Author's Note: This story takes place in a fictional universe. Although many things are taken from real life locations, cultures, etc, this world does not represent planet Earth. Also, I like costume porn (long and complicated descriptions of clothing that isn't really necessary) and some other variants. This story will contain some female bisexuality, although that won't be the focus. It's mostly heterosexual stuff here.
***
In the cruel deserts in part of northern Gehna many men performed important, lucrative work. At the rare shallow pond of water, the men camped out and waited. At night, the clear sky would lead to temperatures cold enough to let ice form on these ponds. The men would hurry to scrape this ice away and store it in insulated containers designed to keep it from melting.
Other workers had to use quite a bit more time and labor. First, they'd dig pits and line them with thick layers of straw. Second, they'd put molds full of water inside. Third, they'd cover the pits with highly reflective material during the day to keep the sun's heat off the area. At night, they'd uncover the pits to get rid of the heat inside. A similar process would be used in other parts of the world. In places where there were literal snow and ice, simple carving would be the favored process, although places distant from that frigid labor had to pay even more for that specific ice.
Ice wasn't impossible to find, but in warmer weather, especially in countries where it never snowed, ice could be quite expensive, even a luxury item. Thankfully, Gehna also happened to have a few snowy mountain ranges in the east. They had many options when it came to getting the lavishly cold stuff.
And currently, a princess was bathing in it.
In southern Gehna, which was mostly tropical, there was a massive palace of pale, smooth stone, just on the edge of the capital and close to a river. Hipped and domes roofs. Arches with points and gentle curves, with a low rise. Also, similar arches that were narrower with a higher rise. An abundance of complex geometrical designs, in the windows, in the screens, carved in stone or glass, anywhere that was suitable. There were also more lively designs, animals and plants, people and waterfalls. The artisans had put in every subject imaginable for a palace. The sculptures and gardens were also ornate. It was a glorious example of architecture.
In one of the sumptuous apartments, where one of the princesses lived, there was a bathing chamber with a pool, but the occupant wasn't in the pool. She was in a tub full of ice, miserably puling and shivering. A female physician hovered over her, monitoring her body. The princess' attendant was basically chewing on her fingers as she also observed, clearly hurt at the sight. The Empress Consort, Lavanya Patelrao, was sitting on a cushioned chair nearby, wringing a handkerchief in her wood brown hands, chewing on her lower lip, smearing her dark red rouge. Her bare, henna painted feet twisted and flexed in empathetic agony. Her attendant was behind her, gripping the back of the chair.
The concerned mother was dressed as an empress might normally be on a casual day. Long, baggy pants of pale blue muslin that were caught in at the ankles, although on another day she might wear a long loincloth, a skirt, or something else. A matching top that covered her bosom but not her belly, with drooping sleeves that had rows of gauzy puffs. Dark brown, almost black, wavy hair that was in a thick braid dangling past her hips. Bold jewelry covering as much of her body as possible without hindering her comfort or ability to move, even in her hair and on her toes. If her face wasn't so contorted she would have looked appropriately regal.
In a corner of the bathing chamber, not far off, another princess was lounging on cushions. A diaphanous veil was over her hair simply for the fun of it. She was the youngest, Princess Lataa, and she was coyly smiling as her own attendant (a thin woman with short hair named Rahki) held a mirror for her to admire her reflection. A servant held a tray of fruit candies close by. "I'm certain she could bathe for another minute," Lataa said with voice like a soft bird's. Then she let out a heavy sigh and put a candy in her mouth.
"I'm afraid not," the physician said as she helped the trembling older princess out of the tub. She put a long towel over the poor dear's body.
Princess Jaya, the older princess, was a wilted, wet, cold thing. Her brown hair was clinging to her body. Her dark eyes were wide.
The physician patted her back and rubbed her hands with her own. "Alright, we need to warm you slowly and get you to a hot meal." Princess Jaya was on a special diet, six meals a day. She needed to get some extra fat. The Empress was convinced that it could help keep her warm in Eiragla, along with regular ice bath training. Eiragla was amazingly cold during a quarter of the year. Snow was guaranteed. The Empress was worried that her body would be shocked from experiencing such a different climate. Jaya's attendant often had to endure the same treatments, but usually at different times of the day.
Twirling her black hair with her pampered fingers, Lataa said, "I'm certain the butter, cream, pastries, and cheese will taste divine." There was something snide in her voice, but nobody wanted to address it. The Empress Consort was too busy worrying over the pitiable eldest daughter.
***
The Empress Dowager, Emperor, Empress Consort, and Prince all wept on the day Princess Jaya left to be married to a prince of Eiragla, her loyal attendant accompanying her. Princess Lataa seemed compassionate and gentle, but nobody honestly thought she was sad. Princess Jaya had been prepared with the best methods available. She'd been taught Eiraglan history, language, basic etiquette, and a few other things. She'd also been granted the best dowry that could be taken with her.
All together, there were several coffers of expensive silks, fine bolts of muslin, precious metals and stones, embroidered tapestries with golden and silver threads, elaborately painted porcelain tea sets, and little statues. She also took several gifts for her new family and husband.
Princess Jaya's fate was sealed, whatever her fate was. Many prayed for her to not only survive well in the odd, foreign weather of Eiragla, but also to have a good marriage with her new husband and produce heirs.
Prince Nitishila, the eldest child of the Emperor, went to his mother soon after his sister had left. He moved down on one knee, and he pleaded, "Dearest Mother, Honorable Mother, I beg of you, please let your mournful son go to the now empty apartment for a time."
His mother's long fingernails and shiny rings meshed with the locks of smooth black hair that were allowed to fall from the fashionably wrapped turban on the Prince's head. She gave him the weakest tone. "Go on, Child. Go and reflect on your sister. Her servants have already been sent to your bride's apartment. There shouldn't be any women to frighten there."
Gemstones and chains jingling on his bare torso, Prince Nitishila Patelrao immediately left to his palanquin and told the bearers to take him to Princess Jaya's former living quarters.
When his body was past the entrance, he personally removed his soft slippers. Normally his attendant, Mamun, would do this but he was ill. Also, Nitishila didn't want to demean the bearers with a task that wasn't part of their job description.
With a slow reverence, his bare feet made cautious steps on the colorful runner rug that had been so thoughtfully placed on the floor some time ago. His precious anklets with tassels attached to toe rings shined in the daylight. The fresh, orange henna on his richly colored skin had net-like and circular designs. Any possibility of a callus had been scraped away, although there were a few scars from athletic activities, typically hidden by the henna.
They were often called the most handsome feet in the empire.
