“Princess Elira of Elarion.
The peace bride has arrived.” Elira was furious.
A royal guard has no right to address her as a peace bride, which meant one thing: someone wants to remind her of her place.
She looked at Nasha who just sighed.
“Ignore him for now.” The door was pushed open from inside, revealing a courtyard Elira could only describe as perfect.
“I never thought we were stepping into a courtyard.” “Well….the queen Dowager has a habit of holding her meeting wherever she desires.
And the courtyard is mostly her favorite place.” Nasha answered.
“I see!” They stepped into the courtyard and Elira sighed.
There wasn’t much women like she had envisioned.
They were just…few.
“I also think Nebuzza has the habit of messing with one’s imagination.” She whispered.
Nasha smiled.
Understanding her.
“Maybe, the queen Dowager wants you to know your future rivals.” “Stop making it sound that way.” Elira nudged her a bit.
They walked in.
The queen Dowager was seated on a high chair.
A table in the middle with two long benches at the sides.
The noble women seated on the benches were so fair that Elira felt really intimidated with her looks.
They stared at her with mocking eyes and a smile that didn’t quite reach their eyes.
“Her Majesty!” Elira and Nasha bowed.
“You are quite late, child.
Come have a seat.” The queen Dowager smiled.
She looked quite pale from the sickness but she spoke and moved like nothing was wrong.
Elira moved and sat at the stool next to the queen.
The Queen Dowager’s courtyard was filled with the fragrance of jasmine and burning incense.
A flowing fountain that settles the soul with its sound.
It’s beauty was thoughtfully organized.
Queen Dowager raised her cup.
“Princess Elira of Elarion…
welcome to Nebuzza.” Elira bowed gracefully.
“It is an honor, Your Majesty.” The queen Dowager smiled.
“Today, I wish to introduce you to the women of our household.
We are one now.” She simply said.
‘Wow the longest introduction she’d ever heard of.’ She smiled in her sarcasm.
“So this is the famous peace bride.” A lady seated at the left side of the table spoke.
Her eyes traveled slowly over Elira.
“I expected someone…
more extraordinary.” Several ladies laughed softly.
Elira’s smile faltered.
Nasha had told her ahead of time of the real reason she was meeting the Noble ladies, but she didn’t expect such fierce criticism.
‘Too bad the Queen Dowager was here, she would have pushed her off her chair for such comment.’ Then Elira smiled at her.
“I hope my duty proves more extraordinary than my appearance.” The laughter faded.
Immediately.
The queen Dowager slowly turned her head to look at the same woman who always looked like she wants to cry.
“I hope so!” The lady said.
“I’m Lady Voren” “I know!” Elira said almost immediately.
“It’s a pleasure, lady Voren.” Silence.
“Well, it seems the women of Elarion were not taught etiquette.
They couldn’t even serve tea.” Another Lady said and again, laughter, while covering half of their faces with a hand fan.
Elira didn’t react.
She waited for their laughter to die down, all eyes on her.
And then she turned towards the lady and smiled again.
“Well, if the queen Dowager permits me, then I shall serve her tea.” All eyes turned to the queen dowager who held her tea cup gracefully.
“You may!” A low gasp rang through the women.
No one among them had ever served a tea to the queen Dowager, but she had just allowed an outsider.
Elira stood up and gracefully grabbed the kettle.
‘Good thing Nasha had taught her how to serve tea’ she thought.
She guided the kettle’s trunk towards the cup and poured tea.
After setting down the kettle she handed the queen Dowager the cup and bowed.
The queen nodded, she took the cup from her and inhaled the aroma before taking a sip from it.
“It tastes quite better!” The queen Dowager said and Elira smiled and lowered herself to the stool.
“The kettle seemed to fit more in your hands.
Our cups crave your blessing” lady Voren chuckled.
“I was brought to Nebuzza as a bride to the king, lady Voren, not as a tea server to…ladies-in-waiting” she swept her gaze over them and smiled in satisfaction with their reactions as she picked up her tea cup.
Another noblewoman sneered.
“A bride to the king?
Didn’t they say your father only remembered you when he needed to avoid war.” A hush settled.
They expected her to be offended, or look up to the queen Dowager for help.
But no, instead Elira lowered her teacup.
“Then I suppose I was remembered at exactly the right time.” She smiled.
“Many people live long lives without ever becoming useful to their kingdoms.” Even the Queen Dowager lifted an eyebrow.
A younger lady chuckled.
She was dressed in an expensive attire more than the others.
Lady Mira.
“I heard you’re an illegitimate princess.” Elira nodded gently.
“That is true.” The woman smiled triumphantly.
“I cannot imagine living with such shame,you really have been through a lot.” Elira’s expression didn’t change.
She was already used to the mockery of being an illegitimate daughter.
But she was fuming within, this ladies are getting on her nerves.
“I’ve learned that the circumstances of one’s birth belong to fate.
But the character one builds belongs entirely to oneself.” There was silence.
Lady Mira was angry and she didn’t bother to hide it.
“Lower your gaze peace bride.
Do women in Elarion always stare so confidently at their betters?” Elira’s smile widened.
She really hit a nerve.
“My mother taught me that lowering one’s eyes should be reserved for those worthy of the gesture.” Several ladies nearly dropped their fans.
And some laughed.
One of the Noble ladies laughed out loudly and was met with a deadly glare from Lady Mira.
“You should be careful.” She turned to Elira.
“Nebuzza eats gentle girls alive.” Elira met her gaze.
“Then it is fortunate that kindness and weakness have never been the same thing.” Lady Voren was red from anger on how Elira met every word.
Didn’t they say she was more fragile than a rabbit.
“Well, we look forward to your strength…peace bride.
And we hope you don’t fall apart so soon because we all know that the king has no interest in women.” The courtyard erupted with restrained laughter.
“So perhaps….our peace bride will return untouched.” Another said and there was more laughter.
Elira looked at them and her face reddened.
Was it the same man who had pounced on her like a starved man.
Then she smiled sweetly.
“If His Majesty values peace as much as everyone claims….then I shall already have succeeded.” Queen Dowager Lyran hid a smile behind her cup.
Elira spoke with so much confidence that she wondered what his son had been doing behind closed doors.
The women couldn’t find words to defuse Elira.
Lady Voren was burning from anger and embarrassment.
Others fell silent.
Then a noble lady adjusted on her chair and stared directly at Elira.
“You speak with so much poise princess.
But if Elarion had truly loved you…would they have sent you away?
No!
They were done seeing an unimportant soul I guess.” Every eye fixed on Elira.
She was silent for a heartbeat.
Then she smiled, same gentle smile she had worn all afternoon.
“My father sent an army’s worth of hope in one woman.” She rose gracefully.
“I choose to see that as trust.” She turned to the Queen Dowager.
“And if I earn the respect of Nebuzza while preserving peace between our kingdoms, then neither kingdom will remember me as the daughter they gave away.
They will remember me as the woman who made sure neither kingdom buried its sons.” The courtyard fell completely silent.
For the first time that afternoon, no one had another insult ready.
The Queen Dowager slowly set down her teacup.
A faint smile touched her lips.
“Perhaps,” she thought, “this girl is far more dangerous than she looks.” Not far, king Zareth watched with a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.
“I told you, she’s quite interesting.” “Hmm” general Alaric nodded.
“She now speaks like the same woman I had known all along.” He turned towards Alaric.
“Unlike some people who doesn’t even know one.” General Alaric glared at him.
“One more word about my love life and I will announce your presence.” Zareth chuckled, but he said nothing.
He knew quite well what Alaric was capable of doing.
“So, when are you planning to set things right?” “Well…I have missed the way she calls me Adrian… while looking at me like the only thing in the world.” He smiled at Alaric who scoffed and began walking away.
“Jealous?” Zareth followed behind.
“Huff!
You think so highly of yourself.” **** **** Nasha did not speak to Elira as they walked back to her quarters, while Elira kept tugging on her sleeves.
She wondered if she spoke stupidly that might have infuriated Nasha.
“Nasha… you can’t just ignore me.” She pouted.
Nasha didn’t answer, but as soon they stepped into Elira’s wing, she turned and picked her up in a bridal-style and twirled her around.
“What was that for?” Elira asked as soon as Nasha put her down.
“You did absolut wonderful.” “Really?” Elira jumped in excitement.
“Yes!
That was the best come back I’ve ever seen.” “So why did you ignore me?” “Damn it, princess, don’t you know people will think I coached you when they see me praising you out there.
You have a slow brain indeed.” Elira chuckled while staring at Nasha’s angry face.
“Well… I was worried.
But hey, lady Voren doesn’t seem good.” Elira complained and Nasha nodded.
“Good thing you noticed.” “How do you mean” “Well… she is among the noble women who seek affection from the king.
They are ready to go against rules just to be the king’s concubine.” “So she is my rival?” Elira smiled bitterly.
The king will have to find a queen who would rule Nebuzza with him, and if he chooses lady Voren then….
“I thought the Harem has rules.” Elira asked.
“Yes!
But the queen Dowager made her own rules.
The Royal Harem of Nebuzza is not merely the king’s household.
It is the official court of royal women and noble ladies presided over by the Queen Dowager.” Nasha explained and Elira nodded.
“In Elarion, Rosa told me the royal Harem is only for the royal household.” “Well, rules can change, and Nebuzza changed their rules.
Lady Voren can be vile, but not as vile and vicious as lady Akira.” “Lady Akira?” “Yes!
She was also seated at the table, but her voice never sounded.” “Wow!” Elira muttered.
“Enough of the information.
You need to rest” Nasha said.
“You have spent the whole morning and afternoon running your mouth, and I believe it hurts.” She pulled out an object from her pocket and handed it to Elira who stared intently at it.
“Prince Darius came looking for you, he wanted to give you this” Elira loosened the linen that was wrapped around it and a glistening silver hairpin came to view.
It had tiny diamonds dangling from its edge.
It was truly beautiful.
“It’s beautiful!” She whispered.
“Of course it is.
He said it was a gift he prepared to welcome you to Nebuzza.” Nasha smiled.
“Now don’t just stand there, move your fragile legs forward.
You need to rest.
I will go let the servants prepare you a meal.” “I’m not hungry Nasha.
I just finished dining with the queen Dowager.
Are you trying to over feed me?” Nasha chuckled as Elira angrily marched inside her chambers as the royal guards closed the door behind her.
“She is really cute.” Nasha smiled.
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