CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

The knock on the door was rushed, coming in successions. Oh the guts of them. The servants here were too rude. No doubt they still saw her as a lost prisoner who was leaving on pardon. All other Riverlanders were slaves now, some dead. Including Mia.
That thought alone made her fully awake and eager to leave the bed.
"Enter" she replied. Fixing a glare at the young girl that came. Tray in hands and barrels of warm water held by two boys behind her.
"My lady. The Lord requires all presence at the manor hall, the throne room in minutes" she spoke quickly and set about. Nearly dragging her out if bed and making it. Quickly shooing the young boys away, she went into the washroom and made the wash pot. Complete with oils and herbs.
"My lady you must hurry. He has sent man to pull every last person out. No exceptions" she pleased hurriedly
"If you are done here, you could leave my chamber and let me sleep. I have no business with your Lord or what event he holds. Tell him I will be gladly absent" she said and flopped on the bed in the most unladylike manner.
"Lady Selene I beg you, I must be there too myself. He...he was very stern" the maid pleased worriedly
Selene looked at the girl. Swung her legs off the bed. Sleep had left her anyways. And went for the washroom.
Even inside, sh could hear her room being cleaned, metals clanking in haste. Noises could be heard far off. The manor was more alive than usual.
Selene dwelled on why the Lord had called everyone. Or what is just her he wanted to punish again??
She had had enough of it, she would tell him just that when they met. Enough was enough. No more kisses and improper moments. He would leave her alone to fine a suitor and she would avoid him like the plague.
Selene left the washroom and was forced into a dress. A silver flowing dress with a black thick corset. Her hair held up and a single flower pinned.
The maid smiled at her approvingly and packed what she had came with clumsily, walking out the door in haste.
Selene yawned and ate her breakfast in silence. Not really savouring the stew or hot loaves of buttered bread.
She finished with a small cup of apple juice and left as slowly as she could to the throne room.
It was filled.
The guards already parading the servants into the room. Many scrambled to gain space. Too many spaces. All slaves, field, kitchen, ranch. The entire household of Horace O'alistair was here present.
Selene walked to her seat, it usually was beside the king. At his left hand side.
It was occupied.
A woman sat.
Aphrodite herself.
With the greenest eyes she had ever seen. Made her eyes look like dead plants no doubt.
Her smile was dazzling. Her skin porcelain, dainty.
Her hair a rich honey colour was held at the sides with a pin, the rest flowing behind her in glossy waves.
Her full body was clad in a plain white dress. Making her look like an angel at once.
Selene gulped and walked out. Taking a vacant seat by the row of uniformed man and head servants that sat beside the throne.
The murmurs filled the room for a short while. It ended slowly as the Lord raise his hands.
"People of Sol. The children of the Sun" he addressed
Staring ahead at the multitude.
"I have a blessing from the Sun itself. My heart. She lives!" He said and silence came, all staring at the new woman in what Selene could only describe as fear.
"Queen Monique! She has returned to us. To love and be loved. A gift to each one of us here today. She speaks my command. Any tongue that speaks against her speaks against me. I will not spare my wrath in whoever defies her or questions her. she is your queen. Your sun. My voice" he boomed.
The crowd erupted in gasps and murmurs.
"Silence!" He commanded
Rising to his feet.
He held up the woman she stood gracefully beside him.
An epitome of royalty.
"All hail our queen!" He yelled
The soft repetition came from behind. A band of men chorusing. It rose to the front row where she sat. Then the crowd chorused in sheer loyalty.
Selene stood. Excusing herself quietly.
She walked to the door and met the eyes of an older servant. Tears streaming down her face. She had her large palm over her heart.
Tears of joy, Selene decided.
They had missed their queen. Their mistress. The Lord's wife
Selene could feel tears brimming. Oh curse him! All the while his wife had only been lost and he had been too eager to bed her, keep her at the palace as a mistress. Only to leave when she returned. An alternative!
Selene could feel the tears freely flow as she slammed the door to her room close. Still hearing the chant from the throne room.
Oh she was a fool! An utter child. But at least she still had her virtue. She'd kill her pathetic self is she had lost it to that damned liar.
Her heart ached. She had nearly given herself to the man. So close she could still taste the intimacy at her tongue. Damned liar!
Who would see a woman as such and still hurt the pale bony body she owned. No man. Not one as deceptive as the Sol emperor.
She had heard her name. On the Lord himself. In his sleep he had called to her. His heart.
His desire, had never been her. Would never be. She would marry as soon. To any man at all and be gone before she became suicidal. She didn't need love. All she needed as comfort and respect, she'd be fine. With the next gentleman.
Selene had spiralling thoughts till she fell into a troubled slumber.
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It was dusk when she woke.
Her curtains still open as the chill might air blew in. The crickets at the dark hidsen corners singing blissfully. Ignorant of her broken heart.
Selene stood, her limbs tired. She had been in bed all day.
Walking to the washroom, she washed her face with a clean cotton towel and brought a shawl over her shoulders. Closing her door behind her in a clink, she ventured to the entrance of the manor. Stepped out, the guard following her closely.
Selene realised it indeed wasn't as late as she had thought. The servants were just retiring for the day. Wine had been passed she was sure. The slaves swayed too much.
She turned to see the Lord by her side, conversing with a smaller man. Their eyes met and she saw ..nothing.
His cruel hard face was gone. Now an empty more lightening canvas in place.
H didn't acknowledge her existence. He looked right through her, like she was not there. Went back to the man he spoke with and shortly left for the manor without a word at her.
He would act like she didn't live at all. A mere object. A Royal prisoner.
Selene turned to the cold night air and sniffled back her childish tears. She wouldn't spoil her night over a married man. One that didn't even seem to see her.
She gathered her dress and pulls her shawl over her shoulder tighter, moving into the manor with the last stream of servants.
Supper came later than usual. A massive feast of grapes and beef and lettuce.
The maids hurried about, serving the full table in candle light.
The head warrior sat to the left of the the king and the...the angel. The angel sat to the right. A guard she had been too many times next to her . An older uniformed head servant by the guard who held a half stein of liquor
The warriors and higher ranked servants filled the table.
Wine and food passed abundantly around.
Selena's eyes was fixated at the Lord.
His dark eyes blacker if it was even possible. His strange smile doing to the beauty beside him. He spared her not a glance yet again.
The woman by him was paler at dusk, her face held a strain Selene could only stare at unfanthomed. Her green eyes piercing in the dimly lit room.
The man by her side was irritating, that alone she was certain. The young man rubbed his knee too closely to hers and ladled too much portion into her untouched plate.
Selene forced a smile at the gentleman who beamed at her and bowed
Selene took a fork off her plate and licked the empty utensil. She couldn't keep food down. This she was sure of. Retorting to wine, she took a small swallow of the fluid and sat back.
Eyes were on her.
Selene stared up to the king. Who looked at here pointedly. His glasses eyes intently in her face, Selene frowned and looked away with a scowl. How dare be notice her. Devil, lying devil.
"My Lord" came the melodious voice that dragged his dark orbs back to her face, the green eyes beauty took his face in her hand and placed a over his lips
Selene could feel her stomach churning.
"It's a beautiful evening isn't it my lady?" The man beside her asked.
How ironic! Selene almost cried out. Instead she forced a smile she was accustomed to and faced the man. He took her hand in his and placed a kiss on her knuckles
"Knight Randall" he said
"Selene"
"Of course princess. I have seen you more than once" he replied with a charming smile.
Selene could not stop her gaze from going back to the Lord. He had his hands on the table. Intertwined with hers.
It was enough. Selene would feel the pang of jealousy fill her bitterly. Why could she not smile and flaunt at the charming Knight beside her? Selene gulped in disgust. She wouldn't have any man touching her. She'd go to the nunnery. Maybe there she could do something virtuous to the white god.
With a slow scrap of her chair, Selene dumped her napkin on the table and left.
Turning to the king once more, she could see his devout attention on the woman. She walked out.