Chapter Text
Still a little in shock and quite sore, Shiza returned to her and Rin’s room after disposing of the now-soiled washing water and rag in the communal bathroom. When she’d first gotten back to the room, one hand trying to hold her torn top closed while the other precariously balanced the basin, Rin had taken one look at her and muttered, “Ugh. Slut.” Shiza had tried to explain, but her older sister had cut her off after just a couple of words.
“You know what? I don’t want to hear it,” Rin had said, before departing for Princess Azula’s rooms. Maybe Rin was right. Maybe she was a slut. However, she could at least attempt to not look the part. She dressed in her most modest robes, pulling her hair back into a tight bun.
Last night, when Shiza’s crying had died down a bit, Ozai had told her, “You’re a woman now. My woman.” Well, she didn’t feel particularly womanly at the moment. And when she looked in the mirror, she saw the same petite frame and embarrassingly chubby cheeks. But Ozai had decided he wanted her to be his anyway. He had his pick of pretty and smart and sophisticated ladies, Rin among them, and had chosen her. That had to mean something, didn’t it?
Reluctantly, Shiza took off the gorgeous necklace she’d received last night, stuffing it into her small childhood jewelry box. It seemed woefully plain and inadequate when contrasted with the enormous rubies and pearls…but there was nothing she could do about it right now. If she didn’t hurry, she would be late for Azula’s morning rituals, and the princess would be cross.
Even though she did hurry, as best she could, she ended up being late anyway. The dressing ceremony was already underway, and everyone’s eyes were on her as she tried to sit in a corner as unobtrusively as possible. However, Azula had other plans.
“Everyone, leave the room,” she commanded as soon as she was fully clothed. Shiza stood up to go with them, but Princess Azula shook her head. “No. You stay.” Several of the ladies looked disgruntled that someone who had been in the princess’s service less than a month was getting singled out for special attention, although there was nothing they could do about it.
Once everyone else had gone, Azula beckoned with a crooked finger. “Lady Shiza. Come here.” Shiza did so, her eyes fixed on the floor and her face burning.
“Last night, I sent you to get me a sleeping draught,” Azula remarked. “Although the medicine got here, you never returned.”
“I know,” Shiza squeaked out. The princess sighed at her.
“I guess I should get straight to the point, then. Did you or did you not spend the night with my father?”
She was so young! How did she know more about this stuff than Shiza herself did? The princess grew impatient at her lack of an answer, and prodded, “Well? Don’t make me have to ask a second time.”
Barely audibly even to her own ears, Shiza confirmed, “…I did.”
Azula’s face betrayed nothing. “I thought as much.” Then, more quietly, “Probably better this way. You’re not a threat.”
“Pardon?” Shiza asked. Not a threat? Of course she wasn’t trying to threaten anyone! What did that even mean?
Azula frowned and said sharply, “Nothing. You might as well make yourself useful while you’re here. Brush my hair and put it up, would you?”
Now that, at least, was something that Shiza could understand. When she was a little girl and less aware of the constraints of society that limited her life options, she had harbored dreams of becoming a hairstylist. She’d thought up and doodled elaborate designs when she was supposed to be doing schoolwork, and her four sisters had sometimes even let her practice on them. Although Aiko, the eldest, had had the restraint to not yell at Shiza when she pulled too hard, the others had had no such compunctions. As a result, Shiza had quickly learned to be very careful. But would she be good enough for a princess?
She picked up the fine comb made of turtleduck shell, and, hands shaking slightly, worked through the snarls as delicately as she possibly could. Azula didn’t make a sound through the entire process. Then, Shiza switched to the matching hairbrush and gave the princess’s hair the customary hundred strokes. Finally, she gathered all the hair high up on Azula’s head, tied it with a ribbon, and pinned in the hairpiece.
“Not too bad,” the princess commented. “Your hands are gentle, and the topknot is secure yet doesn’t pull on my scalp too much. It reminds me of… never mind. You have potential. Perhaps I will arrange for you to take some classes to refine your technique.”
Once again, Shiza was struck by how odd it was to hear such grown-up phrasing coming from such a small girl. But she inclined her head and said a simple “Thank you,” as if this was all completely normal.
Azula continued haughtily, “You are dismissed for the day, and you had better be on time tomorrow. Don’t make me regret giving you this privilege.”
“Of course. Thank you, Princess,” Shiza managed to get out, backing out of the room as etiquette dictated. As soon as she was out of the doorway, she turned and ran before the death glares of the other ladies-in-waiting could burn holes through her.
She had no plans other than to crash on her bed and hopefully sleep off the rest of the soreness. But she found yet another gift waiting for her on her bedside table. Her old jewelry box had been pushed to the side, and a beautiful new one stood in its place. It was a heart-shaped red enamel box with gold trim, complete with a lock and key. When she unlocked it, she realized that not only had her new necklace already been placed there, the box appeared to have been designed specifically to hold it so it wouldn’t get tangled.
Things were looking up. Shiza appeared to be in the princess’s favor, so far as that went, and she loved Ozai. Although she wasn’t sure he loved her back yet, he obviously cared about her. Otherwise, why would he have gotten her such wonderful gifts? Since Shiza was a woman now, she had to be able to understand such nuances. And soon, they would get married, and she’d be Fire Lady. And they’d have lots and lots of babies…just as Shiza had always wanted.
Now…all she had to worry about was her parents’ reaction…