Chapter 48

Chapter 48

“What a beautiful morning!” Jasmine said as she woke up that morning. She had gotten up from the bed feeling fulfilled.

Moving to the windows to raise the curtains, she thought about how the previous day had gone.
“What a day!" She exclaimed.

She had gone to bed with her pillows and bed sheets soaked with tears but she had made up her mind that her day would not be like the previous day.

Standing by the window and seeing the reflection of herself, Jasmine decided to try something new. “I am a strong woman!" She said, looking intently at her reflection.

" I am a strong woman! I do not get emotional over the littlest of things… I am strong, I am not weak… I will have a great day today… I will have fun today… I would not be sad, I would not be depressed… I refuse to be hurt. My emotions are not out for O quarrel. Queen Jasmine had also taken the liberty to make the bed. This was the job of the maidens but the Queen had done it anyway.

Her brows creased slightly. “Oh! no dear, you shouldn't have bothered, I am all good as you can see and I'm pretty aware of the time for breakfast. Thank you Cara” Jasmine said, patting Cara's chin.

Cara took a good look at the Queen and couldn't help but notice that Queen Jasmine had packed her hair in an updo and had also raised the curtains. Something the Queen never does except during her happy days back then. All these things felt strange to Cara, she didn't really understand what was happening and could only smile.

Cara wanted to ask the Queen if she had that experience of the other day seeing some parts of the bed were damped and soiled with tears. But then, she remembered how the Queen had cried herself to sleep and remained silent.

“Okay then, run along” Queen Jasmine said, using her hands to chase Cara like one trying to wave an insect off.

Cara left the Queen confused and amazed by this new change of attitude. She could sense something but couldn't place it. Pride? No, no… Confidence? Yes, Confidence! She thought, affirming.

“Oh well, that's truly a good way to start one's day” Cara muttered, smiling.

She walked back to the maidens’ room, humming a song happily.

Queen Jasmine stood there watching Cara walk away. She had watched Cara's expression while she was speaking and she knew she had made an impression on her. She smiled confidently and locked the door, returning to the bed. She looked at the time, she had approximately twenty five minutes to get prepared for breakfast. She stripped off her royal robes and rather than calling the maidens to help scrub her body, she turned on the tap and slided into the bathtub. She reached out to get her body scrub and the bath soap just above her head, on the table near the bathtub. She squeezed a large quantity and set the water to a warm temperature. She was ready to sleep there if need be, she thought laughing.

“Oh my! I'm really going to have a great day today!” she thought out loud.

Scrubbing her body slowly and seductively, she recalled how the King, on some occasions, would sneak into her room in the middle of the night, during her time of bathing and would claim he was there to help her reach the “spots” she couldn't reach. She would willingly oblige his request, smiling naughtily. Matt would collect the body scrub and scrub her back for a little while, after which, he'd succumb to the temptation of having to go a little lower and his hands would venture downwards and they'd be left moaning for a couple of minutes, sometimes an hour. He always left either half naked or completely soaked.

They had called the bathtub the “tub of impurities” and would laugh each time they remembered one of their “unclean" moments. They rather use that word to "sex” and were content with it. They could discuss it anywhere and nobody would get a hint of whatever it was they were saying not to talk of understanding their conversation or so they thought.

A reminiscent smile playing on Jasmine's lips, she recalled all her happy moments with her king, Matt. She was really missing him and his touch. Especially that one, she thought, laughing.

Her smile slowly faded as she compared that moment with what they shared now. It was nothing like what they had started off with. She would never in her wildest imagination think that things could be upturned in her relationship with her husband. Queen Maria laid in the bathtub, struggling to fight back the tears welling up in her eyes. She bit her lower lips in regrets and wished she had taken her time to enjoy every bit of the moments they had shared. She would have done so if she had thought that this is where they would be in the next few years.

Queen Jasmine suddenly remembered she was in the bathroom preparing for breakfast. She checked the time and saw she had less than eight minutes to get ready. She quickly scrubbed her body and rinsed with warm water. She stepped out of the bathroom, feeling good about the day. She went through her affirmations one more time before reaching for her towel. She dried herself off and slipped into her fancy foot wear and walked back to her bed. Sitting on the bed, almost naked, she quickly unwrapped the towel hanging on the knot just above her breasts. As soon as she undid the knot, she stood up and the towel loosened. She looked down at her body and knew she still had it in her. She was pretty and finely shaped, she didn't even know what it was that was making her husband see her as unattractive. She shook her head and slipped into her panties and then a finely colored gown, just hanging on the wardrobe by the left side of the room. As soon as she took it out, she searched for wrinkles and seeing that there was none, she put it on, wore her cologne and wore some light weighted accessories and was ready to leave the room. She checked the time, she still had three more minutes.

Reaching for the door, she perceived a foul smell. She consciously raised her hands and cupped her mouth, breathing out.

“Oh no!” she said, alarmed as she remembered that she hadn't brushed her teeth. Hurrying back to the toilet, she hurriedly placed a little quantity of the paste onto her brush and immediately began scrubbing. As soon as she was done, she went through one of her mouth wash, picked it up and immediately gurgled the content. Spitting it out, she turned on the tap, drank some water and did the same thing.

She ran back to the bed to get her towel, which she used to dry her lip area.

Rushing to the door, she twisted the knob and pulled.

“Damn!” she exclaimed as she wasn't expecting to see Cara standing behind the door.

Smiling, she added. “You scared me, Cara”.

Cara only stood there trying to take in the beauty emitting from the Queen. “Wow!, your highness, you look breathtaking" she said before she could bridle her tongues.

Queen Jasmine only laughed at this and said. “Thank you, Cara"

Returning the smile, Cara replied. "I'm so sorry your highness for startling you, I only came to call you and escort you out to the dining room"

She turned to lock the door but gave her room a quick glance before finally shutting the door.

Looking at Cara, she said softly, “Alright then, be my company”.

They both walked silently to the dining room. Each woman lost in her own thoughts.