Flashback: Afternoon, After The Royal Curdâs Grand Opening
He took a moment, scanning the area as if to look for something in particular.
âIf things do not work out I will make sure you will know so you can tell me that you told me so.â The Shehzade chuckled.
She wondered why he felt the need to tell her that.
âHave I given the impression I desire your failure, Shehzade?â Riona followed his gaze skyward.
âNot particularly. I was just making a joke as they say. You bring tides of warning, and it is appreciated. It is a wonder that you even warn me at all - I have not done much to curry any form of favor yet here you are.â He keeps looking at Thara as she circles around overhead.
âWe all are flawed in our own ways. Even if her outlook is not quite what most would want it to be - she is her own woman. If we are not meant to be, then it will become plain in time. I wish to see where things go and how she fares. There is more to that woman than some may believe.â Farimâs eyes looked down at her, his brows raised as if to silently appraise the woman he was speaking to - or even hint that she too was more than meets the eye. But he had no way of knowing such things, and thus merely smiled as he continued.
âBut perhaps I am just being an optimist. I hear it is one of the few traits I get from my mother.â A brief sadness crossed his eyes as he thoughtlessly brought her up, but he moved on quickly.
The subtle quaver in his voice drew Rionaâs gaze just in time to catch the flicker of sorrow in his eyes being tucked away deep inside.
âYour mother sounds quite like my cousin,â Riona said.
âHe always sought out the best in others, regardless of how much of a Ű·ÙŰČ they were.â With deliberate timing, Riona placed her hand over her mouth and coughed into it, as if it was not too late to mask the crude word she used.
âAnd he was endlessly forgiving, no matter how poorly he was treated. I loved him very much, but that part of him also frustrated me to no end.â Riona shadowboxed using only her shoulders. After a few âpunches,â she turned to Farim and gently ventured a question.
âWhat other traits have you inherited from your mother?âHe couldnât help but laugh at the use of foul language. Farim held back his snickering as best he could and looked at her to answer her question.
âTo be frank. I do not know. I was removed from my mother once I was able to walk. But I wasâŠreminded how much I seemed to inherit her charm and good will. Oh and her hair - something about the way it curls or some such.â Farim explained this while returning to a slightly more contemplative look. His thoughts wandered to what he saw back at the ritual the other night. Was it real? A premonition? Or all just one bad drug trip? Despite his thinking he played it off with a shrug. It would do him no good to think on such things now, but he decided it was time to get some answers soon - perhaps tonight even.
âRemoved? Why?â The question came out before Riona could catch it. She winced inwardly, realizing too late that sheâd stumbled into potentially sensitive waters.
âI beg for your forgiveness, Your Highness. It is not my place to pry into personal matters.âFarim crossed his arms and furrowed his brows as they walked, the man's finger tapped on his elbow as if to contemplate something. His tone however, was still pleasant as he spoke.
âApology accepted. I take no offense, it is only natural for one to be curious or worried over something like this. But to answer your questionâŠ.â His eyes darted around, as if to look for someone who may be watching. Farim leaned into her ear and a venomous whisper dripped from his lips, as if the malice contained in his words threatened to physically manifest.
âBecause Hafiz is a cruel man who wishes nothing more than the worst for the son who refuses to be his trained puppet.â For the moment, his eyes portrayed that same malcontent his words carried.
Once Farim finished, however, he switched back to his more personable demeanor. The Shehzade straightened his posture and looked at Riona.
âTo further explain, I believe it was to exert a form of control over me. Or to simply traumatize me. I was never told the reason behind her âdepartureâ. When I managed to see through that lie, all I was told was she was taken for my own good. One lie replaced with a load of crap.â The maidâs eyes widened fractionally before she schooled her expression. Life in Alidasht was known for its harsh strictness, but this⊠And for the Grand Vizierâs son to refer him by his given name spoke volumes.
âThatâs terrible,â Riona said frankly and without hesitation.
âWhat kind of person would do that to prove some twisted point? Thatâs justââ Realizing she was getting herself worked up, she cut herself off. Stopped walking. Closed her eyes and exhaled sharply through her nose.
After a thoughtful pause, she asked softly,
âDid you ever discover what became of your mother?â The unspoken questions hung in the air between them: Was the woman even still alive? And if she was, was there any hope of finding her?
Farim could only offer a slight shrug in response - his eyes beginning to glaze over with that of a forced indifference. If he thought too much on it, his emotional self would likely bubble forth.
âI have my theories. She is likely being held in some safehouse - or prison - and unless I ⊠persuade him then I do not think I would learn much about her whereabouts.â The man huffed as he added another clause.
âIf she is still alive that is.â Farim turned to face her, gauging her reaction and whether or not she wanted to dig further down this rabbit hole.
Rionaâs face lit up, and she felt a spark of excitement.
âThen there is still a chance! Youââ The words died on her lips as she noticed a familiar look in the eyes of this man she barely knew.
Her mouth worked soundlessly for a moment before she finally found her voice again.
âI⊠have another cousin, younger than the one I mentioned before. You remind me of him.â Though they looked nothing alike. If the Shehzade was the sun, then her cousin was the moon dancing with the stars.
âHe had a terrible habit of suppressing his emotions, often behind a smile.â She shook her head.
âNo, habit is not the right word. It was a necessity, a skill he learned, practiced, perfected... to survive.â Riona never forgot the time she found her cousin quietly crying alone, hidden in the shadows of a dark room. Or the times sheâd watched the essence of who he was slip away during a particularly brutal training session, leaving an automaton in his place.
Rionaâs brows stitched together.
âAt the risk of overstepping my bounds, Your Highness, may I do something that I should have done when I knew he was pretending to be fine?âFarim offered a tilted smirk at the comparison to her cousin. It was nice to know his tale seemed to be a shared one - even among souls he did not know. There was a moment of contemplation to himself as she shared the experience of her extended family. Was this all just an act? A skill developed just to survive his cruel and unloving upbringing? He didnât entirely dismiss the idea, but to say his happiness was not genuine might not be the most accurate statement. It was an interesting morsel of food for thought. As Riona posed her question he stopped their walking pace and faced her with a gentle beaming expression.
âI am sorry your cousin - and frankly myself - have had to endure such a life. If it is any consolation - my demeanor is a genuine one. Misfortune is everywhere, and I choose to smile despite it. I want my friends, and enemies, to know that I persevere no matter what. I am by no means impenetrable emotionally - I have had my sad moments, my angry moments, and bitter moments. I wear my heart on my sleeve - as foolhardy as it all sounds.â The Shehzade pauses for a few moments to let his words sit for a moment, then replies to her earlier question.
âAnd yes, I grant you permission to do whatever it is you may want to do - if you only tell me first.ââSo you were not suppressing your emotions when you were talking about your mother?â Riona eyed Shehzade Farim, saying nothing. She wasnât buying itâthat glazed look was the opposite of wearing his heart on his sleevesâbut she bowed her head anyway.
âThen forgive my presumption, Your Highness. I misunderstood.â She smiled briefly. A blend of polite and pinch of teasing.
âIt appears my offer is unnecessary.â Without telling him what the offer was, and she continued their walk.
After a few steps, Riona spoke again.
âAre you certain your father is the only one who holds the key to your motherâs whereabouts? If he has proven untrustworthy before, why believe him now? What if your father is misleading you so that he can continue to have some hold over you?â She frowned.
âIf you truly wish to break free from his influence, to uncover the truth... perhaps you should seek her out on your own. It would certainly be a powerful message to your father.â Her expression softened.
âAnd if you found her alive. That would be... quite the victory, would it not?âHe seemed to be befuddled for a moment, pausing in stride before jogging to catch back up.
âNow hold on!â Once he caught up he would resume their strollong pace.
âHow cruel to pique my curiosity and then decide against telling me.â He breathed a slight chuckle.
âIt is more than that. I do not really have a uniform âruleâ for how I carry myself. I am simply doing my best. It would be inhumane of me to not frown at the thought of my mother - let alone any of the horrible things that man has likely done to her.â His face became more stoic as he steadied his breathing.
âBut to explode into tears or sadness over every errant thought that crosses my mind would not be healthy either. Life is all about balance, young lady.â He addressed her casually in his Mother Tongue with those last few words - smirking at the playful nature of his banter.
â... An errant thought so intense that it threatens to overwhelm you with sorrow is not something to be dismissed, Shehzade.â