Tales Of The Heart

(14)

"Lady Inaya Al-Amir", the Empress spoke, her voice warm yet firm, "we finally meet",
"Yes, Your Majesty", Inaya mumbled, feeling the irk of the Empress's scrutiny.

The Empress nodded slightly, her expression was thoughtful.
"Hmm! Unique sapphire-blue eyes, a sharp nose, perfectly arched brows, fuller lips, a sculpted face, and a delicate figure", she observed. There was a note of genuine admiration in her voice.
"I can see why my son has lost his heart", she added, though her smile held a hint of something deeper, an unspoken uncertainty.

Despite her nervousness, Inaya's cheeks dusted with a soft pink hue out of shyness.
"There is no need to be anxious. Please, sit down," the Empress chuckled lightly.

Inaya hesitated before slowly sitting back down, her hands trembling slightly. The Empress took a seat across from her, her smile was soft but her eyes portraying a seriousness that made Inaya's heart race.

"I apologize for arriving unannounced", the Empress began, "but I wanted to meet you in a more private setting, away from the formality of the court", she paused her eyes lingering on the parchments.
"I can see you have a love for calligraphy", she noted, her eyes returning back to Inaya.

"Yes, Your Majesty", Inaya replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "It is something that brings me peace", she added.

The Empress nodded, she smiled for a moment before her expression grew more somber.
"It is a beautiful art, one that requires patience and a steady hand, qualities that I am sure you possess. However, lady Inaya, there are matters beyond art and beauty that must be addressed", her words were indirect but enough for Inaya's heart to skip a beat. She could sense the shift in the conversation.

"You see, Inaya", the Empress continued,
"As much as I like you and appreciate how happy you make Shahzaib, there are traditions and expectations that we cannot simply overlook. A queen must come from a royal bloodline or high nobility. It is a matter of preserving the strength and unity of the empire", her tone still kind but laced with a certain finality.

Inaya felt her stomach tighten. She had feared this, but hearing it directly from the Empress made it more real. And the next words were like a sharp arrow to her heart.

"I have already found a suitable princess for Shahzaib", the Empress went on, her eyes searching Inaya's for understanding.
"She is of royal birth, well-versed in the duties of a queen and would be a strong match for my son in terms of the responsibilities that come with the throne", her voice lacked empathy and too direct.

Inaya could feel her heart sinking, but she kept her composure, determined to listen, further. She had put her trust in the prince and wouldn't let it waver at all cost.

"Shahzaib cares deeply for you and I do not wish to take that away from him", the Empress said softly. "You are important to him and therefore, important to us. But, Inaya, you must understand that you could only hold a respected position as a royal consort, you cannot be the express",

Inaya's breath caught in her throat. She had prepared herself for the refusal, but the reality of it was far more painful than she had anticipated. She didn't want to share her love with another woman, it was a condition, that she took a promise from Shahzaib before agreeing to marry him.

The Empress reached out and softly took Inaya's hand, her touch comforting yet insistent.
"I need you to help Shahzaib understand this. If he can accept these terms, we can move forward with your union. You would still be by his side, cherished and protected, but as a consort, not as an empress", she coaxed teenderly.

Inaya swallowed hard, her mind racing. The Empress's request was clear, she was to convince Shahzaib to accept a future that was not what they had dreamed of.