4 Chapter 4: Most suitable match

Shirazad's father was sincerely worried about her, especially when people he trusted reminded him that perhaps he'd spoiled her too much. Sometimes he wondered about her and Dunyazad. Had he not taken care of the two girls in the same manner? Why couldn't Shirazad be more like her sister?

True, maybe both of them were a bit spoiled, but Dunyazad had the sweetest disposition, she always made jokes, she seemed to be always in a good mood. Whenever she disliked something, she just let it pass and moved on. But Shirazad, she always replied in such a sharp and direct manner.

...However, although Dunyazad appeared sunny, she was in fact very spoiled. She would often use her charms to get what she wanted, especially from her father. She would change her opinions and expect everyone else to accommodate to her. Shirazad had to live with the vague memory of their mother and the realization that she was gone, but Dunyazad had never been through that pain because she had been too young at the time.

Shirazad and Dunyazad walked together in the garden. They got along very well, although their characters were quite different. Dunyazad was playful. It was obvious she was used to the good life. She didn't like to stress herself out. And as she was only fifteen, she couldn't understand why Shirazad was so serious about the marriage issue. She was good-natured, but at the core of her actions it was always the idea of having fun and pleasure. She really didn't like to push herself or do anything she wouldn't enjoy. She just liked to see her family happy. Shirazad was more serious but unfortunately very wild.

Today Shirazad went out at the market with her sister Dunyazad and her friends. Dunyazad knew how to become the center of attention. She was very energetic and her friends were the type of people who just agreed with her and approved of her ideas, be it because she was wealthier than them or just because they were this type of people.

As usual, Dunyazad was laughing a bit louder than socially acceptable. The other girls had surrounded her and were whispering. She had an idea to browse the shops and try on different clothes just for fun. She and her friends tried all types of eccentric clothing, though they had absolutely no intention of buying it. Shirazad felt a bit sorry for the poor merchants who hoped that the rich ladies would buy something...

As they were walking down the street, Shirazad was lost in thoughts when suddenly... silence. She stopped hearing the loud giggling of the other girls. She looked at them to see what was going on. Not far away, there was an elegant woman who had recently become through marriage what was the equivalent of duchess. They could recognize her for they had attended some assemblies together.

"I hear she is very smart," Yuna whispered. She had recently been mad at Shirazad, but after it became clear that she wouldn't marry Lhasa, Yuna forgave her. "Maybe I should ask her for advice since your advice, Shirazad, does not seem to be working well enough. And you know she is now married to Duke Zeith. Her strategies are working in real life."

Shirazad rolled her eyes depreciatingly.

Soon the topic of marriage was back on track as they met two noblemen who somehow naturally started talking about Shirazad and her unbelievable husband criteria. To everyone's dismay, instead of calming them down, Shirazad decided to use this opportunity to torture her suitors some more, though it didn't look like that initially. But perhaps, it was their own fault for they forced her to share her "criteria" for a husband in public. In response, she said,

"You know how women are. When I think about a husband, I always wonder. I meet a lot of people, but how do I understand who of them is the most capable? ...How do I recognize whose feelings are the most sincere? Who is the most reliable?"

She continued, "...Each and every one of them will say he is responsible and wise. Sincerity is indeed an important quality in my opinion. And so is being reasonable. And of course attachment is very important. What is the use of being sincere if he is not sincere to me? What is the use of being reasonable if he uses his reason against me?..."

Now, of course, some of the gentlemen rolled their eyes and exchanged meaningful looks. She was just beating around the bush. They were laughing but as we know there's a bit of truth in every joke. The gentlemen said,

"Can't you give us a real-life example? Who is the most suitable match for you? If you tell us who you like best, then we will know what you're looking for..."

She looked around... She wasn't planning to say the name of any of the men because she wasn't in love with any of them... She sighed and pointed at a figure in the distance performing martial arts on the street for money. It was a girl.

"She," said Shirazad. "She's the most suitable match here."

Once again, everyone was shocked. Dunyazad would burst out laughing. Shirazad's methods of getting rid of men were getting out of hand.

"Her? We surely have better martial arts skills than her..." some men whispered.

And Shirazad called over the girl, who was named Arabella. In fact, Shirazad recognized the girl. Some time ago, her father had invited a circus troupe in their manor to entertain his family and guests. Arabella had been a part of the group and her martial arts had been outstanding – she moved like flames, played with knives and was faster than lightning. The vizier had been so impressed he'd asked Arabella to duel his best martial artist. And Arabella had defeated him. She hadn't revealed where she'd learned martial arts so extraordinarily well. As for the vizier's man, of course, he'd claimed he'd let her win because she was a woman. Shirazad doubted his words.

Arabella, seeing they were talking about her, came closer and curtseyed. But the men, who previously boasted about their martial arts talent, now became quiet. None of them wanted to duel her – if they defeated her, it would make them look villainous, and if they lost, they'd make a fool of themselves. Soon the matter was dropped. Shirazad gave the girl some money for her street performance.

Shirazad was very often disturbed by people who claimed to be in love with her; when she was at home, when she was with her friends or she visited one or another of their houses, when she was at the market or when she simply walked the streets... It was rare to find a girl who was both rich and ethereally beautiful like her, so even though they had heard about her bad temper, this did not stop them from trying... and trying again... and again. No matter how cruel or vicious she was, no matter how much effort she paid to put them off, it was never enough.