Expectations and Reality

Hera’s POV 

The rest of the event passed by in a blur, we had changed our attires twice based on the mood of the event. I was exhausted, tired and hungry.

I glanced at Eleazar and unlike me who looked like I could be anywhere but here, he remained demure.

I sighed at my plight and just then like an answered prayer I heard him say, 

“We will be taking our leave.”

I leaped from my chair, my eyes wide with joy. He glanced at me then at the maids waiting.

“You may leave, I have some matters to attend to.”

I nodded in understanding.

I will go with them wherever as long as I get to leave this place.

The audience had stood up to bow one last time to bid us a goodnight. 

The queen dowager had long excused herself and least to say, the night was going my way until i bumped into Abraham outside the hall.

“Your majesty.” He said bowing.

“Beta.” I replied, a little glad it was him I bumped into.

I did not have the strength for another word banter or power struggle tonight, I really just needed to sleep today.

“Please call me Abraham your majesty.” He replied, a small smile on his face.

“If you insist.” I replied, returning his smile.

The maids were waiting behind me but save for us, the hallway was practically empty and quiet despite the loud music booming in the hall all thanks to the sound proof walls.

A glint of mischief appeared in his eyes and I knew I should have insisted on leaving. That was the same look he had when he teased Eleazar and to think I had enjoyed it then, not knowing my turn was fast approaching.

“Abraham, I better take my leave…”

“Yes your majesty, I bet your groom cannot wait either. Have a wonderful night.” 

If I could sink into the floor or disappear I would.

I blushed furiously, my eyes wide with horror making Abraham chuckle wickedly.

Did everybody interpret my joy when I stood to leave the same way? 

I had completely forgotten about that….

How dense could I have been?

I shook my head and walked away, his wicked chuckle ringing in my ears.

I will pay him back one day but for now, I have important task ahead.

How to avoid consummating my marriage on my wedding night!

As the maids led me deeper into the palace, my heart leaped even harder and my mouth went dryer. The path felt long and I wondered if I could even recognize my way if I ever needed to escape.

‘What if he insists on consummating?’

‘What if the queen dowager asks for evidence of my virginity?’

My mind spiraled with a lot of scenarios and I had only realized we had come to a stop only when the maids spoke up.

“Your Majesty, we are at his Majesty’s quarters .”

I looked up to behold the giant villa in front of me. How large was this palace to contain a building so massive?

The villa was a two story building, completely white with black and golden adornments.  

The tall black gates stood strong while multiple guards stood in front of it, their hands on their weapons and their ears perked waiting to hear our purpose of coming.

One of the maids walked forward and announced 

“Her majesty has arrived.”

She had barely finished her statement when they removed their hands from their weapons, took a step forward and chorused. 

“Welcome to Elisora your majesty.” Their voice a rumble that seemed to awaken the last nerve I was trying to contain.

I managed a nod, my eyes darting to the maid that had announced my presence.

She nodded like she understood but I looked away unable to admit my fear to her.

The guards rushed to open the gates and once they did, a pit opened up in my stomach.

If I thought the building was massive before the gates were open then now I wondered just how much all this cost?

Maybe enough to build my palace at home?

I walked in, my heels getting buried in the silk carpet grass , the floor beneath me felt soft making me want to feel it with my bare feet however, I resisted the urge and continued on my journey. 

Eleazar’s quarters to me feels like the devil’s cove. Tempting and dangerous.

With every step, my heart thumped even harder, my mouth was now so dry it was beginning to hurt, the hair on my body stood on alert just like my nerves and my mind told me to turn around and never comeback. However, a little part of me, a very little part noticed the beauty besotted in this quarters.

The stylist from earlier had met me by the door, a large smile on her face as she ushered me into the main building.

The walls shone pristine white with black, silver and golden strides traveling across the walls in a spiral fashion making me want to run my  fingers across them. 

The floor was covered with a black plush carpet that had streaks of silver and as I buried my feet in them, I found that traitorous part of me moaning in delight.

We had walked past the waiting area and now  we were walking past rooms with closed doors until we reached a particular door where the stylist came to a stop and so did my heart.

That little  traitorous part of me was no longer significant as I realized that I had arrived.

I looked up at the stylist and before any of us could speak we heard rustling voices, perhaps of maids in the chambers we were about to enter. 

The stylist made to speak but I raised a hand signaling her to stop. 

My father always said. “The palace have voices Hera, if you learn to listen to them, you will never be caught off guard.”

I moved closer to the door and the stylist moved to stay behind me. Despite her effort to hide it, I could see the nervous darting of her eyes from one place to another.

I smiled to myself.

This is something I should hear then.

The other maids remained quiet, I imagined each with her heart in her throat afraid of what the voices might say. 

My hands felt moist in anticipation as the voices grew clearer.

“Do you think she is anything more than a pawn the King used to secure the borders?”

A pause followed, then a softer voice replied.

“I heard they kissed… passionately.” She added.

I blushed at that, Abraham’s words returning to mind. He may have been teasing but he wasn’t lying.

A faint scoff followed, a rather dismissive one.

“That is only for show. The King hasn’t looked at any woman since anyone can remember. What makes you think he would touch her?”

Silence stretched before the softer voice returned, quieter now and unsure.

“So if he doesn’t……does that make her merely a mannequin queen?”

“Perhaps.” The second voice responded, her tone, excited and disregarding.

“So do you think lady Elena…..

The sentence is cut by a loud shrill.

“Quiet! know what your mouth says, the wall s may be soundproof but you do not know who is loyal to whom here.”

The walls were sound proof?

So how was I able…

My eyes dropped to the slightly opened door and I nodded.

They had been careless.

The sound of rustling of fabric reached my ears and I figured someone was glancing over their shoulder.

The earlier warning must have made them more wary.

I took another step closer.

If despite the earlier warning they still felt the need to continue, something valuable was about to be said.

The voice came, quiet and by now, I could tell it was the voice of the first speaker. She spoke with a level of confidence that could not be missed.

“Even the Queen Dowager awaits the result of this night. Everyone knows His majesty won’t touch her… and in reality, the position of Queen is still vacant.”

I stood there for a while, my face expressionless as I digested the information. 

How does a marriage consummation move from an affair between newlyweds to a palace gossip?

If it happens that we do not consummate this marriage tonight, what will become of me when the sun rises?

Would I truly be see as nothing but a mannequin?

“Your majesty, if you would permit it, your maids would stay behind. I and my colleagues waiting inside would prepare you for the night ahead. 

I nodded absentmindedly however a question lingered in my mind.

Would I rather be a mannequin queen or beg Eleazar to bed me?