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The heavy crown, simple by Alidasht's standards, once belonged to her mother. Decorated with intricate designs of the many flowers from their kingdom and one single ruby gifted to mother by her father. It was a piece that Nahri treasured dearly and one that she was rarely seen without. It had been a gift for her tenth birthday. Nahir had been complaining that if Layla had a crown, so should she. Such a bratty request. Nahir still wondered how her mother and father put up with months of complaints until her mother finally gifted her one.
Things were so much more simple then, they were all young and had nothing to worry about. No schemes, no spying, so false smiles, and half-truths. No lies. Kahrem was still with them, their mother too. Nahir often wondered what their mother would think of them if she were alive. What would she think of Munir's free spirit, or of Layla's distance and even more of Mayet's fiery ways? Of Amir? What would she think of him? Who would Kahrem be?
What would she think of Nahir? Would her mother be proud that she became a diplomat for their kingdom? Would she try to stop Nahir from sneaking off with some of the other nobles in their court or from slipping away from the Royal Palace late at night?
"And Munir, Nahir... Please behave yourselves... Especially among other women and men."
Nahir hadn't realized that their entrance had started already.
She shot a smile at her sister, perfectly lined lips with red curled at the ends just the slightest. Her piercing golden eyes, surrounded by golden freckles like the night sky looked at Mayet as if she was asking the impossible to them. And she was. How could she, their sister, not realize that it was in their nature to seek and reap what was rightfully theirs?
"You ask too much of us, my dear sister." Nahir looked away from Mayet to examine the ballroom. She had been here before, on her tour of the palace the first time she visited Sorian as a diplomat. It had been empty then, and even then the architecture and beauty of it had taken her breath away. Now- full of people, decorations, and food- it was something out of their fairytales. While it did not compare to the grand ballrooms and halls of Alidasht, it was beautiful nonetheless.
Their entrance, while a bit more tamed, was grand. Nahir had suggested keeping the elephants back home. She knew how the King of Caesonia would react to such as extravagant entrance for their first arrival at their host's kingdom. So when Nala announced their entrance. Nahir could see that King Danrose was not at the slightest happy to see the veiled women dancing or the guards- and definitely not the tiger.
Nahir loved it.
"Sister Nahir, look. Fresh prey..."
"My dearest brother Munir, we shouldn't scare them away too soon." Nahir spotted a man with dark curly hair that reminded her of a lion's mane. Despite the clean-shaven face, his expression when Nala roared was nothing but wild. It excited her.
Nahir, like the rest of her siblings, showed her respect to the Crown of Caesonia her gold-painted arms crossed over her chest, making the ornate golden necklace chime quietly as she followed her father's example. Some of her golden beaded curls fell over her shoulder and obscured her vision from her siblings, but Nahir did not have to see to know who had made a mockery of their bow. She had to hide the small amused smile as she straightened back up.
When the formal entrance was over, Nahir stood by her siblings awaiting their introductions. Although, Nahir couldn't help herself from smiling when she heard the applause from one lady a few ways away from them. Nahir wondered if she was drunk, or just lost in the excitement she hadn't realized she'd be the only one clapping. Either way, it raised her curiosity.
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