Page 33 of The Sovereign: Part One
“Confirmed.Would you like facial aesthetic recommendations?”
I nodded, watching as options populated the display.Soft, natural dermatone.Subtle definition around my eyes.A plum gloss to add warmth.
“The first option,” I said.“And nails… something neutral, but polished.”
“Confirmed.”
Once my selections were finalized, I changed into something casual and stepped outside, drawn by the sound of Ibith’s laughter.She was playing in the courtyard with her Supplicant mina, Miuri, their matching smiles radiant under the midday sun.
“Ibith,” I greeted warmly.“Hi there!”
Ibith spun around, breathless from play, her caramel curls loose and bouncing at her shoulders.
“Good morning, Miuri,” I said with a nod.
Miuri turned, already smiling.It always struck me how Ibith bore a resemblance to her mina.Miuri’s dark curls were loosely gathered at the nape of her neck, a few tendrils catching the light.“Hello, Isara.It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”She smiled when I nodded in agreement.
Ibith beamed up at me, then darted off to chase a floating ring of holographic butterflies.Miuri watched her go, then turned back to me with tender appreciation.“Thank you for explaining what happened with Mr.Nyland.You handled it perfectly.”
I exhaled slowly, remembering the day’s events.“I wasn’t sure what you wanted her to know, so I didn’t say much.I panicked, if you want to know the truth.I didn’t lie, but I only said what was necessary.”
She nodded, the hesitation in her eyes betraying the smoothness of her reply.“It helped.”
As Ibith giggled in the distance, I hesitated before voicing the question pressing at the back of my mind.“I can’t stop thinking about Mrs.Nyland… what became of her.If it had been you, if you didn’t have Ibith, what would you have chosen?”
Miuri’s expression wavered.“If I didn’t have Ibith… termination.”
“Why?”I pressed gently.
There was a beat of silence before she answered, her tone contrived, as if reciting from a textbook.“Hiven certainly live full lives as service Supplicants, but a companion Supplicant is created for a singular bond.Without our Sovereign, the bond is severed and our existence becomes… hollow.”
I nodded slowly.“What do you think happened to them?”I asked.“They used to be so happy.Or did I imagine that?”
Miuri was obviously uncomfortable with my questions, but to be polite, she obliged.“They were.Things changed after their children passed.Under the Family Integration Protocol, they had already adopted two children within the required ten-year window.When they lost them, they sought an extension through the Sovereign Lineage Safeguard, hoping to adopt again, despite their window nearing its end.Their request for a third adoption was still under review.I suspect it had something to do with that.”
“I didn’t see them much after their little one’s funeral.I didn’t know it had gotten so… difficult between them.”
“Grief changes some,” Miuri said.
“I’m sure it does.”My gaze lingered on the Nylands’ empty home.“Two centuries after the Birth Crisis began, and it still doesn’t get easier.I just wish… I wish they could’ve leaned on each other through it.I’d never seen someone look as sad as Mrs.Nyland did that day.”
“Ibith, darling,” Miuri called.“It’s time for swim lessons!”
“But Mina!It’s not until later!”Ibith complained.
Miuri looked at me, sheepish about the small deception she was about to weave.“She’s been reluctant to leave the house lately.I find it’s easier to ease her into transitions rather than waiting until the last moment.”
“Of course,” I said, waving to Ibith as her mina guided her inside.
I turned back toward the Nylands’ home, its dark windows staring back in silent testimony to what had been lost.An ache settled in my chest as my gaze drifted to the towering wall beyond, its smooth, unbroken surface both a comfort and a cage.Exhaling, I turned away and stepped inside, letting the panel seal me away from the unanswered questions lingering in the air.
I decided to pass the afternoon painting in the garden, followed by a quick lunch and then, later, a nutrient-dense snack.The hours slipped by in steady increments, each one drawing me closer to the moment I had long awaited.
At exactly 17:30, the system in my dressing alcove whirred to life.The closet managed my selections, presenting the completed ensemble in a smooth, outward motion.I stepped forward, allowing the automation to guide me through the streamlined process.Cool air brushed my skin as the styling console went to work, hair sculpted into soft waves, nails shaped and polished to a subtle sheen, the selected aesthetic enhancing rather than concealing.With each completed cycle, I was closer to when Maxim would be standing at the threshold of my Sablestone.OurSablestone.
Fifteen minutes later, I stood before the full-length mirror.The dress hugged in all the right places, the fabric a second skin.My hair framed my face just as I had envisioned, each wave resting precisely.My dermatone accentuated without overwhelming.A pair of earrings—simple yet elegant—completed the look.
I slipped on my shoes and took a deep breath.The nerves were still present but now threaded with something else.Excitement.A current beneath my skin, a restlessness spiraling through my veins.
