Lili's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I'm still hungry, can we go back to the kitchen? I want more of those delicious drumsticks!"
Susan and Emma exchanged a knowing glance. "Your Majesty, food is served in your chambers," Susan explained gently. "It's not proper for a queen to eat in the kitchen. And, if I may say so, it's not fitting to eat like that, without proper etiquette."
Lili's face fell, realizing her mistake. "Oh, I see. I forgot myself."
Emma smiled kindly. "It's okay, Your Majesty. We understand. But as queen, you must maintain a certain level of decorum. No more sneaking food from the kitchen!"
Lili nodded, feeling a bit chastened. "I understand. Thank you for guiding me."
Next, they led her to the queen's library, a cozy room filled with books and scrolls. "These are the records of women's affairs in the palace," Susan explained. "As queen, you'll be in charge of handling internal affairs. You'll need to know about the palace's history, traditions, and protocols."
Lili's eyes widened as she scanned the shelves. "So many books! I can't wait to read them all."
Emma smiled. "You'll have plenty of time, Your Majesty. And we'll be here to help you every step of the way."
Lili's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the books, imagining them to be like the fantastical tales her father used to read to her. She envisioned adventures, magic, and brave heroes. But, as she opened the first book, her excitement quickly faded.
Instead of thrilling stories, she found herself staring at pages filled with dry, formal language, discussing the etiquette of royal behavior, protocols for state visits, and the history of the palace's architecture. She yawned, her mind struggling to stay focused.
The books spoke of the importance of composure, grace, and diplomacy, detailing the expectations for a queen's behavior in various situations. Lili's eyes glazed over as she read about the proper way to curtsy, the art of small talk, and the intricacies of court politics.
As she sat in the library, surrounded by the musty scent of old books, Lili's eyelids grew heavy. The foreign concepts and formal language overwhelmed her, and she found herself dozing off, her head nodding forward.
Susan and Emma, who had been watching over her, smiled knowingly. "It's a lot to take in, Your Majesty," Susan whispered, gently closing the book. "Perhaps we can continue another time?"
Lili nodded, still half-asleep, as the maids helped her to her feet and led her back to her chambers, where a soft bed and a warm blanket awaited her.Lili slept soundly, skipping breakfast altogether.
She woke up by noon, feeling a bit disoriented and quite hungry. She called the maids, expecting someone to bring her food promptly. But, as the minutes ticked by, no one arrived.
Susan and Emma were running errands, attending to their other duties in the palace. Lili grew impatient, her stomach growling with hunger. She decided to take matters into her own hands, thinking it would be a fun adventure to sneak out of her chambers and head to the kitchen herself.
She threw on a simple dress and slipped out of her rooms, making her way through the winding corridors of the palace. She had no idea where she was going, but her nose led her to the savory aromas wafting from the kitchen.
As she entered the bustling kitchen, the cooks and servants looked up in surprise, bowing hastily. Lili's eyes widened at the array of dishes being prepared, her mouth watering at the sight of roasted meats and steaming vegetables.
"Welcome, Your Majesty!" the head cook exclaimed, scrambling to prepare a plate for her. "We didn't expect you to come to the kitchen yourself!"
Lili grinned mischievously. "I wanted to see where the magic happens. And I'm starving!"
The kitchen staff laughed, happy to serve their new queen. As she sat down to enjoy her meal, Lili realized that sometimes, taking matters into her own hands could be quite delightful.
For 10 days and nights, Lili studied the life of royalty, proper etiquette, and anticipated for King Erian to visit her chambers, but he was busy with other things and couldn't come.
One afternoon, queen Lili paced gracefully through the opulent palace corridors, her personal maids Susan and Emma in tow. She wore a resplendent ancient queen's robe, its intricate embroidery glinting in the sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows. The robe's silken folds rustled softly as she moved, its train sweeping behind her like a golden mist.
As they turned a corner, the queen's eyes lit upon King Erian standing in the doorway of her chambers, his royal regalia a testament to his power and stature. The gold-encrusted cloak draped across his broad shoulders seemed to shimmer in the flickering torchlight, and the sapphire-encrusted crown on his head sparkled like the night sky.
"Greetings, my king," Queen Lili said, her voice like honeyed wine. "I had begun to think you'd forgotten me, locked away in this gilded cage."
King Erian chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Forgotten you, my queen? Never. I've been consumed by the affairs of state, but my thoughts are always with you."
As they entered her chambers, Queen Lili's gaze narrowed playfully. "I've been stuck in this palace for what feels like an eternity, with nothing but dusty tomes and tedious etiquette lessons to keep me company. The library is filled with nothing but treatises on the ethics of queenship and the proper way to curtsy. I swear, if I have to read one more page about the art of graceful silence, I shall scream!"
King Erian laughed, his deep voice rumbling through the room. "Ah, my dear, you were not born royalty, but you've grown into the role with grace and beauty. I, too, was once a commoner, but I learned to navigate the complexities of palace life. You will, too, in time."
As they spoke, Queen Lili's maids discreetly withdrew, leaving the royal couple alone in the sumptuous chamber. The air was heavy with the scent of roses and the soft glow of candlelight, casting a warm, intimate glow over the scene.