Chapter Eighteen

Monday, May Fourteenth

Beatrix 'Vera' Monroe, Legacy of Persephone

"Lady Beatrix, Lady Beatrix, please awaken." Her eldest maid says.

Vera pulls the blanket from over her head, "I'm already up."

The maid sighs, "Good good. We must pick out an outfit quickly. The Princess Consort is to arrive soon!"

"Who?" Beatrix asks as she is getting pulled out of bed, "Hey! Hey! Hey! Grab my leg if you're going to force me out of bed!"

The younger maid, who was previously getting out all of Vera's make up, rushes to get the prosthetic, "I'll get it!"

"Not everyone would immediately remember the Princess Consort." The youngest maid remarks, "She's His Majesty's mother and the grandmother Her Royal Highness Selena, is really close to."

"Oh," Vera replies, "Does she visit often?"

"No." The eldest maid pulls her towards the closet once Vera can walk. "That's why it's important to make a good impression. This may be the only time you ever get to see her."

"Alright." Vera remarks, "What am I wearing?"

The youngest maid holds up two different dresses, "Which one?"

"The black one with poofy sleeves."

"Lady Vera," the middle eldest replies, "What jewelry shall you wear and how should you do your hair?"

"Silver and leave it down, but brushed." Vera was willing to bite. She may have not immediately known who the Princess Consort was, but she is here to stay and this is a good way to do so.

Once Vera slips into the dress, the middle maid puts on her a series of silver, bohemian bracelets and rings. Alongside them, a pair of feather earrings and a necklace to match, all in silver. The youngest maid gets to work brushing the practically uncontrollable hair. The eldest maid gets her makeup done. Paired with a pair of black, scallop-edged, ballet flats, Vera looks stunning.

"I say that we did a good job ladies." The middle maid comments.

Vera responds, "I'd say so too. Now, shall I head to breakfast or is there something special to do in greeting Princess Consort…"

"Oh! Head to breakfast and refer to to the Princess Consort as Her Royal Highness, just like Selena and her siblings." The eldest maid replies.

The youngest maid butts in, "Her name is Ciara by the way!"

"Thank you." Vera replies. She turns and heads towards the dining hall.

The walk there isn't any farther than it's always been, but Vera finds herself taking longer to get there. She looks at all of the paintings and pictures of the royal family over the years. She sees many people who she doesn't know. One of them is definitely Her Royal Highness, Ciara Elissa Schreave, Princess Consort of Illéa-Olympia.

"I'll have to get better at knowing people if I stay longer." Vera murmurs.

"I'd say so."

Vera jumps, not expecting the woman behind her to comment. She's wearing a gold and black dress with the shoulders out. She's taller than Vera, but that's probably because of the black and gold snake heels.

"Oh I'm sorry for startling you." The woman says, sticking out her hand "I'm Ciara, the Princess Consort."

Vera shakes her hand, "I'm Lady Beatrix, but call me Vera."

"Call me Ciara." The Princess Consort replies, "Shall we walk down to the dining hall together?"

"Sure," Vera nods.

"So, Lady Vera," Ciara asks, "What do you do for a living?"

"I'm a student on the LIkely School for the Arts." Vera answers, "I do ballet."

"Ballet is a beautiful art." Ciara comments, "I prefer to watch."

"I prefer to do."

"That's evident." Ciara lets out a small laugh, "So, how is the palace treating you? Are you able to do your ballet?"

"It's well here. The place is beautiful." Vera replies, "I practice ballet with another selected."

"The place is beautiful, yes." Ciara comments, "I used to live here before my husband died, Prince Angelo, the King's father."

"I'm sorry for your lost." Vera tells her. Ever since she was a child, Vera has been surrounded by death but never the death of a partner. She could never know how it feels.

Ciara rubs the young girl's arm, instantly filling her with warmth, "Don't be child. He died just about ten years ago. I've made peace with it."

The turn into the dining hall. Instead of one long table, it's groups of smaller tables. They each hold three people. Selena, His Majesty, and Ciara are all at a table. The Queen and her other two children are all at a table near them.

She heads to a table with Ev Vanadey and Nyssa Galanis. Vera hasn't truly spoken to the two of them since their group date, but its a seat she welcomes openly.

"You were talking to the Princess Consort?" Nyssa asks, "What's she like?"

"Motherly," Vera looks down at her lap, "Comforting and collected."

Nyssa takes that as a cue not to talk anymore and Ev hasn't been paying attention anyways. For the rest of breakfast, their table is silent.

Selena Schreave, Legacy of Zeus

"Nana!" Selena envelops the woman in a in a bone crushing hug once breakfast is over and the selected have all cleared out.

"Selena." Ciara pats her granddaughter's head, "How has the selection been treating you?"

"It's been well, nana." Selena replies, "Most of my selected have been lovely people and I've been excited to meet them all."

"I am too." Ciara replies, "I've already met Lady Vera. Such a pretty girl."

King Tyrell clears his throat, "Shall we head towards the conference room? We have much to discuss."

"Ah yes, the meetings." Ciara replies, "I do not miss those."

Selena laughs as they head towards their meeting. Ciara and Selena start to catch up, living across the country from each other limits face-to-face interaction, but before long, they're both at the conference room, sitting for their meeting.

Once the twins get in, the group is all in attendance.

"Now, I know we had a meeting recently, but I wanted to solidify some of the things we discussed. More specifically, the Thai Royal Visit and the scheduled East Coast visits. Let's get started." Queen Pallas opens the meeting for once.

" , first off," King Tyrell starts, "Do we have a time frame when they're coming, Advisor Herring?"

"Sunday, May 27th." She answers, "I've had the Thai ambassador work alongside our party planner and the palace staff to plan their time immensely."

"And when shall they be leaving?" Ciara asks.

Advisor Herring replies, "The 31st."

"Selena, Drew, and Luna," King Tyrell comments, "It'll be your job to host the Thai Royals."

"What about the selected?" Selena asks.

Queen Pallas answers, "Ms. Vulchanov will teach them proper etiquette."

"And," King Tyrell states, "I want any selected eliminated that doesn't behave appropriately at this event."

"Alright, father." Selena replies.

Ciara asks, "Why are they coming in the first place?"

"Certain New Asian countries are concerned about our legacies and how we use them." King Tyrell replies, "and, in order not to escalate into violence, Thailand has reached out to us in order to get a peace treaty."

"Will four days be long enough time?" Ciara asks, "Your grandfather, bless his soul, would spend weeks away trying to find a solution with other countries."

"We'll make it work." Queen Pallas replies, "That's all of the time they gave us."

"Nana," Luna says, the first thing she's said this entire meeting, "have faith in pops. He may not be an Athena Legacy, but he's smart."

"Mom and I will also be there." Selena replies.

"Alright," King Tyrell takes back control of the room, "Onto the second half of this meeting, Advisor Blanchard, what have you planned so far?"

"Alright, so, in the twelve provinces that are on the East Coast, we do two charity events at each." Gideon states, "so that totals out to twenty four events, all of which for charity."

"And, unless you have a good reason not to go," King Tyrell states, "Drew, Luna, you all will be going with your grandmother."

"Yes, dad." Drew responds while Luna says, "Whatever."

"When shall these start?" Ciara asks.

Advisor Gideon replies, "June first; we need to wait until after the Thai trip."

"Good." Queen Pallas remarks, "Any questions?"

"Yes," Ciara speaks up, "This is wildly out of topic but, I want to take the selected sightseeing around Angeles. Is that possible."

"Sure," Selena replies, but King Tyrell continues, "Run it by security and Ms. Vulchanov today. Otherwise, sure."

"Good, good." Ciara replies, "I want to get to know the people fighting for my daughter's hand."

AN: Oh hello I am blessing y'all with another update! What do you all think of Ciara? I'm curious (and yes, expect to see more of her). But tha's all I should say on the matter. I got to get started on chapter nineteen!