"Why must you wait for several minutes to pass by before you decide to answer my call?" Queen Lisa was gracefully sitted on a fancy sofa . The lounge had a view of the her private garden from a partitioned wall made of glass
"I...
"Taking a beauty sleep,? reading in the library perhaps? Or maybe helping the gardeners . Isn't that right?" Queen Lisa looked at the young lady who was standing before her piercingly .
Rayah made an attempt to speak but she heard a light chuckle which didn't let her
"I see that you've become so bold, looking at me in the eye" Queen Lisa smiled meanly while she was focused on stirring her tea then she took a sip . Her actions as light as ever.
Rayah quickly bent over "Forgive me Queen Mother I did not mean to be rude "she felt slightly panicked, shama didn't know she was facing heads with the Queen, it made her wonder what punishment was install for her this time. Just Yesterday, she was made to stand for 3 hours as a result of that missing lunch with couple of books on her head and her hands spread wide.
***
"Oliver!!?.. Queen Lisa called. A young soldier quickly came in. "Your majesty "He bowed in respect
"Do not let her sit, she shouldn't put down those books on her head neither nor leave this Chamber." The Queen didn't bother to look at the Soldier in which she was addressing. She was watching the young girl like a hawk to check if she would make a word as complain or if one book would drop from her head. "Princesses should learn how to take responsibility if they failed to do things the right way it should be done. "
"Affirmative your Majesty " Oliver replied. A servant who has been waiting behind the Queen quickly hurried to open the door as her Majesty was prepared to leave.
****
"Well I've been lenient with you don't you think so?. I provide you with sumptuous food, clothes fit for a princess and letting you stay in my mar.r.rvelous castle." Queen Lisa drawled out using her hands
Her smile looked wicked and filled with mock. Rayah wished the queen would say already the reason she was summoned so she could get out of this stuffy place. Suddenly the Queen's smile dropped
"Go help the maids in the kitchen....."
"Who?" The two People in the room turned to see the lady who came in . She was putting on brownish red pants that had beautiful designs with a body hugging off shoulder top that had drawings of pearls on it. Her auburn hair packed in a bun.
"Mother who were you referring to just now about going to help the maids in the kitchen?" She looked at her mother with a raised eyebrow
"There are no servants in this room" She pretended to look confused then gave her mother a knowing look.
The princess then walked over to where Rayah had been standing "Where have you been I asked about your whereabouts, a servant told me you were here . Let's go now Teacher Bruno just arrived, we shouldn't keep him waiting." Then she held Rayah's left hand and turned towards her mother.
"Your Majesty, please allow us take our leave. You've taught us to be punctual at all times, Rayah and I have to attend classes now" She curtsied with shama also curtseying .
The Queen rolled her eyes and waved them off. Then they both headed out of the room.
"Now Pearl take off that unladylike clothes you have on and put on a proper dress before anything else" Queen Lisa remarked before they could close the door behind them.
"Yes Mother" Her daughter replied with her eyes rolled then she shut the door.
The Queen made a scoff after they left while looking at the door
"I'm sorry.."
"Thanks pearl.." The two girls said at the same time making them stop on their tracks, they looked at each other and giggled then both of them continued walking .
"Your hair is a little bit messed up" Pearl used her fingers to smooth some of Rayah's silver hair strands
Rayah could only feel grateful for having such a stepsister that turned out to be a true sister.
"Wait" Rayah halted her steps and stepped in front of Pearl
"....
"Why are you heading this way? , this is the opposite direction of your Chamber . You have go change into a dress and prepare yourself properly before coming to meet Mr Bruno." Rayah spoke softly as she eyed what pearl was currently wearing
Pearl looked down at her clothes and raised a brow " It's not a ball is it? So I don't understand why I must change into a dress "....."Okay fine" She then turned around to go to her chamber
"Teacher Bruno and I will wait till you come before we begin lessons so hurry up okay?"
"Yes Rah" Pearl replied while walking away
"Your Highness " A middle aged man who looked like he's in his 40s appearing calm and intelligent with his lenses on stood up in regard as soon as he saw the Eldest Princess enter the palace study where he normally teaches the Kingdom's two princesses
"Good Morning Teacher, how was your weekend." Rayah replied
"I had a pleasant rest my Princess. Thank you." "I hope her highness also had a wonderful weekend."
Rayah who was currently standing with her hands intertwined smiled slightly and nodded as a response
"Please forgive me your highnesses but may I ask when His Majesty will be returning back from his Journey?" Mr Bruno inquired after Rayah and Pearl were done with lessons and he was preparing to leave the palace.
He quickly added "I don't mean to be Presumptuous your highnesses, it's just that my little daughter hasn't gotten a chance to thank the King for his kind act of letting her pluck the beautiful flowers from the Castle's garden. It's been almost two years now but she still insists that her appreciation and gratitude must be shown to his Majesty himself" The man said with a smile.
[Looks like he is fund of his daughter just like the way father is too] Rayah thought with a smile. But as soon soon as she remembered that Mr Bruno asked after her father, her smile Faded.
"You have such a sweet child teacher, how come I never met her." Pearl said
"I'm certain our Father will return soon, you can try to coax your little girl into waiting a little bit more ". "Like you said, it's been almost two years so I'm positive he is already on his way back to the Kingdom." Rayah assured
"OH Okay thank you Princess Rayah." "I'll be on my way now" He bowed slightly then walked out of the study.
"Do you want cakes?"Pearl offered to Rayah. She had some in her mouth.
"Pearl do you know if Queen Mother has gotten any lead on Father's whereabouts?"
Pearl suddenly stopped chewing what was in her mouth but then she swallowed it and answered "Um I saw some Soldiers heading towards the throne room earlier today, maybe they finally got some leads and wanted to report it to Mother hopefully"
"Yeah hopefully ... Take a break on cakes pearl let's go." Rayah said already leaving
"Your Highness" A maid suddenly spoke behind Rayah and Pearl who had just come out of the study. "Her Majesty wants to see you. She's is in the officials meeting room" The maid relayed the message with her head lowered.
"Queen Mother" Rayah curtsied when she reached the meeting room
"The kingdom will be holding a funeral in the next two days" The Queen said
"A funeral?" Pearl interrupted
"Where are your manners young lady!!"Queen Lisa bawled out
"Please Forgive me Mother, I did not mean to break in" Pearl however didn't sound too apologetic.
"I'll make sure you take extra lessons on etiquette. You can learn from Rayah, at least it's the only thing she's good at." Queen Lisa remarked
Meanwhile, Rayah had been left wondering who the funeral was for and also, why the Queen told her about it.
"Your Majesty, in whose honour will the funeral be held" Rayah asked
"The King "Queen Lisa replied
"Father?" Rayah's eyes went round in shock
...."How can we hold a funeral for the King just because he has not returned yet." "I'm sure he's on his way back, we don't have to make such assumptions Queen mother." Rayah said with a choked voice, she was on the verge of tears
"Bring those items over here." Queen Lisa called out to one of the guards in the room.
Rayah watched as he came to deliver them to the queen.
"This could belong to one of Father's men" Rayah saw that the guard gave Queen Lisa a sword possessing their Kingdom's logo.
"Well how about this" Queen Lisa stretched out a small picture containing the king, the former queen and a little baby.
Rayah gasped, she saw that it was her late mother, her father and herself and the picture has definitely been with her father, she had seen when he was putting it at the side of his luggage.
"You must be convinced now." The Queen said. "Like I said earlier, we shall proceed to hold the king's funeral in two days." "My husband deserves a good and proper farewell." The Queen then left the meeting room after she had stated that.
Pearl turned towards Rayah and saw that she was still trying to grasp the situation. She felt sad too but she was more sad for Rayah who has been looking forward to her father's return and has always refused to think that her father might be dead already. She sometimes had a hunch that her stepfather got killed or died somewhere but Pearl has never expressed her thoughts to Rayah. She didn't want to make her sad or heartbroken.
"Rah?... Pearl made an attempt to console Rayah who was sitted on the floor, her emerald dress spread around her but she was immediately cut off
"He's not dead" . she stood up, smoothed her dress and walked out of the room in fast steps. She wanted to release the tears that had gathered up in her eyes when she reached her chamber not here in the meeting room.