Brunch with the Ladies

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CHAPTER 34

By the next day, Era had ensured the needed things for the children were provided for and then she pursued after that which she intended to pursue.

After breakfast that morning, she had planned that she would go to the stables and confront the head attendant but Aeverie came and read out her schedule for the day.

"I am sorry, your grace. You would have to suspend your visit to the stables for now."

"Why?"

"You are to dine with the ladies of the kingdom at 11 am, your majesty."

"Seriously? Must I be present?"

"Yes, your majesty. This is actually your first meeting. Normally it holds once every week and for a long time now, we have not yet had a queen. So the ladies are in awe of having the queen, grace their brunch."

"Fine, then. Once we are done, meet me at 12 noon in front of the stables."

"Noted. Girls, please prepare things for her majesty. She needs to meet with the minister and review some scrolls and at 10:30 am, she would return to be dressed for her brunch. Understood?"

"Yes, my lady," the girls nodded their heads in agreement.

"Good. Your grace, please I need to tend to other matters and make proper arrangements for your schedule and lessons."

"No worries. You may leave now."

***

The door leading to the queen's courtyard opened and Era took a step out from the palace building.

Normally, the ladies met in the queen's dining area but today, they decided to meet at her courtyard and enjoy their meal under the lovely tree and enjoy the fresh breeze of the late morning.

Behind her was one of the eunuchs in the palace. He was the one leading her and giving her tips on what usually went on.

Normally, it would be her lady royal, but even Aeverie did not have much clue as to what was indeed going on.

Before Era came, it was Diona who usually anchored the meeting, so she was of no use there but now that they had a queen, things had therefore changed.

"Announcing the arrival of her royal majesty, Queen Era!" The eunuch announced.

Instantly, all the ladies present stood from their seats and bowed their heads before her. She did not say anything but glided through like a nymph waltzing on the waters.

She walked up to the second unoccupied chair situated at the top of the table. Not saying anything, Era waited for the male servant accompanying the eunuch to pull out her chair, sat down and then looked at the ladies who still had their heads bowed down before her.

"Greetings, your majesty," they all chorused and waited for her response and permission to sit.

"Please, do have your seat my fair ladies," era gently responded.

"Thank you." Everyone had their seat, still, a seat remained unoccupied.

Era did not say anything. She looked to her right-hand side where the seat was and smiled when she saw the seat tag.

'Chairlady.' She read out in her mind. 'Interesting. I wonder who thus chair lady his that she comes late and defies this meeting.' Era thought again.

Although the ladies came before her, she was sure that she came a few minutes before the appointed time for 11 am.

She waited for some minutes, allowing her gaze to fall on every lady there, accessing them quietly.

"Your majesty, it is time," the eunuch announced from behind her.

"I know. Thanks but let us give our chair lady five more minutes and then we would proceed."

"As you wish, your majesty," he answered and took a step back to wait like a protecting bodyguard.

"Did you just hear that?"

"I did."

"Can you believe it? She is bothered about waiting for the chair lady when she is beneath her in status."

"Wow! Just wow."

"Hmm, I wonder what would happen when the chair lady arrives and sees that her chair had been taken."

"Me too. Let's wait and see, five minutes isn't long again."

"Several murmurings arose just from that little statement she made. She knew what she was doing.

By right she was supposed to start that meeting without the so-called chairperson.

And if at all she was going to wait, it was strictly by choice and the chair lady must have sent a letter of apology stating the reasons why she would be delayed.

By the time it was exactly five minutes over, Era straightened her back with both elbows on each armrest and brought her palms together like an old man about to speak in parables.

"Good morning, ladies. I believe I was gracious enough to have waited and also gave enough grace to our honourable Chairlady, right?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Good. Now can the secretary of the meeting proceed with the schedule of events and let us kick off from there."

"Yes, my queen," one of the ladies in her late thirties replied and brought out a scroll and pen. To her side was another lady, at about the same age as her but maybe younger.

She had yet another scroll with her but empty with ink and pen as she waited to put down the minute of that meeting.

"Thank you, your grace, for giving me this opportunity to speak. I would now like to proceed to read out the…"

"Since when do you begin the meeting without me?"

GBAGBANNN!

Everyone froze in their seats for some seconds before turning their heads in her direction.