[House Veyrath — Courtyard — The Same Time]
"Here, Lord Enlil." Maid Mira handed him a children’s book.
"Thank you," Enlil said politely, accepting it with both hands.
Mira smiled, then turned to Seyra. "And which book shall I bring for you, Lady Seyra?"
Seyra, who had been staring into the middle distance as though the secrets of the universe had personally offended her, waved a hand.
"I do not read children’s books."
Mira’s smile remained perfectly calm, the smile of a maid who had long ago accepted that her young lady was, in several ways, not young at all.
Enlil tilted his head. "What kind of books do you read, Lady Seyra?"
Seyra looked at him, her expression turned cold and weary as she said, "The kind that says being born human is not a blessing...It is a curse."
. . .
. . .
Silence settled over the courtyard. Mira stood still, wearing the same patient smile. Enlil blinked. "Is being born human not a blessing?"
"Definitely not!"
His eyes widened. "Why? I was told I would have a beautiful life when I grew up. I want to grow up as soon as possible."
Seyra studied his hopeful little face. Then she reached over and ruffled his hair. "Kid...I pity you. You’ll learn soon enough that those adults lie to us."
Enlil blushed beneath her hand.
Mira quietly looked as though she had just crossed another item off an invisible list titled Things Lady Seyra Says That No Four-Year-Old Should Say.
"You know so much, Lady Seyra," Enlil said.
Seyra slumped like a jelly cake left too long in the sun. "I have lived enough life; no one can tell you better than me that—LIFE IS ALL VAIN!"
. . .
. . .
CAWWW! CAWWW!
Even the invisible crow had paused to reconsider its life choices. Unfortunately for Seyra, the courtyard was not empty.
A few paces away, Vaerun stood beside Kassur Nabu; both men had heard every word. Kassur’s mouth twitched. "I see your duties as Azram aren’t the only thing exhausting you."
Vaerun sighed. "Seyra."
She spun around. The moment she saw him, her tragic expression vanished.
"Papa~!"
She launched herself at him. Vaerun caught her with practiced ease and settled her on his arm. "You should speak like a four-year-old; you are a child, not the empire’s exhausted grandmother."
"But Papa, I’m mentally an adult. I’ve lived long enough to understand the cruel truth of life."
"You have lived four years."
"Four very difficult years."
Vaerun stared at her, and Seyra smiled brightly. "Anyway, you don’t have to—"
"From today onward, you will read only children’s books."
Her smile froze.
"And every afternoon, you will play Peek-a-boo with Mira."
. . .
. . .
A long silence and then---
PAPA, ARE YOU INSANE? WHO PLAYS PEEK-A-BOO AT MY AGE?"
"A child like you."
"I AM AN ADULT ON THE INSIDE!!! AN ADULT!! YOU SHOULD BE PROUD THAT YOUR DAUGHTER IS SHARP AND MATURE!!"
"I was," Vaerun said. "Now I’m considering whether the palace needs a second tutor. One for you, and one to explain you to me."
Seyra clutched his robe; her lower lip trembled. "Papa... I’ll behave. I’ll be a normal child. You don’t have to punish me."
Vaerun considered her pleading face.
"Very well...no punishment."
Seyra brightened as he continued, "You may keep reading your books, provided you finish one children’s book for every adult book you read."
Her face fell.
"And if you refuse, no honey cakes."
Seyra went rigid, then she leaned forward and bit his shoulder. "Grrr! You’re the worst father I’ve ever had!"
Vaerun didn’t even blink. "You have had one father."
"And you’re still losing!"
Kassur turned away, shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Vaerun adjusted Seyra in his arms. "Peek-a-boo begins after lunch."
"PAPA! THAT’S NOT A GAME! THAT’S A CRIME!"
"Then you may begin with a children’s book about the law."
Seyra stared at him in disbelief; the invisible crow resumed its cawing.
CAWWW! CAWWW!
For once, Seyra found herself in complete agreement with it.
Kassur cleared his throat, still wearing the faintest trace of amusement. "We should take our leave, Azram. I expect we shall meet again at the Malik’s birthday ceremony."
Vaerun inclined his head. "Until then."
Enlil gave Seyra a small wave. "Goodbye, Lady Seyra."
"See you soon, Enlil!"
She waved back as Kassur led the boy away. Only when they had passed beyond the courtyard gates did Seyra turn to Vaerun, her eyes suddenly bright.
"Papa! We should buy something for Malik. He’ll be happy."
Vaerun glanced down at her. "It seems you have forgiven him."
"I was only upset with him, Papa. I was never truly angry."
"You like him quite a lot."
Seyra beamed. "Of course! I like him so much that I want him to be my other parent."
Vaerun stopped walking; for a moment, the courtyard seemed to grow very quiet.
"Seyra," he said at last, "you should think carefully before wishing for such things."
"Why?"
"Because Malik and I can never be one."
He said it with such finality that Seyra’s smile slowly faded. Then Vaerun muttered, mostly to himself, "I cannot believe I am discussing this with a four-year-old."
"But Malik is handsome." Seyra argued, counting on her fingers. "He’s clever, he’s powerful, and most importantly..."
Vaerun already looked tired.
"He can kill people without hesitation."
"That is not an important quality in a parent."
"It is if someone bothers you."
"Seyra."
"What? I’m just saying he has useful skills."
Vaerun resumed walking, carrying her toward the manor. "Leave such matters to adults. The birthday ceremony will not be merely a celebration."
. . .
. . .
Seyra fell quiet.
’What does Papa mean?’
Her little brows drew together. Kassur had appeared, spoken privately with Papa, and then mentioned Malik’s birthday. That could not be a coincidence.
’I knew it. If Kassur is involved, something is going to happen to my bias.’ Her small hands curled into fists. ’But whatever it is, I have to stop it.’
Vaerun glanced at her thoughtful face and gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb.
"What are you thinking about?"
Seyra immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. "Nothing. I’m hungry."
Vaerun sighed. "There is nothing new about that. You are always hungry. At this rate, you and the palace pig will soon look alike."
Seyra gasped.
"WAAAH! HOW CAN YOU BE SO MEAN?" She grabbed a fistful of his hair and shouted directly into his ear.
"HOW CAN YOU CALL A LADY A PIG? HAVE YOU NO SHAME?"
Vaerun’s expression remained perfectly composed.
"Truth often hurts."
"YOU’RE A TERRIBLE PERSON!"
"And yet," he said, calmly disentangling her fingers from his hair, "you still want me to buy you honey cakes."
Seyra went silent, a terrible person, a cruel father, a tyrant in fine robes, and, unfortunately, the only person standing between her and the honey cakes.
She pressed her face against his shoulder and muttered, "I hate you."
"Of course."
"Very much."
"I understand."
"Buy me two cakes."
Vaerun’s mouth twitched. "Now you are negotiating like an adult."
Seyra lifted her head, eyes shining with victory. "See? You’re proud of me!"
"I am reconsidering the children’s book about the law."
"PAPA!"
***
[House Nabu’s Carriage—Imperial capital]
The House Nabu carriage rolled beneath the blazing sun, its bronze wheels clattering over the stone road. Beyond the curtained windows, the city of Eshkaran shimmered with heat, vendors calling from beneath striped awnings, temple bells ringing above the rooftops, and the scent of roasted dates drifting through the air.
Inside, Enlil hummed a cheerful tune, swinging his legs beneath the cushioned seat. His feet barely reached halfway to the floor.
Kassur glanced at him.
"Are you truly so pleased to have met Lady Seyra?"
Enlil nodded at once. "Yes, I like her a lot, Grandfather!"
"Do you?" Kassur asked, feigning surprise. "And what, precisely, do you like about her?"
Enlil thought for a moment. "She says strange things, but she makes me laugh, and she’s not afraid of anyone, not even the Azram."
Kassur looked out through the window, his expression turning thoughtful. "Indeed, she is truly not like those weak children. She’s more...like Azram. They do not look like they do not share the same blood."
Enlil resumed humming. "Can I see her again sometime?"
Kassur studied his grandson’s eager face. Then a slow, knowing smile spread across his own.
"Of course."
"Really?"
"Why would I refuse?"
Enlil beamed. "Thank you, Grandfather!"
Kassur reached over and straightened the boy’s collar. "Then make sure you always treat Lady Seyra kindly, listen when she speaks, and never let no one...snatch her away from you."
Enlil blinked in confusion, and yet he nodded with all the solemnity a five-year-old could muster. "I won’t."
"Good." Kassur leaned back against the cushions.
Enlil’s smile returned. His legs began swinging again, and soon he was humming louder than before.
Kassur watched him for a moment, a quiet amusement settling in his eyes.
The boy had made a friend. Seyra had found someone her own age who welcomed her without fear or suspicion. And Vaerun...despite his fierce objections to every male within reach of his daughter, he had allowed the friendship to continue.
A promising beginning.
Kassur turned toward the window, where the ziggurat’s stepped silhouette rose above the city roofs. Perhaps the Malik’s birthday ceremony would bring more than political revelations.
Perhaps, with a little patience, it might bring something else entirely.
He smiled to himself; after all, even an empire could be changed by a friendship...and a grandfather who knew how to encourage one.