Rays of morning light shone on Roes’s figure.
Her head was tilted sideways with her eyes shut as she slept.
Some maids reported to the butler of her sleeping form; he paused in his tracks, just remembering Her Highness Rose was forgotten by the queen.
He beckoned one of the passing maids.
”Tell the other cleaning maids to start with the audience chamber.
Make as much noise as you can when doing your duties.
Make sure the chamber is cleaned thoroughly.
We wouldn’t want to disgrace the queen with a dusty room on the day of the celebration.” He lectured in a serious tone.
He was the epitome of a perfect butler at this moment if you ignore his eyes that were sparkling with gloating.
”Yes sir.” The maid replied, her face turning serious and left to relay his words to the other cleaning maids.
Ten of them mobilized with the cleaning tools and headed to the audience chamber.
Seeing someone sleeping, they looked at each other in surprise but didn’t stop their actions; it was a direct order from the butler.
Sounds of cleaning echoed in the room; they were focused, lost in their cleaning; the sounds of other dragging chairs, the beating of rugs and the chime of glasses echoed.
Rose frowned in her sleep from the continuous sound, she moved her head to the sound to block the sound, but her neck made a cracking sound, her eyes shot open by the sharp pain coming from her neck.
She held her neck, physiological tears sliding from the corner of her eyes as she massaged her neck, loosening the knots.
‘Was she in her bed?’ she thought with her mind still muddled from sleep.
Her eyes cleared as she focused on the direction of the beating sound, and she fell off in shock when she remembered where she was.
”Thud!”
Her head slammed into the side of the chair, and she bit her lip reflexively.
Her eyes watering with tears as she felt the pricking gaze of the maids present.
Her royal grace had gone down the drain.
”Look away!” she shouted, feeling shamed by their stare.
The cleaning maids quickly looked away, but their shoulders were trembling from suppressed laughter; they didn’t dare let it out; they weren’t bold enough to suffer a royal’s wrath.
So they went back to their cleaning, totally ignoring her presence.
Rose’s face turned purple with rage, ‘how could she leave her aunt waiting for the next day?
Ahh!
Why can’t this bitch drop dead already!’
Her body trembled from anger, her vision turning dark, but she quickly suppressed her anger, taking deep breaths to calm herself down; she didn’t want to faint in enemy territory or show more shameful actions.
She would bide her time and endure until her daughter sat on the throne, and then she would show what that child what longing for death feels like.
She regained her composure sat back in the chair, and waited for the queen to come.
Not knowing her dreams were never going to come to reality.
****
Elora was sprawled on the bed, she was deep in sleep with no sign of stirring.
The massage worked its wonders on her body, making her sleep deeper than she was already doing.
When the afternoon sun shone through the curtains, and her stomach growling from hunger, her body finally stirred; her moist eyes blinked open, yawns leaving her lips as she sat up lazily on the bed.
She felt so well rested, her mood brighter this morning as she pulled off her clothes to have her bath.
The only regret is there was no soap to wash off the oil sheen from her skin; it seems she had to instruct apothecaries to create a soap since they can make essential oil; there was nothing difficult in making a soap.
With those thoughts, she sank into the warm water, sighing as the water soothed her body; she picked up a cloth to wash her body but paused, remembering what she was forgetting.
‘My money!
How can I forget something so important?’
She quickly washed off, dressed in a blue gown, and left the room with her crown placed on her head; her doors were replaced with a water screen, like the ones in the hot spring pool, so she could walk through without them losing any more doors.
”Good afternoon, Your Majesty.
Your lunch is prepared.” Nalia greeted, informing the queen of her lunch.
Elora, who was moving in the direction of the audience chamber, changed directions to the dining room at the mention of food.
Anyway, the money wasn’t going anywhere any time soon.
Thorn, who had woken up since the morning sun rose in the sky, worked hard to reduce the files in the study while labelling Elora as a lazy queen in his mind.
He hadn’t seen a shadow of her since he started working.
He had brought out the important files that needed her attention but she was nowhere in sight.
No wonder the files were piled up in a towering heap.
He stretched his neck, leaving the desk, and moved towards hers.
Thorn’s working desk was placed in the queen study, to make it easier for them to work together.
He strode over to the great view of the gushing waterfall from the window; he stared, feeling peaceful whenever he was around nature.
”Knock.”
The sound interrupted his peaceful feeling.
The smile on his lips disappeared when the door opened.
”Sir Thorn, the queen request your presence in the audience chamber.” The maid reported.
Thorn’s eyes flickered, ‘Finally, she shows herself.’ He thought as he nodded to the maid.
”Lead the way.”
He followed the maid in the direction of the audience room, passing by hallways, and they coincidentally met up with the queen who was heading in that direction.
“Your Majesty Good afternoon.” Thorn greeted out in his soft tone.
Elora nodded in response, “I heard of your work progress; I’m glad.
Work hard, and you’ll reap the benefits at the end of the year.” She spoke in an inspiring tone.
Thorn’s jaw clenched slightly at her words, “Yes, your Majesty, I will work hard.
And Your Majesty, I have sorted out some important files.
They are on your desk, awaiting your attention.” He responded with a willing expression, but a smile flashed in his eyes at her stiffened form when he mentioned her part of the work.
‘huh?
It seems he will focus more on sorting out the important files.’ He thoughts, smiling wickedly internally.