Collaterals

Count, That Was.

There were so many guards flanking him that, at first, Leila was unaware he'd even went past the palace gates. And yet reports of his arrival at the city's entrance had reached her yesterday evening. Thankfully, there were no reports of bloodied flowers being thrown at him, or stray arrows trying desperately to kiss him hello. Though, Leila supposed her people were too busy picking the gold coins his guard had thrown onto the watching, hollering crowds. Three cities his entourage had passed, and three cities had called his name out, reached their hands out, and beat drums to the rythme of his trotting horses.

And then he'd reached the Capitol. Or rather, its outskirts, just inside the city gates, atop the land that was claimed by Khaled's family. Why the Imperial Prince had not simply continued his trek onto the palace and chosen, instead, to stay with the Yehia's was not only beyond her understanding, but very much a strain on her nerves. She'd sent 50 more of the Royal Guard, praying they'd secure the area before disaster could break lose. And then she'd paced, back and forth in waiting, Advisor Nabil jumping from one hall to another as he put together the final preparations.

But he did not come. No, he spent the night there. And then the morning. It was well past nooon when his enterouage began to make way to the palace, and by then Father had been so tired he'd resigned to her room.

When word that the noble Aurelius was finally on his way reached them, father was deep in his slumber, and mother refused to wake him. Leila clutched her hands together, her breath shuddering as it left her. She all but jumped when Ali's hand settled onto her shoulder. She looked to her brother who gave her a reassuring smile, "It would not do well for our Honorable Hand to be so nerve wracked."

Leila grit her teeth, glancing to the open Palace gates, the horses and carriages and banners all moving past them. Her voice was low enough that she hoped only Ali could hear when she said, "Father should be here. To great him. He will not take lightly to this offense—"

"And that is why father had waited. All day yesterday, no? All night, even. But this man-child did not think to make clear his schedule—"

Leila's head whipped to the side, eyes wide as she looked to her brother. "You mustn't speak that way." She looked to the side, now, "Lest someone hear."

"Hear what?" Mother walked towards them, arm interlocked with Haitham's.

Leila frowned at the sight of her younger brother, looking away, "Nothing." She turned, looking now to the carriages as they rounded the fountain in the middle of the courtyard, one after the other. "Only that it is lucky he came past noon, so that the sun was not as cruel."

"Ah yes, how nice of him to finally grace us," mother mumbled, standing by Ali's side with a fan in her hand.

Leila ignored Haitham, now that he was by her side, and instead clutched her fingers even tighter, watching as the largest carriage parked in front of the steps. She held her skirt, beginning to descend the steps. Only Ali put a hand on her shoulder, "Where are you going?"

"To great him," she all but hissed, glancing at his carriage.

His brows creased, "You are a princess, Leila, you do not descend to meet anyone—"

"He is not anyone," she snapped. "And I am Hand before I am Princess."

Still, Ali did not let go. Leila looked to the side, eyes fluttering helplessly. It would not do. No, not at all. Not when father was in bed. Not when his visit was so sudden they'd not been able to arrange a proper royal welcome in Diastrop. Not when— it was to her mother Leila now looked, eyes flashed as though to say do something.

Mother frowned. She stopped her fanning, looking to her eldest son, "Ali. It is protocol."

Even then, he hesitated, eyes glancing past her, to the carriage, and then to mother. Finally, he sighed, letting go of her. There were three sets of stairs: the first set, interrupted by a space, followed by a second set, interrupted by another space— where she now stood— and a final set, interrupted by the space that led inside, where her family now stood. Leila straightened as a footmen opened the carriage door.