A New Reality

For the first time in her life, Asha had a room all to herself where she ate alone, tried to keep herself busy with bead making and keep herself hidden from the world. But she didn't like the idea at all. Being alone only gave her enough time to think about her family's fate now she was gone and the horrible fact that she was the king's biggest enemy. 

She was on the verge of tears again when someone knocked on the door. She opened up quickly, excited at the idea of seeing Elim for she was beginning to enjoy his company and gruff behaviour. But it was only Ada at the doorstep. 

"Your food!" she said sharply, handing Asha the food roughly and leaving before Asha could say the word thank you. Ada would be a problem here, just like Soma and Zeep had been. Asha knew it and intended to talk to Elim about it, to make him promise not to leave her here. She knew no one else but him.

Tired of being all alone and worried, she went in search of Elim and saw him eating all alone at the back of the house. 

"You are supposed to stay in your room!" He said sternly. 

"I know but I feel like a prisoner there!" She said, sitting on a stool beside him to eat with him. He ate quietly, ignoring her and it got on her nerves. 

"I don't know but I must ask, what's the next plan? How long am I supposed to be here?" She asked. 

"As long as the king is alive," he responded bluntly.

"So, are you planning to kill him then?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Her question made Elim pause mid-bite, shooting her a furious look, yet she met his gaze innocently. He seemed torn between scolding her and kissing her lips thoroughly. He tore his gaze from hers before he ended up doing just that. 

As he continued chewing without a response, she lowered her voice and asked, "I really want to know your story. Why do you have a grudge against the King of Maribah? It feels unfair that I know so little about you, except your name and your attempt on the king's life."

""Listen, young girl, you don't seem to grasp the gravity of your situation and why it's crucial for you to keep quiet and obey my commands, do you?" He gripped her wrist tightly, his anger boiling over at her persistent curiosity.

"Stop it, you're hurting me!" she cried out, prompting him to release her and gulp down water, desperate to distance himself before he succumbed to the urge to comfort her. He despised seeing her distressed, though he couldn't fathom why.

"Of course, I understand the situation I'm in. I'm not naïve, but I deserve to know who you are!" she insisted.

"Fine, but only after you tell me who you are!" he countered, towering over her with a self-assured stance.

"I'm Asha, the daughter of Japthan Dramidi, the king's most trusted man. Though I'm sure that must have changed now," she continued, but Elim's attention drifted. The name Japthan echoed in his mind, triggering memories of the man who had torn his family apart on the king's orders. The same man who had ordered his mother to the king's home while little son was left fatherless na motherless. How could he have forgotten? And now, he had saved Japthan's daughter? A surge of hatred towards Asha welled up within him, though he couldn't act on it.

Before Asha could continue explaining herself, Elim cut her off with his next words.

"Little girl, you don't understand the situation you are in. I don't expect to. You've been pampered all your life. All you do is ask questions and be a burden just like other girls from your privileged background. O thought you were different but you keep proving me wrong!"

What do you mean? I'm just trying to be open with you, hoping you'd do the same," Asha replied, sounding genuinely confused.

"You're not getting it at all. Didn't I tell you to keep everything about yourself a secret , you silly girl? But you've spilled everything without me even convincing you to do so" he continued, his words stirring up frustration in Asha.

She wanted to snap back at him, matching his intensity, but she found herself at a loss for words. Instead, she quietly retreated to her room, where tears finally spilled over.

Little did they know, Ada and her mother were overhearing their conversation.

Elim hadn't meant to upset her, and he felt a pang of guilt as he watched her leave, noticing the unshed tears in her eyes. Why should he feel bad when her father had played a role in his difficult life? Try as he might to justify his emotions, it didn't make him feel any better.

His softer side prevailed, and he found himself standing outside Asha's door, unsure of what to say but feeling compelled to make amends. Slowly, she opened the door, her face twisted with anger at the sight of him.

"Just... please, let me in," he pleaded, his voice surprisingly gentle. Taken aback by his tone, Asha reluctantly stepped aside to allow him entry.

"I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I know I can be rough around the edges sometimes, but I hope you understand that I can't help it," he confessed.

"That doesn't sound much like an apology. But never mind. I guess I'm used to it. Back home, I was always treated like an outsider for speaking my mind and standing up against injustice. It really hurt when you compared me to those stuck-up nobles. And you don't even know me! I'm miserable here, and that's why I came to you – you're my only friend," she admitted, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face. She tried to wipe them away, but they kept coming. Elim felt a pang of guilt, unsure of how to comfort her, yet her tears tugged at something deep within him.

He drew nearer to her, gently wiping away her tears. As he lifted her chin to meet her teary gaze, he found himself overwhelmed by the urge to kiss her. Yielding to the impulse, he pressed his lips against hers. Initially, she responded with wide-eyed innocence, her mind urging her to push him away, fearing he would hurt her like Denna had. Yet, his gentleness and sweetness disarmed her, and she couldn't bring herself to resist him. Eventually, Elim pulled back on his own, his eyes still locked onto hers. What was happening to him? He questioned himself, still gazing at Asha, who averted her eyes. Was he falling in love with her? Or was it merely a fleeting moment of confusion?

Unable to make sense of his feelings, he felt a wave of frustration wash over him. He wasn't a normal man capable of love and family; he was a killer burdened by his past deeds, haunted by the need to exact vengeance upon the King of Maribah.

"I didn't expect you to be so receptive. And you don't even know me! Why did I ever think you will be different" he remarked, his tone condescending.

"What do you mean?" Asha asked, though she understood the hidden meaning in his words. He was calling her loose and she felt insulted by his comment on her willingness to engage in the kiss.

"Never mind. I'll be leaving Akwara soon to attend to some matters. I'll ensure your hosts take good care of you. I can't say when or if I'll return, so you'll need to learn to fend for yourself," he declared abruptly, before leaving. 

She didn't press him for further explanation, but the weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Her heart ached at his dismissive attitude towards their kiss, and she realized she must let go of her carefree innocence to survive alone. And to survive alone, she must become a woman of her own. 

——-

Asha wasn't the only one thinking of growing up, Zeep felt the same way after witnessing what she did the night of Mayo's wedding to Soma. 

"I have never been so humiliated in my life! They made me watch! He spoke to her, touched her body while he forced me to watch ! I felt so used and dirty! I don't deserve this. I don't know what I did to him to deserve so much hate! Was I wrong to have wanted to be his wife!" Zeep cried to Nena some days later when they finally got to meet. 

"Stop! Zeep! You are still obsessing about thr prince! Don't you think that makes you insane! After everything they did to our family! Asha saw them and they pinned the king's attempted murder on her!" Nena almost yelled into the early morning, just some distance away from the palace. They weren't allowed outside the palace unless they were on errands and they barely got to see each other. But this morning, Zeep had followed her sister outside as she gathered some leaves for the queen's potions just so that she could vent to her. 

"Asha tried to warn you about Mayo and Soma, but she was afraid you wouldn't believe her. Maybe if you were a better sister, she would have confided in you and wouldn't have resorted to spying for your sake! None of this would have happened. Father wouldn't be in jail, and Asha would still be here! So, if anyone is at fault, it's you, Zeep. Not poor Asha. Just leave me out of your tantrums; I have work to do!" Nena snapped.

Zeep knew her sister was right. She had been a terrible sister. But she was determined to make amends.

"I'm so sorry! I was so blinded by my desire to be the Prince's wife. I've never prioritized our family as I should have. Tell me, what can we do to get Asha back and get Father out of prison?" Zeep pleaded, her voice tinged with regret and determination.

"Oh please! Zeep! How ridiculous can you be? Have you forgotten that we are now the enemies of the king. Tell me, how do you defeat a king?"

"I don't know! But we can't do it alone! We can't just accept this miserable fate!"

Nena shook her head and walked away, knowing that the idea of defeating the king would only end as an idea and nothing more. She must learn to adapt to the life of a servant.