This Woven Kingdom

Prince Kamran’s actions and decisions, which include a rash summoning and public reprimanding of officials, earn Hazan’s ire. In the private confines of the prince’s chambers, a heated exchange between the two reveals deeper undercurrents of tension and secrecy. The central issue in the tension between prince and advisor is Kamran’s growing attraction to Alizeh. Kamran is torn between his feelings for Alizeh and his duty to the throne. He perceives her to be the embodiment of all he seeks in a future queen––grace, intelligence, beauty, and strength. He also believes that her unjust execution would be a senseless tragedy. Hazan, who is duty-bound to protect the prince and the throne, warns Kamran about the danger of indulging such emotions. Recognizing the risk that Alizeh poses both as a potential threat and a distraction, Hazan suggests that she must disappear quickly for the prince’s own good. Kamran, while acknowledging the pull that Alizeh has on him, grapples with the realization of his own vulnerability.

On a particularly cold night, Alizeh navigates her way to Follad Place, the residence of the Lojjan ambassador, for a significant commission that might be a turning point in her career as a seamstress. As she travels, Alizeh’s thoughts revolve around the unpredictable and sometimes cruel housekeeper of Baz House, Mrs. Amina. Despite her exhausting day under Amina’s supervision, Alizeh clings to the memories of a mysterious firefly she encountered earlier and hopes of a better future. Upon reaching Follad Place, she is hastily ushered inside by the impatient Mrs. Sana. However, before entering, she notices the same firefly and interprets it as a beacon of hope, and possibly a connection to something larger.

Wrapped in the luxury of crimson sheets, Kamran stands as a statue amidst opulence yet remains untouched by humanly desires. Every possession in his life, barring his swords, comes with an ancestral expectation. Despite his privileged life, he feels suffocated by societal norms and expectations. Kamran has a cynical view on love, especially as women are presented to him more as a means for others to achieve wealth, power, and status, rather than as genuine companions of the heart. He finds most women to be either overly ambitious or lacking in intellect. Resigned to a life dictated by duty, Kamran is tormented by the thought of the only woman he ever truly desired, Alizeh, whom he now believes to be dead. He continues his contemplation of pain and vulnerability as he toys with the idea of crushing a tea glass in his hand. As he grapples with the shadows of his imagination and the dread of sleep, the chapter ends with a sudden, frantic knocking on his door.

Situated by a roaring fire, Alizeh contemplates the warmth it offers against the cold she feels. As she waits, she reflects on the evening spent with Miss Huda, who is driven by insecurities about her looks. Despite Alizeh’s low societal status, she boldly interrupts Miss Huda’s self-deprecating remarks, affirming that the young woman’s criticisms are baseless. Miss Huda confesses that her mother orders similar gowns for her and her sisters, which makes her feel out of place and undesired. Alizeh perceives that the girl’s sarcasm and indifference hide her deep pain and insecurity. Alizeh then begins the process of refashioning one of the dresses that Miss Huda is wearing. She simplifies and adjusts its design to better accentuate Miss Huda’s natural beauty. By the end, Miss Huda, astonished at the transformation, sees herself in a new, elegant light, leading her to question whether Alizeh possesses magical skills. Alizeh insists that Miss Huda always possessed such elegance; it just needed the right touch to be unveiled.

In a moonlit street, a weary Alizeh leaves Follad Place, carrying Miss Huda’s green gown, which she must mend for an upcoming ball. As she walks, Alizeh recalls her agreement to design additional gowns for Miss Huda and contemplates her demanding schedule. Suddenly, she senses that she is being followed. Trusting her instincts, she prepares herself with sewing tools as makeshift weapons. When six men confront her with malicious intent, Alizeh first offers them a chance for peaceful retreat. Met with mockery, she resorts to defending herself with surprising combat skills, neutralizing all but one, whom she sends with a warning to his master. Once the danger has passed, she reflects upon her recent encounters. She wishes for her acts of mercy to be accepted and acknowledges her past pains. Just as she is about to continue home, a flash of light catches her attention, revealing a mysterious young man who addresses her as “Your Majesty.”

In the dead of night, Prince Kamran is jolted awake by a violent pounding on his door. He hastily prepares for potential conflict, only to be ambushed when he opens the door. A sack is thrown over his head, his arms are restrained, and a stone gag muffles his protests. Despite the odds against him, Kamran’s resilient spirit and combat skills allow him to break free, incapacitating one attacker and cornering the other. As Kamran demands answers, the unexpected revelation comes: The orders for his sudden capture came from his own grandfather, the king. The chapter concludes with an aghast Kamran confronting his grandfather, who ominously alludes to urgent matters that they need to discuss.

Alizeh is approached by the mysterious figure, who eventually reveals himself to be Hazan. Initially in the shadows, he reveals that he has been watching over her and offers an apology for his firefly, which has been drawn to Alizeh. He gifts her a nosta, a rare magical artifact from Tulania that turns cold when someone lies, and warm when someone tells the truth. These artifacts are believed to have been made by the Diviners using ancient magic. Alizeh, the last living member of her royal line, discovers that Hazan’s mother was once connected to her family and served as their spy in the palace. Hazan himself has memories of Alizeh from when they were children. He informs her of a prophecy of which she was unaware, informing her that it might be the reason for her family’s assassination and her secretive upbringing. Alizeh learns that she must attend the ball, where Hazan’s firefly will guide her at the right moment. Before leaving, Hazan ensures Alizeh of his loyalty and reveals his identity.

Prince Kamran confronts King Zaal, who accuses Kamran of treachery. Zaal suspects Kamran of assisting Alizeh in eluding the king’s soldiers. Despite Kamran’s pleas for mercy for the girl based on her possible innocence, the king’s suspicions are heightened by the readiness that Kamran displayed when apprehended and the fact that the girl overpowered six of the king’s best men. Kamran fervently defends himself, expressing astonishment and hurt over these accusations. He argues that the girl’s Jinn heritage endowed her with the abilities she used to escape. Their exchange reveals deeper rifts in the relationship between grandson and grandfather, with Kamran feeling undervalued after years of loyalty and King Zaal emphasizing the heavy burdens that he has borne to ensure the empire’s survival. The chapter concludes with a reluctant pause in their conflict, as the king hints at a significant task that he wishes Kamran to undertake.