"You said you've broken many hearts before. How many are we talking?"

"Oh, are we discussing this now?" Nikeya was having a light meal of grapes when the question came up. "Where do I even begin?" She placed her food down, delighted by Dumai's random curiosity.

They were in a huge space within the Floating Gardens with Nikeya fulfilling her end of the promise to improve Dumai's archery. A table stood beside them where their gears lay, and another containing bowls of fruits and refreshments. Dumai sent her attendants away, wanting some quiet, unmonitored time. Her assigned guards were waiting from a few distance, enough to be out of earshot.

Nikeya used a clean cloth to wipe fruit stains from her fingers, then proceeded to help the now Empress of Seiiki adjust her chest guard. No longer threatened by wyrms or promises of civil war, it was a good day for silly questions, a good day to be playful. Dumai pressed further, "How far does it go back?"

"Aren't you eager?" Nikeya teased, checking the edges of her guard in place. "I was fourteen when I first kissed. A girl my age. This was back in Nanta. Can you try to do a pose?" Dumai did as instructed. Feeling a little awkward, she lifted an imaginary bow. "Good? Not too restricted? Can you try to do some rotations?"

Dumai did some shoulder rotations. "It's fine," she assured, once she's certain of her movements' seams.

They tried on the arm guard next while Nikeya enthusiastically continued with her story, the shine in her copper eyes never leaving, "We were together for two years or so, if I remembered correctly. I had my mother to guide me then, but I still managed to fumble that one."

"You were at fault?"

"I wouldn't say so. We were both young." After successfully securing the guard to her right arm, she continued, "I was... How do I say this without sounding conceited," she paused, "I was loved and desired by many even at a young age."

"You gave it your best shot."

Nikeya released an airy laugh at her expression. "I was coming from a place where I was surrounded by family, cousins from my mother's side. I have friends more than I can count. Supportive parents." When their eyes meet, Nikeya immediately understood what Dumai was thinking. "Yes, my late father was the supportive kind. Always has been. He made sure I learned a great deal, but was not overbearing. My mother helped in regulating his ambitions."

A few feet away from them stood three bulks of straw, stringed together to form a dummy shaped like an actual person, complete with a head, body, and limbs. The dummies stood tall, about as tall as Dumai, positioned in different distances for target practice.

"A few months into our special relationship, something changed. She became... too infatuated. Jealous. Made me the only center of her world."

"And you didn't like that?"

"I was coming from a place of love, so I didn't really need too much of it. Remind me again, how much archery do you know?"

"Almost none. It's not really the most fitting sport for my condition."

"Says who? It will work just fine." Nikeya waved her concern away. Instead of explaining further, she resumed to her story. "After that, I had another formal relationship here, during my second year in Antuma. It ended the same way."

"Wait," Nikeya raised both eyebrows at Dumai's interruption, "that seemed like a long time in-between. Did the Lady of Faces fall into some kind of sleep?"

"No, silly," Nikeya answered with a soundless laugh. "To tell you the truth, I didn't really know if I have broken a lot of hearts." Dumai look towards her direction. "I think toyed would be more appropriate. I didn't stay long enough to see the damage."

"Too boring?" internally amused, Dumai picked up a bow to test.

"I know when people are into me. I can tell." A smirk. "It's adorable when they try to be discreet. I say a few things that can make the heart dance, then say nothing more."

How cruel, Dumai thought as she loaded her first arrow.

"Hold," Nikeya lightly tap on her shoulder, switching from casual to a professional tone. "Relax first. Now, pull up." Dumai did as instructed. "Let me see your stance, first."

"Have you taught before?"

Nikeya smiled, "I did," then, as if true to her word, said nothing more. Maybe Dumai will ask for details some other time. She gently adjusted her loading elbow. "Always at this level. How do you feel about your right-hand grip?"

Dumai considered her question. It's not like she's gripping the bow. The hilt was resting itself on her remaining fingers, which loosely circled the girth. What made it steady in her grasp was the full stretch of its string. The weapon didn't feel light, but not heavy either. Not quite sure, she asked, "Am I supposed to feel anything?"

"It's good then if you feel normal." Nikeya stepped back to observe. "You're steady. The mountains served you well. Let's see you get comfortable first."

Dumai carefully took her time. Once she felt certain of her aim, she released her first arrow. It made a piercing sound through the air. The arrow whizzed cleanly past the dummy, not a strand of straw harmed.

Nikeya tried to stifle a demure laugh but failed. Dumai frowned at her. "I only laughed because I first heard somebody did elsewhere," was her excuse.

A few buildings surrounded the Floating Gardens. Some balconies faced them where courtiers and servants pass every now and then. Dumai turned to her guards stationed at the entrance, their faces stiff as the stone statues beside them. "These poor souls that you toyed around with. Do they just come to you? Like moths to a flame?"

"Oh, we're jumping right back, I see." Nikeya cleared her throat, still tearful. "I'm sorry, your Highness. I got a little distracted."

Dumai continued to practice as Nikeya went on. She adjusts her position every now and then, pointing out flaws and correcting them.

"My father sends me to places on his behalf. I represented his River Lordship whenever he was requested at functions he couldn't attend. Parties, meetings, family gatherings. Name it. I met a lot of interesting people in my travels," she relayed proudly.

To spy? Dumai wanted to ask but thought better of it. Conveniently, Nikeya opened the topic herself.

"He didn't specifically ask me to spy at first. Somehow, interesting information always manages to find me. You would be surprised at how many secrets I was able to uncover with just a few, pretty words. I knew I was doing him right by reporting these findings." Dumai listened attentively as she continued to shoot arrows, some hitting and some not. "To him, I wasn't just the pearl of his world. I was also this... weapon. I have seen him utilize the information I gathered in threats, in schemes, anything to leverage his position against those he considers to be his enemies."

"Did you lie with people to get information?" It came out of nowhere and was out before Dumai could stop herself.

Nikeya answered without skipping a beat. "Oh, I didn't have to try that hard."

Out of fear, Dumai avoided her eyes, regret and shame instantly filling her. She wanted to kick herself. When she committed to dropping the uncomfortable subject behind, Nikeya had more information to share, "I know you're already aware so I'm not going to lie. I did, but never for that purpose."

Silence hung in the air. To fill it, Dumai released another arrow, hitting her target squarely this time, sending a few straws out of place. In her periphery, Nikeya seemed caught and impressed at the same time, but the expression didn't last when Dumai spoke her next words, "Did the River Lord..." she started, then restarted when she couldn't get the next words out, "Did your father ever..."

"No, he didn't. And I never told him any of it unless I'm foolishly willing to face his wrath. I know it would strain our relationship. He thwarted a number of formal suits that came my way, even ones with generous dowry."

Quiet gripped Dumai as she searched for words to fill it.

"But he did instruct me to rule you. You came out of nowhere. That was the only one. He was desperate." Nikeya continued, "The Emperor was aging, so a transition is bound to happen. Positioned at the helm of our clan, a lot was expected of him. Of us."

When she said the words, Dumai turned the information over and over in her head. Instead of finding understanding, she found distaste. For thirteen years, her father worked her, used her as a tool to further his ambitions without regard that she was of his and her mother's blood.

She felt Nikeya's gaze studying her. Looming into her view and blocking the peaceful ponds of the Floating Gardens, she placed an assuring hand to her face, her tone soothing, "Listen, I w-"

"No," Dumai interrupted, which made Nikeya blink. "I'm sorry," shame filled her once more. Conscious of her emotions, she only continued after a calming breath, "I trust you. You don't have to explain yourself."

Nikeya smiled, her thumb smoothing gently across her cheek. "My father did a lot of things that I'm not proud of. But there were moments when he truly was a great one. He told me that I could choose my own life partner and that he would not interfere with my choices. He trusted my judgment. Weapon at times, sure, but I was still the pearl of his world. And I loved him for that."

Dumai can only stare back in wonder. When Nikeya spoke of her father's love, she knew it to be true. The longer she looked at her, the more it was apparent that he was and will always be a part of her. And that part she also came to love. She was witty and ambitious. A charmer, a poet. All of it was her too.

Nikeya continued to caress her cheek, relief flooding her with every stroke. She continued to hold her lovingly, patient in waiting for her to calm down.

"I have always known that your mother was good," Dumai recovered slowly but recovered she did. "But learning that of your father never inventing you to spy, never forced your hand at marriage. Even provided you with a comfortable life. I wonder," she managed to finally pull a smile, "whose fault is it then, that birth the roots of your mischiefs?"

"Strange, isn't it?" Nikeya staged an outraged expression, which became everything at that moment. "That it was my own actions which led me wayward?"

Before Nikeya could commit any more cleverness, Dumai snaked an arm around her waist, carefully pulling her for a kiss.

Around them, the winds stilled, the ponds quiet. It was a good day to practice archery. And they were kissing and laughing. She felt a different kind of happiness, too much of it, that she'd forgotten who she was and where they were.

"Your Highness, might I remind you," Nikeya playfully broke their kiss, which endlessly interested her. Still half-laughing, she cut the kiss short by planting an unstable hand on Dumai's lips. She felt like protesting but only grew weak upon the feel of her hand on her lips. "That I'm here to instruct on your archery and nothing else."

"Nothing else?" Dumai barely managed, still dazed.

Nikeya took her time to break away from her grasp, her hands and look lingering. Dumai stood rooted in her spot, taking in the wildness of it all as she moved away from her, towards their forgotten target practice. Soon she followed suit, still light-headed from happiness.

They collected loose arrows and were quiet, except for their loud gazes. A guard tried to approach from his post to assist, but Dumai held a hand up.

"Do you know what I find to be unfairly criminal?" Nikeya asked fresh when they went back to their original post. "I have graced you with the rare information of my own romantic ventures while I know not a whiff of yours." She helped herself with a bowl of sliced plums. An accusing smile, then, "Must be nice being you."

"Must be," Dumai can still see the aftermath of their kiss in her body language. Her looks shy away, her hands giddy up close, her grin so wide like it's about to break. A rare sight. "You know the answer to that."

"No, I don't," Nikeya rejected plainly. "Come now, you know I can keep a secret."

Dumai made an effort to search her memory while mindlessly organizing the collected arrows to their respective quivers. One came up. "One time," she started slowly, still unsure whether to share or whether it would suffice. "In the mountain, we had a guest." Nikeya came to her side. "A young widow from Ginura."

"It's the first time I'm hearing of this," Nikeya commented, in between sliced plums.

Dumai nodded, "She was bathing in the spring," the memory unwillingly played out inside her mind. She blankly stared at the plums in Nikeya's bowl. "I didn't mean to, but she caught me staring."

"Oh my."

"I didn't understand it at the time, but she knew."

Nikeya waited for more. She then pushed a sliced fruit into Dumai's mouth, which she received without resistance. Sometimes she still feels reluctant to indulge in the privileges that came with her position. The sweetness bitterly reminded her of contentment in the mountains.

Braving on, "When it was time for her to go, she kissed me on the cheek." Dumai avoided looking, feeling childish and shy as she uttered the story into existence for the first time. "I've thought about it. For weeks."

"Did you ask for a name?"

"No."

"No?"

"No." To eclipse the conversation, she explained, "There's no time for that kind of softness in the mountains." A wave of nostalgia hit her remembering the old days. "Survival and ritual. That was all that mattered."

Nikeya digested this respectfully as she studied her expressions. "The gods of Seiiki must have been so pleased to discover a saint for an empress."

"A saint with unholy thoughts," Dumai responded with a sigh, remembering the root of this conversation. She saw Nikeya raise both eyebrows at the admission, which triggered her to quickly add in defense, "But only for you."

An unguarded laugh escaped her, a contagious one Dumai would always remember and pledge to strive for.

"You know," Nikeya started, still slightly red, "if you keep being clever like that, I fear I might have to retire early as your instructor."

"I've been told before that I learn fast."

"Indeed," she started stripping off her chest and arm guard, "I have decided that's enough learning from me today."

Admittedly, it was all a little too much for her too.

In contrast to her announced leave, still discontented, Dumai picked up a bow. "I think I'll keep practicing."

Nikeya flashed her proud smile. "I'll request a custom-made bow for you. That one affects your aim." She bowed, more theatric than usual. "I'll look forward to our next session."

I'll look forward to it too, Dumai thought, knowing they will see each other again in a few hours.

On her own, she nocked an arrow and took her time before releasing. Then, as if by replay, cleanly missed her target.

Finally, she heard it. A laugh. It was so tiny that if the winds were a notch active, it could have been easily missed.