[center][h1]Phaera’s Defiance[/h1][/center]

A soft southern wind carried the fresh smell of the gardens into Phaera’s room, while the midday Su’une poured the midday heat through the windows onto her stone floor. Large, pink-colored curtains billowed in the floor-to-ceiling open windows. Phaera herself remained in the shadows. After more than two decades she still couldn’t fully handle the heat. The shadow was pleasant enough. Next to her sat a steam cup of tea, with a pot containing a Khatem flower. She had requested it specifically and the royal quartermaster was kind enough to procure it for her. It was a day like any other. Her eyes lazily scanned over the various scrolls she had with her. She studied magic slowly, carefully and relentlessly. This is what made her so powerful.
 
Then a knock disturbed her. Which did not happen often. Especially not during the midday. Nonetheless, she put the scroll down and stood up. When she opened the door she was greeted by a bowing man with long, colorful, flowing robes. “Apologies my lady. I was hoping I could discuss a certain matter with you today.”
 
Phaera smiled. “Of course, come on in.” With a wave she invited him inside. She was no stranger to humble servants. Though the robes marked him not as a servant but a Vizier. In the palace, there were no viziers that didn’t come from the nobility. “Do you want some tea? It’s Khatem. I believe this is the Culliaën breed.” She said as she motioned for the administrator to take a seat at the small, round table in the parlor.
 
“I… I believe that would be lovely, my lady.” The vizier said as he walked through her chamber towards the round table. It was set for visitors, with snacks like sweet pudding, grilled paneer cheese, and flatbread to serve it on. He took his seat as he looked around. Then he saw it: a glass bottle filled with what he knew to be cockroach milk. It stood there in view of everyone. Something shrieked from the corner. The Vizier almost jumped out of his chair as he turned around to see what it was: Phaera’s hunting falcon. It was looking quite menacingly at the man.
 
“Oh sush you.” The princess said playfully towards her pet. Though it seemed to heed her and quieted down. Then she turned back towards the vizier. He was nervous. Which meant he didn’t like being here. Still, she gave him another smile and poured another cup. It was a normal one for now. If he had been the Grand Vizier or someone of a higher rank she would have brought out her archaesukor pieces. Clay cups excavated from the various dig sites within the Kingdoms that are then repaired using silver and gold. Uwné had started the tradition over four centuries ago. And while there were a lot more cups now than back then, they were still a rarity and an honor to be served. She put another cup on her side of the table, which was only 90° away from the chair of the vizier. “So, what is it you would like to discuss?”
 
She was already gearing up to hear the bad news. Perhaps the day of marriage for Inayah was finally chosen. She would loath giving away her son like that but she knew it was necessary. Or perhaps it was about Manu. Youth and a fiery spirit were a lethal combination. Maybe he had challenged some other nobleman’s son to a duel. She would talk to him-
 
“It’s about Raela.”
 
Phaera frowned. Her sweet Raela? Innocent Raela? The girl that smiled and laughed and danced? “What happened?” The princess asked. She didn’t try to hide her motherly worry. Her mind instinctively went to the worst possible outcome: she was kidnapped. A fury was already rising up inside of her.

“Nothing, my lady. Nothing has happened.” The man quickly said. Which relaxed Phaera. For a moment everything was silent. Though the princess didn’t want to pull it out of him. Nervous men needed time to gather their courage. Eventually, he spoke: “But I’m afraid that’s the problem. You see my lady Raela is already eighteen, with no immediate suitor. It is believed now would be a good time to send her away for her… familial duty.”
 
Ah. So that was what this was about. The corner of Phaera’s mouth rose up a little, though she quickly masked it by taking a careful sip from her cup. “You speak of this… Monastic duty? Apologies, where would she be sent to then?” Her tone was still nice. She sounded genuine.
 
“T-The Summerblossom Temple has traditionally welcomed the royal children for their duty.” The administrator said.
 
Though he failed to mention that this was not in any way set in stone. It was tradition. Only that. If she wanted she could’ve sent her sweet little girl to the Springlotus Temple. Where incidentally they did teach her magic. She knew this because one of her handmaidens had mentioned it some days ago. But Phaera wasn’t stupid. Someone wanted her to do something and think it was her idea.
 
“Ten whole years.” She said as she lowered her cup and looked out over her beautiful, Su’une soaked garden. Colorful dircaans wandered over the grass, others lounged comfortably on the stone pathways. One was rambunctiously chasing a female.  Meanwhile inside a silence had descended upon the room. She pretended to think on it. Then suddenly she looked up. “What is your name?”
 
“M-Me?” The vizier stuttered. “I am Balasuna vur Rusajar, my lady.”
 
“Right.” Phaera said as she stood up and walked into the light. Yes, it was much too hot. She turned around. Her shadow stretched out towards the feet of the administrator. “Balasuna, you will return to the Grand Vizier that has set you up to this task and you will make clear that what he seeks will not be done.”
 
The administrator shot up in shock. “But my lady! It is tradition that every child of the-“
 
He was silenced simply by her raised hand. “I will not send my daughter to become a farmer and a cheesemaker. I don’t care how traditional it is. Her gift lies with magic, which means it lies with me.” Or an Irodemia back home. Where Raela could get a proper education like she herself had. But the Grand Vizier didn’t need to know that just now. “Have I made myself clear?”
 
“My lady this- this is madness! Chakravarti themself-“
 
Again he was silenced by her raising her hand. “For all I care the eight-armed goddess descends from the heavens and tells me that Raela must go. She will not go and become a lugi herder.” As the heat fell on her open back it felt nice, pleasant now. She loved this land. It was beautiful. Not just the earth and the stones and the trees but also the people, the culture, the buildings. But they had odd traditions. Strange customs. She had tried, truly, to understand why she would have to send her children away someday. In the first ten years of her marriage, she had visited the Summerblossom monastery many times. Every time she stayed for a week to try out the life. Every time she left happy to return to the palace. It was no life for a child as gifted as Raela. It was no place for a future king.
 
The poor vizier, a victim in this shadowy game she had now started, looked harrowed by her decision. Though he offered her no more fight. He simply fell back in his chair. Resigning to his fate. She felt for him. Well, perhaps it wasn’t yet time for his career to be executed just yet. “Come with me.” She said as she took a step to the side, showing the beautiful garden beyond the large windows. Her hand was outstretched, and half of her face once again lit by the sunlight. “I still have a few more questions. And I was hoping you would entertain me this afternoon.”

[hider=Summary]Phaera II, consort of Ossurman X, is lounging in her room reading some scrolls on magic as she often does. Though the serenity is broken by someone knocking on her door. A vizier came to talk to her about Raela. The girl has no suitor, so she must start considering sending Raela to the monastery for her familial duties.

Phaera is quick to catch on and realizes she’s most likely being manipulated. So she tells the Vizier that she will not send her daughter to such a place and that her place is with her. Even if Chakvarti herself would descend from the heavens to tell her, her daughter will not become a lugi herder. The vizier resigns to this (and his fate) though Phaera asks him to walk with her through the gardens, delaying his career execution for a little while.[/hider]