I Can Manage...

Queen Ariadne's POV.

The king's courier announced that we should all meet in the Announcement Hall. I hasten up with my dressing. Quickly, I rushed to the hall to join the rest.

Everyone was confused as to why the Emperor called all of us here. Many thoughts he was angry, and sooner or later someone was going to be punished. I was also afraid because of what happened last night in the king's room. What if he was going to punish me in public? I was doomed already.

The back door of the hall opened and the king walked into the room with both of his hands at the back. He wore a green robe with a white turban on his head. I wondered why he always had that on!

He sat down on the throne with his left hand holding a scroll. The emperor gave it to Apollo to read out to the people.

"Your highness, do I have your permission to start?"

He didn't say anything rather, he waved his hand in the air, ushering him to start.

"Greetings to the people of Akkad, I, Emperor Sargon wish to invite you all to join me here in my palace and celebrate our victory. We have conquered a new city called Taolo. I hope you will all come to this ball he read. When Apollo was through, he gave the scroll back to the king. He returned to his seat.

"And also the other reason for this celebration will be hidden, I will reveal it during the Ball," the king said.

Two reasons? What could be the other reason for this? He had many wives maybe it was one of their anniversaries. After the king left the hall, I went to join the other women and help in the preparation for the King's Ball.

Everyone was talking about the Ball. What they were going to wear, the shoes, the makeup to put on, and who was going to dance with the king! I was tired of hearing all this stuff.

While I was sitting, Princess Morgana came to ask me how she looked in her dress. This was so tiring for me, but I had no choice but to find a dress that suit her.

"Which dress are you wearing to the ball queen Ariadne?" She asked.

"I don't know, princess" I have never been to a ball before, what dress to wear to such an event, was still a problem! All my life I have spent them in the kitchen and princess Eva's room. These things were still new to me.

"You should call the palace's seamstress to get your dress done before the last hour," she said.

"Who is the palace seamstress?" I asked foolishly.

Since I came to the palace, Queen's mother was the one who bought all my clothes. I didn't know there was a specific person that sew the royal women. Back there, in Camelot, the maids were the ones who did all the chores, made and mended all the clothes in the castle.

I have everything here, even a seamstress to make my clothes. Was this what life was all about? The creator works in mysterious ways, who knows that a poor maid like Ariadne will be among the queens of Emperor Sargon! No one 😁.

An hour later, The seamstress came to the palace. After we had breakfast, she took my measurements. The dress was going to be ready by evening, a maid will deliver it to my room. I was worried. What if the dress looks ugly on me?

"Queen Ariadne" mother called my name. I was supposed to visit her yesterday but I forgot and went to the king's room instead. How was I going to explain myself to her?

"Greetings, your highness," I said.

"I am not happy with you and am sure, you are aware of that" she complained as a baby would.

"Forgive me, mother, I was very busy coming to see you yesterday" Lying to my mother was the last thing on my mind. It was better to avoid her questions.

"What were you busy with?" She asked.

"She was with my brother last night, don't scold her please" Princess Morgana chimed in. I wanted to stop her but it was too late for that.

"What? Why didn't you tell me?" Mother was excited, I could tell from her face.

"I told you, that I was a busy mother".

"Is okay my child. Have you gotten a dress for the Ball?"

"Not yet mother, I told the seamstress to make one for me".

" The dress will suit you, just wait patiently. The seamstress doesn't disappoint" mother assured.

After her last statement, she left. Mother was like a savior to me, when I was lonely, I would go to her to find a friend. She was a mother figure maybe that was why the Emperor cherished her.

"Princess Morgana, Why did you tell mother, that I was in the king's room last night?" I asked.

"There is nothing to be shy of, Queen Ariadne. The Emperor is your husband" She said

"Y-YOU...are something else," I Said, dropping the dress she gave me.

I went to where the decorations were taking place. Back there in Camelot, I was among the maids that decorated the hall for events.

Seeing the guards doing it here, in Akkad, was awkward. Some flowers in the basin needed to be fixed on the wall. I picked some and tried to put them on the wall.

There was a short ladder close by. I adjusted it and started making my way up.

"My Lady, the ladder is faulty. Please don't use it" Anne said. (Do you know what she did in Camelot?)😎

"Don't worry about me dear, I can manage" I continued with my climbing. Anne was quiet as she watched me climb the ladder.

Being stubborn was part of me, there was nothing anyone could do about it. I fixed the first line and moved to the second.

The decoration was half done and the hall was already looking beautiful. Am sure the rest of the royal family will be impressed when they see it.

I was in the last line when one of the woods that supported the ladder cracked. My hands shifted from the previous position, my legs lost their balance and there I went down...….