She expected the girl to scurry off, but when she had heard no footsteps, Azul stopped once more."What is it?"she asked.
"We asked two hours ago, Akwaugo."
Azul stilled, her mind coming to a chilling realisation, a smile stretching on her lips as her gold eyes seemed to glow in the darkness.
Nkiru waited for a few more moments, but seeing as Azul had nothing to say, she retreated.
They want to starve me?Do they think it is that easy?
Azul scoffed.She had already died once.Hunger was not enough to make her go and beg for mercy.
Two days passed in silence.Azul spent her mornings, afternoons, and evenings writing.And despite it being the third day, she still had just under half of the column to transcribe.Her hips and shoulders hurt, and her wrists were stiff.But still she pushed herself, unwilling to be found at fault.The princesses had their mothers and their maternal families.Azul had no father, no mother—it was just her in the harem.Any punishment she must complete to perfection.Any task given, she must not make one mistake.
On the fourth day, her hand only stopped at the sight of blood on her parchment.Quickly, she stepped back, hoping not to ruin any more of her work.
"Ifeoma!"she called to the oldest maid, pinching her nose and rushing out of the shrine.She followed the steps down the path to her small living quarters."Chiamaka!"She called another, but she was met with silence.
Where is everyone?she thought to herself.Though she had not seen them in two days, she assumed they kept themselves busy.
"Akwaugo?"The only one who responded was the smallest.Nkiru, her bantu knots already loosening at the scalp.
"Where is everyone?"Azul couldn't help but ask.
The girl grimaced, shifting uncomfortably on her feet.
"Speak quickly," Azul urged.
"Your Highness, I don't know."
Azul frowned, confused."What do you mean you don't know?"
The girl struggled to reply, and just then, a strange noise came from her stomach.She winced, biting her lip as if afraid she would suddenly be punished.
I see.
Her servants had abandoned her.
I was mistaken.I can stand to ignore my body's demands, but I expected too much of others.
Taking a breath, she asked the girl, "Are you hungry?"
Harsh knocking against a parchment-covered window was not enough to disturb a man in deep sleep.Luckily, Borji couldn't sleep that night.Nightmares plagued his mind and refused to release him.
"Go away," he said, loud enough for her to hear.
Naturally, he knew who it was.
Who else would bother to find him if not a stranger?
The knocking continued.
With a growl of irritation, Borji sat up, his braids falling over his shoulders.The room was dark, save for the pale moonlight filtering through the gaps in the screen.He reached for the short blade he kept beside his bed—a wise habit.As much as infighting was discouraged in the harem, it didn't mean assassination attempts didn't happen.He moved silently towards the window.
He slid the screen open with one hand, blade ready in the other.
Golden eyes stared back at him.
"You look like a ghost!"Borji said in shock.
