What's Done In The Dark: The King's Concubine!
Chapter 17
By the crook of dawn, I was up and moving. It was going to be an important day and I didn't want anything or anyone to ruin it. I was showered and ready by the time Prime, Darien's assistant councilor, showed up with the invitational cards.
"My Lady." He had greeted as I entered Darien's office that morning with the invitational cards spread on the table. Darien was standing behind the desk and Prime was at the front.
"Serena please." I said but my attention was captured by the cards I did not hear him speak, if he spoke at all, and I did not see his reaction. I was awed by the cards, not only had he made more copies than I had originally planned, but he had made an extra bunch with names of the ladies etched into them
"I'm taking it that the ladies with their names lettered on them are of most importance?" I asked, looking at Prime. He nodded and I smiled before turning back to the cards. I picked it up and read the Invitation.
We, The King and his wife to be, Lady Serenity, will like to welcome you to an impromptus lunch. Please come and share a good time with us. We hope to see your beautiful smiles and faces on the…..
It went on saying when and where. It was short, sweet and right to the point.
"Mmmm…something is missing." I said as I stared at the cards, opening them and finding something out in all of them.
"Your signature love." Darien said. I hadn't seen him come behind me so I was startled that he stood so close. I straightened up and gave him a kiss on the cheek as he hugged me from behind.
"Didn't you want to sign them?" I asked.
"Since this was all your idea, it is best that you sign them." He said and I nodded.
"Pen?" I asked as he led me behind the desk and sat me on his chair. To the far right end of the table, stood a beautifully decorated cup shaped pen holder, and in it there were quills with their ink bottles sitting right by it. Two other cups stood by it, containing pencils and pens collected from the outside world. They were modern invention, at least to our kingdom as it seemed we were a few years behind technology. I grabbed a quill, inked it into a black ink and began signing my name on all the cards.
I stated with the cards with the names of the ladies, and with each one I sign, I got a history on who they were from Prime.
"Lady Mariah. Lord Martial of the defense force's wife. She is of the Ten or most often referred too, Ladies of the court." He said with the first card I picked up. I stopped signing and looked up at him.
"Ten?" I asked.
"The ten most prominent ladies behind the queen are the wives of the council elders. However there are some council lords that had not been married or their wives, well one wife, is dead. In that case, it is their sister or oldest daughter who holds the title as lady of court."
"Oh I see. I'm guessing these were the ladies that surrounded Lady Hotaru that day at the ball right?" I asked, looking at Darien. He nodded.
"But as far as I know, there are twenty Lords of the court?" I said, making it a question.
"There are twenty but ten head figures. Each head figure has an assistant who will replace them in case of emergencies or passing." Prime answered as Darien nodded.
"Then I believe there needs to be established two groups of ladies. It is most unfair to the ladies whose husbands are within the court yet they are unrecognized." I said, returning back to signing the cards.
"Lady Delia?" I asked, as I picked up the second card.
"Wife to Lord Samson, assistant to Lord Martial of defense."
"Lady Demetrius?"
"Lord Enkor's Wife. Treasury Elder."
"Lady Sarah?"
"Lord Jordan's sister. Assistant head of Treasury." I looked up at Prime then.
"He isn't married." Prime explained and I nodded.
"Lady Eunice?"
"Lord Minior of Education's wife."
"Lady Vivian?"
"Michael's fiancé, assistant of Education."
"Lady Alexandria?"
"Wife of Lord Lakon of Law."
"Lady Delilah?"
"Mathias' fiancé. Assistant of Law."
"Lady Joyce?"
"Vangud's wife. Elder of Foreign Affairs."
"Lady Mary?"
"Kenneth's sister. Assistant of Foreign Affairs."
I knew of Lady Kimberly who is Caefa's wife. Elder of State affairs. I also knew of Lady Cheryl, Terrence's wife. The Cards were grouped by each head figure and his assistant's wives names. Lady Vida, wife of Lord Divonae of Economic Control, Lady Linda was Lord James' adopted sister.
"Lady Rita?" I asked.
"Lord Andrew's wife."
"I see." I already knew who Andrew was being that he was Darien's personal councilor.
"Lady Amy?"
"Lord Ephraim's daughter." I stopped and looked up at Prime in confusion.
"Daughter?" I asked.
"Yes. His wife passed away five years ago. Since then his oldest daughter, Lady Amyl An', has been her replacement. She preferred to just be called Amy though."
"I see. Lady Annabelle right?" I asked. The name of Ephraim's deceased wife.
"Yes." Prime answered. "She died of heart failure." I nodded and picked up the last card in that particular pile.
"Lady Rosaline?"
"Lord Nathaniel's wife. Personal assistant of the queen." I nodded and finished signing it. I knew I looked calm signing it but I was apprehensive about Lady Rosaline. To be the wife of Lord Nathaniel who was Hotaru's personal assistant, she was going to be the hardest challenge.
"We are short of three ladies." I said, realizing I had only counted seventeen ladies personal cards.
"Yes, I am an only child, so is Gideon. He is the assistant of Lord Ephraim and Josieh is Lord Nathaniel's adopted son and his assistant."
"Oh." I said and pushed the signed cards to the side. I pulled the other cards closer to me. These cards had no names so signing them went faster. All the while, Prime kept filling me in on other important ladies, what each did and what they most liked to talk about. How many children they had and the latest gossip I was sure to come across. I looked at him at the gossip part and he raised his brow. I looked at Darien who was holding in laughter but then just burst out laughing.
"Sorry about the gossip part. I told him to find out all that just so you will be prepared and know what you might come across so you don't look like you have no idea what's going on." Darien explained.
"How did you manage to out the gossip part though?" I asked prime, smiling. He smiled back, a little that showed he was not offended.
"Rita." He answered shortly and I nodded. Since Prime was Andrew's assistant, it was only reasonable that he would be a personal friend to Andrew's wife.
"So then she knows I will be visiting today?" I asked.
"Not exactly. I told her I would be visiting with a special visitor." Prime answered.
"Oh."
"I bet she is thinking that the 'special' person is hopefully a girl you are smitten with." Darien said, chuckling. Prime sighed.
"Sadly, you are right."
"What's so sad about finding the love of your life?" I asked. They both looked at me as if I had said the most outrageous thing ever.
"Serena darling, my assistant councilor over there has earned himself the nickname, Ice king." Darien explained. I stared at prime for a minute or two, he meeting my gaze. I smiled and went back to my work.
"A mask, no matter how great the illusion it creates, will still always be just a mask." I said before focusing back on my work.
There was no more chitchat until all the cards were signed.
Finally, with all the cards signed and neatly packed into a sac, we left the office to meet Lita and Malcolm who were already waiting for us by the coach we would be riding. Lita was already inside while Malcolm sat at the driver's seat. To give us privacy, Prime went inside as well. Darien led me to the carriage.
"Be safe sweetheart. If anything happens, make sure to inform me right away ok?" Darien said as he was helping me into the carriage. He looked almost desperate and I knew he really didn't want me to go deal with these ladies. I smiled at him, leaned down and kissed him softly on the lips. If I was going to be by his side, he was going to have to allow me the right to be by his side, not behind him so he could always protect me.
"I will be fine Dare. You take care until I get back." I said, trying to fully enter the coach but his grip on my hand was unrelenting, though not bruising.
We stared into each other's eyes, me not wanting to leave him and him not wanting me to go. I kissed him and he kissed me back, I didn't want to leave. But I knew if I stayed just a little long at the position I was in, I would lose my nerve and not go so I made to part myself from Darien and go in, but he wasn't having none of that. He let go of my hand, caressed my face, kissed me over and over. I had to wonder when he was expecting me to go and when he was expecting me to come back with the delay he was causing.
He sighed now and loosened his grip, slowly freeing my hand.
"I love you." he whispered to me. I was glad to hear it, it was an added strength I needed for this visitation. Last night I had almost chickened out of the Idea so I had gone to the commoner's community to reaffirm myself of why I was desperately fighting for the throne. Darien was doing all that he could with the council, it was my turn to do something to help our cause. And besides, no one can change a man's mind like a woman, practically, HIS woman. I needed these ladies in other to reach the men.
"I love you too Darien. With every breath in me, I love you." I said. He pulled me down one last time and kissed me fiercely but gently. After we parted for air, he moved back and I finally fully entered into the coach, the door softly closing behind me. We stared at each other through the window until the carriage turned, then I turned around to stare at him from the back window until his figure shrank in size until eventually he disappeared from view as we drew further away from the castle. I sighed and turned back around to face forward, casting a little shy smile at Prime who I suppose had been staring at me the whole time I was tracking my beloved with my eyes.
Inside the carriage, I went over the cards with all the names, trying to remember who each person was. The idea was to start out with the wives of the council elders before spreading out to the others. It would be foolish of me to start with others who were not wives of the council because then the council elders' wives would feel insulted. After all, apart from Hotaru, they were the most powerful women in the entire kingdom. But I was also very well aware that not all the ladies lived in town.
Malcolm drove the coach as Lita sat beside me and across from us sat Prime. For the first half of the ride it had been silent.
"Memorized everything?" Lita asked.
"I think so." I said as I piled the invitational cards into one pile and sat them in a small had bag.
"Ask me anything you want to know and I will do my best to answer them." Primes said and I smiled at him gratefully.
"Thank you." I said and he nodded before looking back out the window.
"Nervous?" Lita asked and I gave her a small helpless smile.
"I would be a fool and arrogant not to be," I answered.
"It's not too late to turn around." Prime said, looking straight at me with no emotion. I returned his gaze evenly.
"I will not turn around. There is no point in me staying by Darien's side if I leave all the work to him. I want to help him to the best of my abilities, a little fear or worry is not going to defeat me." I said heroically even though inwardly, I wanted to run and hide forever.
He nodded with a little smile and turn back to stare out the window.
fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the first house. Home of the Council Elder and Leader, Lord Ephraim. Prime had already updated me on his family situation. His wife died five years ago, so the main lady at the house is his oldest daughter, Amy. A shy, quiet girl whose intelligence was a match for any scholarly man.
As soon as the coach came to a stop in front of the closed gate of the house of Lord Ephraim, we watched Malcolm get down and rushed to the door. He knocked and we waited patiently for a minute before the gate was opened slightly. During the minute wait, Prime stepped out of the courage and approached the gate man as he was asking Malcolm a question.
"Yes?"
"We're here to see Lord Ephraim." There had been a look of suspicion on the gate man's face but as soon as he noticed who had answered him, his eyes went wide and he opened the door a little wider for his entire body to show.
"My Lord." He said, bowing deeply.
"Is Lord Ephraim and Lady Amy at home now?" Prime asked again. The gate man stood up straighter.
"I'm afraid My Lord did not notify me to expect any visitors and I have yet to see him this day." The gate man said nervously.
"Sebastian, go and check if Lord Ephraim and Lady Amy are present. This is a matter of utter most urgency. Tell them I am here with Lady Serenity, the new bride of our king."
"My Lord…" Sebastian, as was the name of the gateman, began to protest.
"Do not make me repeat myself." Prime said, this time his voice cold as ice. Sebastian's eyes opened wide in fear for a moment before quickly nodding and scurrying off with the gate closing behind him. Prim returned back into the carriage.
We waited for a few minutes, with me and Lita holding our breaths in anticipation. Finally, after what felt like forever, the gate door opened again. This time the gate opened all the way to the sides and Malcolm returned back to drive the carriage through. As we approached the front of the house, I heard the gate close behind us.
From the window, I saw standing in line the family of Lord Ephraim. I recognized Lord Ephraim immediately with his long white beard and mustache. Beside him stood a man with brown hair and eyes. He was a handsome man with his father's features, same prominent cheek bones. I knew him to be Sir Alan, First son of Lord Ephraim. Beside him stood a woman with long red hair. The color was so purely red that I could not help but imagine blood on sight. She was beautiful and I realized that I had seen her before, that night at the ball by Hotaru's side. I think her name had been Beryl or something. After her stood another Lady and even haven never met her before, I knew this was Lady Amy. She had short hair, dark hair but with the morning sun reflecting on it, it looked blue. She had icy blue eyes too. From what prime told me, she was the only one who looked anything like the former lady Annabelle, their mother. But the small smile with on her face with which she was using to welcome us was definitely that of Lord Ephraim. Beside her were three younger siblings; a boy and two girls.
"The Lady with the long red hair is Lady Beryl, Lord Nathaniel's Niece." Prime informed.
Malcolm eventually stopped the coach right in front of the family and Prime opened the door. He stepped out and I saw him bow a little to Lord Ephraim.
"Prime, what an unexpected visit." Lord Ephraim said as he approached the carriage.
"I have been recruited into this morning errands and business by my Lady and Lord King." Prime said with a little playful smile.
"Ah yes, I was told that Lady Serenity came with you." Lord Prime answered.
I saw Prime nod before turning to the coach.
He raised his hand through for me and I took it. Gently, he led me out of the carriage and onto the cemented floor. Then he turned and did the same thing for Lita who blushed. For a minute I could not help but think that Nephrite had a competition. It was no secret that the two (Nephrite and Lita) seemed smitten with each other since a few days ago they met. Lita even admitted to being breathless in Nephrite's presence.
After stepping down from the carriage, Prime left Lita's side to come take my hand and walk me the distance to Lord Ephraim.
A foot away, I paused and curtsied to him as I had to the council the day before.
"My Lord." I said, trying to put some force into my voice but I was not feeling all that confident in that moment. A second passed before I felt his hands on my shoulders. He lifted me up and smiled and I knew all was well.
"I am grateful that you who is to be our queen is humble enough to bow as low as a servant to I who is or soon will be below your station. Welcome to my home. Feel free here and be comfortable, you will find no enemy here." He said, his gentle voice filling me with a sense of peace that was comforting and assuring.
"Thank you my Lord." I said, returning his smile. He nodded and turned to his family, I did the same.
"My Lady, these are my children. My oldest, Alan. Beside him is his wife of two years, Lady Beryl Cairo, daughter to Lady Esther who is the sister of Lord Nathaniel of the council. Beside her is my daughter Amyl An, then Ephraim Jr., Vanessa and Victoria." As he introduced them, each one bowed or curtsied except Beryl whose eyes narrowed. She was definitely on Hotaru's side.
"Pleased to meet you all. Please, feel free to address me as Serena." I said, bowing my head a little in respect to them.
"Welcome to our home My Lady. It is a most pleasure." Alan said as he came forward, took my hand and kissed it. From the upper periphery of my eyes, I saw Beryl scowled.
"Thank you Lord Alan." I said.
"Please My Lady, come in for some refreshments." Amy said and I smiled at her. Beryl rolled her eyes and immediately turned to enter the house.
"May I?" Lord Ephraim said as he offered me his arm. I smiled at his kind gesture and took his offered arm and followed his children inside the house with my crew behind me.
They had a very beautiful home; the outside walls painted in peachy orange but inside were a more creamy white. We were lead into a very beautiful room, a replica of their bigger living room, but smaller. There was a fire place, matching burgundy couches and curtains and carpets. In the center of the living room was a chair and on it was a circular decoration of flowers. After we were seated, we were served some drinks.
"So My Lady, What brings you to my home this morning?" Lord Ephraim asked as he sat down his cup of tea. I didn't answer until the tea I had just taken a sip of went down my throat and I sat the cap down on the tray on the table before me. I smiled. They were warm, except Beryl.
"I came to see your daughter." I answered. There was a pause and several blinking of eyes.
"Me?" Amy asked as if her hearing was deaf.
"Yes Lady Amy An, I came to see you."
"Whatever for may I ask?" Lord Ephraim asked. Even he was curious and kept shooting glances at Prime who shrugged. I rose up and took one of the invitational cards with me as I moved to stand in front of Amy.
"I am aware that you are the lady of the house since the unfortunate passing of Lady Annabelle. I am sorry for such a grievous loss." I said, deeply meaning every word. She looked surprised at first, then hurt. Not from my words, but the hurt that would always be present for as long as you lived if you were one who has lost a loved one.
"Such is life. Birth and death, a cycle that only God can stop." She answered, "Thank you."
I nodded, then looked up at the big picture they had on the wall of Lady Annabelle. She was very beautiful indeed and Amy definitely resembled her.
"I met her when I was little and my parents still lived." I confessed. I hadn't realized who Lady Annabelle had been until I entered the house and saw a portrait of her on the wall at the very entrance.
"You did?" Alan asked, sounding surprised. I turned to him with a sad smile.
"Yes, I did. She was very kind. I can't exactly recall where I met her but I remember that one time I had trip and hurt my knee. I couldn't find my mother and was crying. I remember I was in a field of flowers and I sat under a tree, crying, feeling alone. Your mother found me and picked me up." I said, turning to smile at them as they had been watching me while I was watching the picture while telling my story.
"You know what she did?" I asked, smiling at the memory. They shook their heads. "After she had picked me up, she swung me around and asked what was wrong. After I showed her my hurting knee, she took out her white handkerchief and dabbed at the blood. Then she sat me down, picked up a stick under the tree and began fighting the air as if it had been what had hurt me. I remember laughing so hard that I forgot the pain on my knee. She was special, Lady Annabelle. So much like my own mother." I finished my fond memory.
"That was so like my wife." Lord Ephraim said, a soft, fond and sad smile on his face.
"She would pick up a stick and fight the air or a tree or any harmless thing nearby. She always did when we were hurt." Alan said, also looking fondly at the picture of his mother.
"My Lady, why did you come to see me?" Amy asked after a minute of silence. I turned my attention back to her, pulled my hand from behind me and handed her the invitational card sealed in a purple envelope with her name on it. She took it, staring oddly at it.
"Please, open it." I said. She nodded and opened it while I walked back to my seat and sat down. When the card was out of the envelope, she read silently to herself.
"Oh." She said, sounding surprise. She rose up and walked to her father, handing the card for him to read too.
"I see. She would be most delighted to attend, won't you honey?" Lord Ephraim said when he finished reading the card.
"Yes." Amy answered, looking at her father before turning to face me with a smile. "I would love to attend your luncheon. Thank you for considering me." She said, bowing.
"It is no trouble at all. I thank you for you acceptance." I said, rising up. I walked up to her and hugged her. at first she was stiff out of surprise but she lossened up after a minute and hugged me back. After we pulled away, I held her shoulders and looked straight in her eyes. I knew we would be great friends and so I smiled.
"I hope that we will become great friends." I said to her and she was surprised. She nodded and smiled back hesitantly.
"I will like that." she said softly. I nodded and walked back to my seat.
"I thank you so much for considering my daughter. She is very shy and barely goes out much." Lord Ephraim said.
"Daddy!" Amy said, blushing and trying to hide her face.
"It's a shame then." I said. Amy turned back to look at me.
"Why is that?" She asked.
"Because, you are denying all the men from gazing upon your beauty and most importantly, you reputable academic abilities are hidden. It is women like you that we need to prove to our men that we can easily stand our ground against them." I said with a playful smile. She giggled as the others laughed. Beryl just rolled her eyes.
"So what has she been invited to that I haven't?" Beryl asked.
"Forgive me Lady Beryl but I was not aware that I would find you here. But since you are here, the invitation goes to you as well. Please, do not deny me your presence at the luncheon." I said, taking one of the unnamed cards and handing it to her." we waited for her to read it, then she turned to me with a raised brow.
"Is the queen going to be there?" she asked.
"She is invited yes, but whether she will be there or not, I do not know." I said. Which was the truth, I had sent an invitation to Hotaru. It was best to make her declare the open war than I by not inviting her to such an event which all the ladies, hopefully, would be attending.
"If our QUEEN, is present, so will I." she said and I nodded.
"Then I pray that you will be." I said.
"So this is only for the ladies I take it?" Alan asked and I chuckled.
"Yes. Unless you want plastic surgery." I replied. For a second they just stared at me with wide eyes then burst out laughing hysterically, with the exception of Beryl who didn't get the joke.
"No, I'm fine as a man." Alan answered after he had calmed down.
"I am also quite sure your wife will prefer that too." I said.
"How will you know what I prefer?" she scoffed.
"So you want me as a woman?" Alan asked. Realizing she had just made a fool of herself, she got up with an 'humph' and walked out of the room.
"I apologize for her behavior." Alan said.
"It is quite alright, no harm done." I said, standing up. Lita and Prime and Malcolm all followed my cue.
"Well my lord, there are so many other places to be visited before the day is over so I'm afraid I have to take my leave." I said, bowing a little to Lord Ephraim.
"Yes I see. Well, should you need any help from me, let me know." He said.
"Thank you." I said gratefully.
"My Lady?" Amy said and I gave my attention to her.
"Yes dear?"
"Would you mind if I accompany you today?" she asked nervously. From the corner of my eyes, I saw that her father and brother were both surprised. She really didn't go out much and when she did, it was definitely not voluntarily.
"That would be wonderful! Please, join me for the day." I said, turning to her father. "If it is alright, may I steal your daughter for the day?"
"Anytime, any day." He said.
"Thank you." I said to both Amy and him as I hugged Amy again. "Well then, if you are ready, shall we go then?"
"Yes but give me just a minute. I will be right back." She said.
"Of course, we shall wait for you in the coach." She nodded and headed off. Lord Ephraim offered me his hand again and I took it as we walked back the way we came and out the front entrance into the open air.
"My Lady…"
"Serena please." I said, interrupting Lord Ephraim. He smiled.
"Serena then. Thank you so much. I have worried greatly for my daughter with her preference of solitude. I am glad of her decision to accompany you and happier that you have so graciously accepted her." He said.
"The death of Lady Annabelle is still very fresh to her. I can only imagine how close they were. Her wanting solitude is her way of hiding her pain so she can deal with it alone and not burden anyone. But there are some pains that can best heal when another person takes to caring for it. But she is strong, I can tell. She will be alright." I said, trying to be assuring.
"Yes, she will be." He said.
A few minutes later Amy returned changed into a blue bodice dress that complimented her well.
"You look beautiful Miss Amy." I complimented and she smiled graciously with a very red blush.
"Well then, we must be off. We have only began the long day ahead of us." Prime interrupted.
"Yes, you are right. Lord Ephraim, we will return Amy sometime this evening." I said.
"Thank you." he replied and we all headed to the carriage. Prime handed Lita and Amy in first before following suit. I turned one last look at Alan who was waving gently and beryl standing in the shadows of the door. I bowed my head a little at them, turned to lord Ephraim and bowed deeper for him.
"Thank you for your acceptance of me into your home." I said.
"Anytime my dear, anytime." Then he helped me into the carriage. There stood there and watched us drive out of the lot and out the gate and we lost sight of them as soon as the door closed shut.
"So, who is next?" Lita asked immediately after the gate closed behind us.
"Lady Rita." I answered as I pulled out the next card on the agenda.
"Oh, Lady Rita is a very kind person." Amy said.
"That's a load off." Lita said and I giggled.
"So, who are the ladies you think we will have problem with?" I asked Amy.
"If my guess is correct, you are personally handing out invitational cards to all the ladies are you not?" Amy asked and I nodded.
"Well, the wives of the assistants will be the easiest to deal with but for ladies like Rosaline, Demetrius and Joyce, they will prove to be a challenge." Amy explained.
"I see. Well, we do need some excitement in this outing anyway."
"Yeah!" Lita agreed with a fist punch into the palm of her other hand. Amy and Prime looked at each other, blinking and I had to laugh.
As Amy had said, Lady Rita was very kind and happy to receive us. Lord Andrew was present as well and they were both very grateful for the invitation. They treated us well and offered us lunch which we gratefully declined due to the time shortage. After we left Rita's house, we arrived next at Lady Vida's house, wife of Lord Divonae of Economic control. She too was very grateful for the invitation. We left her house feeling happy only to have our mood shattered by Lady Rosaline's utter disgust with me and her defiance by ripping apart the invitational card. This similar treatment was received from the following three ladies, Demetrius, Joyce and Kimberly. Lady Mariah, Eunice and Alexandria treated us as you would any guest but I had the impression they thought I was out of my mind. And maybe I was. It took a lot to restrain Lita from beating them up and had to stay in the carriage while we entered the house of the ladies after her two first outbursts. But apart from that, everyone was either happy or the perfect hostess. By the time we had finished all the ladies, it was seven in the evening.
"Finally!" Lita said as she slouched against the seat as we left the last house.
"It is not over yet."
"What!?" All three of them said.
"We still have fifty cards left."
"But we've visited pretty much all the ladies." Prime said.
"Yes, all the ladies of nobility. Next is the commoners residence." I answered.
"You're inviting them too?" Lita asked as Prime and Amy watched me with wide unbelieving eyes.
"They too are part of this kingdom. Besides, the purpose of my battle will be foolish if I, who is trying to change things for them, ignore them as well. Every journey begins with a single step and this is that step I must take." Nobody said anything back. Soon, we reached the commoners community where they greeted Amy and Prime with suspicion while welcoming me and Lita with open arms and smiles. Since they were all gathered at the boon fire, it was easier to hand out the cards. But of course I knew they could not read so I said the invitations aloud. Some were not at all willing to come and others worried about what they would wear. Lita and I assured them that they would be ready to attend the luncheon which was in three days time and that they will have outfits. One of the things I had Darien doing for me while I went out to distribute the invitations was for him to gather as many tailors who could sew nearly fifty clothes. If two days from now they cannot do it, we will have to go around collecting old dresses ladies that would no longer be worn again.
By the time we returned Amy home and arrived back at the castle, it was around nine. I was so exhausted but I was cautious of Prime's eyes on me the whole time that I did not let my guard down. Darien was waiting for us on top of the thirty stairs that led to the palace. As soon as we got out of the carriage he started walking toward us. He crossed a third of the stairs before we neared each other for a much needed hug. Tightly he held me and I was home.
After showering and eating, I spent the evening in Darien's arms. It was strange, I thought after all the waking hours I didn't get to see him that in the evening we would be making up with passionate love making. But instead all I wanted was to be held, nothing strenuous, just a soft touch and as if he felt it, he just touched me, just held me. I wonder if that gentleness, that way of making love without actually doing it was the cause of it but I suddenly felt very weak. I didn't feel pain, just tired and weak and dizzy. He asked questions concerning the day's event and I answered to the best of my abilities and before I knew it, I was long gone in sleep. The first day was over, it was getting trough the next three days that was a major concern.
But at least, I had cleared the first turtle!
The entire day for me had been a major drag. The council had met all for an hour, some questioning me about Serena's appearance in their homes. As I had promised Serena, I didn't dish out any information. If they wanted to know, they just had to ask their wife. Though Ephraim was very enthusiastic about Serena's outing. He did tell me about his lonely daughter, Amy, going along with Serena and the rest. I was glad for him and I was even happier for Serena, Amy was of very high and noble class, gaining her support was definitely a boost and something to celebrate.
After the short meeting, I took to walking around the castle, trying to waste time but all I could think about was Serena. It was driving me nuts so I quickly left the palace to the burial sight of where the dead royals were buried. As had been our tradition for eons, each generation of dead royals had their own private roll where the dead is lined up from importance. My grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, diamond and an open mound, either for me or Hotaru. I hoped it was for Hotaru, I had no plans of being buried by these people who could not see me as family but as an eyesore.
But for some reason, in that moment, I felt a well of pity for them. After all their arrogance, conceit and self indulgence, they were still victims of death. I suppose it was why I found death so fascinating, it did not differentiate, noble or slave, death came to you whether you liked it or not. No class, just a natural part of life.
I spent about an hour there, contemplating death but in the end realized I could spend eternity investigating death but I would never understand it. Death wasn't meant to be understood, if it was a person's time to go, nothing anyone can do will stop it. A lot of times if a person is saved from a suppose near death experience like a deathly illness or a car crash or just about anything, it is not because they had escaped death, it just merely meant it really wasn't their fate to die then. Unless of course from the religious aspect, God really did save someone from death.
With a sigh, I left the cemetery and returned to the palace. I went so far as to sit in the kitchen watching the cooks cook in other to distract myself from the insisting voice in me that kept telling me to get on my horse and go to find Serena. In all my life, I have always been able to resist urges that would lead me to do something not quite right but ever since I met Serena, I seem to have lost my resistance. Anything having to do with Serena always came to a loose of control. Sighing, I returned back to the bedroom and lay on the bed with my face on the bed. When I shut my eyes like that, I could smell her and I felt her presence surround me.
After doing everything I could to stop myself from going after her, I finally lost the battle sometime after nine and immediately rushed out. I don't care if she is going to be upset! I want to see her! I need to see her!
But as if fate was smiling down on me, her carriage arrived as soon as I popped out of the entrance of the castle. When I finally held her in my arms, I felt a rush of relief wash through me like a river. Finally, she was in my arms again.
But I felt it, her exhaustion. She was trying hard to hide it but I felt it and the desire I felt to make love to her changed. It's not that I didn't want to make love to her anymore; it was more that I wanted to love her. So far, we've shown our love and desire for each other through physical love making, but this time I felt she needed a more gentle way of love, something that touched the soul more than just feed the lust of the body.
In the end, all I could do was hold her and hope she felt all the love I had for her. An hour in my arms, she fell asleep and I realized all over again how frail she really was. But there was a weakness, a more fragile sense all around her that worried me, like she was sick…..very sick.
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