The morning sun had barely climbed over the palace walls when Ruhan stepped into the courtyard. Today, he was Kazrail, the Khan of Tughril. He wore the mask perfectly. But beneath it, a quiet part of him, the part that was still Ruhan, watched everything with a wary eye.
The palace corridors were unusually quiet that morning. But instead of peace, it felt like a temporary calm before the storm. As he reached the gates of the main hall, a guard intercepted him, bowing so deeply his head nearly touched the ground.
"Forgive the interruption, Your Majesty. The Khatun Dowager has summoned you to her quarters. She says the matter is urgent."
"Summon?" Ruhan's eyes hardened beneath the mask. "How dare she summon me?"
The word summon implied he was beneath her, an intentional insult.
"Forgive my choice of wording, Your Majesty," the guard said, feigning fear. Ruhan knew he was only pretending. This was exactly the Dowager's style.
He exhaled through his nose, irritation rising. But he would be merciful this time and let the guard live another day.
He brushed past the guard. "Fine. Take me to her."
The guard bowed once again and led the Khan to the Kathin Dowager's receiving pavilion.
When he arrived, the Dowager was waiting, flawless as always. Her posture was rigid, hands folded, eyes sharp as a hawk. Kabil stood beside her, tall and confident in appearance, though Ruhan could already sense the nervous energy he tried to mask.
"Well, well," He said dryly, letting a slow, lazy smile curve his lips. "A harmonious view of mother and son. How delightful."
The Dowager's eyes flared with irritation. But she brushed it aside. "Kazrail, your presence is expected. We have important matters to discuss regarding the wedding."
Ruhan's expression darkened. She deliberately called him by name, not title, a calculated challenge. He let the smile linger. "Of course, Mother. What pleasure do I owe, being summoned this early while I am supposed to be tending to state affairs?"
A small smirk formed on the corner of the Dowager's lips as he emphasized the word. "Kabil wished to discuss the wedding," she said, her voice calm but carrying an unmistakable authority. "As you know, the day is approaching. Two days from now."
He lifted an eyebrow. "Oh? His wedding affairs?" He let the emphasis linger on the word his, tasting the hidden intent behind it. Why would he have to care anyway? "You pulled me away from state matters for that?"
"My wedding is important," Kabil retorted, lifting his chin. "And you were the one who bestowed the princess on me as a peace offering to Hua. So yes, it is a state affair."
Ruhan's lips curled into a slow, begrudging smile. "Very well. What is it?"
The Dowager poured the tea calmly. "I understand you've been busy with court duties, so you may not have heard the rumors."
Ruhan leaned slightly, steepling his fingers. "Rumors?" His voice was even, calm. But beneath the surface, anticipation pricked at him like tiny needles. "What rumours?"
The Dowager sipped her tea slowly, letting the moment stretch, building the tension she desired. "The people are unhappy with the Hua princess," she said as she put down her cup. "They do not trust Hua yet. Some are opposing this marriage."
Ruhan leaned back slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The Dowager believed she was controlling the game, and yet he already understood the pieces. "And your plan?" he asked nonchalantly, though his pulse quickened with anticipation.
"A parade," she said, as if stating the obvious. "A display of loyalty and service. The Hua princess will demonstrate her commitment to Tughril in the eyes of the people."
"A parade?" Ruhan's brow lifted. "And how exactly will a parade help?" He asked, pretending interest.
"Princess Lian Zhi will strip her royal attire and be paraded as a commoner," The Dowager replied, "Actually… as a servant," she continued, lips curling into something resembling satisfaction.
"You want her stripped of her royal dignity and paraded as a servant?" Ruhan's voice dropped to a dangerous calm.
"Calm down, Kazrail. It is merely symbolic," she said, dismissing his worry.
"You would humiliate her to appease the people?"
"As I said," the Dowager replied sweetly, "it is symbolic."
"Nonsense."
The word detonated like a bomb.
Before anyone could blink, Kabil stepped forward, trying to smooth things over. "Brother, listen, this is not meant to humiliate her."
Ruhan turned sharply to him. "You." His voice shook with barely contained rage. "You are willing to let your future wife be treated like livestock?"
"It's not like that!" Kabil snapped, though his voice trembled. "This is for the people's acceptance!"
"Acceptance?" Ruhan's laugh was low, almost venomous. "And you think stripping her dignity will win their hearts?" His fists tightened at his sides, though he maintained the calm exterior of the Khan. He took a menacing step closer.
Kabil clenched his jaw. "Tughril demands dominance. We don't kneel to Hua. But you wouldn't understand that, would you? How could you, when your mother was just a Hua woman smuggled into the palace? You carry their weakness in your veins."
The Dowager opened her mouth to intervene, but she was too slow.
The Khan's iron gloves flew.
Kabil stumbled backward, head jerked to the side. A gasp escaped him, eyes wide in disbelief. His hand shot to his cheek as he winced, whimpering like a child who was scolded too harshly.
"Kazrail!" The Dowager hissed a warning, but Ruhan did not turn.
"Open your mouth about my mother again, and you will not live long enough to regret it," He said, voice cold as the steel he wore. "And don't you dare call yourself a man while you barter a woman's dignity to hide your own cowardice."
Kabil could only clutch his burning cheek, eyes watering with humiliation. He said nothing.
Ruhan turned, robes swirling like a dark wave. "This parade will not happen," he declared. "Over my dead body."
And with that, he walked away, leaving both mother and son to their stunned silence.