Two week passed since Roriana's introduction to the Maidens. Ivert had been really helpful, she was nice and easy going. However, they had their eyes glued on her all through the day, they didn't let her go anywhere unwatched.
She wanted to ask Ivert about Zanister, but she didn't know how it would seem asking about another man while being engaged to the Great Emperor.
At least she knew he was somewhere safe.
Roriana's eyes fell to the floor as she walked behind Ivert who excitedly scurried. The rest of the maidens walked a few feet behind her. Ivert was the only one who usually walked in front of Roriana. She found it incredibly odd. If she stepped back the other girls would step back as well.
It was still hard getting used to servants.
"I cannot believe it's already here, the Fayere feast!" Ivert hummed excitedly.
"Does that mean I can finally meet the Emperor, Miss?" Roriana asked.
"Oh, simply refer to me by my name," Ivert halted.
"Sorry,"
"You are soon to be married off to our leader. Your rank surpasses my own. You can't speak to me like I am your equal?" Lady Ivert said.
"Sorry," Roriana whispered again. This had to be the fifth time Ivert had lectured her on the topic.
"Never apologize, your highness. Not to those below you. Your maidens do the apologizing—" Ivert sighed. "You have a long way to go before you are refined enough to become queen. Thank goodness we have three years."
Roriana couldn't help but feel a strange darkness in her chest. Anxiety, you could say. Being engaged to the most powerful being in all the worlds still felt surreal to her.
Still there were some questions.
Five girls were given the Great Emperor's name. She had always wondered about them... Did they also have Maidens like her?
What were they like?
Suddenly they stopped in front of a door which sparked curiosity within Roriana. She had never been to this building before.
Roriana found it strange how each section of her residence, was separated into several high buildings filled with staffs just waiting there for her to supposedly visit for a cause. There was a garden so big, it was practically a forest. Except it had no harmful animals supposedly. There were houses for literally no reasons at all. There was no reason for there to be a house just for a live orchestra. No reason at all.
She understood the spa house and the art gallery but an orchestra house was so unnecessary. Those women were just getting paid to sit around waiting for Roriana to desire a live band and a dance performance while she ate.
Apparently those buildings were the collections of institutions built by former queens and kings. Each held a history of its own.
Roriana currently resided in the residence of the last Queen of the South. Life had its games, because she had read all about the last Queen of the South, now she was in her palace.
The previous Queen of the South lived in the moonlight Palace for two hundred years before establishing her own territory in the lower south were she ruled until her death seven hundred years before the previous In'er's death.
Ivert was introducing her to one of the many buildings, Roriana had never been to. It was tall and beautiful, all white with bold sculptures of naked women who had large wings half carved into the walls. It made Roriana more curious about what was inside.
"Is he inside?" Ivert turned back slightly.
Roriana thought that question was directed at her. Who was inside? She didn't know how to answer.
"Yes, the guards escorted him some minutes ago." A maiden answered from behind.
Roriana pressed her pink glossy lips into an 'o'
Makes sense.
Ivert pushed the door open, entering into a new room.
Roriana's eyes grew as she saw a beautiful space bright with white light, filled with mannequins and dresses. Mirrors were practically everywhere.
There were specks of blue light displaying holographic illusions of dresses, changing its design with every flash.
She had never seen so many shoes and clothes all in one place before. It seemed like a never ending stream.
"Your Highness, posture. He can't see you like this." Ivert whispered as she tapped Rori with her hand fan.
"This place is so beautiful, I may never leave," Roriana said as she straightened her back.
"Today you may not have to. This meeting is so important we had to bring you to the wardrobe personally," Ivert answered.
Meeting, what meeting?
"This can't just be a wardrobe."
"But it is. Where do you think all your clothes come from?"
"The closet at the—" Roriana stopped mid-sentence. Yes, where did they come from?
The maidens looked at each other genuinely concerned.
Ivert inhaled. "The Fayere feast is in twelve nights. The priest has sent a message, I did not expect it so soon. We only have a short time to prepare—"
"Miss Ivert—"
"Please do not refer to me by honorifics" Ivert corrected maintaining a small smile. The confidence of a maiden was in the authority of the bride they served.
"I mean, Lady Ivert?"
Ivert resisted the urge to slap her own face. But she did find that overly polite part of queen Roriana to be adorable. "Ivert, will do. Do not act like this in front of the other wives. They will see it as a sign of weakness I am afraid."
"Oh, um..."
"Do not um. A queen speaks her desire and we must listen." Ivert corrected. Roriana absolutely needed a lot of work before she was strong enough to fit the role of queen.
"These are all for me?"
"Yes, this collection was made by Makree Sovla, I personally chose each piece myself." All Head maids were given the opportunity to select the clothes for their queens after they were selected. "I hope the clothes have suited you taste so far. I did put quite the effort into selecting the best indoor designs."
"Indoor designs?" Roriana pinched the sophisticated crimson red robe she was wearing. "This is just an indoor dress?" It had literal gold threads embroided on the soft fabric to form small beautiful fire patterns at the bottom of the sleeves and ends of the flowing dress. The fabric felt suiting on the skin, like water. The dress was clearly made out of something rare and expensive. Roriana hated the fact that she was starting to enjoy the luxury.
"Certainly you do not expect to step out without planned tailored attires?" A man said drawing the attention of the women. "A queen candidate is the representation of the Great Emperor himself."
Rori turned to see a blonde-haired man with forest green eyes, dressed dashingly in dark green traditional Qira robe,
He had an unimpressed look on his face
Roriana turned her head as he circled her slowly
"So this is the popular queen," his eyes gazed at her from head to toe, fixing his gaze on her waist. "Hmm. Pretty face. But plain for the Emperor's standard. However…"
Roriana turned to stone. She had never felt so self-conscious.
"Her body is truly something." He gave a half nod. "I can work with this."
"You are Makree Sovla?" Rori curtsied with a small smile. "I am Roriana, pleasure to meet you."
Instantly, Roriana's maidens stilled.
"This one is clearly not trained. I left queen Evre's, palace for this?"
Roriana shrank as she looked down at her feet.
"Keep your head up at all times, your highness," Ivert whispered into Roriana's ears
"And you, mind the way you speak to your queen." Ivert glared at him intensely.
"Can the queen not speak for herself?" The man stared at Roriana who still quietly stood there. "Anyways, I apologize, your highness." He bowed mildly disappointed in his heart. She was weak. "I did step out of line. Yet I must add, if her highness keeps acting like this, she may not survive long enough to actually become queen. I say this out of concern."
"I understand. But, I don't need any concern. I have taken care of myself all my life." Rori said, finally gaining the courage to look him in the eyes. Her heart stopped after realizing what she had just done. She spoke back to a high Qira.
The words slipped out of her mouth.
She was used to looking down. High Qiras meant danger. And looking them in eyes threatened one's life.
Roriana shut her eyes gazing down, waiting for the backlash.
"That fierceness. Good, now that I like," The blonde man smirked. "I am not Makree Sovla, I feel pissed that you would compare but I digress. My name is Lethivi. So what dress do you have in mind?"
Rori tensed.
Nothing... happened?
"Yes, I am this event's designer. His Majesty wanted the brides to share the same designer because he wants his brides to be dressed in a somewhat similar aesthetic for his guests."
"Oh, okay," Roriana responded matching her palms together.
"Aren't you interested in his Majesty's theme?"
"Um. Yes, what is it?" Rori asked. She did remember Ivert rambling something about it.
"Excellent. Now his Majesty's theme is called 'a dress from the heart'. I came up with the name of course, but it is in line with his idea, kind of."
"A dress from the heart. How are we supposed to know what's in the Emperor's heart?" Roriana needed to impress the Emperor. She didn't care about becoming a queen, all she wanted was a meeting with him. That could only be possible if she got a dance with him.
She couldn't do that if he didn't choose her.
"Exactly why, His majesty chose this theme. He does not want you to wear things for his sake. He wants you pick an attire that represent who you are. If I were you, I'd be very critical about your presentation for the feast. It will be your first time debuting before the inner members of the High Court. You will need as many good looks directed at you as you can get. It takes only a single glance for a person to judge whether or not they'll be willing to join your party during the campaign."
Campaign? Roriana did not understand that part. Lady Ivert had not told her anything about it.
"Do not worry all the dresses will look spectacular, of course. I will make sure every queen shines while complimenting each other at the same time. No matter how different your styles are. After all, I am the one designing them." Lethivi said feeling an aura of pride in his talent. "So what type of dress would you like? Better decide on one that will make you outshine the others and trust me, there is competition."
"Well," Rori rubbed her shoulders. Unlike the other girls in the harem, she was not used to having beautiful dresses on demand. This type of lifestyle was not her. "I'm not sure."
"That's every designer's favorite answer. Come with me, I have some ideas in mind. That slender figure will not go to waste on my watch. This way—oh." Lethivi said excitedly wanting to dash to the other room before stopping his tracks seconds before committing a blunder.
"You go first, Your Highness. I cannot walk ahead of the queen," He bowed.
"R-really." Roriana asked blinking in surprise.
He nodded yes.
That explained a lot.
"Oh, then okay," she said awkwardly. She was not comfortable with people bowing down to her. The respect was too much for her.
She found it strange how the Royals had so many strange laws.
She didn't know if this was something she could ever get used to. She was just a low Qira. Bottoms of the Naqil hierarchy. Some may even consider Low Qiras far less than Earth humans. At least some of them can do magic.
The hope of magic had long disappeared from Roriana's heart.