Prince Huari stood in the archway, face full of storms as he swept aside the silk curtains that separated the inner chamber from the rest of the bathhouse.

“Where is she?”

A flustered attendant hovered behind him, bowing low and whispering apologies as she begged him to please exit the room. Huari shot her a look. She shrank and retreated to her post at the doorway entrance. Huari returned his gaze to the room.

The royal bathhouse matched the decor of the rest of the inner palace, with walls painted vibrant hues of red and gold, lined with intricate tapestries and waxed scrolls. The inner chamber was lavishly styled, decorated additionally with silk cushions and statues of jade. Unlike the round wooden tubs the servants used for washing, the royal bath was an exquisite thigh-deep square pool, dug into the ground and lined with stone, steps lining the entrance, and seating carved into the other side.

Huaye lay floating in the centre, a vision of serenity. Steam circled her pale breasts and shoulders, her long black hair floating across the water’s surface, like poisonous vines snaking their way around white lily pads. The water was clouded with Jasmine flowers, herbs, and the many beautifying elixirs his sister enjoyed with wild abandon. The scent was intoxicating, and the humidity as unbearable as a packed peasant brothel in Summer. In his layered silk robes, Huari’s head swam and his chest burned.

“Where is whom, dear brother?” she replied without opening her eyes.

“Suyin!” he replied, “what have you done with her? And don’t lie, sister, I know it was you.”

Huaye let out a sigh, opened her eyes and sat up.

“The girl snagged my hair whilst combing with her big, clumsy hands. As an apology, she gave me a lovely new comb. I let her keep her sorry life in return and had her banished from the palace.”

Huaye looked up at her brother. A faint smile formed at the corners of her lips and lingered there. Huari imagined a forked tongue protruding out.

“Why do you care, anyway?” Huaye said with a shrug. “She’s just a servant, and a plain one at that. If you want plain servants to fuck, there’s no shortage here. And if you want a pretty one, you only have to ask nicely.”

“Don’t call her that. Suyin is different. Prettier than the sows you call handmaidens.”

Huaye laughed, a high frosty cackle that cut through the hot air. Her eyes met his, and he stifled a shiver. With that, Huaye rose from the water and two attendants shuffled forward, bowing low as they offered hands to help her step out of the pool. One held a robe up to her, and she brushed it away with a wave, leaving the girl to retreat into the scenery. She walked up to Huari and stopped; her face close enough that he could feel the heat radiating from her skin and her icy breath in his ear.

“Your plain little whore is gone,” she whispered. “And if you think you can breed your way to my throne, at least choose someone beautiful enough to sit beside it.”

Huari’s fingers curled into a ball, his nails biting into the flesh of his palms. He said nothing, but turned on his heel and stormed out, expression more thunderous than ever.

Huaye smiled and rested a hand on her hip.

“Meixiu,” she said, “would you come here, please?”

The handmaiden holding Huaye’s robe returned, lifting her arms, ready to drape the garment over Huaye’s shoulders. Instead of taking the robe, Huaye seized the girl’s wrist and pulled her close. “Not a word of this to anyone, do you understand?”

The girl nodded, a smile curling the corner of her lip. “Of course, majesty. I would never betray your trust.”

“Not even to my mother.”

“My loyalty is with you alone, majesty.”

Huaye smiled. “Join me in the bath,” she whispered, pulling the girl closer. Their lips brushed and Huaye’s eyes burned into hers.

“But majesty, I couldn’t… there are others watching, I-”

Huaye interrupted her with a kiss. Meixiu groaned, pushing back fiercely.

“Your princess orders you,” said Huaye, her hand already tugging at the ribbons of Meixiu’s robes.

From a quiet corner, Wugo hid and watched as the two women disappeared into the steam of the bathwater. They waited for their giggles to fade into quiet moans, then crept out of the room, quiet as a spider.

-

Huari strode through the gilded corridors, his mood darkened with clouds that trailed his every step. He paused at his father’s private quarters. He didn’t remember heading in this direction, but somehow he had ended up here. For his father, as with all nobility, duty came first. Family matters were for tutors and wet nurses. Important things, like war meetings, and running a nation were dealt with by the emperor, his heir, and a small army of well-paid advisors. And unlike his sister, Huari was not heir to the throne, so he spent little time in this part of the palace. There was no reason for him to be here. And yet, something drew him here. Before he could raise his hand to knock on the door, it opened, revealing the wizened face of Wugo, chief imperial advisor.

“Ah, your majesty. It is good to see you.”

Their voice was soft and sing-song, pleasant to hear, but also crackled with age; brittle and wobbly.

“Please tell his majesty that his son wishes to see him,” replied Huari.

“Of course,” said Wugo, disappearing behind the door.

After a few seconds, they returned with a smile. “His majesty acknowledges his son and welcomes him with open arms.”

With a grateful nod, Huari stepped into the room. Unlike the rest of the palace, his father’s private quarters were a world humbler, far less extravagant in its decor. The walls were a simple red, with no crests or scrolls. The desk, polished dark wood, understated in its design but beautifully finished and rich in colour. His father sat hunched over the other side like a bureaucrat, scrolls and papers piled on one side, inkwells and brushes on the other. Wugo settled themselves to the right of the desk and nodded for the prince to step forward.

“Father,” Huari started.

“Huari, it is good to see you.”