It was an understood fact that no matter how many lessons and social commitments Raicha had to juggle, she was mysteriously available for anything Camilia invited her to do.  They had no illusions; it had nothing to do with Raicha’s personal preferences and everything to do with encouraging the Emperor’s heir to remember that she was an Ameru on her mother’s side.

It worked for everyone, especially the girls, but they tried not to be too obvious about their exploitation of it.  There were only so many painful teas with Aunt Chenna that could be coincidentally preempted by shopping emergencies before Looks started being passed around and someone got sat down and stared at by Raicha’s grandfather or Lady Cahlila.  Nobody wanted that.

“What are you missing this time?”  Camilia was curled on a silk sofa with her feet under her.

Raicha pulled her own feet up.  “The annexation of Chandej.”  Her history tutor was a thousand years old and lectured like it.

Camilia waved a dismissive hand.  “Countries on the brink of war, Alenchou princess steps in, marries the Demanu emperor, Chandej joins the empire, princess becomes co-ruler for the only time in the history of Tacar,” she rattled off.  A mischievous look crossed her face.  “There’s a moral to that story.”  She had been named after that empress.

Raicha snickered.  “Don’t mess with people named Camilia?”  Camilia gave her a broad grin.

“Speaking of messing with people named Camilia…”  Sai murmured from a side chair, her eyes sparkling.

Raicha whipped her head back.  Camilia was blushing.

“Camilia!”  It was only just under a shriek, and she hurriedly turned the volume down.  “Did something happen with Daneish Asano?”

Camilia, still blushing, tilted her head at a deliberate angle.  “I think you’ll find that nothing has happened between me and Daneish.  Ask anyone.”

Raicha dismissed that as the irrelevancy it was and aimed a kick at the bottom of the sofa.  “Tell!”

Chandej was rapidly forgotten.

This week’s Trifecta Writing Challenge calls for 33 to 333 words on the third definition of the word JUGGLE (verb):

3: to handle or deal with usually several things (as obligations) at one time so as to satisfy often competing requirements <juggle the responsibilities of family life and full-time job>

For more of Camilia and her family, click on the Tacar category on the sidebar or try The Newlywed.  Thanks for reading!

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Tags: fantasy, fiction, Tacar, Trifecta Writing Challenge, writing prompt

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