#1: Karu & Josephina Hanaki
The married couple dragged their on-board luggage to customs, greeted by a cardboard cut-out of a flight attendant and a big sign that read: “Welcome to Kerangi” in 20 languages. Kerangi was Josephina’s birthplace, and her royal birthright as princess. Of course, she wasn’t a princess yet. Not officially. Her grandmother Meina, the former queen of East Bung’ke, had passed away in her sleep, and now, Jo’s parents were set for a coronation later in the year.
Jo and her husband Karu Hanaki arrived for the funeral in a commercial jet. They weren’t exactly sad for Meina’s passing. In fact, the king and queens were a product of the old laws. East Bung’ke weren’t just a monarchy - the old laws could be downright tyrannical. Every time Jo met her grandparents, she was reminded of that history, and the royal protocols of that time, which led to a war in the 1980s. If ever Bung’ke had another conflict between the East and the West, Karu and Jo made a note to say something. If saying something didn’t work, then they personally took action.
Karu was from the Wita region, West Bung’ke, and had to fight in the East-West Bung’ke war. Jo’s parents welcomed him when they moved to Wita themselves, but Meina never would.
Customs was more likely to stop them for an autograph or a picture if they were together, so they took separate machines. An examination with Karu was quicker, even if they suspected drugs or weapons on him. He was used to the scrutiny here in Kerangi. His work colleague Mattas Kovatar experienced the same when he crossed the border.
Karu, with uneven footing, stopped at the X-ray machine and pushed his bag through. He was as white as his gothic outfit right now, able to make it here without vomiting or passing out.
The customs officer checked his declaration card, then examined the X-ray. “May I see the sickness medication, Your Grace?”
Karu reached into his pocket for the ginger tablets. The officer took five minutes to search his belongings, then sent him through without the fuss of drugs or weaponry. Perhaps his in-laws said something, and Meina’s death brought sense to the Eastern government. If the plane ride over didn’t make him sick, the hold-up did.
Bystanders at the airport took photos of their appearance. Though Wita had a statute against this practice, Kerangi didn’t. But they had a statute against getting in celebrities’ way. Security guards escorted the couple to their chauffeur.
The Hanaki family were banned from setting foot in the royal palace, over a custody battle regarding Suzu, the Hanakis’ eldest daughter. Three days ago, that ban lifted. They could now dine with the unofficial king and queen, Mani and Dervina Sumesun.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the pallbearers, the living bloodline, and the military would march from Kanati square to the Malaki Beren temple Meina frequented. Jo grew up learning the ways of the Beren temple until she moved to Wita. The beliefs Meina projected onto her family caused Jo panic, when on the other side of the country, there was less scaremongering. She hated this temple especially, and she hated that this ceremony dragged out for national TV.
Mani and Dervina arranged uniforms to wear at the ceremony, secretly in honour of their son-in-law. Antique yellow linen was tradition in East Bung’ke, as the old royal dye - gamboge - was rare and expensive. It was also toxic. Thank goodness for artificial dyes.
Karu pulled on his shirt, and though he sent the new measurements, it still felt uneven. Then he realised the cardboard tag was still on the pants. He pulled it off, then adjusted the uniform correctly. The shirt matched his eyes, and the pants were white. How did they arrange white pants? Finally, royal dress he wanted to wear more often.
The Hanakis and the Sumesuns shared a limo, with Karu taking the front passenger seat. Car rides made him sick too. Along the way, they avoided the topic of Meina in general, and focused on questions the Hanakis never got to answer.
“Of course you can stay in Wita. That’s where Minarin Headquarters is, is it not?” said Dervina. She had golden curls and a round face, with purple eyes. Her figure was tiny, and before she became part of the dynasty, people prized her for it. “It’s no use forcing you from where your heart is.”
Karu smiled. “Will you visit? Suzu didn’t want any part of Meina, but I think she’d appreciate seeing you.”
Mani had a twinkle in his blue eyes. There was something warm about him compared to his parents. When they complained about how fat he was, he learned that it was their problem - diet and exercise regimes only made him sick. When he ate decent meals of fruit, vegetables, and proteins, he actually lost weight and slept better. “We’d love to return.”
Aside from the blonde hair, Jo took after her father. It was a wonder this dynasty came from tyrants.
After the ride over, they took their formation and marched to the temple. This ceremony was televised; Jo wondered if any citizens approved of Karu’s attendance. Not that it mattered. He came here for the traditional role, and to see his in-laws.
After a five minute march, they walked single-file into the temple, and took their reserved seats. Cameras swept over the temple and by the minister at the front. The minister read over his script for the last time, until the TV director gave the cue to begin.
To focus on the speech, Karu bounced his knee and held Jo’s hand. Even if he hated Meina, this was an important ceremony for all of Bung’ke - for two different reasons. And this meant a new chapter for East Bung’ke - a stronger peace treaty on the horizon. Given Mani and Dervina’s natures, he couldn’t imagine another war declaration.
He shuddered at the presence of someone’s eye, causing him to grip Jo’s hand tighter. He wondered if the cameras picked up on it, seeing as it was right behind the minister. Meina stood behind him, staring at Karu coldly. Karu’s glare was electric. Meina held her head high, then turned, and faded into the back of the temple. Something about her made him uncomfortable, as if she had plans to sabotage from the Great Beyond.