The outer realm was buzzing with so much energy that one could taste it.
Tonight is the coronation of the three concubines Elara found for the king.
Thankfully because luck was on her side, she was able to get the three ladies in the span of two days.
She spent qualitative time with them on day three.
The first one; Lady Lian of the Qua region, whose families are known for beautiful daughters and a hefty sum of land.
She's a very quiet person with a lot of intrusive thoughts in her head. Elara was very delicate with her because she understood she needed to be careful.
The second one is rather loud and funny just like Elara. Lady Scarlett comes from the Yuo Shang Lao district in the kingdom of Dalmentia.
Lady Scarlett even looks like Elara in some certain angles. Her families are known for their lovely harvest.
And lastly there's lady Ariella from the kingdom of Kalishan whose families are known for grandeur connections around the world.
Elara already knows she's done a very good job even without praise. She has Lani and Theo to thank for, she couldn't have done it without they're constant eavesdropping.
"All done" the maiden says, Elara looks up to the mirror not recognising herself.
She's wearing a beautiful violet gown with golden embroidery on it in beautiful swirls.
And the makeup on her face is minimal yet very effective. The headpiece resting on her hair is golden with a violet gemstone in the middle.
"Thank you" she whispers to her maiden before getting up and heading over to the palace interiors.
Over there, she is to meet the concubines once again and give them words of courage before they leave.
"Good afternoon ladies, big day today. How are we all feeling?" Elara asks as she steps into the palace interiors.
Lady Scarlett was seated on the sofa close to the window with tea in her hand.
Lady Riva and lady Ariella are seated together having a silent conversation.
They all had a big smile on their faces when Elara came in.
"Okay…so I'm supposed to give you words of caution before the event begins"
She seats on the single sofa that's facing all of them.
"Alright then. Let's see,.. rule number one; you will not touch anything. Always keep your head down, bow and…" she trails off trying to think.
"Oh and avoid that prick you call your Highness like a plague" the concubines glance at eachother confused.
(Isn't the royal consort supposed to be the king's fan?)
"I'm his anti-fan" Elara explains in a way that makes it seem like she added the word.
She stands up, clapping her hands together. "Alright then, see you out there guys"
They all head out as Elara makes way back to her room to rest before the event begins but a maiden comes in.
"Your royal consort, his majesty the king seeks an audience in the temple"
Elara groans out looking up. What does he want from her now?
She nods before walking over to the temple of the first. The place was empty seeing as the event is being held in the hall of sultans.
The king was inside already, pacing the room impatiently as he waits for Elara. The door creaks open, snapping his attention to her.
King Kaelis stops in his tracks upon seeing Elara. The dress she's wearing looks to be made for only her body.
She stands in front of him, no recognition, no bow, nothing.
The king has already gotten used to it, the moment they were behind closed doors, Elara shows him her true self.
"Follow me" he gives her his back as he walks deep into the corridor behind the councillors tables.
As they kept on walking, it kept getting darker and narrower, triggering Elara.
She starts taking battered breaths, trying to calm her beating heart.
The king took note of her shortened breaths and her constant checking of environment.
Elara must have a fear of darkness or something that's making her restless
He wanted to console her and assure her that they're almost there.
But he decided otherwise because seeing as she's deliberately staying distant to him, she doesn't want to get consoled.
A single stone reverberates the whole narrow passage and Elara jumps him.
She grabs the king's cape tightly, pushing herself into his space so it seems like they're one.
The king could feel her rapid heartbeat playing on his back as her ragged breath filled the antechamber.
He looks up like he's begging the gods for patience. He turns around to find Elara's eyes shut.
"Can you let go?" She looks up to the king with her blue eyes shining crystalline.
She takes two steps back, fixing herself up before walking ahead of the king even with having the slightest idea where they're going.
Soon the dark narrow passage ends and they were in a dark filled space.
Elara took a gentle exhale thankful that the antechamber ended because she doesn't know how long she can hold on to her claustrophobia.
"As the royal consort who was able to find me three concubines in the span of two days, it is your duty to hand them wine from this priceless jade cup" the king gestures behind him.
There stood the jade cup under a glass at the farthest centre of the room.
Elara squints her eyes as she notices that the whole room is filled with different sorts of priceless artifacts.
"What is this? The priceless artifacts room?" She scoffs heading over to the jade cup.
The king stood behind her, Elara knows because she can feel his warmth seeping into hers.
As she was about to open the glass box, there was a sound at the doorstep.
They both turn around to find prince Aurel frozen at the door.
"Oh, didn't know you were here" he lightly chuckles as he enters deep into the room.
"Aurel, what brings you here?" King Kaelis grounds out.
"The high priest Elion requested me to get the jade cup" Elara looks between the two confused.
(God, why do they have to be here now, I really need to hurry up)
Elara's brows raised as she looks at prince Aurel. King Kaelis turns to pick up the cup when Elara grips his arm.
"Why would the high priest send a prince to take the jade cup? Why not take it himself?" She reasoned.
(Ugh, this bitch wants a death wish)
"Yeah but he's busy with the preparation and pleasing the gods or whatever" prince Aurel reasoned with a glare.
A mischievous smirk finds her face. She turns to the king who's in the middle of all that banter.
"Since we're already here, why don't we take it and just give it to the high priest" she suggested.
Before king Kaelis reply, she walks to the cup. She raises the glass securing before taking a pause.
The jade cup is huge and very golden, it could blind ones eyes, the intricate swirls in it symbolises movement and strive.
There's red crystals in hectagon shapes placed generously under the cup.
"Wow" she whispers almost too scared to touch it.
Her index finger grazes it ever so lightly.
CRACK
Elara stops, staying very still but what she heard, what they heard is undeniable.
She felt a sharp pain in her index finger, almost like some force is reaping the skin apart and slipping into her.
But Elara stood her grounds and refused to let the gentleman know of what's happening, but it was already too late.