Kira walked back to her study with flushed cheeks. All Melchoir did was just tease her and oh she gave in.
"My lady, we were wondering what took you so long." Uma teased as Kira walked in. She knew the couples well. Melchoir avoided making out with her and now seeing her come to him, he'll grab the opportunity.
"Oh it's nothing." Kira rolled her eyes as she sat down. Uma walked to her back and helped her adjust the lace of her dress.
"He doesn't know how to straighten the lace." She whispered and Kira sneered.
"So Lady Zeena, how may of the concubines has children?" Kira asked.
"All of them. The oldest child is just sixteen and that is Lady Carissa's daughter." Zeena reported.
"Okay. I'll be visiting the court tomorrow and taking charge from where Lady Amelia left it." Kira smiled and Zeena nodded.
"You can leave." Kira waved her hand.
"Your majesty can always call on us if she needs us." Zeena bowed before walking out with the ladies-in-waiting.
"You know, Kira. You should really teach Melchoir how to dress you properly..."
"You just want to tease me Uma. This isn't the first time he's helping me put something on." Kira rolled her eyes.
"Something as in your underwear?" Uma gasped.
"That does it. Uma I'll have you thrown in the dungeon for a week without food if that's going to reset your brain. I'm the queen here." Kira frowned.
"And you know I can go as long as eight days without food right." Uma rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. You're following me to the court tomorrow." Kira replied and Uma nodded. "And yes. Send for Lady Zeena again. I forgot to ask a a thing."
Not long after, Zeena walked in with Yuna and the ladies-in-waiting.
"You called my queen." Zeena bowed.
"Yes. I really want to do something about the female servants. They barely leave the palace so I was thinking their children should come visit them twice a week. And I want to bring Yuna's daughter in. She'll be in the castle." Kira said and Zeena looked a bit surprised but she nodded.
"Yuna's daughter will be brought to you before dinner my queen. Is that all?" Zeena asked.
"And yes I haven't been shown the map of the kingdom and the whole castle. Can you get me one?" Kira asked.
"You should have one here. If you don't mind me searching for it." Zeena bowed.
"You can." Kira replied and Zeena walked to the bookshelf and brought out a book after a long search. She brought out two large papers and gave it to Kira.
"This is the royal castle's map." Zeena said.
"Wow, I never knew the castle was this big. See how big the court is. Wow." Kira gasped as she saw the large landmark of the castle.
Not long after Kira walked out of the castle to welcome Yuna's daughter. It was so unusual of queens to act this way towards maids. She even went there personally.
"Mother." The young girl ran to hug Yuna. "I missed you. You didn't come home for months now."
"I'm so sorry sweetheart." Yuna kissed her forehead. "But you'll soon be closer to me. Her majesty, the queen decided you'll be staying in the castle now."
"Really?" The girl gasped and then looked behind her mother to see Kira walking down the stairs. "Is that her majesty?"
"Yes." Yuna replied.
The girl bowed immediately Kira neared them and Kira smiled.
"It's okay. What is your name?" Kira asked her.
"Ella my queen." The girl answered.
"Well I'm Kirana, but I prefer being called me Kira." Kira said to the young girl.
"Beautiful Sunbeam. You're beautiful just like your name my queen. And you even have golden hair like me." Ella complimented and Kira smiled.
"Aww, how did you know the meaning of my name? You're so intelligent." Kira squatted before her. "You're sis right?"
"Yes my queen." Ella replied.
"What do you want to become when you grow up?" Kira asked.
"I want to be a lady in the court. Maybe an ambassadors. Someone told me they work for us in other kingdoms." Ella beamed and Kira chuckled.
"Sure. Come in. I didn't tell the maids to prepare your room yet so you can choose the way you want it. You can sleep with Yuna tonight." Kira said to her as they walked into the castle.
"I'll be staying with you in the castle? Like a princess?" Ella gasped.
"Yes sweetheart." Kira smiled and Ella squealed excitedly.
During dinner, Ella walked in with Yuna in a simple dress. Kira had the royal seamstress to prepare a few clothes for her to wear.
Ella's golden hair fell down her shoulders to her waist and her black eyes held so much confidence.
"Will I be eating with you my queen?" She asked.
"Yes." Kira replied. "This is my childhood and best friend, Uma."
"Hi little girl." Uma smiled.
"You look beautiful." Ella complimented and Uma smiled.
"Thank you." Uma smiled sweetly.
"You both will like each other, since you both have interests in other kingdoms." Kira said and Ella nodded looking at her fork, confused which out of the four five forks she would use to eat.
"My queen, why are there so many forks? We eat with only one right?" Ella raised her brows and Yuna quickly rushed to her to give her the smallest fork.
"Each fork are for different type of food. You can't use a big fork for cake, there is a fork specially for cakes out of all those forks." Kira explained and she nodded.
"So bold. How old are you?" Uma asked.
"Six." Ella replied and Uma looked suprised.
"Wow, you're smart for your age." Uma gasped.
"Thank you my lady." Ella smiled.
Yuna gently pat her hair and served her some sauce.
Kira returned to her study that night to sort out somethings before going to bed. She knew Melchoir wouldn't come to bed so she decided to bring him dinner before going to bed.
"Melchoir." She called as she walked into his study.
He was busy with work and didn't even notice her enter. He looked up immediately he heard her voice.
"Sweetheart." He called as she placed the tray of food with her on a table.
"You haven't had dinner yet so I decided to bring it to you." She replied.
"Thank you. I still have a few work to deal with. I guess I should be done in an hour." He smiled at her and she nodded.
"Make sure you eat. I have to do somethings. See you later."
The sun rose slowly and peeked into the room through the transparent dome covering the castle.
Kira woke up and found the other side of the bed empty. Melchoir didn't sleep in the room. As she placed her legs into her slippers there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." She called and Ella,
Yuna and Sara walked in.
"Good morning my queen." Ella bowed.
"Good morning Ella." She smiled.
"Good morning her majesty." Yuna and Sara greeted.
"Good morning." She replied.
"Should we make you your bath?" Yuna asked.
"Yes please." Kira nodded.
"My queen, Lady Zeena and the ladies-in-waiting are here." Sara informed.
"So early?" Kira frowned and nodded.
Zeena and the ladies-in-waiting walked in and bowed.
"Good morning my queen. The ladies are here to help your maids prepare you." Zeena bowed.
"Oh. Okay." Kira nodded.
Zeena looked at the ladies and three of them followed Yuna into the bathroom to make her bath while three followed Sara to prepare her dress.
"My queen, you shouldn't be in the King's chamber. The Queen's chamber is the right place for you to be " Zeena said as politely as she could.
"So are you saying it is wrong?" Kira asked. "No one told me since my wedding."
"It is only allowed during the first week after the marriage." Zeena said again.
"So are you going to chase my queen out of my chamber?" They heard Melchoir's voice and they all turned to look at him. The ladies bowed and Ella who was sitting next to Kira too stood up.
"Your majesty." They all chorused.
"So what if she should be in the Queen's chamber. I'm the king and I can change the rules to suit my queen and I anytime." Melchoir said walking towards Kira and gave her a good morning hug.
"Your majesty, it has been in the law her greatness Vitalia left that no queen will take a permanent room in the King's chamber and we have been following it since her time. It would be really rude to go against it now. The Queen is only in the king's chamber when they want to make love at night or when she needs to see him privately." Zeena bowed and Melchoir looked at her.
"Fine. Prepare the Queen's chamber for her by tomorrow." Melchoir frowned but he knew he could just teleport into her room to sleep with her. No biggie.
"Yes your majesty." Zeena bowed.
"Melchoir, this is Ella. Yuna's daughter." Kira said and the ladies and Zeena were surprised she called him by his name and he didn't seem to bother about it.
"Good morning your majesty." Ella said nervously.
"How are you darling?" Melchoir squatted before her and looked at her for a few minutes. "You're six right?" She nodded.
"Pardon your majesties." Yuna said as soon as they walked out of the bathroom. "Your bath is ready my queen."
"Okay. I'm visiting the court today Melchoir." Kira said still aware of the presence of the others.
"You'll do great." Melchoir pecked her lips and Ella covered her eyes making Melchoir chuckle slightly. "So Ella how would you like to spend the morning with me? I have the morning off and seems Kira here has a busy schedule so why don't you come with me."
"Really? I would love to." Ella squealed.
"Okay. When I'm done with a few things I'll send one of my Lords to pick you." Melchoir said.
"Shouldn't you be decorating your room?" Kira asked acting like she's jealous Melchoir is spending his time off with Ella instead of her.
"Sis Sara helped me with it already." Ella giggled seeing Kira's expression.
After their little talk, Kira went to have her bath with the help of Yuna and the ladies and she was dressed by Yuna, Sara and the ladies.
"Breakfast is served my queen." Zeena informed as Kira walked out of the dressing room.
After breakfast Uma and Kira walked into the carriage which rode to the court. It took them fifteen minutes to reach the court. Kira never knew Vitalia was this big. As soon as they got to the gate of the court, it opened and all attention was on them. Kira saw there were two large gate and the carriage stopped at the gate on the right.
Zeena helped her down from the carriage and the one of the ladies-in-waiting opened an umbrella to cover Kira's head. Kira just rolled her eyes, this special treatments gets on her nerves sometimes.
"Men are not allowed to enter the ladies court." Zeena said to her showing why they stopped and Kira nodded.
The large gates was pulled open and a couple of female guards rushed over to stand by their sides. A beautiful sight of a garden welcomed them.
They were met by the concubines if the late king and Melchoir's two concubines.
"This is Lady Amelia, my queen." Zeena informed.
"Welcome to the court my queen." A perfect yet fake smile was plastered across Amelia's face. The other ladies curtsied in unison.
"This are his majesty's concubines. Lady Clara and Lady Ciara." Zeena informed and the two ladies who were a year or two older than she is curtsied.
"Let's go my queen, the people are waiting for you in the main hall." Amelia smiled.
"Thank you Lady Amelia but let me do the talking to her majesty." Zeena insulted Amelia politely which made her boil with anger but she was perfect at hiding it.
"What a polite insult." Uma whispered to Kira and they both chuckled silently.
Zeena lead them to the main hall. The guards opened the doors and they all stepped in making the hall become silent. The hall was filled with different people of the court. Thy all bowed immediately Kira walked in. Zeena lead her towards the large throne that sat proudly at the opposite side of the entrance.
"Please sit my queen." Zeena said as they got to the throne. Kira sat gently and gestured to Uma to come and stand by her right side.
The official owner of the throne has finally settled on it. Amelia was smiling sweetly but was angry a younger girl had to take her place.
Kira looked up at the decorations of the hall. The hall was very large and beautiful. Everything about the hall portrayed feminism. From the soft flowery curtains, to the soft carpet and antique vases. There were statues of females by each window in the hall and Kira noticed the one behind her before she took her seat was Vitalia's statue.
Zeena cleared her throat and clapped her hands to get everyone's attention which she got successfully. Kira was wondering how those at the end of the hall would hear her but immediately she started talking she knew the walls weren't just walls. It made each word she said echo so one could hear from a long distance.
"Attention please my dear ladies, Nobels, courtiers and all. As we all know today Lady Amelia is stepping down from this throne and her royal majesty Kirana is ascending her throne to take her rightful place on it because we all know it is the reigning queen who deals with the court not concubines." Zeena said indirectly insulting Amelia intentionally. "And we all know her majesty is very young and most of us here are much older than she is. But all things that would be done in the walls of this castle in whole from the little things to the largest should be reported to Her Majesty Queen Kirana from now on. Her consent must be sought before any step taken and she is responsible settling disputes between you ladies too." Zeena looked at Amelia again. Kira and Uma didn't fail to notice that. "Anyone, regardless of age and status who dares to defy Her Majesty's orders would be severely punished according to the laws. Now you can all introduce yourselves to her majesty."
Everyone started stepping forward to introduce themselves from the oldest concubines to the youngest and so did their children. There were also some unofficial wives of the late king. Some even gave her gifts. Kira didn't even bother to master their names. She only kept the Nobels and concubines names near in case they are needed.
As they wanted to end the gathering Kira spoke. "You. Come." She pointed at one of the teenagers and she walked slowly towards her. "Can you tell me how Lady Amelia treated people during this years of her reign. I'll know if you're lying so tell me truthfully."
The girl looked at Amelia with her hands trembling and her legs shaking slightly. Amelia gave her a hard look before returning to her normal face.
"Lady...lady... Amelia was.....was usually harsh." The girl blurted. "She beats up young kids who crossed her path and treats the older women with no respect."
"I see." Kira nodded looking at Amelia. "What is the punishment for abusing your powers In the court."
"Stripping off their titles." Amelia replied slowly.
"But I would forgive you this time. One more detection of abuse of powers I'll strip you off your title. And there's nothing you can do and not even his majesty can do anything about it. And I'm only pardoning you because you were in charge of the court before my arrival and you'll have to make reports of everything in all the past years." Kira said. "I can be really nice but I don't tolerate offenses and abuse of powers."
"Yes My Queen." Amelia bowed.