Genevieve smiled at the queen mother, a facade to hide her irritation over Viktor's return.
"Of course" she replied and sat down next to the queen mother.
Queen mother Emilia smiled as she poured tea for herself and Genevieve.
"Go on" she gestured to Genevieve who picked up her cup.
Genevieve's eyes lingered on the cup for a while before bringing it to her mouth.
"Oh dear Genevieve" the queen mother said clicking her tongue, "I have no intentions of poisoning your tea"
Genevieve smiled,"of course not" she said sarcasm dripping from her voice.
The queen mother smiled and brought out a long scroll.
"This is my guest list, go through it and invite those who are yet to be invited. I want every name on that list to be present" queen mother Emilia said and slipped her own tea.
Genevieve nodded as her eyes scanned the list, "of course mother"
"And the slaves?... I believe preparations for new clothes are ongoing" queen mother Emilia asked.
"The seamstress arrived at first light" Genevieve replied and added, "although I see no reason to get the slaves new gowns"
Queen mother Emilia shook her head, "you don't understand Genevieve, my grandson is coming back after 10 years. I won't have him see the slaves in worn out gowns"
Genevieve scoffed inside herself. She had also done her own preparations over the years. She had made sure the council of elders and the ministers all thought badly of Viktor. His return made no difference.
"You may leave now lady Genevieve" queen mother Emilia said.
Genevieve bowed and began to walk out of the throne room.
"Ah! Genevieve" the queen mother called and Genevieve turned to face her.
"Try not to pull any stupid stunts during the celebration" the queen mother said, her voice laced with warning before she offered her a warm smile, "trust me when I say it's for your own good"
Genevieve smile twisted into a sarcastic smirk, "oh I wouldn't dream of it your majesty" her tone laced with deceit.
The queen mother's smile never wavered but her eyes seemed to glint with a knowing light. "Excellent! I'm glad we understand each other .
As Genevieve turned to leave, the soft rustle of her gown and the click of her heels on the marble ground echoed through the throne room.
The palace was a bustle of activities, slaves were seen going up and down. The entire castle was filled with the scent of delicious snacks and food. The big kitchen was the busiest and most crowded. Most of the slaves were excited because some of them had already taken their measurements.
Heidi and Rosie giggled as they waited to be called into the measurement room.
"I think I'll like mine to have lots of frills and ruffles" Rosie said her voice filled with excitemen
"you wish" Heidi said with a smile, "I heard lady Genevieve had chosen one style for all the slaves and I also know it's nothing fancy"
"Ughhh, my day just got ruined" Rosie muttered in annoyance, "I was also going to tell the seamstress to make mine shorter"
"Come on, let's go in" Heidi said as two slaves came out of the room.
Heidi and Rosie walked into the room as their eyes scanned the entire room.
There were bags of materials at one corner. There was also laces, buttons and zips in the room. The seamstress was a middle aged woman who seemed annoyed at the fact that she was measuring slaves instead of noble ladies.
As soon as they entered, the lady got up with her measurement tape in her hand.
Heidi didn't know what the seamstress was doing, all she remembered was the seamstress tightening her at different places with that devilish tape of hers.
Hence, Heidi was grateful when the woman told them that they could go.
They both bowed and left the measurement room.
"That witch of a seamstress" Rosie cursed as soon as they left the room, "she almost killed me with that tape"
Heidi laughed and said, "I wouldn't blame her if I had to suddenly measure slaves"
Rosie sighed, "you are too kind Heidi, I wish I could cut that tape"
Heidi smiled, "come on, more work awaits us"
"Great" Rosie muttered as they walked away from there.
Whilst Heidi has been born in the grand castle as her mother was a slave, Rosie was brought in when Heidi was nine.
Rosie has been so quiet when she came and cried often. She has been abducted from her small village and sold off to the palace. Heidi was the first slave to speak to the girl every one considered mute.
Little Heidi sat down at a corner as she watched the new slave who curled up at a side crying.
"Hey, don't cry anymore" Heidi said as she crawled up to where the girl sat.
The girl looked at Heidi and then whispered her first word since her arrival, "mama"
"Do you want to go see your mama?" Heidi asked and the girl nodded her head furiously.
Heidi laughed, "then you have to eat a lot so that your mama would be happy when she sees you"
"I want to eat hot buns" the girl muttered
Heidi smiled slyly, "I can work that out but first you have to tell me your name"
The little girl smiled for the first time with the excitement of eating hot buns.
"Roselyn" she replied with a small smile
Heidi nodded and said, "I'm Heidi and I'll call you Rosie. We are agemates so let's be best friends"
Rosie laughed and said, "ok... let's be best friends"
"Now let's go get that buns"Heidi said dragging Rosie up from the bare ground.
Heidi opened the laundry bag an older slave handed her to wash. It was bedsheets that she was assigned to wash for the guests.
She brought out the bedsheets one after the other and began to soak them in a big bowel. Her mind went back to Mrs Doris condition and the cure. She wondered if there was a way to get the drug.
She stretched her back as her body aches from doing so much work. She stood up to get a second bowel when her eyes fell on the white gown she had folded neatly at a corner.
Her eyes widened in remembrance, "the note!" She exclaimed as rushed towards the gown.
The note was still there and Heidi sighed in relief. She opened the note and brought out a smaller letter which wrote at the back.
"Dearest gentle reader, to whom the letter has revealed itself..."