Tyranny of Steel

For the past few days, Priya had held herself up in her room. There was a gloomy expression on her delicate features as she considered Berengar's blunt response to her selfish request. She did not know why the man had rejected her advances. It was obvious from the glint in his mismatched eyes that he was physically attracted to her, and yet the man had turned her down in a rather cruel manner. 

The teenage beauty clutched a stuffed elephant to her chest as she thought about what the man had said. Was she really so immature that he thought of her as nothing more than a petty child? Thinking upon this, she had only been in Kufstein for a few years, and had rarely journeyed out among the public. Perhaps her emotional development was truly stunted? 

It was during this moment of reflection that a knock resounded on the door, and an alluring voice was heard from the other side. 

"Priya, are you in there? I've brought some food for you!'

This voice belonged to none other than Berengar's fourth wife, Yasmin Al-Fadl. Who had had in a way become a maternal figure to the young Indian Princess. Upon hearing the voice that had such a gentle and caring tone to it, Priya wiped the tears from her eyes and sniffled before responding.

"Y... yeah..."

The door to her bedchambers slowly opened to reveal the curvy figure of the Moorish Princess, who was now in her mid-thirties. She had a heartwarming expression on her face as she brought in a tray of rouladen, Schupfnudeln, and potato pancakes, which had quickly become the Priya's favorite meal. 

Despite the irresistible aroma that flowed throughout the large room, Priya merely sulked before voicing her thoughts.

"I'm not hungry..."

Even though Yasmin had put quite a bit of effort into the meal, she simply smiled and placed the tray on the girl's nightstand before sitting next to her. There was a hint of pity on the woman's face as she expressed her apologies. 

"I'm sorry. I heard what happened from Berengar. Do you want to talk about it?"

Priya sighed heavily as her eyes gazed blankly towards the doors that led to her walk-in closet. She could not help but bite her lower lip in contemplation before expressing her deepest sentiments.

"I'm such an idiot, I should have known I wasn't worthy of him..."

A comforting smile appeared on Yasmin's immaculate face as she wrapped her arms around Priya's shoulder and dragged her head into her substantial bosom. 

"Don't talk like that... You are at the very least more worthy than that woman from the Majapahit Empire."

Priya heard Yasmin's kind words, but continued to sulk in her embrace as she muttered under her breath.

"Then why didn't he accept me..."

In response to this, Yasmin began to stroke the young woman's hair, as she spun a tale about Berengar's past troubles with young women.

"Berengar is getting to be at that age, where women as young as you are more... how do I put this delicately... troublesome than their worth. You have to understand. By the time the man got married to Adela, she was your age, and he was already in his mid-twenties.

The drama that erupted between Adela and his other women lasted for years and nearly ended their marriage. She was just too emotionally immature to handle such a complex relationship. I believe it is Berengar's fear that you will be the same way...

I know how you feel, as I felt the same way when I first met him, and I must admit, I did not have to wait nearly as long as you before we became intimate. However, I think it would be best for everyone if the two of you progressed your relationship slowly. You see, Anggraini was just a onetime fling. She will never be able to live in this palace, or have Berengar raise her kids. Tlexictli is the same way.

But you, Berengar has raised you for the past five years, and because of that, there is definitely a closer relationship between you and his flings. Though you may not hold the same significance in his heart as Henrietta, you are more than just a mistress to him, even if he doesn't intend to marry you. I think you just need to be patient and mature a little before he takes that final step with you."

Upon hearing this, the tears within Priya's eyes suddenly dried up as she gazed upon Yasmin's caring expression with a hint of hope in her emerald eyes.

"You really think so?"

The mature beauty nodded her head with a smile on her face before responding to what she perceived to be a silly question. 

"Of course, if Berengar didn't intend to have that kind of relationship with you, he would have shipped you off to the Anangpur Empire after reclaiming it for your brother. You have nothing to worry about, and all the time in the world. So be patient and work hard to prove to Berengar that you are capable of being in a proper relationship with the man."

Upon hearing these words, a faint smile appeared on Priya's luscious lips as she gazed over at the food that sat on her nightstand with a voracious look in her eyes. Yasmin merely giggled when she noticed this before posing a question to the young woman who still clung to her like a child.

"Are you perhaps hungry now?"

Priya nodded her head silently, causing Yasmin to release her grip on the girl. After doing so, she brought the tray onto the bed and handed Priya the fork and knife that lay upon it. 

"Then enjoy yourself... I put a lot of effort into this meal, so I hope you enjoy it."

After saying this, Yasmin turned around and headed for the door. It was only after she reached the entryway where she hesitated before turning around and gazing upon the sight of the young Indian Princess digging into her home cooking. She smiled before departing with one final statement.

"When you're finished, come and find me. There's something I want to show you..." 

With that said, the demons that lie in the Anangpur Princess's heart were quickly dispelled, and a new determination rose in her mind to prove to the man she desired that she was worth his affection. 

As for Yasmin, she was just glad to help the girl that she thought of as her own daughter, and quickly left Priya's room before heading to Berengar's office. Surprisingly, the door was open, and the man was standing in front of the windows with his arms held behind his back. Yasmin did not even need to alert Berengar to his presence, as he immediately questioned the Moorish beauty. 

"Is she feeling better?"

Despite facing the other direction, all Yasmin needed to respond with was a silent nod of the head. Which caused the Kaiser to turn around with a smile on his face.

"Good. I wouldn't want my little princess to be depressed for too long. I'm glad to see she's filling better after your little chat with her..." 

Yasmin could only silently nod her head in agreement as the couple sat down and discussed matters of importance. As for Priya, she would later seek Yasmin out as she was instructed, but that's a story for another time...

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