“Your Royal Highness, it is done.”
Upon hearing the maidservant, U’il-šanad turned to her, giving her an appreciative nod.
He followed her back into the inner chamber, where he removed the warm robe to get dressed.
The girl helped him put on the first layer right as he heard another knock.
“Your Royal Highness, I have brought you some warm food.”
“Thank you. You may leave.”
The maidservant adjusted the sleeves, carefully placing bracelets over the ends, before she got to the next layer.
The Prince let her fuss and was cooperative with the slightest motion of her wanting to adjust something, to lessen the time to took.
“Would you like to eat before you finish getting dressed, Your Royal Highness?” the maid asked when she place her hand upon the silk belt.
“No. I don’t mind if it’s cooled down a little more.”
She nodded and wrapped his waist with great care, ensuring the were no folds where there should not, before adding a belt in silver.
By the time the Prince could eat the small morning meal, it was completely cooled down.
He gave it little more than a glance. “Have it shared among you,” he tells her.
“But—”
“I’m having a meal with my brother, so there’s no need.”
The maid acknowledged his command with a sound of affirmation, then went to leave with it.
U’il-šanad thought of calling for a couple of guards and a manservant when something else came to mind.
“You,” he said and she looked up. He pointed at the trinkets on the trays. “Who gifted these?”
She stood up and approached her master. She curtsied before she took a long look.
She had been serving the Prince ever since he was acknowledged. She had lived in the palaces longer and seen more than he had.
“These look to be from the east,” she confirmed. “Is it not from His Royal Highness, Prince Bav’ui?”
The Prince studied them for a moment more. “Send them over to my…” He turn hesitantly to the maid. “Fourth brother?”
“Your Royal Highness, the Fourth Blood Prince would be Prince Bav’ui.”
“Oh.” He lifted the brush from earlier, studying it, thinking for some time. “Then my second brother will do, I suppose.”
“Understood.”
U’il-šanad watched his maid leave to make arrangements to send the gifted items. He picked up a folding fan, opening it to see butterflies painted onto it. He put it to the side. It would be an issue if something clearly for him was among the items he gifted.
It wasn’t as if he had never been among royals before, after all.
He inspected the other items while waiting.
He placed another brush down just as there was a knock.
“Your Royal Highness, it is about time.”
The Prince nodded to himself, took the folding fan, and approached the door. Two boyservants stood in waiting on each side of it, one of them holding a bundle in his arms. They helped him put on the warm overcoat and assessed his appearance, before they opened both doors, and the Prince stepped out to see five guards and a manservant, that was his humble entourage as he left his own chambers to see his older half-brother.
The Prince was helped out of the palaquin after it had been placed on the ground.
It was an unusually cold autumn day and his breath turned to mist while he looked at the estate of the Emperor’s oldest son.
He had only taken a second step when the gate opened and his older brother came into his view.
He stepped through the gate with his guards in tow before he gave a slight bow.
“Elder brother, I am much humbled by your invitation.”
“U’il, no need to be so formal. We are siblings, both princes of this generation and children of the Emperor.”
“Elder brother flatters me too much. I am quite lowly compared to the rightful first-born son of mother Empress.”
Ažerlü-šanad clicked his tongue. “Always so humbled. Have you not got used to the palace yet?
“I am quite used to it, elder brother. You need not worry too much about me. How is the Princess Consort?”
“She is doing quite well.”
Ažerlü-šanad motioned for them to walk through the garden to a smaller building that U’il-šanad knew as one where the former received guests of importance.
“Do you find the winters in the city cold, still, U’il? You’re dressed in such thick clothes, but you have lived here for a few years.”
“Elder brother, do not jest. I am from the warm south; the physicians would not let me step out of the palace unless dressed like this on warmer days than this. This is much too warm after all these years further north, no?”
Ažerlü-šanad chuckled. “Well, father does worry that his one divine child would get ill.”
“Elder brother, let me ask.”
“Go on, U’il.”
“I do not listen much to rumours, but I hear that they say that an ill divine of the Emperor is an ill omen. Is this true?”
The Prince paused in his step, the smile faltering somewhat.
“Who did you hear this from? That is such nonsense, U’il. Only commoners would speak of ill omens such as that. Surely you don’t believe it?”
U’il-šanad lifted his sleeve. “I am much ashamed.”
“Don’t fret, U’il. As long as father doesn’t hear you say such things…”
“I understand. Thank you for enlightening me, elder brother. I would never imply that father Emperor giving me a name would bring him ill.”
Ažerlü-šanad nodded as they walked up the fourth and last step up to the building. Guards opened up the doors for them and they stepped inside. There was a slight smell of food.
U’il-šanad’s servant removed his coat before stepping to the side with a slight bow. Ažerlü-šanad was helped by his own two servants. The two of them then walked to a room with a table covered in cold dishes.
U’il-šanad smiled at the other prince. “What occasion is this? It’s such a cold day already.”
Ažerlü-šanad simply sat down, motioning for U’il-šanad to do the same. The latter sat down opposite to his brother, scanning the dishes.
“U’il, why so suspicious?”
U’il-šanad looked up with an embarrassed smile. “In the south, they say that a cold dish on a cold day is serving the dead a final meal. I am afraid I may be a little superstitious, elder brother. While I may be in good health, who knows whose meal this could be?”
Ažerlü-šanad laughed. “The deities wouldn’t have it that way. Such silly thoughts commoners have. Very well, let’s not eat these.”
“Elder brother is too kind.” U’il-šanad bowed ever so slightly.
“But…”
U’il-šanad stopped mid-motion.
“…I have spent much time south and have never heard such a saying.”
U’il-šanad looked up with a slight smile. “Elder brother must not jest with me. How can such an esteemed person hear such crude superstitions?”
Ažerlü-šanad no longer smiled. “Are you not esteemed, U’il?”
“Am I not lowly, elder brother?” U’il-šanad asked in return, equally seriously.
They looked at each other for a good while, their expressions grave, before they both smiled again. The tense atmosphere relaxed, and the servants who had silently watched the oldest and youngest blood princes during this exchange finally dared to breathe again.
One of them poured some wine in silver goblets. and soon after warm dishes were served.
“Should I offer you my congratulations of obtaining the Crown Prince’s serving girl?”
“It is but temporary, is it not? Until evidence is found, she’s but in my care as father Emperor ordered.”
“I hear you have put her to work, though.”
“What else can I do? I can’t feed a slave for no reason, now can I?”
“No reason? Isn’t it enough that she’s pleasant on the eyes?”
Ažerlü-šanad had an expression that told U’il-šanad more than enough. It even made him a little uncomfortable.
“Elder brother, I am not fond of such practice.”