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[sub][url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8e/25/ec/8e25eca4d8050f735ff76bdbc308c56b.jpg][i][sub][color=D99036] dress ♛ [/color][/sub][/i][/url][/sub][sub][url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ef/4b/47/ef4b47892d5002b1608fe2f2d41a7ef2.jpg][i][sub][color=D99036] crown ♛ [/color][/sub][/i][/url][/sub][sub][/sub]
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[sub][color=d9910b]C A S T L E   D I N N I N G   H A L L  |  E V E N I N G[/color][/sub]
[sub][color=gray]I n t e r a c t i o n s :
Hafiz [@princess] , Kira [@Potter]
M e n t i o n s :
Hala's Stinky Dog[/color][/sub]
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[i][color=gold]“You couldn’t even protect Kahrem…You flail for attention like a drunk on stage and call it diplomacy… You’re not your mother, Nahir. And gods know, you’ll never be me.”[/color][/i]

A piece of duck slipped from the napkin she held in her hand and landed with a soft smack against Hafiz’s shoes. Grease smeared down the embroidered designs and expensive fabrics. 

Nahir didn’t blink. Not yet. But the silence that followed his words cut deeper than any scream. 

Her mouth parted, just barely. Not in protest, no, never that and not so openly, but as though his words had carved something clean out of her. The flicker of surprise that crossed her features was raw, real, and momentary—a practiced beat of vulnerability. 

Then, just as quickly, buried. 

[color=peru]“Grrand Vizir Hafiz Kadirr!...we have laws against tha’ sorr’ of disgusting conduct in our lands. You WILL NAE strrike yours orr any otherr pets within ourr borrders.”[/color]

Nahir’s hands trembled. At any other time, she may have cursed them, but right now, she could not have asked for a better time for it to manifest. She tried to fold the linen napkin over itself, corner against corner, but failed to do so. 

A woman scorned, like a child put in her place after being scolded for sneaking a dessert before dinner. That is what she was right now. And the outcome of Hafiz’s rage against her was nothing short of what she expected from her dear uncle, now the Grand Viz-hole. She did, however, feel bad for poor Nadim. She wondered what Hala would do when she found out Nadim had been struck by Hafiz, what would she say to Nahir?

Lady Miha would send over a basket with enough treats and toys for Nadim that would last him a week.

[color=#4DD0E1]”Her, disgrace you?” [/color]


Nahir bit her tongue. Kira, stop. 

[color=#4DD0E1]“Nahir is ten times the person you will ever be,”[/color]

She wasn’t wrong. Hafiz was a spoiled brat in a man's body. A brat that needed to learn his place. A mere man angry at the world for always coming in second. His insecurities hidden under cruelty disguised as power. 

Pathetic. 

Her shoulders began to shake. 

A quiver, soft and almost imperceptible, like the beginning of tears. 

Let him believe it was fear. Let him think he had broken something in her.

The burn behind her eyes and the tightness in her throat could pass for humiliation or shame. It would please him. It would feed that sick, cruel part of him Nahir knew was there, the one that had bubbled to the surface. It would make him feel powerful. Her lashes were lowered, her gaze hidden. 

Kira went on, and the more she went on, the more Nahir wanted to cover her mouth. Keep her as “this season’s entertainment”, but it was too late now. She had spoken and taken his attention. And now, with a few words to her defense, Kira was another light Hafiz would have the need to snuff out. Another piece to use against Nahir. 

A servant came along as Kira offered to leave the hall.

Nahir looked up at Hafiz. She allowed a small slip, a tiny minuscule flash of rage in her eyes as they met. 

[color=904342]“I need a moment,”[/color] she began to say, shaky hand reaching for Kira’s—

Then, everything went quiet. Cold. Still.

Golden gaze shifted to the man in the middle of the room, but her eyes followed the chain he held. It was like she forgot to breathe when Nahir saw the girl standing there. 





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