26: Anomaly

                                    

                                          


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With the princess in her corner, a letter sent to Alexander and a new plan set ahead for the upcoming weeks, Ensi feels like a new woman when she approaches her own doors in the late evening. In Zinnia's body, still, of course. But soon, she'll be right back in her own. And maybe this time she won't ever have to switch back.
The guards standing outside the very heart of the empress' chambers open the doors for her as soon as she comes near. Known to a very few and yet probably soon known to all, is that Zinnia has total free reign of the empress' quarters. All upon the empress' order not too long ago. In fact, Zinnia now has free reign of the whole palace. Ensi will never, ever be locked up again, no matter whose body she's in.
"Your Majesty."
The opened doors reveal Zinnia, in Ensi's body, sitting by her marble and gold desk while slowly writing on a yellowing piece of paper. She startles when Ensi is let inside, and stands up from her chair so fast it lets off a shrieking noise.
"Your M-" Zinnia nearly bows at the sight of Ensi, but is then reminded of the yet unclosed doors and the guards standing outside. She is in Ensi's body, she is empress, and she shouldn't be bowing to anyone else. Instead she quickly clears her throat to swallow her words, and stares at the doors until they close behind Ensi, who of course, looks like Zinnia.
They stand in silence for a while, staring at each other. The sound of footsteps catches Zinnia's attention. She turns to the side and sees a maid standing in the corner of the room, cleaning the heap of papers she left there earlier. Zinnia takes a shaky breath. Once again, she has to act like an empress.
"What are you doing here?"
Ensi, in Zinnia's body, has become much better at acting as a lady of Zinnia's stature. She bows gently, with a near seductive look shining in her expression, and bashfully lowers her gaze. "I have come to spend the night with you, as you wished." Her voice is silky smooth. Zinnia shivers at the sound of her own words, her mouth saying such things right in front of her. A frown appears on her face.
"But I didn't-"
Ensi quicky looks up, her gaze locked right on Zinnia's. There is a warning glint shining in her eyes. She doesn't need to say a thing. Zinnia swallows thickly. She reaches forward and grabs her own arm, Zinnia's arm, pulling the empress toward her. "I'm already tired, let's go." There is a satisfied look on Ensi's face when they move toward the bedroom and away from all the prying eyes.
Zinnia pushes through the doors and lets go of Ensi's hand, barely managing to wait for the doors to close. She turns around to face herself, seeing Ensi's eyes shine somewhere behind her own, hidden in her body.
"What is going on with you?"
Ensi rolls her eyes.
"Oh so it's no more 'your Majesty' for me then?"
"I can't take you seriously when you're in my body." Zinnia sighs, dragging a stressed hand through her, the empress's hair. The will to survive is slowly decreasing inside her mind. She is tired of acting like someone else, and tired of being in an unfamiliar body. She can only pray this will be the last time she'll ever have to look like Ensi. It probably won't be.
Today has made her extra sensitive. Zinnia looks down at herself, at Ensi, with something absolutely exhausted in her eyes. "First the princess spends the entire day with me, and now you want to spend the night?" Ensi doesn't look nearly as exhausted as Zinnia does. Her eyes are bright and filled with determination. She only nods, irritating Zinnia with her nonchalant words.