It was inevitable. The effects of intoxication and the threat of the Empire, both. It was a risk that they had considered the moment that the Council decided on forging alliances through matrimony. The last of the free nations had sent their noble-borne to Astalia, the greatest bastion that stood tall amidst the forests of subjugation in Sahas. And, it was always an irrefutable truth that being the tallest tree carried the risk that it would be upon its very bark that the axe would strike first. The whispers of a Gilthian emissary had reached her ears, and as Sulhana wiped away the last dregs of exhaustion and inebriation from her eyes, she knew that even the most foolish of them all would understand that the emissary heralded the Empire's threats. After all, why else would Gilthian communicate with them now after weeks of silence ever since the king's bold defiance. The ringing in her ears soon abated, and the woman cursed herself at the folly that just because she procured a mixture of herbs that stymied the immediate effects of the reds she poured for herself last night. All things considered, the orcish prince did win the competition. Yes, she did cheat which was why she only used the same two cups. No, he did not need to know such a fact. Once the celebration had ended, she had already felt the effects of the wine and wished not to appear like an inebriated fool in front of her guests. So, she formally ended the meeting and wished all the participants a wonderful night before heading to her chambers. "Speak nothing of this, and tell the guards that are aware of the emissary's arrival to keep their tongues tied," The princess commanded to her handmaiden who nodded in response. Sulhana strode over to her desk, her night dress fluttering behind her as she took a seat. She opened a ledger and after dipping her quill in ink, she recorded her thoughts upon the worn book. The scratching of the quill filled her chambers, and it was only when her ink had dried that she looked up at the window to notice that the morning sun had fully dangled from the sky. Its radiant beams of light filtered through the glass, illuminating the parchments and books that lined the floors and shelves. Her room was more of a hermitage than the abode of a princess with all the papyrus that hung from her walls, connected by linen strings to other pieces of parchments that reminded the princess of why she needed to keep working. "My father is waiting in the banquet hall, isn't he?" Sulhana mused as she leaned back and tucked the stray strands of her hair behind her left ear. With a sigh, she closed her book and stored it inside her desk before standing up. "It would be impolite to keep the Sun of Astalia waiting. Would you draw me a bath, please?" She turned to the handmaiden with a grin. --- Now dressed in a light-blue tunic with a kirtle of a darker shade of blue worn on top, Sulhana stood before the mirror as she braided her raven hair. Her green eyes gazed absently at her reflection, thoughts consumed to the idea of the suitors and how their father would bind his daughters to them in order to forge an alliance. King Harold had grown weak through the years, and she could remember only a few times wherein their father had truly tried to get to know his own children. Did he know of Annalise's bold personality during the night before? Did he know of Loreena's growing talent for magic or was he still illusioned with the idea that his daughter was still stuck with levitating sticks? Did he know of Jinayah's armor and how much the knights adored her for them to forge her one? Perhaps, not a chance. Once finished with her hair, Sulhana draped her light-gold mantle around her shoulders and let the thin cloth drape down to the back of her knees as she tightened the cord on her waist. With her ensemble finished, the princess strode out of her chambers before heading towards the dining hall to meet with her family. Silently, she walked on deft steps through the corridors, and though she was still lost in thought, her attention was soon caught when she heard the clinking steps of armor. The woman looked around her suddenly, noting that this was area was nearest to a certain princess' chambers, and then, a smiled formed on her lips. As the steps echoed nearer, Sulhana turned the corner just in time to see her youngest sister. "Ask not the rose why it wears thorns as you would not ask the bull why it has horns," Sulhana said as she approached Jinayah. "For it is simply who they are," She smiled at the armored princess, her eyes examining the mesh of steel plates that hid the toned figure beneath. "I knew you would look good in it, Jin," Sulhana said, the sincerity in her voice lacing her words. "Father will throw a fit, but no secret will ever stay hidden. Best they find out now in our abode than later in foreign halls." The girl steadied herself for a while, feeling the effects of the drink still clouding her mind. She cleared her throat then before motioning for her sister to walk with her towards the dining hall. When they neared to the large doors, Sulhana turned to Jin then. "Men are strange creatures. Telling us what to do and what to wear, building all these rules whose origins are lost to the sands of time," Sulhana continued as she walked. "You look gorgeous in those plates, Jin," She nodded. "The knights loved you so much that they would spend a fortune to forge you a personalized set. If that is not worthy of honor-- if those princes do not deem you beautiful, I will pluck their eyes out." Once she entered, the princess planned to quickly offer her greetings to the king first before taking a seat. She was far too tired to put up with pleasantries today. The king had deemed it a secret from her that a letter from the Empire had arrived. How foolish. It wasn't as if his own daughter was the spymaster in his own council. No secret would ever remain buried, at least not from her.