Chapter 8

Within the hour, all the servants in the palace were gathered in the inner courtyard. The atmosphere was thick with tension and anticipation. Whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd, everyone straining to understand what had transpired the previous night.At the front of the courtyard, Ragnar stood tall and imposing, with Sisi and Azul standing at either side with solemn expressions.Ragnar raised his hand for silence, and the courtyard fell still. "I'm sure you are all aware that last night the Great Khan was grievously wounded and has been fighting for his life."Gasps and cries of shock echoed through the courtyard. All trying to look more upset than the other. Ragnar continued. "Despite our best efforts, the healers have informed us that the Great Khan has passed away."A wail reverberated through the palace as the servants cried and screamed in despair. Many fell to their knees; they all needed to look upset to show their respect.Azul, standing beside Ragnar, maintained a composed expression, her acting was not good enough to pretend she was upset. But Sisi's was. She let tears fall from her eyes as her body trembled, making her look like a damsel who was overcome with grief. Azul had to inwardly clap at her superb acting. "We will mourn this great loss, but we must also be vigilant," Ragnar continued. "We believe there are traitors among us, those who conspired to bring about this tragedy. We will not rest until they are found and brought to justice."His words were only to make the preparators relax; now that they thought the Khan was dead, they would make more and more mistakes. If their main motive is to kill Ragnar, then they just have to wait as bait. Arthur leaned in and whispered to Azul, "I will return, Khatun."Azul nodded subtly, watching as Arthur melted into the crowd.The servants were dissolved and Azul was released, Sisi would stay with the King to make sure no servant or guard snuck into the room and so she was free to move around finally. "What should I do today?" She thought to herself, she felt movements in her dress and the little white snake slithered up her legs. "How was foraging today? Successful?"[Yes..]Azul felt relieved; as long as she had potions, she would be fine. "Where do you think you're going?" Ragnar's words interrupted her thoughts. Azul turned around to see him towering over her, she completely forgot she was married. "Um.. I was going on a walk?" She said laughing nervously. He crossed his arms, raising a brow. No matter how he looked at it, she seemed suspicious. She was planning to go lie down in bed. "You were planning to go take a nap weren't you?"'Yikes. Are you a mind reader or something?'"Are you opposed to it?" She asked standing her ground. "No, let's go."'Let's??'He took her hand and led her back to their room; her mind was not a peace. 'System! Do I really need to sleep with this man!?' [..You can knock him out..] Oh. Problem solved."By the way, I'm sorry for yesterday... I got a bit jealous." He said without turning back. His ears were a curious shade of pink. 'I'll knock him out next time.'The snake rolled it's eyes and slithered away; it wasn't interested in seeing what happened next. ·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙Azul woke up to a muscular arm trapping her next to a human radiator. She was boiling. Lifting his arm, she crawled away from his embrace but was caught and brought back to the radiator. "You are too hot, Ragnar; let go." He groaned and released her let her slip away, she saw her clothes on the floor and sighed, she really liked the silk now it was ruined. "What are you sighing about?" Ragnar asked from the bed. "You ruined my silk, you should buy me another one.""I'll buy you more; don't worry, come back to bed." He said nonchalantly; but she liked that dress. "Buy me more jewellery too while you're at it; I'm going to wash up." She felt sweaty and gross; the heat was killing her. The servants came in after sensing movement with buckets of water filling the stone tub in the adjacent room. She relaxed in the water, enjoying the relief. She felt the familiar slither of her system and rolled her eyes. "So you came back? What happened." [... Arthur found something]"Ah, what did he find?"[... A spy]Well, that was fast. Who was so impatient that they couldn't wait a day before acting?"Where is he?"[...Outside]Azul nodded and finished her bath as fast as she could. Putting on a simple green robe with gold trimming, her hair flowed freely behind her, still wet as she headed to the little receiving room where he was waiting. When she walked in he stood up stiffly and bowed. "Khatun, I found this man." He got straight to the point dragging a bound servant to Azul's feet, "he was attempting to send a message out of the estate." Arthur handed her a piece of paper. She unravelled it to see the news of the Great Khan's passing. Who was he trying to tell?"Who's servant is he?""He is under Vel's compound, Khatun." Azul didn't say much, she handed the piece of paper to him. "Send him to Sisi, and spread a rumour that a spy was caught among Vel's servants." Arthur looked at her quizzically, but bowed and proceeded to drag the servant away. "They caught him?" Ragnar's voice floated in as he came in through the muslin curtain dividers. Arthur took one glance at his figure and looked away, immediately taking the servant out of the room. Ragnar was only wearing a skirt; his body, with new marks and bruises, stood at the door arch, leaning against it. "It's not Vel, I do not believe the Khan's children are that stupid, someone else is watching." "Hmm." "It doesn't make sense to keep a spy in your compound, or have him move so blatantly.""Maybe Vel is desperate.""For what? If he just waited a while longer, it would make no difference. Anyway, he will come rushing over when he hears we caught a spy in his compound."  Ragnar's eyes followed her keenly as she walked over to him attempting to cross back into the bedroom but he was blocking her way. "What?" She asked coldly. His eyes landed on her lips. "Don't be greedy, I have thing to do-" He cut her off kissing her, his hand wrapping around her waist. 'I'll knock him out next time for sure!' [...Sure]·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙Vel came running when he heard a servant from his banner had been taken in for interrogation. Being the last to know about such an important matter could cost him his head."Sisi!" He was seething with rage when he saw her. She looked so pretty and innocent, but she was genuinely a sight for sore eyes. "Where is he?" He grabbed her arms, his grip tight with anger."I don't recommend you touch me, Vel," she said coldly, pulling her arms free. "He's being investigated; just wait for the results.""How will you investigate a servant I don't even know? Whatever he says is false!""Sure," she said, her pretty lips curling up in a smile. "We'll find out tonight."Vel wanted to rip her pretty head off as if she were a clay doll. He just knew she was responsible for this but proving it would be nearly impossible. He swiftly turned to find Ragnar, knowing that talking to Sisi would get him nowhere.He stormed through the palace halls, his frustration mounting with every step. Finally, he found Ragnar in one of the meeting rooms, going over plans with Azul and Arthur."Ragnar!" Vel's voice was sharp, his temper barely in check. "What is the meaning of this? Why was my servant taken without my knowledge?"Ragnar looked up, his expression calm but stern. "Vel, calm yourself. Your servant was taken in for questioning because he was found to be involved in the plot against the Great Khan.""Involved?" Vel's eyes widened with disbelief. "This is absurd!""We are still investigating," Azul interjected, her voice soothing the aggression. "We need to follow every lead, Vel. If your servant is innocent, it will be proven."Vel's face twisted with frustration. "You don't understand. This could ruin me! The mere suggestion of my involvement—""Then help us prove your innocence," Azul said, cutting him off. "Cooperate with the investigation. If you truly had no part in this, then the truth will come to light."Vel looked at them, his anger warring with desperation. "Fine. I'll cooperate. But I want to be kept informed.""We know it is not you," Ragnar said. "But we need to find out who is manipulating things in the background."Vel took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "It's that bitch, Sisi; if not her, then who else?"Azul wondered why everyone seemed to be on guard against Sisi; she seemed innocent enough."Just pretend you are distressed; we will sniff her out. I don't think Sisi would dare try and kill the Great Khan," Ragnar said. "The Great Khan has enough external enemies. We should not suspect each other meaninglessly."Vel nodded, though he still looked wary. "Fine, I won't do anything crazy."As Vel left, Ragnar turned to Azul. "I know it doesn't make sense for me to say this, but stay away from Sisi."Azul felt her heart shake. She nodded silently."Thank you; I know it sounds unreasonable to you, but you'll only understand after experiencing her; and by then it will be too late. So promise me you will stay away from her." Ragnar pleaded."I promise," she replied softly.Unfortunately, that promise was impossible to keep. That night, on her evening walk, she walked right into Sisi, staring wistfully at the large moon in the clear sky."Azul?" Sisi asked, noticing Azul's soft movements in her peripheral vision.'The heavens must be against me,' Azul thought."Sisi," Azul greeted, trying to keep her voice neutral. "What brings you out here?"Sisi smiled, a touch of melancholy in her eyes. "I often come here to think. The moon has a way of calming my mind."Azul nodded, feeling the weight of Ragnar's warning. "It is a beautiful night."Sisi's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "It is. I suppose, it looks too unbearable to me.""Oh," Azul replied carefully. "Is everything ok?"Sisi smiled, her gaze turning to Azul. "If I were born a man, do you think my father would love me as much?"Azul hesitated, not sure where this was going. "I assume he will, a father's love is unconditional." Sisi turned back to the moon. "I see." She took a deep breath, "I wonder what the heavens have in store for me." "You are destined to be a great Khatun, you were born into greatness, Sisi."Sisi's eyes softened. "I was born into greatness, I haven't heard someone say it like that before. "Azul laughed, "well, not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth; we are exceptions.""And are you satisfied?"Azul's emotions wavered. "Am I satisfied?"Sisi nodded. 'Am I satisfied?'"I suppose I am.."'This is just a simulation, it doesn't matter either way.'"You must feel that way because you are an outsider." 'What?'Azul stared into Sisi's dark eyes, her smile was ever so beautiful under the moonlight.