Sein meandered through the palace gardens, taking care not to step in the puddles that had pooled over the stone path. The sky was turning a dangerous grey again as she noted small specks of moisture on her face. She hurried indoors, shutting the door behind her as the droplets of water became apparent.
Her mind was replaying the conversation she just had with the Crown Prince. It was the question he'd raised. How did King Han Min unite the three kingdoms to create the Gin Empire?
It irked her that she couldn't answer this. It did seem strange none of the scrolls mentioned how this happened. It cannot have been an easy feat.
Maybe I haven't come across the information yet, she thought.
Having mulled over this again and again, Sein asked her two older brothers at supper, "Have you studied the reign of King Han Min?"
Thura nodded, flicking a glance at his sister then returning his focus on eating his noodles.
Naing responded, "Hell yes, history studies was utterly boring." He shooed away a serving girl who was trying to refill his glass of water.
"Naing, darling," Lady Marlar said, giving her son a disapproving glance. "Do watch your language. And do be polite."
"Apologies, Mama," Naing responded with a sheepish grin, then turning in the direction of the serving girl, said, "Much appreciated."
"Why this interest in history, Sein?" Lord Hein enquired, his brows furrowed. He put his cutlery down and laced his fingers together.
"I'm just curious. I heard that King Han Min created the Gin Empire and wondered how he achieved this."
"What do you mean how he achieved it?" Naing said in a patronising tone. "Isn't it obvious? He must've simply reminded the Northerners and the Southerners of our unmatched military prowess. We boast the finest warriors in the realm, and still do. Superiority flows through our very veins."
Thura shook his head, agitated by this remark and said, "The Gin Empire had formidable strength but it was after King Han Min came to power. As to how he initially united the lands, I'm not certain I know this."
"I am also unable to satisfy your curiosity, Sein. It has been a long time since my days of studying this topic," Lord Hein remarked, picking up his cutlery and once more started eating.
"Might we turn our attention to more agreeable matters?" Lady Marlar spoke up. "Talking of which, I believe we will be hearing some marvellous news shortly. Can you guess where Phu is at this very moment?"
It had become the norm for Sein's second eldest brother, Phu, to miss supper with the family. They all knew he was at the house of a certain prominent merchant family. He had been courting the eldest daughter, Thawda, and everyone understood Lady Marlar's hint.
"We shall have much to celebrate soon," Lady Marlar mused. "I daresay, it would be even more delightful if someone else took the initiative and ask a certain lady for her hand." She glanced meaningfully at Thura.
"Mama," Thura responded immediately mid-chewing his food. "I am not in a rush to marry. Neither is Ohn."
Naing sniggered seeing his mother purse her lips in frustration, only for the spotlight to be directed at him. Lady Marlar muttered, "Well, Naing, how about you? You seem to admire many ladies of the court. Have you settled on one yet?"
Sein knew it wouldn't be long before that unbearable spotlight focused on her, so she rushed to clean her plate and excused herself from the table.
In the pale light of the morning before the sun streamed through the windows, the Archives took on a stark, almost reverent atmosphere. Sein stood in front of the history section and let out a long breath. The rolls of parchment, while looking neat on the shelves, weren't entirely in chronological order.
It was possible she hadn't come across the one that detailed how King Han Min had accomplished his triumph. Unfortunately as there was no longer an Archivist, Sein found herself, as the Master had put it, having to unearth the missing scroll by her fair hand.
Sein emptied the first history shelf and piled the rolls of parchments on a table. She went through each and every one, ordering them by date. Once they were in chronological order, she scanned through the ones on King Han Min's account. Sure enough, the dates and numbers didn't match up. There was a missing volume. She stared at the remaining history shelves aghast.
"I bet the missing one is somewhere in that gigantic mess. Who on earth didn't put the scrolls back in their correct places? Oh spirits, I'm guilty of that," Sein said aloud.
She had randomly replaced them the other day when she was hurriedly escaping the Crown Prince and his Master.
"Fine, this means I'm going to have to spend time searching for it. If only I can find someone who knows everything about our history. If only I could ask Zeya to find out from his Master. If anyone knows, it'll be him."
Then she shook her head and thought, Wait, why am I calling him by his name like he's a friend or something?
With no other choice, Sein resigned herself to sorting through the history scrolls, shelf by shelf, with the persistence of a hunter. By the third day, she was still working through them, though her patience was hanging by a thread. She worked through clenched teeth, occasionally yanking at her hair or thumping the table, as if the table was personally responsible for the missing scroll.
One by one, the shelves were refilled with perfectly placed rolls of parchment in their rightful order. Only one last shelf remained. A sense of anticipation stirred within her. If the missing volume was still somewhere in the Archives, then surely, it had to be there.
"Typical," Sein said out loud, folding her arms as she stood in front of the shelf. "It has to be in the last place I look."
"What are you searching for?" Zeya's voice startled her.
Sein swung around to see him standing a few feet behind her. She hadn't heard his footsteps. He was wearing his military uniform, looking somewhat regal and dashing. She realised her gaze had lingered on him, a touch longer than polite. Her cheeks flushed as she looked down, hoping he didn't notice. She quickly curtsied with a greeting, "Your Highness."
"Lady Sein, have you lost something?" Zeya asked, a trace of amusement on his face. "How can I be of help?"
"Oh… I was… I am looking for a missing scroll," Sein replied, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
She rushed to the Archives that day, not caring about her appearance. Her unruly hair had been left to flow freely over her shoulders. She wore simple clothes by court standards; a floor-length, silk-woven skirt and a fitted blouse, that accentuated her small waist, free of embellishments except for the lace trimming. She was not wearing any jewellery or a cape or a sweeping train that extended elegantly behind her skirt. Her mother would be appalled by her present state. Standing next to the Crown Prince, she felt like a beggar.
Having been caught talking to herself, dressed as she was, and in pursuit of a scroll to satisfy her curiosity, Sein felt foolish.
The urge to flee pressed on her and as she was about to excuse herself, the Crown Prince asked, "What missing scroll do you speak of?"
"I believe there is at least a volume on King Han Min's time that is missing," Sein explained quickly. "The scrolls for that period were dated and numbered."
In the back of her mind, she wondered, what must he think of me? Then dismissed the thought, for she had no desire for the Crown Prince's approval.
"I see. It's lost among all this?" Zeya indicated to the shelf in question. "I'll lend a hand with the search."
Without hesitation he stepped forward and began gathering the unorganised scrolls. Sein was stunned. Before she could decline the offer, Zeya was handing her the rolls which she took and piled onto the table.
Once the shelf was cleared, he sat down in a chair and said, "I'll sift through this lot."
He portioned the scrolls into two piles.
Sein sat down next to him, still speechless and started work. His simple act of kindness chipped away at her armour, as she fought against the urge to soften, irritated that he had this effect on her.
She focused her mind on the task at hand. When she'd gone through nearly half her scrolls, she glanced over at Zeya. He was on his second. He was absorbed in the text, his interest unmistakable. Noticing she was watching him, he met her eyes.
"I'm reading about my grandfather," Zeya explained. "I have such little knowledge of our history. It's rather shameful… I see I've become distracted from our current task."
He picked up another scroll hurriedly, then asked, "How're you managing to get through so fast?"
"I am not bothering to read them at all. Just checking the dates at the top to determine whether they fall during the Gin Empire and arranging them in a rough timeline," Sein said, her hands efficiently sorting. "I have been doing this for days. I have become quite an expert."
"I see," Zeya let out a chuckle, causing Sein to return a smile. He remarked, "You're truly determined to find this missing scroll."
Sein paused and gazed at him. He appeared relaxed, as though it were second nature to be seated by her side.
"I suppose I am curious to know how King Han Min united the kingdoms. You did raise that question yourself," she responded. "It also bothers me the scroll that might have this information is missing. I cannot explain why."
Zeya leaned back in the chair as if he was able to better observe her from that position. He crossed his arms and said, "I must admit I was also rather curious. I asked my Master whether he knew anything on how King Han Min united the three kingdoms. His response was rather vague, mentioning something about winning the hearts of the people. It seems that might indeed be how King Han Min managed to bring the kingdoms together. I was not entirely convinced and when I pressed him on this matter, my Master suggested that the specific events may have never been recorded, likely lost to the passage of time. After all, it has been a thousand years."
Hearing this, a creeping uncertainty started to enter Sein's mind. Had she been chasing a phantom, some relic that perhaps had never even existed? But if that were true, why had the author numbered and dated each scroll, yet missed one? It didn't make sense.
She continued to examine the scrolls, lips pressed tightly, with determination. When she had completed her pile, she assisted Zeya with his.
Once all the rolls of parchment were laid out in order, Sein let out a sigh, "Forgive me, Your Highness. I am waisting your time. The missing scroll is not here after all."
Zeya wasn't deterred.
"That means one of two things."
She looked at him questioningly.
"One, someone has truly messed up and misplaced that scroll among the other sections. Or two, someone has deliberately concealed it. And I must say, I'm rather inclined to believe the latter."
Sein caught a hint of mischief in his eyes which she chose to ignore. She glanced around the room instead, eyeing rolls upon rolls of scrolls. Sifting through each of those shelves would be a task spanning months. Perhaps it was time to let the missing scroll drift away and sink to the ocean floor.
Feeling disappointed, she said, "You may be right, Your Highness. I appreciate your help."
"Not at all. You were a tremendous help to me the other day, so I'm more than happy to return the favour. Besides, if I'm honest," Zeya admitted, with a small grin. "I was hoping you might fill me in on the next chapter of our history."
Sein brightened at this and said, "I can certainly help you with that."
"Well then, I'm all yours. I meant I'm all ears, of course!" Zeya said, casually combing his fingers through his hair in an attempt to mask his embarrassment at the verbal slip-up.
To Sein's horror, an uncontrollable giggle escaped her. She pressed a hand to her mouth. Zeya raised an eyebrow, then joined in with a sheepish chuckle. His willingness to laugh at his own blunder made him all the more amiable to her. She gaze at him for a moment, her eyes softening, as she said kindly, "I appreciate your full attention."
He smiled, warm and unguarded, unlike his usual perfect practised smile. Before she was caught up in reading too much into it, she began, "After the death of King Han Min, it was the bleakest time in the Gin Empire's history. King Han Min and Queen Tin had two daughters. As they didn't have a son, and when Prince Amptu died, the empire remained leaderless. With no clear succession to the throne, internal conflicts erupted as prominent families vied for power. However, none had the support of the masses. As years went by, the empire remained fractured attracting foreign invaders to seize the opportunity to conquer it."
"I've come across accounts of these battles with various warlords from the East during my studies on military strategy," Zeya interjected. "It's rather remarkable, isn't it, how the empire managed to push them back with such formidable might?"
"The history scrolls did not describe these events in detail but it sounded rather brutal."
"Absolutely, war is brutal no matter how justifiable it may be," Zeya agreed, his gaze held hers.
Sein's mind felt like a battlefield, torn between the urge to submit to his pale eyes and the desire to maintain her aloof demeanour. She pressed on, "It was seven years before a descendant of King Han Min, fought in the battle of the Central Plains and became King San. By this time, the Empire had broken up into the three kingdoms known to this day."
"If King Han Min didn't have a son, how was King San a descendent of his?" Zeya asked, propping his chin on his hand.
Sein couldn't help but smile warmly at him. He clearly had the sort of mind that questioned things rather than simply accepting what was said, and she liked that about him.
"That is a great question. Unfortunately I cannot answer. I have not read any further," she said, indicating to the shelves. "I have been spending my time sorting these scrolls, hunting for that elusive one. Hopefully, all this effort has not been in vain. At the very least, the history section is now in perfect chronological order. Perhaps I ought to maybe apply for the position of Archivist?"
Zeya chuckled, aware of her sarcastic humour. They smiled at each other in silence. Sein felt her pulse quicken as she was once more ensnared by the depths of his eyes.
Many Ladies of the Court openly admired the Crown Prince, but Sein didn't wish to join their ranks. She restrained her emotions and flicked her eyes to the view outside, seeking distraction in the tranquil garden beyond the window.
Zeya spoke first, pulling her attention to him.
"You have me intrigued. Why would anyone conceal a scroll on history? What could possibly be so secretive?"
Sein glanced back, thinking how was it possible Zeya looked appealing from any angle she viewed him.
Pulling herself together, she said, "I would dearly like to find the missing information but I am not sure I would want to spend the next few months going through all the shelves in the Archives," Sein sighed. "I suppose I ought to return these to their rightful place."
"Allow me to help," Zeya stood up. "Do pass them over."
They worked like a well-oiled conveyor belt; Sein handed the scrolls to Zeya, who placed them neatly on the shelf.
Khin Yu walked in, paused and stared at them in silence. Zeya noticed him first and said casually, "Khin Yu, I'm well aware my training with Lord Thura is starting shortly."
"Your Highness," Khin Yu bowed, a trace of awkwardness in his voice. "May I be of assistance at all?"
"No, you go ahead. I shall be along shortly," Zeya dismissed him. Khin Yu bowed again and departed.
"I will finish off, Your Highness," Sein spoke up. "I do not wish to delay you."
"Nonsense," Zeya said. "We're almost done. Your brother is a patient man. He will not mind if I'm a little late."
Despite desiring to find the missing volume, Sein didn't have the heart to search the whole of the Archives. She continued reading the history scrolls on King San, wondering if Zeya would come once more. She wanted to tell him the next instalment in history.
Soon a week passed, and she resided to herself it was unlikely she'd see the Crown Prince again. However her view of him had changed drastically during those two encounters. Thura had been right, of course. She'd been hasty in her judgement of the Crown Prince without knowing him personally.
One morning, as the wet season was coming to an end, there was no sign of rain. The curtain of clouds parted, revealing an azure backdrop. Sein ventured into the palace gardens, breathing in the refreshing scent of petrichor. The leaves were pristine, and the grounds glistened, mirroring the lush foliage of the trees.
It began as a pleasant walk, however her silent contemplation was interrupted by a man's voice. It was Lord Myat, a friend of the family. He waved to her and she paused.
"Lady Sein," he greeted her.
He was a little taller than Sein, well built with broad shoulders. He had once been a part of Thura's training group, and was similar in age to her brother.
"What are you doing, Lady Sein?" Lord Myat asked with a broad grin.
Although he was fair to behold, he carried a grandiose sense of self-importance. Sein disliked him but as a family friend, she felt obliged to converse with him.
I'm walking, what does it look like.
Sein wished she could be blunt but thought better of speaking her mind. She ought to be scrupulously polite.
"I am returning to my apartment," she responded, feeling a sense of wariness in his presence.
Lord Myat put his hand out and said, "May I escort you to your home?"
Sein hesitated and returned politely, "There is no need, Lord Myat. I am sure you have more important things to attend to."
"Nothing is more important than seeing Lady Sein return home safely," Lord Myat insisted, hand still outstretched towards her.
"You need not concern yourself with my safety. We are, after all, in the palace grounds. I am certain there are no tigers lurking in the bushes here."
"Indeed, My Lady," Lord Myat said, laughing just a beat too long, causing Sein to cringe inwardly.
He was the kind of man who treated every refusal as an invitation to persist.
"I am also on my way to visit your family. It is fate that we are heading to the same destination."
She glanced at his pale, outstretched hand, not bothering to mask her disdain, and reluctantly offered her own.
Lord Myat had been introduced to Sein by her mother. He was unmarried at twenty five and was looking to settle down. He'd always had an eye on Sein, having seen her when she came to find Thura during a training session. He was keen on her but she showed no interest in him. The match wasn't made.
There was silence as Lord Myat strolled beside Sein, his hand firmly grasped hers. Brilliant display of flowers on either side of the path, guided them like a runway. Sein's eyes flashed her obvious disdain for the lord, as she put on a haughty air.
"The garden is indeed delightful at this time of year, and it's even more enjoyable with Lady Sein's company," Lord Myat said, with a dazzling smile.
"…"
"We are fortunate are we not, to take a walk surrounded by wondrous beauty. And it is an utter pleasure to have a beautiful lady such as yourself by my side."
"…"
Sein remained silent, bottling up the not-so-polite replies threatening to spill out. She was relieved to be near the entrance leading to the palace compound, eager to escape any further attempts at flattery.
But just before they reached the gate, Lord Myat stopped abruptly, as if struck by a sudden thought. He turned to Sein, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. She remained stern, not wishing to encourage him.
"Lady Sein."
Lord Myat drew her close to him and an arm slid around her waist. Sein immediately pulled away but his hand was cuffed to hers, imprisoning her in his arms.
"Lord Myat, let go of me at once," Sein demanded, highly agitated.
Lord Myat refused and said, "Lady Sein, we have known each other for some time now. Might I take this opportunity to express my admiration."
Sein had endured enough of his mistreatment. With a surge of fury, she shoved him away, and he released his grip. As she turned to leave, he seized her arm, yanking her back. She spun around, her eyes shooting arrows at him.
"You are even more beautiful when you are angry."
Lord Myat let out a small laugh.
"Please do not be mad at me. I am only saying what is true."
"Let go of me, Sir," Sein managed, keeping her voice even and composed.
She was one breath away from showing him just how accurate her aim could be but that wouldn't be ladylike. Only sheer willpower kept her foot grounded.
"Of course, My Lady," Lord Myat said, his eyes sly.
He let go of her arm, but grabbed her hand instead, then firmly pressed his lips to it.
The white gate opened in that instance, out strode the Crown Prince followed by Khin Yu. Lord Myat let his hand drop away from Sein's, freeing her.
"Ah… Lord Meyuck," Zeya began, then greeted Sein with a quick neck bow, "Lady Sein."
Sein was taken aback by the Crown Prince's sudden appearance as she wrestled with her emotions. She was furious and couldn't possibly speak in her current state.
"Er…Your Highness, it is Myat. Not Meyuck."
Sein caught a fleeting glimmer of satisfaction on Zeya's face, betraying that his mispronunciation of Lord Myat's name was no accident, but rather a cleverly veiled insult.
"Lord Myat, just the person," Zeya said, a fake smile on his lips. He inclined his head towards Khin Yu and continued, "Khin Yu, I believe you were seeking Lord Myat to take him to the palace for a meeting."
Khin Yu looked momentarily confounded. He quickly caught on, "Indeed, Your Highness."
He bowed to Lord Myat and requested, "Would My Lord please come this way. There is… a guest… at the palace awaiting, my lord." His voice was a little strained but Lord Myat didn't notice.
The lord gave a nod of acknowledgment, seemingly pleased someone was requesting for him and said, "Excuse me, Your Highness. Lady Sein."
He bowed before following Khin Yu back through the garden path.
By this time, Sein had regained her composure. She curtsied and said, "Your Highness."
Zeya eyed her for a moment with an unreadable expression and began, "I happened to see you with Lord Myat. He did not seem to be behaving… honourably," Sein looked at him in surprise. "I hope I was not out of line to intervene."
"…"
Sein was at a loss for words, mortified by the thought Zeya had witnessed what transpired earlier. She was grateful for the interruption; it spared her from having to defend herself. She could have done so easily, of course, but it would only have caused Lord Myat to lose face. And she certainly did not need to be rescued by the Crown Prince.
"Are you betrothed to Lord Myat?"
"Definitely not!" Sein responded, a little sharply.
For some reason, the question angered her. At the same time she realised she was speaking with the Crown Prince and should behave appropriately.
Simmering down, she said in a neutral tone, "Pardon me, Your Highness. I am needed at home. I shall take my leave."
She curtsied again and hurried through the gate.