As always, Marek proved to have excellent advice and a sound plan, much to Kazim’s satisfaction. He nodded sagely while he listened to what the advisor wanted to do and it all sounded like a good course of action to take. He wasn’t thrilled with Navia finding a new husband so soon after Devam’s death, the list they had created had been meant for far in the future once they had all healed from such a difficult death, but Kazim also knew that was the best way to rid her feelings of the Mes’Mo’Tanian and just about any Khluri was better than a Mes’Mo’Tanian, even if he was royal. “We shall have to keep Navia very busy if we don’t want her to figure out what we’re planning,” Kazim pointed out with a frown before looking Yousef’s way, “We can ask our wives to plan outings with her, as well as her friends in the nobility. We could also throw a ball in her honor and invite the suitors, we just need time to plan it. Haide and Ruvi would probably be delighted to plan it for us.”<br/><br/>Yousef nodded in agreement that the Queen and his own wife would enjoy planning a ball for Navia, “Yes, let’s speak with them on that. In the meantime, I will speak with Navia and try to convince her to let go of this mad idea that she loves the prince and Marek can work on extracting information from him until he is no longer of use to us.” Then they would be free of him and even if Yousef could not coerce his sister into giving up on the Mes’Mo’Tanian, his death would ensure she would not be poisoned by his presence. He only hoped she would forgive him if she ever worked out the plan they had put into action.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>The initial moments after Kazim and Yousef had left with Marek had been some of the most awkward and confusing bits of time Navia had experienced in some time. She had stared at the door, trying to process everything that had happened since stepping into the throne room, from Yousef using her relief at seeing him again to separate her from Théadan, to Kazim stating she had been lost to them and they had gotten over it, to Théadan being taken away from her. Then she had realized the dozens of nobles Kazim had gathered to see her return were all staring at her, waiting to see what she would do. After glancing at them, Navia had spun on her heel to retreat from the throne room. The door leading down to the dungeons had been the first place she’d chosen to go, but the guard there apologetically refused to let her enter and Navia had left frustrated all over again.<br/><br/>With her unable to reach Théadan, Navia had moved on to her chambers so she could dress herself better and appease Kazim. It seemed unnecessary with Théadan locked away from her, but she knew Kazim would not listen to her if she did not follow palace protocol. It had hurt to enter her chambers without Théadan by her side though; there had been so much she had wanted to show him and do with him, all of which had come crumbling down the instant Kazim had stated to take Théadan away. Nevertheless, there had been a great soothing feeling that had washed over her upon stepping back into the chambers she had called her own for so many years. Like the rest of the palace, her rooms were lavish, but Navia had chosen to decorate in less eye-grabbing colors than red and gold, choosing whites, silvers, and shades of blues. The main room was the bedroom, complete with a doorway to the balcony and a large four-post canopy bed with gauzy fabric hanging from the canopy to give a sense of privacy when the bed was occupied.<br/><br/>She had seen none of the major features of her chambers, knowing she needed to bathe and change into clothing fit for her title so she could confront her family. To her luck, two of the servants that had been her personal attendants before she left were waiting in the room for her, and they had spent time reacquainting while Navia bathed and chose clothing to wear. Wanting to make a statement that she had returned and remind those around her of who she was so that she might be able to use it to bring Théadan back to her, Navia had chosen a floorlength sleeveless gown that was pale green and flowy, the bottom of it sporting a wide dark red trim that had intricate beading and embroidery across the bottom. The neck of the gown was the most impressive, with elaborate beadwork covering the front of the dress from neck to belly. A loose, deep red shawl with a matching trim to the bottom of the dress was thrown over her shoulders, then her attendants helped tame her thick hair into a braid that ran along the side of her face, then back to where the rest of her hair was gathered in a low bun. It was a simple hairstyle, but paired with embellished gold earrings and a small ruby jewel affixed on her forehead, the completed look was regal and commanding of attention.<br/><br/>Lips painted crimson and a bit of eye makeup to make her gaze pop, Navia had returned to the first floor of the palace, feeling very much so the duchess she had been before meeting Théadan. It felt empty though, frivolous and unnecessary, and Navia supposed that probably came from months of having nothing but whatever they could carry to call theirs. Still, Navia was unable to ignore the small amount of satisfaction that came first from the guards outside Kazim’s study from staring at her, nor how the three men she was prepared to do battle with all paused in their conversation to study her transformation from dirty, worn traveler to sophisticated duchess. The beauty of her image was likely skewed by the fury in her step as Navia stormed into the study.<br/><br/>“I have spent the last two months fleeing from Mes’Mo’Tan with Théadan by my side,” Navia said angrily, seeing the men behind her lover’s incarceration setting off her temper instantly, “He has saved my life numerous times and risked his own to keep me safe. Twice he has endured major injuries because of me and he has abandoned all ties to his family and country, yet he has stayed by my side and returned me home…and this is how you treat him? I want him released right now!”<br/><br/>Sighing deeply, not wanting to deal with her again, Kazim pushed a frustrated hand across his face, “Navia, listen to yourself. It does not matter if he saved your life a hundred times over,<i>he is a Mes’Mo’Tanian</i>. You are the Duchess of Khlurios, the closest thing your people have to a princess and you are shaming them! You are slapping the people our family serves in the face by parading yourself around with a man who is responsible for so much death and destruction!”<br/><br/>“My title shouldn’t matter right now, and neither should his history. Judge him for what he has done to help bring me home, not for—“<br/><br/>“He cannot hide from his past!” Kazim snapped back at her before she could finish, “And you need to remember parading yourself around with another man, especially that man, is a huge dishonor to your husband! You are the greatest beauty this country has to offer, and you are the widow of the best general in our history. You do not get to ruin yourself by being with the<i>Avezana</i>!”<br/><br/>Navia took a deep breath while glaring at Kazim and thinking of how insane it was to think Théadan was ruining her, then she glanced first at Yousef before her near-black eyes landed on Marek. Kazim was not going to listen to reason, and not only was she still furious with Yousef, she feared Kazim would not listen to him in case he favored what Navia wanted. Marek was the most objective person in the room; he had no family ties to them to cloud his judgment. “Marek, you should go speak with Théadan and see for yourself,” she suggested, not backing down from the defensive way she stood, her hands clenched at her sides and her posture straight to make herself look taller, “If you just listen to him, you’ll be able to see what I mean. Can we not at least afford him that? An ear for the truth? It’s far more than Mes’Mo’Tan would ever do and it would allow us to show how gracious our country is. It would also be helpful to remind your king that I choose the man I am with, regardless of whether he thinks that man will ‘ruin’ me or not.” It was a petty jab on her end, not speaking to Kazim directly, but she was frustrated and knew that could easily lead to a yelling match with her cousin.