After high priest Elion. Elara couldn't keep her happiness contained anymore she immediately hugs Madame Tilda screaming; I survived. I survived. I survived.
Madame Tilda was happy for a millisecond before pushing her lightly. "No touching" she grumbles though her heart is beaming with joy.
She doesn't know why but her heart seems to like Elara. The girl is sweet and genuine although she needs to toughen up if she wants to stay unscathed in the outer realm.
"Go take shower, then we begin lessons" Elara eagerly nods before going into the house.
Immediately she was met with laughter and a bucket of mud on her head. Then the laughing abruptly stops.
Elara felt the presence before the words. "Madame Tilda. Is this what you teach in your house?"
"Certainly not my lord" Elara still had the bucket on her head so they're words are muffled.
"Fix them" he ordered before glancing at Elara, who's quiet with a bucket to the head.
He doesn't know but he felt almost good seeing her humiliated like that. He clears his throat before regarding Madame Tilda.
"After she's freshened up, bring her to the Queen Dowager's quarters" Madame Tilda bows before glaring at the ladies responsible for this except Hana.
One day into the house of petals and they're already causing trouble. She'll have to teach them a lesson.
Grabbing Elara's shoulders, she leads her to her chamber before removing the bucket— half expecting her in tears but Elara just exhales loudly.
"It felt suffocating" she clutches her chest as her gaze settles on the red phoenix room decorated beautifully yet so harshly.
Elara wasn't so sure whether she liked it or hated it. But first of all, she needs to shower this thing off her.
After taking a long bath, she came out smooth and fresh. She wanted to sleep then and there.
Madam Tilda handed her another beige gown that's her size now. She combs through her hair before putting on a pin.
Madame Tilda led her to the Queen Dowager's quarters, Elara kept quiet but she couldn't hold the question anymore.
"Who is the Queen Dowager?" Madam Tilda rolls her eyes but answers her anyway.
"The king's mother" Elara's eyes pop out of their sockets. She's to meet the king's mum but why today and not tomorrow.
As if hearing her, she answers "the Queen Dowager doesn't like going out for anything unless necessary"
Oh, Elara's mouth circles as she realises that maybe the Queen Dowager is as easygoing as Selene is.
At a distance, the king was waiting for Elara and when he sees her silhouette, he unconsciously straightens his back.
She stops right in front of him—her scent wafting into his nose; strawberries, lilies and the brittle drop of earth.
"What took you so long?" He asked, clearly displeased at her for wasting his time.
"Scrubbing dried up mud, that's what" Elara's breath hitches. Did she say that out loud?
The looks both the king and Madame Tilda gave her was a confirmation.
Elara always spoke her mind but it's always in her mind, and now that she said that out loud she… she feels good.
The king ignored her because he would not be wasting precious time on a lowlife nobody.
He barges in to find his wife and Selene in the room. He walks up to his mother—giving a small bow before sitting.
"Now I know you're not a fan of being out and about so I decided to bring the future consort to you" there was a small smile, a small lift from his lips as he said that.
The Queen—Gabriella, waited patiently for the consort to come out.
Selene was beaming with happiness that her friend actually survived this. It seems the gods want Selene to finally be happy.
Elara then comes into the room slowly—as elegantly as she could muster, before stopping before the queen and bowing.
Her bow was horrible and straining. The Queen Dowager's gaze slated cold but there was a constrictive smile on her lips.
The king muses at how she's going to make a fool out of herself. Selene glanced between her mother and Elara while fidgeting with her hands.
"Is this what you call a bow child?" Elara was wrong to think the Queen Dowager is like Selene. They are polar opposites.
She didn't know what to say so she just kept quiet and that seems to displease the Queen Dowager even more.
"Cat got your tongue? I asked you a question" Elara bit into her mouth to keep herself grounded.
The Queen Dowager looks to Madame Tilda with disdain.
"Get her out of my sight. And teach her the palace rules before she loses her head"
Madame Tilda nods before guiding Elara outside.