The princesses were told that the Emperor wanted to spend time with each of them. Then they were told to inform the messenger what activity they wanted to focus on, and then lots would be drawn to decide which princess would be chosen first, second, and last.
Princess Rellenora's name was picked first. So, she was given the first day. As for what she wanted to do, well ... the Emperor was highly frustrated about that. She hadn't told the messenger anything. She didn't even write anything down. According to what Antonai had been told, Princess Rellenora stared at nothing for a moment. Then she only shrugged and doodled simple shapes on some paper. Mrs. Donner had nervously said to the messenger, "Oh, how about a walk? She'd like a walk."
It was decided. The Emperor would take a walk with Princess Rellenora.
He put on a shorter set of robes with a loose set of trousers. He thought the honey colors in his clothing were very pleasant. His comfortable, black leather shoes were quiet against the brick pathway that winded around the garden he had chosen. He found the princess seated on a stone bench.
Princess Rellenora's gown was simple as usual, a rich madder color, but lacking in any adornment. The sleeves were plain. The skirt was long. The neckline was prudishly high. The white fabric tightly tied about her head exposed her ears, which didn't even have piercings. Her curly hair was free over one shoulder. One delicate hand cradled her writing slate. The other was using chalk to make simple, straight lines, as if she was counting something.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
Her chalk slipped down and clattered onto the brick path. She moved down from her seat and knelt on that unforgiving path, her slate bouncing and dangling from its rope. If she were a vocal person, she would have likely given him a formal greeting.
Calm and graceful, Antonai moved his hand from left to right. "You may rise."
Perhaps six seconds later, the princess rose. She didn't brush anything off of her dress. That was probably fine, though. She stood before him with her fingers laced before herself. Her fingernails were only slightly long and very bare. Her blue eyes were avoiding him.
A nod, and then Antonai said, "There are many beautiful things here." He gestured out towards the flowers. "Come, enjoy them."
He started walking with a confident pace. Princess Rellenora hurried to take a spot roughly beside and behind him, a few steps away from his regal body.
There were many gentle noises, birds singing, bees buzzing, footsteps patting the bricks, clothing swishing, but there wasn't any talking.
Purple and blue passifloras bloomed from vines tangled on occasional tunnels of wooden frames. Shrubs of yellow and white chrysanthemums awaited an appreciative eye. There were occasional decorative ponds with orange and pink water lillies.
Antonai wondered about the quiet woman's thoughts. He turned his head to look at her down cast face. Her eyes seemed to be following the jaunty, swinging movements of his tail. Her teeth were bothering her lower lip, which was slowly becoming rosier.
"I'm not a humble man. The flowers here are perfect. If you wish, you may have any you desire to place in the Eggplant Palace."
There wasn't any visible reaction.
Antonai looked ahead and sighed.
They walked into an area that had various fruits. There were figs, nectarines, honeydew melons, cantaloupes, and raspberries. "The fruits here are used in the kitchens, but if you ever want to take one for yourself, don't hesitate."
No response.
The Emperor gave another sigh to the sweet smelling air.
"I'd like to sit down now." He immediately walked to the nearest bench and put his backside onto the seat. He pulled his arm up so it could rest on the bench's curved back. His chin rose as he watched the little woman follow his lead. She took the seat right beside him. The bench was designed for only two people, after all.
She smelled like chalk, ink, paper, bamboo, and bed sheets. There wasn't anything resembling feminine perfume anywhere around her person.
Trying to find a subject to interest her, the Emperor asked the princess, "Have you ever learned how to preserve fruit?" A moment went by. Then he saw her make a single nod. "If you wish, you may have any fruits from this garden and preserve them for your own use."
Another nod came around eight seconds later. She never looked up at him.
Antonai lost his patience then. He got up and nodded to her. "If you wish to leave, then you may."
Seven seconds passed. Then the princess shot up as if aided by a spring. She bowed and scurried off. Antonai watched her for a few moments, noting how her hips swayed in an apparently unconscious presentation of femininity.
Was the woman even trying to win the contest?!
The Emperor's tail swished about and his fingers flexed.
Princess Chohni's turn was scheduled for the next day. She asked to have a cup of tea with the Emperor. So, Antonai met her on a patio at the Imperial Palace and they sat down to enjoy some tea. There were other treats too, sweet crackers, light sandwiches, and gentle chatting, but the tea was the main attraction, or so Antonai thought.
Eventually, Princess Chohni pulled a small ocarina from a hidden pocket and started playing a tune. It was rather dulcet. Antonai's tail rocked back and forth as he listened and sipped the hot tea. Her fingers were dexterous. Her painted lips were firm against the instrument. Her red gown had a pale yellow jacket with sleeves that fluttered; she looked like a musical goddess. If Princess Chohni had been trying to impress him, then she had succeeded.
When she finished, she bowed in her seat, and Antonai clapped his hands. "That was a divine song, Your Highness. You must have had excellent teachers."
"Of course, Your Majesty. My family saw to it that I'd be well educated."
It was a pleasant little outing.
The day after that was Princess Lagath's turn. The Emperor met her in an arena that wasn't too far away from the several barracks in the complex. She was dressed in a fairly masculine outfit. Trousers, boots, a short tunic that showed a small bit of tanned flesh whenever she raised her arms, the woman had no shame, which was fine with Antonai. He couldn't see anything shameful about her, anyway. He was wearing a similar outfit to hers, but damn she looked so much better.
Uncaring of the gossip that might bubble up, Princess Lagath and Emperor Antonai walked into a fighting ring.
And they wrestled with no mercy.
Grunting and grabbing, pulling and flipping, all in all, it was an opportunity to learn more about the woman's frame. The woman had a fine set of child bearing hips. She also had the ferocity and endurance of a honey badger, and a face every bit as charming as one too. That wasn't an insult. Antonai genuinely thought that honey badgers looked adorable when they weren't out for blood.
