nervous you can be around a beautiful woman."
"Nervous? I guess I might be a little worried—worried about the amount of certain beautiful women who may or may not throw themselves at me."
Adrik gave a polite laugh. Jaylah's eyes darted to the side. Traitor.
"I am worried about the same thing," Jaylah said, voice dropping as if disclosing gossip. "After all, I will officially be a fully-fledged Queen, which comes with more perks to count."
They entered the gardens and the sweet smell of a thousand unfurling blossoms hit Jaylah at once. "I heard once a member of the imperial line is crowned, they receive a body double for protection." He was perfectly innocent. "Is that true?"
"Not for us," Adrik answered, then shifted to Jaylah. "If your family does, it likely stemmed from fear of the Kalingi striking back, right?"
"Yes." And now it was in danger of happening again. It was all she said. She would give Alexander nothing more.
"I just adore political history," he added to Adrik as they sat around a table in the center of a columned pavilion. Servants rushed out to serve them. "Will you have a body double, Your Majesty?"
"There is only one me." It was perfectly even, as if to say, I know what you are doing.
"So true."
"I don't think they could find a handmaiden beautiful enough." Adrik slipped his hand into Jaylah's. Ah, so the facade would begin now.
Though she knew he had noticed, Alexander's lazy smile remained genuine. "You are rather unique, Your Majesty, as I'm sure everyone will take note of as you are crowned before the masses. I pray that everything goes exactly as it should."
When Adrik looked away to admire a clump of jasmine spiraling up the nearest column, Jaylah mustered up her nastiest scowl for Alexander. His smile was steady as he kicked her shin under the tiny table.
"Everything will happen as it should," Jaylah said, ignoring the pain in her leg. "I may have ambitious desires, but I get everything I want." To punctuate her point, she leaned ever so slightly into Adrik, who turned back without surprise. His hand tightened around her own.
"How adorable you lovebirds are." Alexander leaned back in his seat, half his arrogant face cast in golden light. "You two truly deserve each other."
Before either of them could fit in another word edgewise, he stood, sliding his hands into his pockets. "If you don't mind, I really should check in on His Majesty the Czar." Adrik gave him a nod. To Jaylah: "I'll catch you later."
Jaylah's eyes cut into Alexander's turned back as he walked the winding garden path to the palace, shoulders thrown back, his posture still at ease. He was so unlike Adrik, so hard to know.
Adrik pulled his hand from Jaylah's grasp. "He seems...nice."
Not sure whether to let out a laugh or a scream, Jaylah relaxed in her chair. "You may say how you truly feel."
"It isn't that he doesn't seem like a respectable man. I am just surprised you became such close comrades with someone so..."
"Arrogant? Cynical? Brazen?" The words simply burst out of her. Adrik gave her an odd look. "He would appreciate my brutal honesty if he were here."
"No. He's perfectly charming. Just...don't you get the sense that he's too polished, that he has something darker hiding under the surface?"
Oh, you have no idea. "There was something dark in his childhood, I believe." A shrug. "We all have our secrets. I overlook his because I find him to be a breath of fresh air within the rigidness of my life."
Jaylah saw a means for more information. Cocking her head, she asked, "All the others are advisors or noblemen or soldiers. What exactly does your father have Khan here for?"
"I don't know." Adrik plucked a jasmine blossom and twiddled it in his fingertips. "My father says he is for extra protection, but that makes me question who Khan is that he's worth more than all of our soldier escorts. All I know is that he'll do anything my father asks."
"Interesting," Jaylah said, her hand in a palm. But she was thinking of how Alexander had kept her secrets from Ermalai, how he was willing to weaken his leader for her. And how regardless of what he seemed to be willing to do for her, it was not enough to keep him from being more loyal to her enemies.
♕ ♕ ♕ ♕ ♕
As soon as she had the free time to return to her quarters, Jaylah gathered her three maids. Voula, Glykeria, and Kriti stood before her, appearing a bit more comfortable than they had that first meeting. Still, they clasped their hands and stood straight.
"Your new assignment is to track the Navrikan named Alexander Khan," she said. "I want all the dirt on him."
The maids bowed and left.
When they returned to relay their findings two days later, all they had to say was, "Khan seems to be a very quiet presence in the Czar's inner circle. He did not add much input to their conversations, but the others seem to be wary of him. He is not integrated in their group. However, he does have nightly private discussions with the Czar himself, which we could not follow."
"I see." Jaylah flexed her fingertips, deep in thought. "Keep on it. We must get eyes on one of those discussions of theirs."