Banou enjoy talking to her sisters. She watch how the two boys interact with her sisters. The four are friendly to each other. Since the two boys have lived in Tang before, they have a lot to tell and Banou can see from Ruby's eyes that she enjoys listening to Darius. After along time, they all starting to feel the heat of the sun. Thus breakfast is over. The boys bow and head to their classroom. While Ruby and Leila decided to go back to their room. Banou walk back to her room alone. Banou starts to read her books that she bought back from Tang. She did not want to forget what she had learn all those years. Reading a chapter, someone step into her room. Banou look up to see Ruby. She smile and ask the little princess to come in and sit with her.
Ruby ask her maid to leave the room. The two sisters sit in the room with Banou pouring some tea for both of them. Ruby watch her older sister. Their age gap is big but they have something in common.
"Princess Banou, i ... i like you very much."
"I am glad Princess Ruby. You can call me Bnaou in private."
"You can call me Ruby!"
She smile to show her missing teeth. Banou smile and pat her gently.
"We have something in common."
"What is it?"
"I heard from my maid that, both our mothers are maids in the palace. However i am luckier than you because the old sisters are all married and left the palace. If they are unmarried and still living here, i will probably have suffer the same fate as you..."
"No Ruby, you and Leila are the lucky children of this empire."
She look down and play with her finger. She say softy.
"I am not... father said that i have to be engaged at thirteen and marry at fifteen."
Banou did not know what to say. She is also trap in a same situation. She can only give her little sister a hug. Later, she brings out a few illustrations books she bought from Tang and they talk about the fashion and laugh about it.
The next day Banou brings her sister to the arena to learn horse ridding. Banou remember what her husband have thought her. Ruby and Leila are riding on smaller horses and learning how to sit on a horse properly. Later, Banou brings them to learn archery. Lelia is too young to play thus she watch Banou and Ruby try archery. That afternoon, they walk around the market and Banou bring them to the stall that sells Chinese candies. With delight, Ruby buys a bag full of candies. Both the young princesses are eating the candies as they navigate the messy market. In the evening, after dinner, Ruby share the candies with the older boys along with Lelia. The four is delighted and have a chat. The sultan is looking at them and eating slowly. He is happy that finally he see a happy family in front of him.
Banou watch the younger girls and finds that Ruby pay attention to Darius more. She decide not to say anything about it. It maybe just a crush and nothing more after she grows older. Thus Banou never say anything strange nor tease Ruby about this.
Ruby as she grows up in the palace with Leila. She never know that she is allow to laugh and be silly sometimes. Most of the time she doesn't smile. However when Banou and the boys arrive in the palace, she slowly learn to open up and laugh more. She watch Banou who is always laughing and smiling. She practise in front of her mirror to look pretty. In classes, she looks at the older boys who are writing diligently. She tells herself she have to learn to write properly as well.
Another year pass, Banou watch the the two boys and two girls grow up in the palace. While Halil stay away from the youngsters and try to be near Banou. Naturally she walk away from him and the Sultan notice this. He shows his displease to his daughter. Banou try to maintain her calm attitude while talking to her father. She try to talk sense how this anger him and she is grounded for three days. She stay in her residence and spend her days reading her books. On the second day, Halil visit her. She did not interact with him. Again he sit on the chair opposite her. In his hand, there is a letter. She look at him and sit up.
"There was a letter that came in yesterday for you."
"Why didn't the letter come straight to me?"
"I want to hand the letter over to you, myself. "
He hand her the letter casually. Banou look at him and take the letter. She look at outside the letter which is written in Chinese characters. She recognises the style of writing, it must be from her husband. She smile and touch it fondly. Halil look at her face and feel unhappy why should she be so happy just to receive a letter. Banou look at him and in her cold tone she ask to be alone. He smile and get up.
"I hope... it is something good from that letter..."