5 Queen's Duties

"Are you truly going to spend this night with King Eldon?" Hana questions lowly as she twirls her teacup idly upon it's saucer.

"It is the third day, and such is necessary for the continued efforts of an heir." Catreena replies as though there isn't anything daunting about it. "His Majesty attends to me well enough, so there's no need for any qualms about it."

"Of course our Queen, we simply worry for your wants and needs within this effort being met as well is all." Kira cuts in primly as she sips her tea.

"I thank you, my dearest friends, for your concerns. But, in this matter rest assured there is no need to worry." Catreena intones to them with a smile, easing their minds a bit. "Now, what's my agenda looking like for today?"

"You're to attend to queen's training with Queen Irina after breakfast. After, there's the royal proposition of noble territory redistribution. After having lunch, we have time for charities, at your discretion of course. Countess Vivian Melrose is hosting a tea party that your Majesty is invited to. After which we should start planning for the Lunar Ball. That leaves time for dinner, then preparation to spend the rest of your night with the King." Kira reads off easily without a single missed word.

"I can hardly wait for the ball." Hana states as she gets a glossy eyed look, obviously daydreaming about the splendid event.

"I dare say we shall get started with our duties then." Catreena says airily as she stands and walks from the room, her bustling attendants following. "Good morning, my King." She greets Eldon as she makes her way to the food laden table. Some of the vampiric nobles she now knew of, but others she still wanted to know more about.

"Good morning, my Queen." Eldon replies as he watches her walk to the opposite end of the table. He squashes his slight disappointment, knowing this was customary and would allow them to entertain guest more efficiently. However, that wouldn't stop him from watching her secretly from his end.

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"The orphanages are in more dire straits than we could have imagined, your Majesty." Hana recounts with disappointment as she hands Catreena some documents showing their latest progressions since the ending of the war.

"I'm not certain if this helps or hurts our cause." Catreena murmurs after a tsk of her tongue. She was rather upset to see the numbers shown, blatantly placing each one beyond capacity.

"This is the latest results of the royal scholarships as well, your Majesty." Kira adds as she hands over more documents.

"This one may actually help with our plans." Catreena says with a sudden perk up as she reads over the detailed information. This causes her ladies to grin.

"That is most fortunate then!" Hana breaths with evident relief. "The churches have also sent updates on their situations." Saying this, she slides another group of documentation onto Catreena's desk.

"The animal welfare organization also has a request." Kira adds with her own papers added.

"Thank you Ladies, I am reminded of the much work necessary." Catreena intones, gaining affectionate smiles in reply.

"It is us that thanks you, your Majesty, for taking such care in the affairs of the kingdom." Hana diligently replies with a curtsy.

"These are the last of the requests to bring to your attention, your Majesty." Kira says as she slides a new folder of papers on the desk. "This is regarding the relief of veterans, as well as the aid for families that had casualties or war." Kira curtsies humbly at this point. "I agree, only a righteous and just Queen would see so firmly to the needs of her kingdom."

"You both touch my heart dearly, please stand and know that your continued aid helps me more than anything else." Catreena tells them with glistening eyes before blinking rapidly and getting back to work. "Now, let's get to making proper proposals regarding these, shall we?" She asks lightly as she gratefully accepts a cup of tea. The day was already exhausting after dealing with the queen's training headed by her mother in law. Gaining a crash course in the ways of vampiric nobility was rather a lot to take in, but she held no option but to do so. Now, she had to reorganize the needs of the people, then draft proposals of each area to present to his Majesty King Eldon. One's duties were never done it appears.

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"Our Queen, we are overjoyed that you grace us with your attendance!" Countess Vivian Melrose exclaims loud enough that all were certain you could hear it from the palace. She rushes to Catreena's side, then dips into a low curtsy.

"It's my pleasure to join such a delicacy as a tea party, Countess Vivian. I should like to enjoy some enjoyable company with my cakes." Catreena replies amicably, resulting in many giggles as they make their way to a table with many delicious and beautiful arrangements.

"Of course, only the best for our Queen!" Vivian replies, her face flushed and a glow with merriment. Her recently deceased household leaving her and her younger sister the sole heirs to their family's titles and responsibilities didn't seem to daunt her much.

"I am glad to see you doing well my dear friend. Mayhaps we'll find you a most advantageous suitor at the upcoming season." Catreena intones as she takes a seat beside Vivian at the large round table.

"The Lunar Ball, I can't wait!" Vivian replies with excitement, referring to the ball that starts the season. Many excited murmurs spreads around the table. "Of course, our Queen will be quite the sight of adoration and beauty! Not to mention such a handsome King to stand beside you!"

"Yes, the royal couple are a blessing to behold! Now that such ugliness has been settled, they make quite the striking pair." Baroness Elizabeth Glideless states with a wide grin and a bow of her head in respect towards the queen.

"I daresay I must agree." a familiar voice chimes in as a group of vampires arrive. "Sorry for our tardiness, our drivers are still getting used to the routes." Earl Fabian Sabbath earnestly states with a bow, his friends following suit before they straighten and come to find seats.

"Of course, no worries about such a small time change Earl Fabian. We're very glad you could all make it and are willing to join us." Vivian greets them warmly, the rest of the ladies offering smiles and eye the group with interest.

"I fear it is not only my pleasure but duty to accept such a gracious offer, Countess Vivian!" Fabian pauses and motions to two young ladies with him. "I would like to introduce my younger sisters Adriana and Melchora. They will have their first season with the Lunar Ball." The pair curtsy to the group of women eying them from head to toe.

"Such beauties, no doubt they'll have a string of callers." Catreena praises them, but also glances at the other young women with the men.

"I should hope not, I fear I may not last through the season!" Fabian quips with a nervous laugh, causing his sisters to give him smirks.

"It is a pleasure to see you again our Queen! May I present my younger sister Julia and our cousins Renee and Victoria." Marquees Isaiah Tantibus greets, showing the three ladies and offering a bow respectfully.

"If they all share your enjoyable disposition as they do your pleasing looks, I fair the male suitors will certainly be busy trying to earn their favors." Catreena states, watching the nervous girls try to hide their pride and fear.

"We thank you for your kind words, our Queen." Isaiah bows again, his trio curtsying before moving to take seats.

"I am lucky enough to not have sisters, but my cousin Nezera will also be debuting." Marquees Nicolai Sanguinoso announces as he ushers a young women forward, both bowing with respect.

"Another beauty! The vampiric nobility certainly has been blessed!" Catreena intones with a fond smile, gaining a wavering smile back from Nezera.

"Your Majesty is too kind, or perhaps too used to the charms of the nobility of Tedian." Nicolai replies with a grin himself. "I find myself not so immune to the beauties gracing us today." The various women giggle and whisper to one another at his statement.

"Duke Quillan Diluculum, I presume the last to present these lovely women will be you?" Catreena asks after turning her attention to him and suppressing a chuckle at Nicolai's words.

"Yes our Queen, these two are my youngest sisters Kenia and Kiara. This is our cousin Ramona, we are glad that they can make your acquaintance today." Quillan introduces them with a humble bow and them curtsying.

"All of these gentlemen will certainly have their hands full this season." Vivian states with mirth.

"Oh that's a certain fact! These exotic beauties will steal the spotlight at the Lunar Ball." Catreena adds with a knowing smirk.

"I shall remain glad that our younger sisters aren't in my responsibility." Prince Cassius Oblivion teases his friends that give him mock glares.

"Does that not simply mean that your parents simply don't trust you with something so important?" Quillan quips back without missing a beat.

"Such words wound me coming from you." Cassius rolls his eyes as they all chuckle.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the five of you bachelors yourselves?" Catreena questions covertly, causing a pause in discussions.

Cassius and his friends give her a sly smile as they were caught red handed now. "Yes, we are our Queen." He tells her, all of them having the grace to wear bashful smiles as the women at the table eagerly started to ask them questions.

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"My Queen, Earl Damon Feltear has made no secret of pressing for my lands bordering theirs. He should find himself lucky that Countess Camilla Opaleen was assigned of his wife." Vivian complains as she, Catreena and both of their ladies are seated in the countess' studies.

"For such an esteemed general, I find it odd they sent him to wed a foreign wife and didn't honor him a wife of their nation." Catreena ponders openly before sipping some tea.

"They saw it not fit to give him a noble wife and lands of Krousedal, so instead had him take ours. Such an obviously greedy man! No wonder none has heard from Countess Camilla since their wedding." One of Vivian's Ladies sneered with a hostile look in her eyes.

"These are tense times, and vampiric ruling is for the man to take charge." Catreena reminds them elegantly and subtly.

"With all due respect, our ruling is the woman's lead. It's very unnatural to watch the forced marriages pan out." Vivian sighs with evident worry before looking back to Catreena. "I dare say my Queen, your marriage is possibly the best example of the two cultures thus far, and it's only been a few days! Marchioness Żaneta Jaracz has all but locked her husband out of the main estate even!"

"I dare say that I'll be hosting a tea party soon, so I implore all to keep an eye out for the invitation. We newly married women must find ourselves a chance to unwind with our female company, or we may find ourselves decline in health!" Catreena states easily, gaining nods from the women around her. "I do admit I don't know as much about their husbands as I'd like. Perhaps if one was to ask around, we can find more agreeable information pertaining to these men."

"Of course our Queen, leave it to us!" The Ladies in waiting eagerly agree, glad to see the sparks of calculating intelligence behind the eyes of their leaders.

"I must return to the castle now, after all the Lunar Ball won't plan itself." Catreena says with an indulging smile as she stands to leave.

"Of course our Queen! We look forward to our next chance to converse!" Vivian replies with a deep curtsy, feeling as though there was a new light shining for them.