Rayah walked by the hallway thinking of her encounter with prince Siko. As at that time when they were close to each other by the book shelf, she could feel her heart beat increasing it's pace.
Rayah was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard her sister's voice.
"Rayah where have you been, what took you so long. Can you believe I got worried something might have happened to you yeesh." Pearl said as she approached Rayah
"Did you get my book?" She asked
"Here I got it" Rayah gave her the book.
"Okay thanks. Why did you take so long to get it."Pearl asked
"Oh i ...." Rayah was about to tell her about the Prince from the library.
"Nevermind. We have to attend mother's tea now. Let's go." Pearl unknowingly cut in
"Where are we going to be having the tea with mother" asked Rayah on their way.
"Mother's garden. It was a maid who informed me on mother's invitation for tea this morning." That was pearl's response
"Oh okay." Meanwhile Rayah remembered what happened at the royal library.
"Right Pearl i met someone earlier." Rayah smiled as she remembered the little conversation she had with the prince.
"Oh? Who?" Pearl saw the way Rayah smiled making her wonder who was this person.
"Let's say Prince Charming" replied Rayah
"Prince Charming? Pearl raised a brow then giggled
"Huh uh. He's very handsome I tell you." Rayah said
"So that is what kept you from returning with my book. Did you meet him at the library."
"Yes that's where I met him. He said he is in Montis to attend a banquet for what did he say it was again?" Rayah tried to remember the reason for the banquet as the prince had told her .
"Do you perhaps have feelings for this man or is it just a crush." Pearl asked
"It's none of them. I just love his charisma that's all." Rayah replied as they were still on their way to the Queen's garden. "Like I said he's just a Prince Charming." Rayah continued
"Moreover, it looks like he has some projects he's got doing in the palace so you might just come across him anytime. He was very polite and genle while we spoke.
"You keep giving him compliments yet you say you don't have a crush on him. How should I believe you Rah." Pearl said.
"That's up to you Pearl dear." Rayah replied still smiling while Pearl just shaked her head.
The queen's personal garden was filled with seasonal flowers, there were bold red blooms, clusters of sky-blue petals, the hydrangeas were more beautiful coming in all sorts of colors and styles. It was planted in groupings along a path.
Queen Lisa was seated in her garden's pavement which served as a shade from the sun. It was an open gazebo with beautiful curtains.Rayah and Pearl could see that they arrived just in time as the maids were approaching Queen Lisa bringing tray filled with tea kettles and cup.
"Your Majesty Good afternoon " Both Princesses gave the Queen their greetings.
"Yes thank you. You may sit" Queen Lisa replied.
Rayah was being careful in all her actions from curtseying to having her seat. She didn't want to give the queen a chance to reprove her for anything at all.
"Shall we begin taking our tea." Queen Lisa pointed out to the tea that was placed on a small table in front of them after a maid poured each of them tea.
Rayah and Pearl reached out to their tea cups.
"Hmm this tea tastes nice mother." Rayah commented.
"Can you tell what it is produced from." Queen Lisa immediately questioned.
Rayah slowly put down her cup when she heard the queen's question, she wasn't fully sure if the queen was referring to her or Pearl.
"This tea smells like it's from..." Pearl made an attempt to answer the question.
"Not you Pearl." Queen Lisa said.
"Oh." Pearl resumed her tea and turned to Rayah to hear her answer.
'Is this a class for learning tea or are we here to enjoy tea which one is it mother.' Pearl thought within herself.
She suspected her mother was picking at Rayah like always. If it was just the three of them there, pearl could have spoken up and tell her mother to quit it but there were maids and guards standing by, ready to serve them if they should be needed at all so she couldn't really say what was on her mind that moment unless she'd be seen as a bad princess who disrespects the queen plus the castle's servants would be reminded that she was never a royalty from birth and start to gossip.
Her mother the Queen had always hated that aspect of their lives, the fact that they were not born royalties. That was why she made sure to get Pearl a personal teacher that would take her lessons on manners and etiquettes and teach her how princesses behave, from how they walk to how they smile to how they eat to how to curtsey and what have you so it could seem like she was a princess from the start.
"Okay mother. Please pour me some more" Rayah requested a maid. The maid bowed as she began pouring Rayah tea from the tea kettle.
"Why, do you not have an answer to my question?" Queen Lisa chased Rayah.
"Tell me, how can you be a good Queen for Montis when you can't tell which tea is which. This shows that you would not be able to control the borders where some produce are imported into this kingdom, you should have knowledge of everything you eat and drink here in Montis like how and where they are produced. You have to know if they'll be good enough for our people to consume." Then queen Lisa added
"I don't think you'll make a good Queen sometime in the future."
Rayah swallowed, she was used to the queen trying to detect faults and mistakes from her but she thought this was a little bit harsh just because of tea.
"This is wendwen green tea, made by grinding the leaves into a fine power before adding hot water.
It's a typical tea of the people across the south gotten from trifolium pratense plant commonly known as Bea bread, It's a restorative spring tonic and supporter of skin health, detoxifies and purifies." Rayah's answer put both Queen Lisa and Pearl in surprise.
Pearl widened her eyes while Queen Lisa stopped the movements she made to sip from her tea. She was taken aback by Rayah's answer but she didn't seem to appear like it.
"Oh Wow Rah" Pearl commended
Rayah flashed Pearl a smile, proud of herself too.
"Hmm not bad." Queen Lisa gently placed her tea cup on the table.
"Rayah do you know I thought this was a yellow tea."
Pearl burst out laughing but stopped immediately she saw queen Lisa's displeased countenance towards her.
"Sorry." Pearl said in a whisper.
"When did you come to know so much about teas" Queen Lisa turned towards Rayah.
"I join the maids to help prepare tea for officials or guests in the palace whenever I am sent to the kitchen so I have acquired some knowledge on various kinds of teas thanks to you mother." Rayah lowered her head.
"Yes, it all thanks to me." The queen responded then faced pearl.
"I have something to tell you Pearl." Queen Lisa said.
"What is that mother" Pearl paid attention to what her mother was about to say.
"Pearl, don't you think it's about the right time you get married."
"Married?" Pearl asked to be sure she didn't hear wrong.
Rayah was a bit taken aback by the queen's statement also, so she payed more attention to what the queen was saying.
"Yes that's right." Queen Lisa responded.
"But Rayah is older yet she isn't getting married to anyone so why me." Pearl pressed.
Now Rayah just wanted to stay unnoticed as long as this conversation going on about marriage was on. 'Why did Pearl have to mention her name.' Rayah thought.
"That being said, does not matter. I wish for you to get married while the sun shines."Queen Lisa said
"What do you mean by while the sun shines mother." Pearl sighed a little bit irritatedly.
"You said it yourself, Rayah is older and you are a better choice for potential suitors." Queen Lisa said
"I was only trying to tell you that i am not supposed to get married while the eldest daughter of the Venshati Royal family is not. I mean that's how it's done in every household right?" Pearl reasoned out.
"Well I am certain that there's no such rule in the kingdom. It's just a made up tradition in local households." Queen Lisa replied.
Pearl sighed exasperatedly.
"Okay why are we even talking about this?" Pearl asked her mother.
"I've found you a suitor" The Queen answered.
"What!?" Pearl was astonished