Chapter 22: Hollow

A grand celebration filled the palace for days following the crowning of the new emperor. Music spilled endlessly through the halls, rich and bright, weaving between laughter and the clinking of glass. Gold light flickered across polished floors, catching on jewels, silk, and smiling faces.

Jaziel moved through it all with ease. He drifted from group to group, slipping seamlessly into conversation, laughing when expected, listening when needed. He danced when asked, charming and effortless, leaving warmth in his wake like a carefully placed gift. The people adored him. Their morale rose with every word, every glance, every perfectly timed smile.

And yet, for all his ease, he never stopped moving. The man of the hour did not rest.

Shani stood along the wall, her eyes lowered, trying not to be seen. She prayed, quietly and constantly, that she might be allowed to leave… but royalty was required to remain.

From where she stood, she watched the room unfold.

Iselle danced with partner after partner, her movements graceful, practiced. Her expression never changed, not even when Jaziel himself took her hand. Her smile remained, but it did not reach her eyes. It reminded her of her own smile. Were all women supposed to smile like that?

The room was alive with color and sound: laughter spilling freely, voices raised in joy, bodies moving in time with the music.

But to Shani, it was as if all the color had been washed away. The dancing felt distant. The laughter hollow. Even the music, which was bright and upbeat, dragged, slow and stretched, as though time itself had thickened.

It all felt cold. Performative. Almost like everyone was puppets on strings… and now she was also expected to become just like them. She gripped her bracelet as the anxiety rose.

The days blurred together. Music. Laughter. Movement. It was always the same… And still, Shani did not move from her place along the wall. Occasionally older men would approach her and exchange pleasantries. Telling her how much she looked like her mother, or how beautiful she was dressed. It was all empty.

Sometimes… the men would bring their sons. They would ask her to dance but Shani would always politely decline. It felt weird dancing with them, especially since they were all so much shorter than her. She preferred to stay pressed against the wall.

A long yawn escaped her lips, as soon as it ended she froze. She looked around hoping no one noticed. Unfortunately… It was noticed. Her eyes met Jaziel's across the busy room. She realized at that moment he had not had the time to lecture her about the ceremony the last few days… and now he had noticed the yawn.

She tried apologising with her eyes. It did not work. Jaziel turned his attention away from her for a moment back to the group he was mingling with.

“I will be right back. I must see if my niece is doing okay,” Jaziel said, offering a gentle smile to those around him. One woman gushed about how wonderful and caring he was, and another praised his attendance to those around him. Jaziel couldn’t help but feel amused by the constant tongue wagging.

He approached her slowly, offering a courteous head tilt as he passed person after person. Shani felt her heart thunder in her chest, she wanted to run… but she did mess up so it was only right she listened to the lecture. Jaziel stopped just in front of her. He said nothing at first. He simply waited. After a moment, Shani lifted her lavender eyes to meet his.

“Hello, Shani…” he said softly. Hearing her own name made her stiffen. “Shall we go for a walk?”

She stood there frozen for a moment, then she noticed all the eyes on them. She couldn’t embarrass her uncle anymore. She offered Jaziel a stiff smile.

“Of course… Uncle.” She replied evenly.

Jaziel offered a hand and Shani took it with only a moment of hesitation. Together they left the ballroom, walking until the music slowly grew quieter. And for the first time that night, Shani let out a sigh as a headache she hadn't realized she had slowly faded away.

They rounded a corner into a rare empty part of the palace. The silence and stillness felt so nice. Jaziel released Shani and she noticed a pained expression on his face. Something in her stomach dropped.

“Well… do you have something to say?” Jaziel said. His tone was colder than she had ever heard him before. Shani blinked, her eyes widening in confusion.

“What?” she asked, the word small as her mind struggled to catch up.

“After Jamila’s death…” he continued, his voice low, careful, his hands moving gently as he spoke. Shani couldn’t hold back the flinch at her mother’s name.

“I did my best to understand you… to help you through this traumatic time.” Jaziel continued. His expression was crestfallen. Shani’s heart ached at the sight of it.

“I know… And I’m grate-”

“I wasn’t finished.” He interrupted. Shani swallowed hard and fiddled with her fingers. After a moment of silence he continued.

“But even after everything I’ve done…” He paused, his tone becoming sharper once more.

“You still managed to embarrass me.. Twice.” Shani’s heart dropped. She shook her head trying to dispel the accusation.

“Uncle I-”

“First you cried during the most important moment…” He said coolly as he stared down at her. “Then you yawned… What would people have said if they saw that?”

Shani froze. She bit her lip and noticed his eyes darken as she did so. Slowly she released her lip and balled fistfuls of her dress in her hands.

“I… I really didn’t mean to… I was just tired.” She muttered. Jaziel's jaw twitched.

“What?” Jaziel said. His tone was sharp as steel.

“I was tired.” Shani said, more clearly this time. Jaziel nodded.

“I see…” His voice softened. Shani’s face lit for a moment, only for it to fall a heartbeat later.

“Well... if you're so tired, maybe it would be best if you didn't show up anymore.” Jaziel’s tone was smooth, but laced with frustration.

“Honestly… I don’t understand where you get these habits from. Jamila never acted this way.” He looked her up and down for a moment. Then he clicked his tongue in disapproval. Shani’s heart dropped.

“I… I will do better! I promise! Unc-” Jaziel raised his hand silencing her.

“I will have a maid escort you to your room. Get some rest.” Jaziel turned on his heels walking away from Shani. Shani reached for her uncle but froze. She had hurt him. She messed up. It was her fault her uncle was mad.

She collapsed to the ground as tears began to cascade down her face. She had to make this right. She didn’t want to be left alone again. A maid arrived shortly after escorting the young girl back to her room. As soon as the door shut Shani fell to her knees and leaned her head against the cool wood.

She could hear the music and laughter beyond the wood. Was Caelis worried she was missing? Would people gossip? What would her mother have done? Tears streamed down her rosy cheeks as a quiet wail escaped her lungs. She would be good. If she stayed quietly in her room perhaps that would make her uncle happy.

She pulled her knees to her chest as she looked over her quiet, empty room. She couldn't stop seeing her uncle's back as he walked away. More tears fell.

“Don’t… Please don’t abandon me…”