Beautiful And Spotless
The Night Came…
For Elizabeth, the day had seemed cumbersome with a thorough squeeze of her mind due to her overthinking. She had spent the greatest hours engrossed with her mind calculations while trying to piece together the purpose for her prolonged stay in the Castle. Her inner burdens greatly spiked once she struggled to recount how dreadful her mother's punishment could turn out to be if she stayed away from home for an extra night.
Homicide!
She concluded that her father, Mr Blythe would feel the most disappointed especially because she'd chosen to believe that Bessie would remain steadfast to their sworn secrecy… Well not until something odd happens to ruin their plans.
But the turn of events had been unplanned and shouldn't Bessie have ratted her out by now? IF she had, wouldn't her father, Mr Blythe be in a haste already to come for her rescue seeing as they had been present during the gross darkness unfolding? Or she really had too many expectations… fanciful brain ideas!
Nonetheless, she had concluded that she would bear the brunt of her half-thought decisions and figure her way back home instead.
'IF I can't today, then I must tomorrow!' she affirmed in her heart.
——
Seated on a dressing stool in the luxurious bedroom, Oletha and Mirelinda were affording their Lady finishing touches to her physical appearance.
"Isn't this too elaborate for a casual dinner with the Royals?" Beth grumbled out loud, pouting her cherry lips on purpose while she observed herself in the mirror before her.
Oletha was the one to speak.
"Milady, did you just refer to the Queen's invitation to dine with her as a simple casual dinner?" The lady asked with confusion boldly engraved on her forehead.
'This maiden is strange indeed!'
"Milady, there is nothing EVER casual about the activities of the Royal household," interposed Mirelinda; her response causing Oletha to jolt out of her dilemma and nod simultaneously in agreement.
"Mirelinda is right, milady. What she said is the basic fact about these things. Also, you should understand that the Queen is an extremely picky person; very cautious about looks and appearances. Hence we have to put in the much required effort," remarked Oletha.
Elizabeth sighed.
"What a sad life!" she exclaimed with a deep expression of concern written over her face. Oletha and Mirelinda then shot a quick glance at each other as if they were communicating their thoughts using a mind bridge, before they looked away.
"Milady… May I ask by your permission what you mean by your words?" asked Oletha.
"It is a sad life indeed to live under such rigid constraints. It's like living the life of a glorious prisoner with zero appreciation of the simplicity of life. Hmm… never mind! You won't understand. Also, Oletha you don't need my permission before you air your views to me, okay! The both of you!"
The maiden's caution fell on deaf ears because both women had since debated in their hearts that keeping their heads and their jobs was of much importance than having to oblige to the demands of Elizabeth.
"Your words are deep, milady. But I have a question."
"Please ask, Mira."
"Thank you, milady. My question goes… IF you didn't have this invitation at this hour, what would you have rather done?"
"That is easy. In my home, by this time I should have my candlestick lit and placed in a saucer near my window pane where I would be seated, neck deep in reading any book I fancy."
Instantly Oletha and her partner dropped their hands from Beth's half-finished hairdressing causing the maiden to spin herself around in shock.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
"Something abominable, milady."
Oletha's words sounded a bit shaky but Beth could not understand the reason for it. Why did their moods swing a hundred and eighty degrees (180°) so abruptly?
"Tell me, my wrong!"
"In this country, women are not permitted to read or even touch a book. It is treated as treason," informed Mirelinda.
'This is the most stupid law I ever came across yet. Who would declare such evil and for what reason?' Thought Elizabeth while she tried to fathom the credibility of the news she had just heard.
"That is insane!" she then spurted.
"Insane? Please milady. Here in the Castle, the laws are even more rigid like you may have guessed and it is wise to be mindful of our words."
"Even at that, are you saying- Okay, answer me this Oletha, is there a library here?"
"Yes indeed! An enormous one with thousands of books; so big a place that it could swallow up one for days. However, studying is a man's job and that's that!"
Hearing Oletha's words prompted Elizabeth to form her resolution in her mind.
'The more reason why I have to leave this patriarchal setting altogether!' she vowed in her heart.
"Yes I have a question. Do any of you know if master Ezekiel is within limits of my reach? I would like to have a talk with him."
"Well he has returned from where he went but he is always by the King's side and definitely not within your reach milady unless the Queen had also invited the King to tonight's banquet dinner. Then you should be certain to catch a glimpse of him beside the King." Oletha informed.
'IF the King got invited? Why didn't I think of that? Well, I hope he doesn't get an invitation because knowing half of what I've heard about him today, I would fail miserably at keeping up my composure while contemplating if one wrong move would cause him to set me ablaze with his vicious gaze.'
"Okay. Thank you for the information."
"Just in time! Your hair is finally done, milady and you look beautiful and spotless."
"Thanks to the both of you. I love the way I look!"
Elizabeth said to both ladies while she flashed a bright smile on her face; one that exudes perfect brilliance with enough luminescence to blanket the entire room with its warming glow.
"Now that all is set, I should head on my way to honour the Queen's invitation!" She announced and let the ladies lead the way, in no distant time.