Chapter 43

Kingdom of Alba...

Avery's pov;

Me and Ethera just switched. I figured I should take things on cause she really seems to be feeling under the weather but on maximum level .

I mean who wouldn't after what she learnt about how everyone feels about her , it is like high school bullying , you are made fun of , isolated and just made feel small . Horrible , I have had my share of those but they made me tough so I am kind of half grateful for that.

I have to teach these ladies never to mess with Ethera . But I have to do it in a non illegal way and as a mannered lady for Ethera 's reputation sake. I can do that.

With the information I was given , there is a sort of brunch happening with all the consorts except Ethera / me , great. Now I have to go there and infiltrate in some legal way.

How do I do that? Easy , I am going to bring a chaperone who can access the place easily and won't be questioned plus he will be my key to invading the party without being kicked out.

And so who else other than king Tobias himself would help me in this? No one .

Now I have to go get him and convince / beg him to somehow go with me because if he is not there in the first place it means he wasn't interested in the whole thing, but then again isn't he already head over heels for Ethera? Yes , so this will be easy peasy lemon squizy .

Operation infiltrating the royal brunch starts now.

"My lady where are you headed to?" Hygai asks as I exit the room. Do I lie or say the truth? Maybe not lie because he can actually help me , he is an Eunuch after all, they can go anywhere without needing a seal or anything.

"I am going to see the king" I say

"Oh well then you may go as long as the king gave you a gold seal to pass through the guards" he explains , shoot I don't have one . I have to remember to ask for one when I see him later.

It will be an advantage for Ethera to access the King's chambers without escorts.

"I don't have a seal just yet but in the mean time you can escort me , you are an Eunuch and so you are allowed free passage , right now you work under me so I should get that advantage as well don't you think?" He thinks to himself and looks at me then he nods.

"I guess you are right my lady , let us be going then" he gives me his arm and I wrap it there as I see the ladies here do . Basic mannerism.

We arrive at the main palace / mansion where the king resides with the Queen , basically the master quarter . We pass the guards who let us In without question , thanks again to Hygai for being my human seal . Lol.

He leaves me in front of a big double door behind which is the King's personal office . Pretty cool if you ask me , but then again he is the highest royal rank so it is a expected.

I knock on the door and get a "enter" from the king. Here goes nothing.

I enter the room and immediately am mesmerized by the size and space in here . Wow . The furniture is wood and there are paintings all over the wall of I guess previous kings, it's like a mini museum.

"Nice decor" I say without much thought as usual.

"Hello to you too my dear Ethera" he chuckles .

I turn around to actually face the reason I am here in the first place . Oops I got distracted, the historian in me couldn't stop myself.

"Sorry . Good day my king" I bow and he smiles at me seemingly amused , I mean who wouldn't ? Even Sheila finds me ridiculous sometimes.

"Good day indeed" he says stopping the paper work on his and just stares at me with a side smile. Oh Kay? This is intimidating especially from him. What has gotten into the men in my life lately? First Eric and now the king. Lord help me.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" He ask still sitting on his chair like the boss he is. Damn you Tobias.

"I came to ask you to be my chaperone for a small brunch at the harem" I smile at my best to show my innocent and be cute . what man he can refuse when a lady does that face?

"If it is at the harem isn't it only for the females?" He asks raising an eyebrow as if challenging me. Sneaky tricks but he really doesn't know who he is dealing with.

I slowly make my way to his desk and sit on the table but gracefully. I think.

I look at him and pour my lips a little to add an effect to my speech "Well yes it is technically, but then I wasn't invited as my presence is rather not wanted there so I was hoping you could accompany me because I know they won't go against you"

He holds my hands and trace patterns on them while he thinks for a bit .

He then says angrily "Why are you being left out? You are as much my wife as all of them are . This is unacceptable behavior . We are going right now , I have to settle this at once" so grin and we get out of his office directly. Yay , told you he would agree.

Now I can't wait to see all their faces when I arrive at the arms of the king.

We arrive couple minutes later with the royal carriage , a bit extra but since I am with the king , protocol must be followed, we have two guards with us as well.

As we are walking we hear music being played and giggles from the ladies who seem to have a lot of fun , well not for long *chuckle.

When we arrive at the venue the king forbids the Eunuch from announcing us and he clears his throat to attract their attention instead,

"Forgive me for interrupting your fun dear wives but I thought I might join you today , if you will have me that is" I love this man's sarcasm . Now that is how you make an entrance.

They all turn their heads and gasp in shock ,

"My dear husband , what a surprise!" The Queen says and comes to welcome the king, she completely ignores me and tries to take him by the arm but the king holds on to me and we move together towards the table to sit. I am now sat next to him and the Queen is at his other side at the top of the table.

"Please continue let me not interrupt your bonding time" the king says as he lifts his wine cup up to everyone.

The servants start serving me and the king our food and some more wine .

Suddenly I see a face amongst them I never imagined to see here out of all places , Helga.

Yes , Helga my cousin , the one who lives in New York as well and had disappeared out of nowhere.

She comes up to me and pours the wine into my cup and then looks at me and for a second I think she recognized me but then I remember I am in Ethera's body so that rules it out .

I keep staring at her and she seems just confused . What is she doing here? But most importantly how did she get here?

I have to investigate this as fast as possible.

As I keep staring at her I guess I looked suspicious because the king touched my shoulder and brought me back to the gathering conversation. Okay later , not now.

"Your grace , I never knew you liked brunch dates." Elmira , one of the concubines says while smiling seemingly innocent at the king . Pathetic.

"Oh well you know sometimes I need some fresh air from my duties , I must keep myself occupied should I not? Or does my presence disturb you in any way?" The king responds rather coldly , to that Emira just clears her throat and backs out.

"Who would have thought our dear Ethera would be interested in this either?" The Queen remarks and continues "After all, her last date with us went quite down hill so I assumed she didn't like all these gathering events at the harem , what a surprise indeed" she chuckles and takes a sip of her wine.

I feel the need to answer but then the king taps my knees and indicates me to just keep it in and not respond. I listen to him just because I don't want to cause any more problems .

We are all eating , fake smiling at each other and basically I am a spectator of the non ending flirting being shown by these women , they keep trying to get the king's attention and trying to start conversations with him , from what I saw he is not very close to them , I mean yes he is married to them and performs his duties towards them if you see what I mean but there is no true connection.

The only person I see that with is Me or rather Ethera. Pretty romantic if you ask me.

"Miss Ethera , if I may" the king asks as a slow song starts playing, he wants to dance? I front of all these women . Pretty bold this king huh? I love that.

"With pleasure your grace" I respond.

'Avery?' Ethera calls in my head.

'Yes' I reply as I stand having my hand in the king's hand.

'Can I have this dance with him? I just want to enjoy his company, I think I can handle the rest from here' she says. Oh this early?

'Um you sure you will handle on your own?The party is not over yet' I say.

'Yes I am sure . You have done a lot already and it has made a big difference'

'Um okay then , the floor is all yours' I say and I retreat from my position and let Ethera come back to her body.

Why do I not feel like going away though?