Chapter Text
"The curtains," says Kaveh, "are hideous."
"I think they fit the room perfectly." Alhaitham flips a page in his book. Procured from the royally-funded library in the palace, he waited for the novel for quite a long time. It was the third in a set that he had his eye on, authored by a scholar somewhere in Amurta. He doesn't look at the curtains that Kaveh finds so hideous.
Kaveh makes him anyway. He, gently but nonetheless firmly, lowers his book from his face and points to the purple curtains that hung over the windows of their bedroom. He reclines on the divan and flicks his gaze up to meet Kaveh's. He frowns. Pouts, even. He points at the curtains like they personally offended him with their brazen coloring scheme.
"It doesn't fit."
"How?"
"Do you even know what color that is?"
He gives it a once-over.
"Purple."
"Periwinkle!" Kaveh presses his hand onto Alhaitham's head in annoyance.
"It looks purple to me."
"That's periwinkle! It's not a good color!" He points at it again. "Why did you put periwinkle curtains when our entire room is so—!"
"I don't mind." He looks back at his book. "It's a nice contrast."
"It's gaudy!"
"Hm."
"It's gaudy, and it doesn't fit, and—are you even listening?!"
He flips a page and smiles.
"Yes, darling husband, light of my life."
Kaveh lets out some kind of bird screech and flails his arms around, stuttering and stammering and stumbling over his words. He's out of steam, he sighs deeply, and he turns back around to look at the curtains again. It looks like he's contemplating whether or not to open the windows and throw Alhaitham out onto the street for the populace to see. He flips another page in amusement at the thought. Kaveh wouldn't dare, but he couldn't deny that he wanted to see him try.
Kaveh sighs again.
He turns back around.
"Get up."
He raises an eyebrow. "For what, exactly?"
"We have things to do!"
"You have things to do."
"We!" Kaveh insists, and he pries his book out of his hands, makes sure the bookmark is in the spot where he was last, and closes it. He places it down on the wooden table. "Cyno and Tighnari are coming and we have to prepare the palace so that they don't think we've gotten lazy with marriage. I've had all the maids deep-clean everything."
"I don't think either of them mind if the palace is somehow filthy." He remembers the many times he's visited Gandharva and watched Tighnari trek dirt and mud into his own castle, having spent the day working at the outdoor hospitals in the city and caring for patients. Cyno would gush about Tighnari's work and how proud he was of his fiance. He sometimes tuned him out halfway through.
"I mind."
"They don't."
Kaveh frowns again.
"You know why they're coming too."
He crosses his arms. "I do."
Kaveh, unfortunately, has a point. It's not simply a visit between friends. It's a diplomatic overture, they're to discuss things as the royalty they are. With his grandmother having passed the crown to him after his wedding, he's come to terms with the fact that his life was going to be busier than before. Like it wasn't busy enough. Work was work, he had a job to do.
"I'm still not familiar with everything about Haravatat." Kaveh picks at his nails. "If this meeting is as important as your Council says it is, we have to put our one hundred-and-ten percent into it."
A lie. Kaveh, despite his status as the lone Prince of Kshahrewar, adjusted to Haravatat far better than he thought he would. He is good with people, his bleeding, warm heart brings good things and bad to Haravtat. Good things, in the way that no one can stand against the light he basically exudes from his personality. Bad things, in a sense that enemies will always see it as his greatest weakness.
Kaveh cares too much about the perceptions of others, Alhaitham has come to know about him.
Maybe he cares too little, and that is where they meet halfway.
But he knows what he means regardless. The Council doubts Kaveh and his capabilities. It's not like he can blame them, but he doesn't agree with them either. What he lacks in force of will, he makes up for with empathy and understanding. He sighs and straightens up against the divan, watching Kaveh anxiously pick at skin and nails.
"Like you give anything less than that."
Kaveh huffs, crosses his arms, and stalks off to his large closet. "You should try harder. For a king, you don't take things as seriously as you should."
He smiles. "Sure. Stop picking at your arms. You'll get scabs."
"Shut up!"
He pretends not to notice Kaveh immediately grabbing gloves.
Marriage has made him lazy.
It was rough at first. Kaveh was still grieving in the three years that led up to the wedding, but he still made an effort after the ball to talk to Alhaitham instead of shying away. It led to some developments: walks in the gardens, hand in hand, book recommendations that have led to the librarian scolding both of them because of their book hoarding, arguments once they realized that friction was always inevitable.
The first time they kissed was after an argument. He couldn't remember what they had been arguing about, but it resulted in Kaveh grabbing him by his tunic and pressing his mouth onto his, and they stayed like that for too short of a moment. Kaveh pulled away, realized what he did, and almost fled before Alhaitham dragged him back.
He pretended that he was indifferent to it.
It was hard to express how it made him feel.
Kaveh, always better with feelings than him, saw whatever look he pulled and laughed so hard that he cried. Then, they kissed again.
He understood Cyno's lovesickness after that.
Kaveh threw heaps of clothes at him.
"Get up and get dressed!"
He didn't kick up a fuss. He did as told.
"You've gotten lazy with marriage," is the first thing Cyno tells him as they approach the Alcazarzaray Gardens.
The Alcazarzaray Gardens, so they were called, were once smaller, more untamed, a little feral. It was hardly ever used beyond a few select spots closer to the palace, but after Kaveh joined the court in preparation for his marriage, and after the ball that led him to flee into it to begin with, he took up a much more serious venture of reorganizing and reshaping it. His Council pointed out the expenses, but Alhaitham knew they only did so to try and dim Kaveh's inner fire and try to stop change as it was.
So, when they presented him a petition to try and get Kaveh to stop, he took the sheet of paper, and purposely put it in the lowest cabinet of his desk in front of them. At that, he told them to focus on matters befitting their roles and to fight their petty squabbles amongst themselves. He knew even if he agreed with them and tried to stop Kaveh, it wouldn't have worked anyway. The gardens would've been reshaped one way or another.
Besides, they really did need a new look.
When Kaveh finished, he covered Alhaitham's eyes, and guided him to them. He revealed them and rambled on endlessly about the effort, how he sent letters back and forth with Tighnari about the kinds of flowers that grew in Haravatat and how to cultivate them, and how many hours he spent in the library researching Haravatat's special architecture, from the patterned archways to the pillars with carefully carved spirals, from the grids above the archways, as windows and railings that showed the gardens from above, to the tiles on the floor and wrapped around the fountains.
It was a year off from their wedding. Kaveh looked at him expectantly, awaiting his answer, and Alhaitham found that he was both briefly speechless at his beauty (Light of Kshahrewar indeed) and that of the gardens. He outdid himself. He looked over the gardens before finally glancing back at him.
"It's beautiful," was all he could say.
And he was rewarded handsomely with Kaveh's grin.
The name came as a result of both of their thoughts. They argued for a few minutes before they settle on Alcazarzaray.
They had checked numerous books for a fitting name. The word was shared amongst their kingdoms, its derivation meaning "planting" for Haravatat and "palace" for Kshahrewar. The gardens were a palace of their own. What made them settle on their decision was the addition that the derivation could also mean "golden," and Alhaitham took one look at Kaveh and said it was perfect.
One of his hands glide over a row of Padisarahs.
"And you haven't?"
Cyno narrows his eyes at first, before he laughs.
"I'm tempted." He admits. "But we have our responsibilities."
He recalls the meeting with the Council they attended earlier.
Trade agreements, alliances signed, he had his scribes dutifully write everything down to overview later.
As much as they all try to play fairly, Sumeru's always been ripe with tension. The meeting today between them, like Kaveh mentioned, is political as much as it is personal. With their marriage comes an alliance between Haravatat and Kshahrewar, and with Cyno and Tighnari's comes one between Amurta and Spantamad. The other kingdoms and Houses may see it as a threat. He's made his own overtures to Vahumana and Rtawahist, and he's watched Kaveh write letters to his mother to do the same.
It would be beneficial if they could all get along and form a national alliance and agreement. It would help with the tensions marking the other countries, such as the military uprisings in Inazuma and Snezhnaya, and the political shutdown in Fontaine at the recent loss of their monarch. More than ever, Sumeru needs to come together to support each other, and those outside of them.
He hums.
"And your thoughts on that, General Mahamatra?" The title that befits the future Head of House Spantamad. His experience in leading comes from leading the greatest army in Sumeru.
Cyno presses his lips into a thin line. The wind stirs lightly.
"A national alliance is in all of our best interests. I doubt we'll get it."
"Why is that?"
He leans closer to whisper.
"I caught a Rtawahist spy a week ago." Alhaitham tilts his head, encouraging him to continue. He does. "Nothing was compromised, and if it was, it wasn't serious, but we think they may have ideas of breaking our alliance with Amurta. It would make sense with the incident that occurred before the wedding."
He remembers.
"The assassination plot."
Cyno's gaze intensifies.
"If they had succeeded, I would be dead."
The banquet before the wedding ceremony was marked by a plot. Poison laced in Cyno's utensils. They all assumed it was the food or the drink before they realized that it had been spread over his plate and fork. He lived because Tighnari sprung into action, and it was only after it was over did Kaveh tell him that Tighnari caved in private. He spent two days and nights by Cyno's bed as he recovered.
"Do you think Rtawahist tried to kill you that day?"
"It would line up."
Alhaitham frowns slightly.
"Is there any proof?"
"We're still investigating." Cyno straightens up. "I'll let you know if we find a connection."
He files that away to mention to Kaveh later.
Speaking of Kaveh, his attention is brought to him further ahead with Tighnari. They're talking animatedly, laughing. Kaveh has an arm around him and his hand drifts across the gardens, pointing out this or that about its architecture and layout. Tighnari nods, listens, asks a few questions, before he clearly asks something about the flora, in which Kaveh drags him along further to show him a few new plants they brought in to grow.
He's happy.
It's a far cry from how he was when he first arrived.
Kaveh looks up from his conversation to meet his gaze. His carmine eyes glitter in the sunlight that pours in from above, it's warm against sunkissed skin, and it makes him glow. He waves.
Alhaitham waves back.
He feels Cyno elbow him as they take a seat nearby the other two, who currently are bent down and talking avidly about Sumeru Roses and whatnot.
"Honeymoon bliss," he lightly teases.
With a hum, Alhaitham pulls out a book.
"Indeed," he replies, and starts to read.
It's late.
Alhaitham's not surprised that Kaveh's in his office.
They spend their working hours either apart or together. They have slightly different responsibilities, ways to keep their kingdom running, and convene if they ever need second opinions. Their offices aren't that far from each other, being only a few steps down the hall away from one another. Most of the time, Kaveh finishes his work earlier, and prepares for bed, while his work tends to last late into the night.
Like divine intervention, Kaveh appears in his red sleeping robes that nearly drag against the floor. His golden hair's tied into a braid that's been pulled over one of his shoulders, and it's already coming undone. Alhaitham looks up to meet fluttering eyelashes barely hidden by reading glasses and pretends to be slightly bothered when Kaveh swipes some of his papers to put away.
"For tomorrow," he says.
He concedes and leans back in his seat. His head hurts.
As if knowing immediately, Kaveh comes around the desk, and cups his face within his warm hands. His fingers are calloused lightly around the palm of his hands and the pads of his fingertips, hallmarks of a royal who doesn't stand idly by; one who works to the bone for his people. It's achingly tender.
"I planned the festivals and banquets for this month." Kaveh drags his thumb up and down his cheek. "Dehya is planning out security. I've also decided to ignore the Council and go ahead with my plans of renovating the schools in the capital, and extend the same renovations to the towns outside."
He nods slowly.
"Good choice."
"They mentioned the expenses, but I know what the treasury looks like."
"Have you finally realized they're trying to be as petty towards you as possible?"
Kaveh sighs loudly.
"I don't know how you deal with them!"
It makes him crack a small smile as Kaveh proceeds to rant about how annoying the advisors and the Council are. He's glad that he's realized it now that they're being hard on him on purpose, and he's risen up to the challenge. He doubted his ability to do so at first, but it seems that he's becoming aware of the power he holds both over the people and also his heart.
Whoever has the king, after all, has the kingdom.
He's brought back to reality by Kaveh's voice becoming softer.
"You're tired," he murmurs. "Come on."
He heeds him, and the two leave to their bedchamber.
As Alhaitham undresses to prepare for bed, he looks at Kaveh through the reflection of the gilded mirror propped up. Kaveh sits placidly at the edge of their bed, red fabric covering his entire frame, matching his eyes. He tilts his head at him. It's as if they can read each other's minds. He hums as he takes off his sound-canceling implements and sets them aside next to him on a table.
"Cyno thinks Rtawahist has a scheme in the works."
"A scheme?"
"He caught one of their spies a week ago." He picks up his robes, folded neatly nearby. "He thinks they're behind the assassination attempt before his and Tighnari's wedding."
Kaveh crosses one leg over the other. He closes his eyes in thought.
"Does he have proof?"
"He said they're still investigating."
A second of silence passes between them before Kaveh reopens his eyes and frowns. From their friction comes a spark, and from that spark comes a fire. He messes with his braid.
"It would make sense." He lowers his voice despite the fact they're the only people in the room. "We need to investigate too. Tighnari said he also thinks Rtawahist spies are infiltrating Amurta. They tried to kill Cyno before the wedding. What makes you think they wouldn't go after Tighnari next, after they saw how he saved him?"
"Tighnari's knowledge of poison makes him a threat?"
"If they got rid of him, there wouldn't be anyone to save Cyno if they decided to try and kill him again."
"It would also mean that the alliance between Amurta and Spantamad would be broken."
"Exactly."
"They could also usurp Amurta and Spantamad that way. Both of their Houses would be shut down without them."
"It could be a plan of expansion." Kaveh hisses the word out. His tone reeks of fury at the idea, especially if it jeopardizes their friends. "They take Amurta and Spantamad, they could take Vahumana, and then they can take Haravatat and Kshahrewar. That way, they unite Sumeru not under a mutual agreement, but under them."
Alhaitham turns around.
"We take it one step at a time." He walks over to the bed. "We need to make sure none of them are here."
Kaveh nods and slides further up the bed, leaving a spot open for him. He lifts the blankets and Alhaitham sits next to him with a small huff.
"After that, we need to intercept their letters. I'll ask Dehya to see if she can get her hands on them."
"Tomorrow," he says, and Kaveh laughs a little.
"Tomorrow."
They fall quiet again.
Kaveh takes off his glasses and puts them down onto the small bedside counter next to him.
They spent so much time on their courtship before their wedding that it was like second nature when they shared a bed for the first time. Nonetheless, like the first time, it's comfortable, and it feels right. He didn't think of himself as above love. He wanted their relationship to work properly so that it wouldn't destabilize Haravatat and put either of them through more grief. It worked as intended, and for the better.
Kaveh sighs as they settle in for the night.
However, his eyes are drawn not to him, but to the window.
"I'm burning those curtains."
Alhaitham simply smiles.