Contents
Chapter Nineteen: Sefa
Overview
Sefa, posing as Zahra, is toyed with by palace staff and stumbles into Sultana Vaida’s chambers, interrupting a lover and making a mess. Vaida coolly asserts control, compels Sefa’s honesty, and installs her as eyes within the Ivory Palace. Vaida reveals the staff’s prank and warns Sefa to harden her heart against palace predators.
Summary
Sefa navigates a hectic Lukubi kitchen, where senior servants Birta and Radwan, with Salwa, “help” her assemble breakfast for Sultana Vaida while smirking at her ignorance. Carrying the tray to the Sultana’s wing, Sefa hesitates at the guarded door and announces herself.
Inside, she trips in the dark, spilling food as sunlight reveals Vaida and a naked lover. Vaida dismisses the man and the mess, then has Sefa cleanse red paint from her skin. As Sefa works, Vaida studies her, sensing discomfort masked as deference.
Vaida abruptly grabs Sefa’s throat, demanding truth and declaring Sefa will serve as her eyes in the palace, with brutal consequences for lies. Regaining composure, Sefa admits she is cautious, likening Vaida to a poisonous flower whose danger is uncertain.
The tension eases as Vaida chatters about her garden and plants’ temperaments while Sefa finishes the cleaning. Pleased, Vaida’s mood shifts to warmth, and she leads Sefa to an opulent wardrobe room.
Before dismissing her, Vaida reveals the servants pranked Sefa: the Sultana never takes breakfast in her chambers and rises late. She closes with a warning that the Ivory Palace, built by the illusionist Baira, rewards unpredictability and preys on softness, urging Sefa to fiercely guard her heart.
Who Appears
- Sefa (posing as Zahra)New to the Ivory Palace; pranked by staff; stumbles into Vaida’s chambers and is drafted as Vaida’s eyes.
- Sultana VaidaMercurial ruler; dismisses a lover, tests Sefa’s honesty, appoints her as palace informant, and issues a chilling warning.
- SalwaYoung servant who tries to warn Sefa about the breakfast prank but is silenced.
- BirtaHead of the southern kitchen; oversees and subtly mocks Sefa while enabling the prank.
- RadwanKitchen staff; participates in the ruse and watches Sefa’s confusion.
- Vaida’s unnamed loverCaught in Vaida’s chambers; dismissed curtly after Sefa’s entrance.