As Kamaria's journey unfolds, she discovers the true nature of power and the sacrifices that come with it. She must navigate through political alliances, betrayal, and treacherous plots to secure her place as Queen of Scotland. Along the way, she le...
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Kamaria and her friends, Zahria, Adara, Ananya, and Yelena, were gathered on the grass, their laughter mingling in the air during a lakeside picnic. "Okay, Adara, your turn. Share with us about your best kiss, not just the first one," Kamaria prompted, calming the chuckles of the girls lounging on the grass.
Adara took a brief pause to ponder before replying, "It was with a man, not a boy," she mused with reflection.
"Who? You must tell us," Kamaria implored, her eyes brimming with astonishment.
"All I will disclose is that waiting for clueless boys our age is pointless. One must either seek out a man or... cater to one's desires alone," Adara announced with a mischievous smile, eliciting laughter as she watched her friends' cheeks redden at her insinuation. "Now, it's Zahria's turn, correct?"
The focus shifted to Zahria, who became the center of attention. After a brief pause, Zahria exhaled a resigned sigh and confessed, "I have not yet had my first kiss. Unlike you, I cannot afford even the slightest errors due to my family's lack of nobility. However, I believe I've met someone remarkable. He is Tomás, the distinguished and handsome son of the King of Portugal. His prolonged visit for trade talks makes me suspect he's here for more than just business."
Zahria found herself in a delightful yet unusual predicament with the Portuguese prince. Despite her uncertainty about his intentions in their 'relationship,' it brought her joy, which was of utmost importance.
As they exchanged concerned glances, the five ladies recognized the dangers of romantic ties with a prince. "Zahria, involvement with a prince is fraught with peril; they marry for political alliances," Ananya warned, softly patting her knee. "Remember, we are commoners."
Interrupting Ananya, Zahria retorted, "Tomás is a king's illegitimate son, like Bash. He's favored, yes, but with wealth and land. I'm not naive. I'm aware that a true royal would only consider me for exploitation. I can take care of myself." Her tone revealed her annoyance at her friends' lack of support.
Kamaria's frown deepened as she gazed at Zahria, her brow furrowed in inquiry. Before she could articulate her thoughts, a servant hastened toward the group and declared, "Your Majesty, your uncle, Claude de Guise, requests your presence immediately." The servant was addressing Kamaria.
"Thank you, Sarah," Kamaria replied with a smile, sharing a look of bewilderment with her ladies-in-waiting. She excused herself from the gathering and followed Sarah, who led the doe-eyed young woman to Claude's quarters.
Moments later, Kamaria entered her uncle's quarters. "You look well, Kamaria," Claude greeted her warmly, bowing to the brown-skinned girl as he presented her with a letter. She began to open it but hesitated when Claude suggested, "Your mother sends her love. Read it later."
"Be assured, the letter holds both affection and tidings of a crisis in Scotland," Claude revealed, prompting the Scottish girl to furrow her brow in worry. "The English?" she questioned.
