Hidden Scrolls

************

CHAPTER 17

The minister with Vidor turned his gaze towards Era. He too was shocked by the way the King had treated his queen.

On a norm, they could not really tell what was normal or not because this was the first time he was having a woman in his life but still, everyone had hoped that it would prick some sort of conscience with him.

Well everyone except Caspian and his annoying daughter, Diona.

Feeling for her, he managed a weak smile at her and bowed his head to her, greeting her and then taking his leave. Era nodded in appreciation, mimicking his weak smile and when he left, she lowered her head.

It was embarrassing for her. If they were the only ones there and he did that, she wouldn't feel it. But right there were their subordinates and he did that. She felt broken so much.

'Hmmm,' she sighed within her. 'I do not see why you should feel hurt. What were you expecting from such a cold monster in the first place? I suggest we stick to ourselves and live life daily, one step at a time.'

Somehow she managed to motivate herself and when she was satisfied and not feeling so down again, she turned around swiftly.

With a proud smile on her face, she strode back to her seat, feeling more energetic than before and ready for work.

"I am sorry, your majesty. I thought…" She raised her right hand, cutting him short involuntarily.

"It was never your fault in the first place. You suggested the right thing. Never should you feel bad about it. Besides, I am okay. It's too bad for him though. Now, let's get back to work. These papers and problems won't sort themselves out would they?"

Styles did not know what he was going to say to her. He simply smiled at her. She was trying her best to handles it the best way she could.

"Yes, your majesty." He picked up the next scroll and handed it over to her. "Here you go, this is from Scolvia."

"Thank you."

****

She spent most of her day in her personal study attending to issues and treating the documents to the best of her knowledge.

By the time the day was done, Era looked up at the clock and noticed that it was already thirty minutes past eight in the evening.

She turned to the minister and smiled. He looked so tired just sitting on the chair. He had already fallen asleep but she did not bother to wake him up.

They had been on this work since after breakfast by 9 am. She could not blame him. Besides, they did not go for break aside from the one she had going to try and talk to Vidor.

Ever since then it was a marathon work. She had channelled all that pain and anger into her work and did something nice.

When they started, the pile of scrolls before her looked like an impossible journey or task and one she thought she would use a week or so to finish but to her amazement, that was not the case.

To some extent, she was actually glad that he did what he did as he acted as a big motivation for her. Raising her hands up into the air, she stretched her body.

Gosh her whole back and waist hurt from all the seating she had been doing.

She stood up finally and went to pick the last two scrolls. She decided she was going to handle them standing. Dropping the purple scroll on her table, Era proceeded to open the green one.

However, when her hands touché it to open, something caught her eye.

"Meribia?" She paused, trying her best to understand why her people's scroll or why a scroll from her kingdom would be here considering most of the scrolls were dated to a few years back or months ago.

So most definitely, it was before her marriage to the monster king.

"What rae you doing here?" she questioned, but not loud so as not to wake Styles up. Well, it wasn't like the scroll was going to talk to her on its own.

Realizing that, she smiled to herself and proceeded in opening it from the seal. It had the royal seal on it.

The second she opened it, she recognized the handwriting and her heart broke.

It was her father's. It belonged to King Elrad.

"Why did father reach out to him?" Era asked herself and decided to get her answers from the content.

'Greetings, your majesty. I am King Elrad, of Meribia. I write to you based on the disturbing news reaching me in my kingdom.

I know we have maintained a friendly relationship this past few years but now, I hear your soldiers infiltrating my kingdom and attacking some of my people at the borders.

Please, in honour of our existing friendship, kindly put a stop to it. I would hate for our relationship to break because of this. We have done you no wrong; please let's keep it at that. And yes, your bride grows prettier each day and it pains me knowing the day would soon come.

In that regard, please also consider our past. Thank you for your kind understanding. King Elrad.'

Era reread it thrice before she brought the scroll close to her chest to hug it. It was not now. Unlike her mother, her father already knew that this day would come and there was no denying it.

He knew from his heart that he would have to give her away and it wasn't because he loved to but because that was a pact once agreed and signed upon.

His letter was just a reminder of that pact just to safeguard his people. He had to honour the pact.

Unknown to him, he felt Vidor not attacking then was as a result of him getting the letter. Who would have known that it was not the case and it was buried beneath every other scroll for the queen to treat?