Herald of Steel

ady Nanazin was no love struck teenager.

Plenty mature, she perfectly understood Alexander’s reason for wanting to marry the twin princesses but being hesitant to take her daughters. The two were really not even worthy of being discussed in the same league

Azura and Azira’s father was once the only legitimate king and although kicked out a few notch, he still ruled at least two thirds of the country.

He might have seemed to have all but forgotten about his two daughters at the moment, still, he had yet to officially disown them.

And no matter what happened, it was quite hard for anyone to imagine that Amenheraft would just watch while his hated rival abused his own flesh and blood, especially when it was for something they did not even do.

What did Alexander not coming to visit and having an extra marital affair have got to do with them?

If he did allow such an injustice to happen to his own daughters, it would no doubt throw shade on his own character.

Many of his own people would call him out as cold and heartless- someone who does not respect familiar ties.

This would be a heavy black mark for any man to beat.

You did not betray your family- this was one of the unbreakable rules of the time.

But even if their father did somehow truly heartlessly abandon them- the twins still had their biggest supporters- their legendary maternal grandfather, a man who would stand by them come hell or high water.

In charge of the largest province of the country, it was by now an established fact that Pasha Farzah cherished them to the world’s end and no doubt Ptolomy would think twice about even giving the twin princesses a second glance.

He was politically a lot more powerful than Alexander, with a much greater number of allies in court who could easily oppose the king if he wanted to.

Combining all this, Lady Nanazin could confidently say that no matter how angry Ptolomy was with Alexander, the twin former High Priestesses would not have to worry about even a single strand of their hair.

No one could force them to do anything against their will.

Thus the concerns Alexander’s women might have had should they choose to accompany him- such as being cordially invited to the luxurious after dinner parties without a chance to refuse, simply did not exist for them.

“That is good.” Hearing Lady Nanazin’s reassuring answer, Alexander gave a relieved nod, feeling the newly born slight concern washing away. He too thought this would be the case upon but still wanted a second opinion.

And the experienced lady’s reply helped.

“Mmm… Did you tell them you are going to marry them?” While Lady Nanazin suddenly posed this, sounding a bit curious.

This was because she did not hear any such plans from the twins which was certainly very odd given they all lived in the same manor house, and got to see each other all day!

Alexander had offered the two princesses their own personal homes, but the twins insisted on living with Lady Nanazin, being very familiar with her.

Aunt and niece by relation, they saw her almost as a mother like figure, while also enjoying the company of their three cousins.

Plus, a lot of the time, the twins stayed in the temple for the night, praying and reading much of the night.

So they really saw no reason to get another huge, empty house for themselves.

“No, not yet. I have only told them we are going on the pilgrimage this year. They have been crying about it for years now.” Alexander chimed to the query, lightly smirking, “I was barely able to keep them here using all sorts of excuses and promises. They seemed to have finally ran out of all patience.”

Being sacred priestesses of the Grand Temple and used to overseeing much of the whole Jtaama each and every year, so many consecutive failures to attend this most sacred of rituals had predictably made the zealous sisters very angsty.

If not for the series of disasters heading Alexander’s way, giving him legitimate reasons on why he could not accompany them, as well as the unique politics of the time, the girls might have simply packed their bags and started off on foot.

And even despite all that, this year they seemed to have completely lost all patience and shot him an ultimatum, “Bad man…we are going no matter what you say!”

So he would have to go to probably go to Adhan just because of this. There was certainly no way he was going to let them go alone.

How could he guarantee their safety then? Or worse, what of they were not allowed not return? That would be a great loss for him politically.

“Mmmm… you are right. Now that you mention it, I did notice a certain spring to their steps these few days.” Lady Nanazin also gracefully nodded in agreement at her man’s decision, before lightly frowning, “Those fools… why did they not tell me?”

However instead of blaming, her voice was actually light and amused as she knew the twin princesses were always like that, aloof and unconcerned about worldly matters. They probably did not think this was even a big deal and meant to only mention it in passing later.

In this way, they were quite similar to Alexander in some ways.

“The matter of their marriage is still not decided,” While hearing the queen’s light complain, Alexander sort of defensively spoke up in the twins’ stead up, explaining,

“I wrote to Pasha Farzah about my wish to take their hands but he did not reply yes or no. He just said to come and see him for his daughter’s wedding. What do you think he wants to discuss?” He raised with a slightly turned brows.

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“….” Lady Nanazin took a little bit time to analyze the possibilities, a ruminative facade merging on her face.

“..I am sorry…..I only got to look after some books in Adhan. So I am not really that well versed in the politics.”

Until a bit later finally broke her thoughts on the matter with a slightly reluctant tone,

“It is seen as uncouth for women to dabble in such affairs. So I believe you should ask Lady Inayah or the Queen mother instead. They are much closer to Pasha Farzah and should really know what is going on. See! I told you to pay a bit more attention.”

Finishing her words, the lady playfully slapped Alexander on his muscular arm, as if to hide her anger at not being able to answer her man.

“….” The pasha only lightly flinched with a small smile, his thoughts more on trying to guess what Pasha Farzah could want from him.

If what he knew about the man still held true, surely the greedy man was going to ask for something very precious- something equal in value to his cherished granddaughters.

This was so obvious that even Lady Nanazin could guess it, although she was a lot more generous in her prediction, chiming,

“Hmmm… I am not that well acquainted with Pasha Farzah personally, but given he has allowed you to keep his most precious granddaughters here without causing much fuss, I imagine he should not he too opposed to it. He probably wants a chance to fleece you.”

“….Fleecing is no problem! I can afford to get fleeced.” Finding his thoughts reaffirmed, Alexander at last answered with a firm look on his eyes, repeating, “Azira and Azura was politically too valuable. It is worth getting fleeced.”

“What was about his father? Will Amenheraft stick his nose in?” He then suddenly changed target, chiming in a sort of hopeful tone, “He has abandoned them right?”

The curvy lady first slightly glared down at Alexander for these inauspicious words, visibly pursing her lips. No matter what, Amenheraft was still the girls’ father, so to say things….

“..*Sigh*….. I do not know.” Lady Nanazin afterwards answered, once again sounding a bit sad as she shook her head.

Then as if weighing on whether she should say this, finally piped in a hesitant voice,

“However, even when Lady Laila (Azira and Azura’s mother) was alive, I remember he treated his daughters a bit coldly. I even heard a rumor he disliked his daughters for the color of their skin, finding their blackness too ugly.”

“But again, such are only rumors… utterly baseless.” Lady Nanazin dismissed her own words as quickly as she said this, before flashing her palms and smirking mockingly,

“Heh… I remember there was one even about me. I heard that Ptolomy did not like me because I had sleeping nipples. Well they at least got half of it.”

She was of course referring to her husband’s intense dislike for her which was true, while Alexander felt more sad over the fact that so many knew about Lady Nanazin’s intimate parts that they could even make this sort of vile joke.

“So you are saying he might object?” Alexander then suddenly asked to confirm,

“…..” And Lady Nanazin gave a subtle nod, “Most men are cold towards their children… it is normal. Very few in the whole of Adhania are actually as friendly with their children as you master. So I would not read too much into that.”

“I think he will try to interfere on this even if only for political reasons. That might also be why Pasha Farzah wants to talk.”

Alexander also found the analysis quite reasonable.

“Ehhh…what will happen. Then what about Ptolo

my? Do you think he will try to play king and interfere?”