The Legacy

Chapter 2

Sometimes the walled city seems like two different places to me. The one I pass through with the princess by my side is a luxurious heaven fit to house the elite high lords of the kingdom and their families. The suites are high up from the ground, their tall glass windows reflect the sunlight, painting the whole scene in gold.  As the royal ride passes through the city, I can’t help but feel guilty over the wasted fairyland. Princess Daria is busy on a call, chattering on about the latest gossip around the court with her convertible smart watch curled around her cheek. Her hair is hidden in a black bejeweled shawl, same as mine. I’m sure I’ll have to pay for that later, but my silence on the matter means that my younger sister sits on the seat across from us. Her face is filled with childlike wonder like she hasn’t been through these airways loads of times with our father.

Unfortunately, she hasn’t learned to filter her thoughts properly yet. “Why doesn’t anyone live in these houses? They all look so nice, I’d live here if I weren’t in the castle.”

I turn away from the window, “Are you saying you’d rather live in one of these houses than the castle?” I ask her teasingly.

She pauses for a minute, apparently giving it a serious thought “I mean, the castle is nice, in its own way.” She spares the princess a wary glance before flashing me a grin. Her eyes carrying a secret. I can’t help the warmth filling my chest at her smile. Mother had forbidden me to take her exploring through the castle tunnels, worried I’ll lead her in my footsteps. But I’ll take mother’s wrath if my sister gets to escape for a while, gets to smile like that a little longer. She’s thirteen, yet a lot wiser than I was at her age. 

“But?” I prompt her with a wink.

“But it’s a shame all these houses stay empty for most of the year.” Her voice is borderline wistful, and while I get where she is coming from, its dangerous territory. “They aren’t empty” I try to sooth her, “People stay there to keep them maintained. They only leave when the lords are visiting from the outward colonies.”

There is a scoff from the princess and I turn to her. She’s eyeing my sister with that look on her face. That look that makes you feel like an ant under her shoe, about to be crushed swiftly and brutally. Usually I’ll rejoice in witnessing it targeted at someone else. Right now it fills me with dread. Her tone is mocking when she speaks “These houses aren’t for the people of this city Afifa. Wallah, they wouldn’t even know what to do with half the technology available inside. Can you imagine?” She turns to me, expecting back up. I manage a grimace. Afifa bows her head. Her smile is gone and she’s fidgeting with her hands. 

“They’re reserved for the visiting lords to stay.” She continues vehemently “So they can enjoy the very best of His Majesty’s hospitality and witness the power of the Empire. They’re not suitable for the commoners of the city.”

“There are no commoners in the city” I blurt out.

“Well they all serve my father, the Emperor. They might as well be” She shrugs carelessly. “They don’t deserve to live up here.” She tells my sister with a smile. “And neither do you.”

“Daria” My voice is low, yet carries a warning.

“What?” She asks innocently, “I mean, you belong in the castle. With us”. She pets Afifa’s head affectionately.

Luckily the car stops at the Plaza before I do something dumb.

The chauffeur opens the back door and I get out, scanning the deserted aerial roads out of habit.  Daria comes out last, adjusting her dress and head shawl before she follows me inside the plaza. The air is quiet around us, the conversation in the car simmering between us. Afifa speeds ahead, walking beside the advance guard and no doubt pelting him with rapid fire questions. Daria suddenly grabs my arm, stopping me in my tracks.