A shallow, man-made pool stretched for at least a couple hundred feet before coming to rest at the shadow of the king's summer palace. It was not a simple, rectangular pool, like a lot of man-made bodies of water are, but nor was it circular. It had the appearance of starting out as a rectangle, but then it looked as if the designer had taken the idea of the outline of a cloud, and traced it to end either side of the width of the pool. The pool was symmetrical, the length of the pool straight lines, the width one large half circle, and on either side of that half circle were two equal sized, smaller, half circles.

The reflection in that pool was the palace. It too, was symmetrical. It was a soft, calm, clean white; its roof was a bright, cheerful blue. Its windows had blue borders, and there were many windows. On the first floor, the windows were smaller, and on each side of the entranceway, there were about ten windows. The second floor, again on each side of the grand entranceway, had twelve windows, including those on the towers and these were longer than those of the first floor. The third floor was smaller, with five windows on each side of the entranceway. The fourth floor, where the king and his fiancée's quarters were to be found, had a balcony overlooking the front of the palace, and it had the appearance of three buildings sitting atop the palace. The middle "building", had a roof painted black to accent the black wrought iron work of the entranceway. This was the area where the king and his fiancée met with guests. To the right of the receiving quarters was the king's suite, to the left, his fiancée's.

The garden on the balcony was a paradise in itself. Filled with tropical plants, visited by exotic birds, and enchanted with friendly companions, it was a lush escape for its nobility. An area in front of the fiancée's suite was tented, and in this retreat one could find more plants with wide hiding leaves typical of a tropical plant, overstuffed pillows, chairs, and couches. The palace was symmetrical in every respect; so on the other side of the soon-to-be-queen's suite, there was another tented retreat, and another balcony overlooking a long man-made pool. The only difference was that this side, the back of the palace, the man-made pool cascaded into the ocean gently, making a soothing, pleasant sound to lull one to sleep.

The fiancée's suite, Mikona's suite, did not have walls one is used to seeing. Rather, on the two sides that had balconies, there were a series of glass doors, with curving white wrought iron work. It was the same for another side, only these doors opened into the receiving quarters. The fourth and final side was similar, only not glass doors, but instead, glass panels with the same curving white wrought iron work. These doors and panels on the inside had long, white, flowing, linen curtains, giving desirable privacy, but allowing light to seep through. On the outside there were wooden shutters that could be pulled should disagreeable arrive. But this was rare.

A canopy bed with black curving wrought ironwork can be found against the glass panels. It's filled with a feather bed, pillows, soft linens, soft chenille and velvet blankets, all white. A plush black rug covers a white mosaic floor, and scattered about the room are several potted tropical plants. Two armoires are placed diagonally in the corners opposite the bed, and are stuffed with a small percentage of the extensive wardrobe that the king has lavished upon his fiancée.

Outside, reclining on one of the couches, covered with one of the velvet blankets, drowsy head on one of the chenille, overstuffed pillows; was a miserable Mikona. Her emerald eyes were as bright as ever, only now they were bright with brimming tears. The lips of rouge seemed forever to stay in the form of a pout, and never again to part in smile. Her long, black, curls were entwined and caught in her slumbering pose. The simple green dress that made her eyes shine was now wrinkled, and tangled about her legs.

A tear escaped from one of those shimmering emeralds, and trailed down her cheek. Her perfectly manicured hands clutched their hold on precious fabrics in desperation. Loneliness made her choke in grief, and the tears began to flow steadily. The glimmering eyes squeezed shut, and the head adorned with raven tresses buried itself into the bright pillows. Her body shook with need of understanding love.

This poor, young girl was in the stage between child and adult, the time of confusion and tumult. Things were hard enough fora girl her age, without the thought or burden of having to marry a man whom she didn't love.