July (Mizami) 19
Mizarmonie and Valon stood outside the doors of her father's office. The hallway to her was empty, and his suite had been cleared out. That meant he didn’t want anyone privy to this discussion. Valon could feel her anger coating the tether. Heavy and daunting. They had fought hard to push this conversation as long as they could. The summons at this time could only mean one thing. His Imperial Highness was no longer willing to abide by Mizamonie’s wishes.
“It’s fine, Miza. I stand with you 100% on your decision to push our marriage. It's fine. We can wait. He can’t force the issue, not with your refusal. He would need the full Council and to convince the Clergy to go against you. I don’t think they will be inclined to make an immediate decision considering Alex’s lecture.”
She breathed in deeply.
“This is a power play, and this is exactly why I refused to be married on The Council's timeline in the first place. But this push, this push isn’t just about us. We tipped the scales, and Father needs to reclaim some semblance that he, as Emperor, is still the reigning King and that I do not have power yet. Since he was forced to name me his heir, he knows his legacy, the entire Hydolshi legacy, will be considered a blight once I have taken the throne.” She felt a slight tinge of panic welling inside her.
“‘The Adiamorphic Regime.’ Yes, I’ve heard the whispers. After you were named the heir, rumors began to appear, claiming that Alivar had brought sin and evil to the House of Lea. But they are whispers. I currently have a team focused on investigating the source. Do you truly believe His Imperial Highness is affected enough by this to push this marriage? Now?”
Miza kept trying to convince everyone that just because their laws said that she was an adult in less than 24 hours didn’t mean that she was prepared. She wasn’t. She knew she wasn’t ready to rise. She wasn’t prepared for the responsibilities that had been thrust upon her. Being the Goddess Incarnate didn’t make her life easier. It didn’t make the job clearer. It just made her a target.
“I know that my father is a proud man who has not ever had to fear my opinions until recently. We knew this peace wouldn’t last, V.” Her voice came out in barely a whisper.
She raised her fist and knocked on the heavy door, then entered without waiting for permission.
~
“You do not have the right to refuse a royal decree. Just because Valon’s parents are dead does not mean that alliance is void.” Maximilian growled.
He still hadn’t adjusted to dealing with Mizarmonie. Before the Spring Festival, he rarely interacted with his youngest daughter. He knew of her, but outside of official duties, he avoided his two youngest children at all costs. It had only been a handful of months since he had been forced to lead the occasional lesson to show her the ropes of being the Emperor. Unlike his son, Mark Anthony, the girl just soaked in the information and never stated her opinions on anything to him. He assumed that, for the most part, she was pretty docile. He had never dealt directly with her like this, and he was out of his depth.
“Highness, have I not proved my loyalty to the House of Lea? I beg your pardon, My Lord. I am intrinsically bound to your House with or without our marriage happening at this time.” Valon attempted to reason with his emperor.
“Silence, boy. I did not give you blessing to speak.” Maximilian scoffed. How he had come to hate this boy and his rise to power. The challenge he posed.
“Father! Mother fought for all Lestanian women to have this choice returned to them. You supported this, and then you took it back. Why, when I want to exercise my ability to choose whether or not to engage in these very adult choices, you don’t care? It doesn’t matter how often you try to avoid it, but I am your daughter. Even if you don’t care that the Imperial House Council is trying to erase Mother’s legacy, you can’t ignore that I am your little girl. I’m thirteen, father. What do I know of being a wife or starting a whole family? I barely understand how to have Nest and you want me to be a wife?” The young girl raged at her seed bearer.
Her father glared at her, anger swirling in his light brown eyes. She stared back. She was enraged. It was palpable, and both men could feel its weight. That weight, the heavy presence of her innate power and divinity, made him fight this harder. She was his child. He was the emperor. No one was above him. No one dictated to him.
“You are a daughter of the Imperial House. You are my heir, whether I chose you or not. You will not continue to defy me and breed discontent in my nation.” He snapped at her.
“Then let me go! I have suggested this dozens of times, " Miza said as she felt her anger settle to a simmering rage, recognizing that the back-and-forth would get them nowhere.
“The answer is no. I want this alliance sealed.” Maximilian demanded.
“As Valon has said, Father, we have fulfilled the decree.” She breathed deep, then stood with her back rigid, her voice low and clear as she approached his desk. “ Father, I need you to hear me. I know who I am. I know that Valon is my mate. I love him and intend to complete our union, but when I am ready, not when you or the Council want us to. I’m thirteen. I know in our culture, and because I am of royal blood, my life is different, but I AM going to enjoy my childhood. There is no reason we can’t leave so I can go to a real school and be a normal teenager. We can still do our jobs. We have already established the alliance you want.” She could barely keep her exasperation from showing.
“This is not a game, Mizamonie!” Maximilian bellowed, slamming his fist on his desk as he stood towering over his daughter, the threat imminent.
Valon, kneeling, flinched, torn between respecting his emperor and protecting his mate, the honored mother. Sensing his confusion and discomfort, Miza held her hand out to force him to hold.
“No, My Lord, this is no game. I have not forgotten who I am, but perhaps you have. I am Leana incarnated. I am our Mother here on earth. The throne you hold is with my permission. You and no one else dictate to me my wishes because I am the Goddess. I am YOUR fucking Goddess. The fact that you and any other king hold the throne for more than a second when the Goddess Incarnate becomes of age is by her grace. The fact that I want a chance to experience my childhood and learn about the human realm in person and away from Lestania's influence is the only reason you hold this throne. Because right now, I do not want it. Because right now, I let you and your band of fools hold it. When I claim it, it will be because I will be ready to lead MY people into a new age that honors our Mother and Father’s wishes rather than human wishes. Not because the descendant of an earthly man declared it. And you should remember all of this with every decision you make, Imperial Highness.” Miza’s threat was clear.
“This is my decree.” Miza challenged with a mocking bow. Briefly looking at the man who should have been her father, she turned abruptly on her heels to leave. “Valon, to me. We have plans to make with our nest-mates.”
“Miza!” Valon called after her as she navigated to their residences. She was furious. She could feel it deep within her. It’s stupid that just because she is a royal she had to get married, and she would not be wed until she and Val were ready. Well, it was mostly Miza. Valon would hold the ceremony whenever she said to. He was just waiting for her.
“Gods damn it.” Miza stopped shouting in the corridor, stomping.
Lucky for Valon, that gave him just enough time to catch up to her without running. Holding back a chuckle, wondering at how adorable she was when angry, though he wouldn’t mention that to her. Valon wrapped his arms around her, locking her in place.
“Breath, baby girl.” He soothed as she huffed angrily.
“I am angry, Val.” Miza whined
“Yes. You are also the future empress screaming in the middle of a hallway and staring daggers.” He whispered playfully.
Her face immediately flushed as she realized they were not alone and that many had probably seen her and could see her. Looking up, she saw several servants trying to appear busier while trying to make themselves disappear. She covered her face with her hands.
“Blessed Mother gives me strength. “ She muttered to herself before relaxing her shoulders.
Valon let her go, coming around to lift her chin with his finger. Parting her fingers, she stared up into his eyes, letting him calm the storm raging in her. She was angry. She was scared. Marriage came with expectations. She wasn’t ready for any of that. He gently grabbed her wrist to pull her hands from her face as he studied her and read through her emotions, tracing the source of her concerns while rubbing soothing circles into her wrist.
Valon knew she had many concerns about getting married. It didn’t matter how close they were now. Their marriage was still political, even though they cared for each other. Anything less than completing the ceremony when she was ready and prepared would taint the partnership they had been building.
“The only thing that matters is that I stand beside you and support your decision to wait. I will not go through with this until you say you are ready. No one can make this happen if both of us are refusing. They can keep applying pressure, but your Nest, your den, Your Family support you totally. We are here for you. We serve you.” He took her right hand and kissed the ring on her finger. “Don’t forget. You are a Goddess reborn.”
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Miza nodded, and he pulled her away. She shook her head in realization.
“I almost forgot. I have a meeting. I need to go to the offices.” She gasped.
“I sent Don. We’ll rest before we meet with the planner for final checks.” Valon informed her.
“Thanks, V.” She whispered as he hummed in acknowledgment.
Valon followed the hall until they reached the inner doors that led to the first floor of their den’s residences. They had to remodel the mid-to-rear third floor and the rear third of the fourth floor to give their den a separate home for themselves. The royal residence was quite lovely. The Academy was built to impress, but Donte and Valon took pride in how the Eminentia Taniere had turned out over the last few months. It was another symbol of their family’s unity and the change to come.
They entered the den, passing through the seating area and greeting their denblings as he took her large bedroom that the Nest shared. While each member of her Nest had separate rooms within the residence, they generally slept in the shared room together. He would just take her for a quick rest to help her decompress from the stress.
~
There was nothing Mizarmonie hated more than balls. She hated them even more when her brother and father were there trying to butter up business partners from outside the veil. There weren’t many humans here, but there were enough. Miza was becoming concerned with the type of humans that were around more often than not. She was aware that, over the years, her family had become involved in unsavory industries in the human realm. She knew that the humans that were here tonight were powerful men, just some for all the wrong reasons. Unlike her Rising, this ball was a more intimate party. It was a reminder of the relationship between the Academy and its purpose to serve the emperor’s goals, or so they had been telling the people during the last several reigns. Miza sighed, waiting for the time to come for them to make their exit. There were only a handful of people left to present themselves to her father. His throne sat in the middle of the upper dias while hers sat in the medial dias to his right, and Valon stood slightly behind her.
As the last person completed their greetings and the servant ensured the guest's gift to her father was secured, she began to fidget. She was in a ballgown, of all things. She used her fan to hide her discomfort, discretely stirring the air.
“Father. The temple informed me that there were some last-minute things they needed to review before tomorrow afternoon. Since I am not needed, I’ll take my leave of you.” She announced quietly.
He barely acknowledged her with a grunt and a wave of his hand, but she would take it. Valon came around the throne to give her his hand. As she rose, he placed her hand in the crook of his arm. Turning them to face the Emperor, they both bowed before exiting. They both nodded and stopped for the occasional chat as they made their way through the crowd. Within 20 minutes, they found themselves leaving the great room into the foyer where the rest of the Nest waited, with Miza’s personal attendant who led her to a room off to the side to change out of the floor-length white lace gown quickly.
Once Miza was changed, they quickly made it to the large room to the left of the foyer and down a long hallway that led to the gateway chamber that hosted the Academy’s veil. It was a room in which the natural elements surrounding the veil and the architecture of the palace were combined to create a space that could be monitored and protected. The guards stepped away from the veil opening. Donte went through the veil, then Peter and Akierda, then Rayel and Sarafen, Then Alex and Justin, and finally Miza and Valon.
They arrived safely in the Verdant Palace, where they exited to quickly take their carriages to the Temple Compound, where the ceremony would take place. When they arrived at the final gates, a young temple guide met them outside the doors of the outer worship hall. With a deep bow, the child spoke.
“Blessed Mother, we thank you for joining us. I have been instructed to lead you to the Main Sanctuary, as there are still people here for worship. Several temple guardians have been called to ensure privacy.”
“Thank you. She gestured for the guide to take them to the sanctuary. As they walked, Miza noticed eyes on them as they passed through the walkways that led to the main sanctuary parallel to the worship hall. When they reached the doors, the guards opened them, and they entered to be greeted by the High Priest and High Priestess. Generally, with a Goddess and God Incarnate present, someone in their position would step aside. The clergy agreed with her that if they were good enough to serve all through her childhood, then they still were good enough to continue serving until she was ready to take over all of her duties. For now, she and Valon trained under them to learn the ceremonies, rituals, and stories that are unique to their position. In instances like this evening, having a High Priestess that was not her was a lovely thing because she would perform the ritual.
The ritual space was set up, and the Priestess already prepared the altar.
“Blessed Mother.” The High Priestess honored her by bowing low.
“Mother.” Miza responded by bowing her head.
“We will take you to your ritual baths to prepare. Your Nest will go together with our High Priest. Akierda, the High Priest, will take care of your bath, and the attendants will be there for the rest of the lords and ladies. My lady, I will take care of you.” They separated to their rooms.
Within the Temple were several private rooms for baths as well as a communal hot spring. These rooms were for the ritual baths and still used old-style pools with earthen drainage for baths. The shower room that had been ever present to keep the hot spring as clean as possible was nearby. Each room had sunken square or rectangular pools that were inlaid slate tile. There was a gentle slope to the pools that would cause the water to drain through the hole in the bottom back of the pool when uncovered. That hole connected to a drainage system that dumped the wastewater into a nearby natural water purification system that was maintained by the bath attendants using aquatic plants to ensure the water was correctly treated using natural methods. There was no running water for the ritual baths, and each pool was filled from a separate spring with buckets and kept warm by fires maintained in a room under the baths by those same attendants.
The pools were designed with seats on the sides depending on the pool size so that they could be soaked in. They also had a catch in which stones and herbal products necessary for ritual baths could be added if they were too large for the drains. Akierda and Miza were each in a single bath, while the rest of the Nest was split between baths that held 2 to 4 people each.
Akierda wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but he had been forewarned about the ritual baths. He wasn’t comfortable with it, but he had worked really hard to be ok with it. What was now called transgender people in the human realm never really existed in their culture until the last 100 years. Well, they existed, but they were just them. It was a term adopted by Miza’sgrandfather from the human realm along with many of the negative social ideas that many had about them. One of the kings had specifically grouped everyone who didn’t follow reproductive categorization and made it seem like it was dirty if they did not. In Lestania, that is not how it ever was until that king’s choice, but they used the fact that the Great Mother and Father were an example and that people should strive to follow that example.
The Clergy, of course, fought parliament about making laws that punished queer people, but it didn’t stop the social issues that the royal family had pushed. The royals were literally Leana’s blood, so, of course, the people followed their example. If a ruling Lea said it, it must be true, right? He grew up feeling shame for being who he was. It wasn’t until Miza found him and introduced him to Alex, who had been freer to live as xyrself under the temple’s protection, that he was ok with opening up about not being a girl.
Miza had been trying to break down the social issues that had become very common in Lestania. Akierda learned from Alex that she had been arguing with the nobles and her father for years, that there was nothing in scripture or lore that spoke against queer people, and that there were examples that they existed during the Goddess's reign without retribution. When she became the Goddess Incarnate, her den doubled down on their stance, making their large, very queer family known. In recent months, a lot of the overt hate and fear disappeared simply because people were afraid to fall out of favor with a royal whom the Goddess clearly favored. Miza felt that if fearing her stopped some of it, then she would take that as a start. She and Alex had been on a mission to find missing lore once Alex joined the family, and Miza realized that even the temple had been questioning parts of lore that seemed to be missing or rewritten.
Despite the safety Akierda had found in his new family, he still could not hide the shame he felt when he looked at his body and hated that the High Priest needed to be subjected to it. But he understood the ritual bath and its purpose, so he sat in the heavily scented water, letting the day be washed from him so that he would enter the ceremony wholly cleansed. When he was done, the priest helped him dress and led him out of the room.
They entered the ceremony space, and his nest-mates and Miza were already dressed in their ceremony robes. He joined her in the center of the circle that they created around her. A symbol of a Chevalier Nests protection of their Rose. He supposed that he should be afraid of his ligatu par le sanguis. They had all been telling him that even with the Chevalier's call, you can die from it and the changes it makes in your body. The mixture that they each drank had a poison in it that only their bond could fight if their intentions to the one they served were pure.
The air was heavy. Thick with incense, but there was something else. Akierda heard chanting, but his attention was locked solely on Miza. He saw her flinch as a blade was drawn across her wrist, and a bowl was placed to collect the liquid as it came pouring out. He noticed that the Bowl was removed, but he continued to intently watch her, waiting patiently for the High Priestess to tell him to speak. All he could hear were quiet gasps or grunts as his nestmates’ hands were cut, and then he could faintly hear the High Priestess’s voice asking him to respond after a few moments.
“Yes, this is true, " he said as the High priest took his hand and slid the blade across it, tipping his open palm to collect the liquid.
The priestess said more words, but he felt like he was getting heavier, and that was all he could focus on.
“Focus, Akierda.” He said to himself.
“Akierda,” he heard her gentle voice. “Drink, " she said as she tipped the liquid into his mouth. It was thick, sweet, and metallic—a blood bond. “If you are faithful, you may join this circle.”
There was darkness.