Chapter 2: Sunshine
Elsewhere, the garden of Moonbeam rang with the laughter of Munirah - the beloved heir of Earth. Standing on tiptoes, she gently reached for a 4-winged butterfly that flew slightly out of her reach as if to tease her. It was a sight to behold. Rivers flowered through ponds of crystal clear water that looked like shimmering diamonds instead of water under the sun. The garden was clustered with thousands of different types of flowers that grew with a single jewel in the center instead of pollen; Lushes of fruit-bearing trees ripe for the picking grew in great abundance. In the center of it, all was the tall, slender, pale princess with long, silky, bluish-black hair.
Sitting under the shade of one of the trees, warm brown eyes followed her while soft whispers echoed in another part of the garden.
"She has the perfect figure of a real lady, curvaceous yet refined with beautiful long legs. Her deep blue eyes that are heavily fringed with thick, lovely, dark lashes are studded with compassion like precious jewels from the deep blue sea…" a soldier whispered admiringly to his fellow comrade.
"Aye. From young, the princess saves injured animals, patiently nursing them back to health. You know, once I saw her using her costliest silk cushion as a bed for an injured doe." Answered the other soldier.
"Oh?" the first soldier raised an eyebrow.
"Yea.. it was bleeding and all." The second soldier continued
"Being royalty, things like these are as common and easily available as a loincloth. But it was a sweet gesture, though. That would have eased the poor thing's pain a lot better than just putting it on hay."
"True….but you know I have a special lady among the princess' ladies-in-waiting…."
"Don't you have special ladies everywhere?" teased the first soldier.
"Sometimes, but there would always be one that stands out amongst the other flowers." The other soldier explained while the first soldier suppressed his laughter. "….anyway, she told me the princess doesn't waste. She had the slaves clean it thoroughly, then had it dyed a darker color to hide the bloodstains that had set in during the doe's recovery."
"Is that right?" the first soldier marveled. "I wish my wife were as thrifty as that."
"If only! Then you wouldn't be avoiding us with the excuse of having an empty purse every evening." His comrade grinned.
"Then again, is there any woman like the crown princess? This world is lucky to have her as heir." The soldier who first spoke sighed.
"How true. Not only does the princess love to read, but she is also wise and knowledgeable beyond her years. If I hadn't been in the palace for so long, I'd swear she is probably much older than all of us put together! …And her admirers! They range from kings to men of great wealth, power, and generals."
"It is strange that she seems oblivious to her great beauty and the adoring eyes that follow her wherever she goes…."
"Maybe she is just a little blur?"
"I don't think so, Rashid. She is able to assess political situations with a deft mind that puts her advisors to shame. Surely someone with that sort of sharp intellect is not blurred."
"Hmm… perhaps it's just a wile game she plays. We, men, are always more attracted to the unobtainable. Who knows better than us, right Lucas?" the second soldier nudged his comrade playfully. They were her bodyguards - two of the best warriors under the command of Prince Dominic, the brown eyes that followed her adoringly yet cautiously. As all three men watched her, they marveled at her grace. They thought they had seen it all after one hundred years on Earth. How any human being could still surprise and delight them was a mystery.
Prince Dominic and his elite army of 1,000,000 strong were from the Universe whose language our tongues would grow tired and sore from even uttering a single sentence. On Earth, we know it as the constellation Ursa Major. However, only a few knew that their lifespan was 500 years compared to Earth's 100 years. They also had 2 suns in their solar system and 3 moons rotating around their planet. In many ways, they were not different from ours in physical anatomy and various characteristics. But after many more years of experience and training, one tends to be wiser and better in everything they do. Earth is but a baby in waddling clothes by comparison. The Chinese astronomers called the Ursa Major "Jade Balance of Fate." Oh, how right and wise they were, for it is this race in the Universe who were the peacekeepers - the guardians who had lived long enough to be wise yet short enough not to become proud, arrogant, and bored.
"I fear for her…." He whispered under his breath. The thought of the demure princess being harmed shivered through Prince Dominic's spine. He had led a carefree life before the birth of Princess Munirah - although it was heavily loaded with responsibilities. Despite his 120 years, he was still a young man, an equivalent of a 24-year-old on Earth. Yet, his constant worry over her safety made him feel old beyond his years. It seemed like the mental strain had added years to his body. He sighed and shook all those thoughts from his mind. Dominic knew that love came with a heavy price. He had loved her from the moment he set eyes on her. She was such a tiny babe whose eyes had not opened, sleeping peacefully and yawning in the royal crib. Sure…the entire palace loved her instantly. But this was something different…
"Dominic, Dominic…ever your mama's boy, aren't you? Oh, why does my love grow deeper each day? Why….?" The General whispered to himself.
"Dom! Look!" a familiar cheerful laughter distracted him from his thoughts. "The eclipse! I guess my calculations were wrong after all. Hail to you, General, for your most accurate guess!" The princess chirped teasingly as she displayed an elaborate curtsy.
"Ohho~ most accurate guess is it, Nirah?" Nirah was the name the crown princess allowed him to affectionately call her. "Is that what you call it now? Sore-looser!" Dominic retorted with equal zeal. "Might I say that it was through scrutinizing the planetary movements with acute mathematical calculations that random me right, your Royal Highness?" he smiled.
At the sight of his smile, Nirah's knees turned to jelly. His charismatic grin had always had that effect on her. She flashed him a shy smile and quickly turned to watch the eclipse again so he wouldn't see her blushing.
Moments like this made Dominic forget all those who sought to assassinate Nirah. Not only the enemies from other galaxies but her sister- Mirah! Of all the forces in the world, right down to the deepest and most terrifying parts of hell, Mirah was the worst of the lot. She would have Princess Munirah murdered in the-split-of-a-second, should Sultan Ra pass on to the heavens and be seated at the great table of his ancestors. Because of this, Dominic had been secretly teaching Nirah the deceptively gentle but deadly strokes of Tai Chi to defend herself. This was an art of self-defense his great-grandfather had taught the Chinese. To most, it was a simple art meant to improve blood circulation and to be in harmony with the world - insignificant and boring. Its deadliness, however, would be unleashed if the welder possessed great inner strength and precision in movements paired with a few secrets now long forgotten by most…except its few remaining practitioners who guarded it closely.
The slow afternoon under the gently swaying of rusting tree branches had Dominic reminiscing about the past. It was 11 years ago that he made the fateful decision after noticing many unpleasant events behind everyone's back.
"Nirah, today we will learn something new. Something that would protect your country, your father, and all those you love."
"Really? What is it? What is it? I can protect everyone? How?" a 5-year-old Nirah was beaming with joy that she being so tiny and helpless against the world, would be able to protect all she loved.
"Ahh.. before I tell you, you must promise me." Dominic grinned down at the little angel of a princess.
"Of course! Anything, Dom, anything!" Nirah clapped her hands excitedly.
"You must never tell anyone at all. Not your father and not even Mirah. Swear to me." Dominic said seriously.
"But why? Surely as my twin, she should also know. We would be able to stand stronger against our adversaries. That's what twins are for…" the little princess expressed sadly.
The general prince sighed and knelt before his princess, holding her protectively as he knew his words would cut her gentle heart. "Sometimes, not all twins support each other although they are supposed to. Especially in your case. It is. It is usually considered bad luck for a pair of twins to be the firstborns of the ruler. If he had had a son after you and Mirah, everything would have been fine, as the throne would one day fall to him and not to one of you. Because you're born just 2 minutes before Mirah, you are to be Queen. Not her. Something like that can cause jealousy and rip even the closest of bonds apart."
Wide-eyed, innocent, and close to tears, Nirah said, "Then I would tell Mirah that I would allow her to rule instead. I don't mind."
"No, Nirah. Birthrights cannot be given away. You were born to be Queen for a reason, and you will make a fantastic one. For the sake of your country, never ever relinquish the crown." The thought of the little, spoilt brat Mirah ruling the country was frightening.
"Then…then… we could rule together. We receive the same training after all. Two minds would be better than one. We would cover all angles and not miss anything out." the 5-year-old analyzed.
"Little dove, have I ever lied to you about anything?" Dominic looked lovingly into the eyes of the child before him.
"No. But surely she, too, loves the people. They are under our protection. Our sacred duty is to protect our country, and all our ancestors have built. To maintain the peace and harmony as best we can." The little princess explained, as her father had mentioned many times to her.
"Have I ever been wrong about anything?" her mentor reasoned with her. "Have you bullied anyone before, my princess?"
"No, and Of course not! You, of all people, should know me well enough then to ask me such a question." Princess Munirah defended herself, feeling slightly annoyed to be suggestively accused by the one person who knew her best.
"Has Mirah bullied anyone before?" the general pushed further to reason with his princess.
"Well.....it is quite normal for siblings to pick on each other sometimes. Just because she has an eccentric sense of humor doesn't mean she is bad. Everyone is different."
"But surely anyone with a good heart would stop their jokes when blood is drawn, and it results in death." Said Dominic kindly.
"Maybe.. she didn't realize and thought they were just playing with her. It is like watching the theater. The actors on stage don't really die. It is all part of an act to make the story interesting. It is frightening when it's being played out…but we see them well and healthy." The princess again tried to defend her sister.
"And have you seen your sisters' maids of late?" asked Dominic.
"We both have our own set of maids, slaves, and eunuchs of different ranks…50 each. I definitely see them, but I haven't even seen them all. Besides, with the growing number of slaves given as tribute, keeping track of all their faces and names is impossible. It's a wonder how Tishai remembers them all, including their origin and multiple tribes." The little princess answered innocently.
"My sweet, sweet innocent princess, do you know that your sister has had her personal household replaced so often that she has had more than 500 maids and slaves!" exclaimed Dominic.
"But.. perhaps they got sick. There have been some illnesses running around the slaves of late or maybe homesickness!" the princess was running out of excuses, and she knew it.
"Your royal highness….. just promise me, will you? Every moment we spend arguing over this matter, your enemies get stronger than you and your beloved country." The General was getting a little exasperated with his charge's defense over the obvious.
Princess Munirah kept silent for some time "...…..okay. I promise. No one will know." She hung her head as she had never had any secrets from anyone before. The future Queen of Kzahmut was as clear and truthful as a clean river stream that revealed even its tiniest pebbles to the onlooker - innocent, pure, and honest.
"I will teach you everything I know, including some secrets of Tai Chi. You will understand one day that as Queen, you can never fully trust anyone. At times, not even yourself." Explained Dominic kindly.
"Thank God she promised and never betrayed my confidence nor disobeyed me except in jest and private!" General Dominic thought to himself and shivered with things he knew - especially the extent of Princess Mirah's knowledge and skill in martial arts. Alone in the shade of his favorite spot in the Garden of Moonbeam, he took out the letter he had written to his father two years ago. He had promised to send a full report on the Crown Princess' progress, but his fear of any of the letters being intercepted by the younger princess' spies was eminent. He had kept it next to his breast between his shift and his leather breastplate for two long years.
My dearest Lord and father,
I write to thee as promised on the progress of my charge - the hope of planet Earth. It has been 9 years since she first started formal training for her future role. With each passing day, she grows as wise as she is beautiful. Her compassionate and trusting heart is one that is hard to undo but is a value that you have taught me to appreciate in all beings, a rare jewel in these harsh, corrupted times. I am proud that she has grown wise and alert to the numerous plots of the cunning and the envious at court. The Princess Royal undertook her first royal duty of settling the squabbles of commoners when she was merely 7 years of age. Her wisdom and fame have grown and spread from the hearing she held. Several of the squabbles were complicated and bordered on extremely sensitive issues, but the Crown Princess settled them amiably even when the Sultan's own Grand Council had difficulty. This a great feat for a human who usually only reaches such maturity at 16 or, more likely, 60 in this world. With happy tidings that planet Earth would be in safe hands, I wish thee good health and peace.
Your son,
Dominic - General of the Immortals.
Thinking back on all the princess' achievements, Dominic smiled at the thought. "Yes, I have been a marvelous mentor!" He had the right to be proud. "One day, I would ask for her hand in marriage!" He beamed even more until he noticed the tree he sat under bore apples and sapphires. Again he slummed back into hopeless self-pity. "What could I give her when she has everything? Would Sultan Ra even let me off lightly over such an insult?" He closed his eyes to stop his heart from despairing further. No prince, no matter how minor, must cry before his subjects; what more a General? "But even if her hand is given to another, I would still be there to guard her with my life! I have 1,000,000 elite men in my garrison. Hardly enough to defend her against her sister's great army, but one man under my command is worth 20 in hers. Every single one is loyal and special. My commandos have skills nobody else is aware of!" the General Prince smiled a small smile at this thought. "Besides, not all under her command are loyal to her!!... God be merciful." Dominic muttered protectively to himself.
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