Chapter 2: The Hall of Mirrors

Nilla spent most of the day with Daphne surveying the situation in the capital city. It was business as usual, the ignorant blissful citizens going about they're day as if the countryside had not been plunged into mass hysteria. Not that she expected them to know, everything was carefully planned out. Media companies censoring what the Kings had truly done, while those in the North kept on.

There was one company she eyed, one that could possibly shift the balance of power if she played her cards right. And thanks to Daphne, they were able to book an audience with the company's Board of directors.

Till then, however, she had to play to the role expectant of her. To feign innocent eyes as she attempted to settle the score between royalty and high society. To keep a smile pinned on her face. Her father always told her that a princess was a pawn, that it was her duty as the leader of Selati to move about constantly and sacrifice pieces of herself so they could win the game. He told her to bear it, just until she was queen and could change the tide on her own.

"Till then," she whispered, her golden eyes glittering with the candle flame.

The hand maid tucked in the loose threads of her headscarf, delicately curling the strands of her soft brown hair with Aloe gel. Daphne stepped into her dressing room, frantic as she paced back and forth. "They're here!" she wheezed. "The senate and council emissaries. They're here!"

Daphne was peeling the skin off the tip of her fingers, nails savagely plucking skin off as they hued red.

Nilla looked to the display of jewellery across the vanity, fingers lightly tapping over each piece, feeling which would suit her. Would it be the fiery rubies, or the iridescent diamonds? What about the emeralds that spun green like viles of poison, or the alexandrite that couldn't decide whether it wanted to be red or green? They were all beautiful, and held their significance in her collection, but she was drawn to the nacre that sparkled in the corner, its lovely lustre calling to her.

She put on her pearl earrings. Content with her image, she gently asked, "And the Kings?"

"They've taken them up into the Hall of Mirrors. Everyone is here."

"Good," Nilla said as she applied her pink lip-gloss. "Let's not keep them waiting."

The hand maids skittled across the floor, opening her door and escorting her to the Hall of Mirrors. Daphne trailed behind her, watching her firm steps rise up the crystal stare case and move swiftly down the hall. Her cheekbones dusted with gold shimmered in the candlelight, her feline eyes sharp as the decadent ivory door approached.

The two male servants standing before it bowed, immediately pushing it open for her.

"All rise," said Jonathan, standing at the podium that gleamed of frosted leaves. His eyes on her, as the congregation rose. They all watched as she walked, giving light bows.

Nilla was careful not to look them straight in the eye, to keep her head held high and smile soft as walked the marble floor. But in that moment, as the senators and Kings watched her intently, she felt reassured by the quaint smile of the emissaries the council sent. Their gold and green eyes reflected in each panel of mirrors that lined the hall.

She gave them a brief nod, then sat upon the chair a servant had pulled out for her.

Jonathan stepped out from behind the podium. The clicks of his heeled boots echoed as he walked to her. He held his hand out, with which Nilla gave him hers. He went down on one knee, and planted a kiss on her hand, "Welcome, Crown Princess, Nilla Ayaan Piye of the Kisasan Empire. Daughter of House Piye, descendant of the Black Pharaohs."

"Good evening," she smiled, turning her head to the people seated at the table. " It's lovely to be in the presence of Azura's senate."

"It is a pleasure to have you here," said senator Benoit, stroking his curly grey beard. "Though it would have been more of a pleasure if certain guests had not been invited."

"Likewise," said Lady King, her fingers laced as her eyes thinned, and her grin widened at the senator. "It's hard to discuss state affairs with a man who has investigations running on him for embezzling taxes. You'd think to have more up-standing men here, maybe a member of the Royal Family. But, since the roster cannot be changed, you will suffice."

Nilla chuckled, prompting an avid glare from the senator whose cheeks grew rose red. He cleared his throat, turning to the other two senators that accompanied him as he said, "Anyway, we're here to discuss the validity of the Leonne Treaty. It's been 200 years and yet the Kings still seek to enforce it during modern times when it has been established that all land within the Kingdom of Azura is rightfully for the people as established when we joined the Council and it's confederate of free states."

The other two senators nodded in agreement.

"Was it not King Lionel Erato that signed this Treaty 200 years ago with us and other families when we handing over this land to you? If I remember correctly, we weren't relinquishing ownership of the lands, we were loaning it to you. Am I correct Jonathan?" Lady King asked.

Jonathan pulled out the yellow stained papers, quickly brushing through each page as he proudly pointed his index finger on a certain page. He shimmied down the podium and held it up to the senator's face. "You see here," he said, placing the treaty onto the table. "I'll tell you the abridged version of Article 75; the lands in the south that are currently a part of the Kingdom of Azura were bought by House Erato. But since they did not have the money to pay for the land at the time when it was under our ownership, we loaned it to you, expecting that the debt be paid off."

Lady King held her stare with senator Benoit, "Azura hasn't paid off the debt. We are within our legal right to reposes the land."

Senator Benoit looked to his comrades, his chubby fingers grasping at the Treaty. Indeed, it claimed what Jonathan said, and it was the real Treaty signed 200 years ago.

Benoit looked around, at every bland face at the table that held no remorse. He looked to the mirrors, at his own reflection and flushed cheeks.

"Nonetheless!" he belted, ramming his fist into the table, "We will not uphold this treaty. It is an utter con of the lands that belong to the people of Azura, a mockery of freedom. You Kings stole this land, whomever gave you the title deed over it is not recognized by our law. And as such, as a proud senator of this great Kingdom, I will not hold up a Treaty concocted by crooks!"

"The law is law," said Lady King, her smile fading. "You will stand by what your leaders decreed."

Senator Benoit grappled at the wine glass at his side, his hand trembling and eyes firmly placed upon Lady King's as her eyes burned with a cold flame. Nilla steadily watched as the other two senators grimaced, as if she were a common whore strutting about naked in the palace.

"It's a bit too soon to engage in a fight Benoit," said Louis Vernon. He ran his fingers through his dark hair, looking heavenward to the painting of angels on the ceilings. "So much anger over a treaty that was signed 200 years ago. I mean, none of us were there, so who are we to fathom what kind of weight fell upon the parties that signed this piece of paper."

"Exactly," sighed a dark-skinned woman who was heavily pregnant. She stroked her belly, then reached out to Nilla, took her hand into her palm. "What do you think sister?"

The dull twinkle in her sister's eyes had Nilla's heart falter. Watching her cradle her bump, while eyeing the senators and the Kings. The lapis eyeshadow could not hide the dark circles around her eyes, and the makeup that caked her face only brought more depth to her sagging cheeks.

"Princess Nitocris and Sir Louis are right. None of us where there, why are you so angry?" Nilla asked.

Senator Benoit was quick to divert his gaze to her, "Why?" he spat, throwing the wine glass to the ground. Pieces of glass scattered across the floor, as the droplets of wine splashed onto his shoes. He kicked the chair away and stomped to Nilla's side, sizing her up. "I'd think you Kisasan's would understand the implications of such a Treaty! After recovering from the wounds of the Arcane Period; to maintain the sanctity of peace and freedom we have established was what you vowed to do!"

"Peace? Freedom?" she scoffed, eyeing the podgy man, "What off it? You don't understand what you're talking about.

"You are only a child Nilla, you are the one who does not understand," said Lady King, sipping some wine.

"But I do. I've done my research, and I know things you don't..."

A soft nasally voice began to whisper. Words that once they had burrowed into Nilla's ears had her pin her mouth shut. "The brat thinks she's a sage now," Lady King whispered to Jonathan, prompting a snicker out of him. The sting in Nilla's chest grew as Jonathan's snickers continued. The senators tried to muffle their own titters, but she heard them, nonetheless. The best she could do at that point was to keep her smile pinned to her face, but how long could she hold it? Her cheeks grew painful and resolve to keep her attitude in check fading. Silence was her best option. She stole a glance of Lady King, the calmness she had as she took another sip of wine, then leaned over to Nitocris.

"What shall we do about this? The council is supposed to enforce the law, ensure consistency and abide to what was agreed on during the Arcane. I'd think you could provide the best course of action in this matter seeing you've worked as an emissary for a while now and understand the importance of every Treaty signed back then."

Nitocris' kept her beaming smile, to keep it bright and unwavering. Far from breaking, unlike Nilla's which was on the verge of doing just that. Nitocris leaned forward, as far as her unborn child would let her go. "True," she admitted, her cold voice the only sound that filled the still air. "The horrors of the Arcane Period still haunt us today. And we're still trying to discover what truly happened. But, I do have a question for you."

Her golden eyes remained firm and bold, fixed on Lady King as if everyone else in the room were but corpses. A chill ran down Nilla's spine, at how the warmth that usually swirled in her sisters' eyes suddenly left as she smiled at Lady King.

"The city of gold. Have you heard of it?"

Lady King nodded, "Of course. I am Alegrian."

Nitocris turned to Louis, their gold and green eyes meeting, "Isn't that good?"

"Most certainly," Louis responded. "At least I know you're still a fellow countryman. For all I know you Kings have been living in Azura for decades, hiding in your grand mansions out in the countryside that you've forgotten about us.."

"You're one to talk, Vernon. Where is this going?" Lady King asked with thin eyes.

Nilla watched, the three-foreigners shooting glares at one another as her and the senators sat still.

"In the Arcane archives there was a legend about this alleged city of gold on the uncharted continent. But it was never found, and as such, Alegrian businesses ventured out into the world in search of a place that would offer the same wealth the city of gold would have. And as they travelled, to each new territory, they found more than what they bargained for. Crops, gold, and free labour. And that was after they scammed, coerced, and made deals with the local lords of the land. As is the case of Azura," said Nitocris.

"Exactly!" hollered Benoit, leaping up in relief. His roaring laughs echoing through the hall. "You understand!"

But Nitocris, calm as she was simply shot a quick glance at Benoit and said, "Senator, it's too early to rejoice."

His cackles softened, his lips going dry as he began licking them frantically, eyes darting about the room. He cleared his throat and snapped his fingers, a servant rushing to pull his seat closer to him.

Nitocris waited as he eased into the seat, pushing into the table as though his sanity had just been returned.

"Now I wish Azura was an innocent state, but that is far from the truth. King Lionels ascendants had made deals with these families and sold the rights to the land to them in exchange for certain treasure we are yet to discover. I wish it really was a scam, but as literacy grew and civilization progressed, no one bothered to rectify what had been agreed to. The Kings and Erato's grew fatter, while the natives worked for these affluent families with little to no wages. Rival clans got in on the trade to bolster their own status, in an effort to prove they were just as powerful as the Erato's. The cycle went on, each side profiting off what the other had to offer in order to maintain their own interest. Until King Lionel stepped up, played his part in ending the Arcane Period, declaring Azura free, but at a heavy price."

Lady King grew sullen, her nose flared as she flicked a strand of hair out of her face. "So, you want us to ignore the Treaty. Nitocris, those records you found could have been fabricated. Are they even authentic?"

"We did not find this out from records."

"So where did you get this?"

"That information is classified,"Nitrocris said. She took a sip of water and waved a hand at Louis. He promptly waved at one of the servants, the young man in blue regalia walking over with a suitcase in hand. He placed it on the table, and Louis clicked it open.

"When it comes to matters stemming from the Arcane," he said, pulling out a thick pile of papers. "The council is very particular at keeping things quiet and resolving things quickly."

He passed them onto each person seated at the table. Each panning through the pages of ink that spelled out what Louis had planned.

"We are not here to pity Azura's situation. We are simply here to provide a solution."

Just then, a troop of soldiers stormed into the hall of mirrors. Bursting through the doors as they dawned the regalia of the Northen Imperial Guards; white pants, blue blazers and black boots. They wore star brooches pinned on their crips blue blazers. The smolder in their eyes deep as they circled the table.

The Kings and senators looked around in shock. Before they knew it, they were completely surrounded, cornered like rats. Nilla delighted in the sight of Lady Kings cheeks sink, as Jonathan clutched on to her shoulder, subtly, but she could still see his fingers dig into her shoulder pads.

Lady King glared at Louis, "you said to come unarmed, what is this? Wasn't this supposed to be peace negotiations?"

"You and the senators were meant to come unarmed. I, on the other hand am the exception. Besides," he said, pushing his chair back and standing up. He waltzed to Lady Kings side, opposite of Senator Benoit.

He gently pushed the papers towards them, pulling two pens out of his pocket and handing the over to them.

"This is for the best. If you look at this paper here, it's an agreement, between the Kings and the state of Azura. Should I read it for you?"

His cheery voice had Lady King shoot daggers; her gaze filled with contempt.

Louis pulled the papers to his face and said, "You have exactly three months to finalize the political framework of this country; will it remain ruled by Kings and Queens, or will it be ruled by the people. As for how you come to this conclusion, it doesn't matter. But you must note, after the three months have elapsed, you will be answerable to what you have done. Killing civilians, causing civil unrest, oppression, censorship of the news will land you in hell. Let all your deeds be open to the public and let your true colours fly and be seen." A gleeful laugh erupted out of him, carefree and innocent as the senators read these papers like they found a chunk of gold, while The Kings whispered on about what they had been given.

"You can seize this moment to prove you're not the villains. If you're victorious, no one will deny your claim over the country, the council will even recognize whatever outcome might occur. This city of gold could be yours if you play by our rules. On one condition..."

Heads snapped towards Louis.

"Jonathan King, Lady King, Senators Benoit, Fuselier and Roque will, for the next three months, be held hostage by Princess Nilla and The Imperial Guard at the Castle at the edge of the world. How you liaison with your allies, that's up to you, as long as your body does not leave the Castle." Louis looked up to the painting of angels on the ceiling once more. The baroque styled painting of heaven watching over them all. Eyes that saw everything.

He snaked his hand onto Nilla's shoulder. Standing behind her like her guardian angel that saw everything, his eyes drilling into Johnny as if he saw what he did to her that morning. But like the Vernon he was, he kept his smile on, curling up his fleshy cheeks.

"Do we have a deal?"