Her body shook.
"Listen and listen carefully," he continued, schooling her as he had done many times before."Once he arrives, you will have to act on his heart."
Act on his heart?
"It is imperative he grows to trust you and to love you.Whether or not you sell your body in exchange for his devotion is within your prerogative.His guard must be relaxed, his belly must be full of wine, and you must be ready for an upcoming storm."
Only then did she understand.
This was a ploy to kill her betrothed.
And she was going to be a scapegoat.
Azul stared at her father with a blank expression.It was absurd.Is that why he wished for her to get in Somadina’s bed?So when she was left with no husband and accused of indecency, he would take her as a sex slave?A whore?His concubine?
"Is that why the Ugoeze suggested this marriage?"Her voice sounded so small; it aggravated her how much she had lost the will to speak.
Chukwuemeka shook his head."The Igwe wanted Princess Obiageli married to the warlord, but she's too ill.He needed a substitute.A girl of appropriate age and beauty.It was good for us; sending you aligns with the prince’s plans.When the Igwe offered two hundred silver for you—"
"Two hundred silver."The laugh that bubbled up from her throat was dry and mirthless."You wish to ruin my life for two hundred pieces of silver!?"If the warlord dies after she has seduced him, who would take her as a woman of good standing?He wished for her to use any means necessary?To debase herself for a foreigner?Wouldn’t her name be spat on by the common people?Wouldn’t they point fingers at her?Did he really not care how she would live after all this?Was Somadina—the man who killed her—his only solution?
Death or death.
Chukwuemeka's face darkened."Watch your tongue, girl.Great power is at my fingertips; you will be settled if you just married—"
"Great power?"Azul interrupted, her voice still eerily calm."Being the dog of such a prince is what you consider great power?"
The only reason he was so insistent on her sleeping with Somadina was the reason he was wearing armour dictating a high position within the royal guard.
Her eyes locked onto his with an intensity that made him flinch."If that is your definition of power, then Somadina will use you and you will be left without even a corpse to bury."
Rage flickered across his features.And in that moment she knew he would try to hit her, but before he did, she needed to find out why his other daughter was here.
"You ungrateful—"
"Where is Kamsi?Why is Chidinma here?"
His mouth snapped shut, the question arresting him.Beside him, Chidinma shifted slightly, and Azul caught it—the tiniest flicker of smugness crossing her sister's face.
"She wanted to see you," Chukwuemeka said, but the lie was transparent even before he finished speaking.
"Try again."Azul found no joy in their gathering at all.
The smugness on Chidinma's face grew more pronounced.The girl couldn't quite hide it—that self-satisfied expression of someone who'd got something she desperately wanted.
Chidinma glanced over her shoulder.
Azul followed her gaze.
The door on the opposite side of the room opened.
So you were here all along.
Somadina entered, still wearing bandages around his head, though the injury should've long since healed.He was dressed formally, his robes the deep crimson of his station, matching hers."Ah, Chukwuemeka."Somadina's smile was warm."I'm glad I caught you before you left."
Chukwuemeka stood immediately, bowing low as if the prince had arrived by coincidence.
"Okpalaeze.It is an honour."
