Everette
Thin petite fingers dashed breadcrumbs neatly over a pond. The body of water was pastel blue, matching the purple clouds.
A relaxing sigh escaped Everette's lips as two Esnae birds swam to pick the soaking crumbs from the surface. Their feathers were white, with beautiful long neck and three black eyes.
Her hair was braided neatly into one long bundle as the light wind carried her baby blue dress. Only a thin golden trinket decorated her left ankle.
"You're here your Highness?" Dasela exclaimed from afar. She was dressed in a white garment that matched the attire of Everette's home country.
Dasela was dressed in a beautiful white dress, deathly tight at the waist. The dress was long with pretty floral lacings. She wore a pair of whiter gloves with it to carry elegance.
Everette turned in the direction of the voice. Four girls surrounded her, they were the girls who had accompanied her to the pond. They were dressed in pastel knee length blue gowns that didn't quite touch the floor.
"Oh your highness!" Dasela frowned pinching her dress as she scurried down the green grass hill. Lines of blue uniformed girls followed behind Dasela, scurried, robotically matching her pace.
Everette giggled. She had a knick for stressing her new Lady-in-waiting. It had been a week she moved here and was separated from Opilia. But introduced to Dasela.
Dasela was quite different from Opilia.
"Your Highness really..." Dasela started as she arrived close to her queen, Everette. She then opened a white feather fan and began blowing frantically.
So dramatic. Everette rolled her eyes. So typically Aeratanian. Dasela and the other maidens were all selected from Aerata, her world.
For a girl who wanted to get as far away from her own family. That was both a good and a bad thing. A good thing because they had things in common which made communication simpler. A bad thing because they were all judgy, High born, Aeratanian. The worst kind of High born.
Due to the vastness of the Naqil Empire, the Emperor's Harem was very exotic and diverse. So to make things convenient, each bride were assigned maidens who came from similar roots with the queens.
A bride from a far eastern world, were usually be given maidens from a far eastern world. Sometimes they would be assigned maidens that came from the same country, and clan. If they were really serious.
As is the same as Everette's situation. Except not from the same clan thankfully. Thankfully.
Naqill was a cluster of different countries that formed worlds and different worlds that formed realms. You can imagine how Qiras despite being from the same Empire could look and act completely different. Some Qira didn't even look like men, having a combination of lizard, bird and sometimes fish features. But those ones weren't compatible to mate with Qiras who had complete man-like features. These Half-man Qiras tended to be weaker and more aggressive than the Qiras who were completely man. But they were slightly above Low Qiras in terms of strength. In the universe of Naqill strength equaled rank.
Emperors didn't usually have a root or land because they were incredibly mixed from a long line of exotic harems. You could trace their ancestry, but you'd only discover that they had a trace of every bloodline. Though, the Great Emperor Najeer's bloodline could be said to be closer to Aeratanian as his father was Everette's mother's brother.
"You did it again. How many time have we begged you not to go out barefoot." Dasela brown eyes widened.
Everette moved her toes, enjoying the feel of the grass. "Why, it's a lovely day?"
"Because there could be Jiha serpents around!" Dasela reasoned.
Everett giggled. "I doubt there are Jiha serpents in this world, Dasela,"
Jiha serpents were tiny slim snakes buried themselves in the mud and penetrated ones feet from the ground beneath. Once they got into your feet, they crawled their way into the bones and slowly fed on the blood around it. They were very common in Aeratania.
"Exactly doubt. Not sure. The gardens are a dangerous place your Highness you cannot let you guard down," Opilia blew her fan harder looking sideways. "Who knows whether the other brides have begun plotting against you? An assassination is not to be unexpected... you are after all the Emperor's true bride. And most likely to be," Dasela looked sideways and whispered, "Empress."
Everette pouted her lips. Empress. That was all these people cared about. She didn't care about that.
It was just like home. Everyone, telling her what to do. Commanding her. She had thought her engagement to Emperor Najeer would set her free from all these.
But not much has changed.
All she wanted right now was to get back with Najeer.
"Fine," Evere sighed and raised a foot.
Dasela smiled and dropped the pair of loafers down. She then ordered for a maiden to slip it on her queen one by one. Dasela did take time to admire Everette's small feet.
"There. Happy?"
"Very much so," Dasela answered. The maidens nodded too. She sighed. "I apologize for being tough, your highness," Her eyes darkened, "we just can't take any risk. From my years of experience, I understand firsthand how dangerous it is here in the Harem. It only gets worse."
Everette frowned. This was why she preferred libraries. She could be alone without a problem. She had only come outside because the birds she saw from the window looked similar to the ones she and Najeer adopted years ago.
Together, they hatched it and raised the birds as their own. She remembered how he took care of the hatchling tenderly.
He was very lovely then.
Lovely to her.
Everette started to wonder if that was reason the pond had Esnae birds. Did the Emperor remember those days as well?
A small smile formed on Everette's face..
Perhaps there was still a fragment of the old boy he used to be somewhere deep inside of him.
Some things never changed.
All she hoped for was that he would keep the promise he made to her years ago. She knew she had kept her part by staying loyal and waiting patiently for him.
He said he would never abandon her.
"Oh and Your Highness we did not just come to wear you shoes," Dasela smiled as she motioned to the girls behind.
Eagerly they cleared a path revealing a girl with a basket who rushed to the front. Several girls followed with bouquets of flowers.
"What's this?" Everette asked.
"For you Your Highness," Dasela pointed with the fan as the other girls giggled. "From His Majesty!"
"Really?" Everette could feel butterflies in her stomach as she stepped close to the basket. A maiden removed the covering, revealing lot full of muffins.
Everette's eyes watered as a memory played. She would always bake muffins for him in the past.
It was her birthday today, she thought he had forgotten. .
inside the basket, there was a small box and card
She eagerly took the card and read. Emperor Najeer wasn't entirely fond of speaking, so he often preferred to communicate with letters rather than sending illusion messages.
My dear Everett
Happy birthday. I wanted to show up for a surprise celebration, but there was a sudden meeting that needed my attention. I apologize for not making it today. But, I will find a way to make it up to you. For now have the key to the Elder Library as a gift. I hope that will do to satisfy your curious hunger, at least for some time.
Yours sincerely
Najeer
Everett nearly became light headed. He gave her the Elder Key. All her nerdy book fantasies swirled in her head she didn't even know where to start. The Elder Library was the most sacred as oldest library known to all Qira kind. It was as old Naqill itself or older, and the sacred libraries. The library had been closed out from any visitors for eons. People began to believe that it was only a myth.
Her eyes glittered. No gift could ever amount to this one. So many ancient secrets at her fingertips.
Dasela and everyone cheered. "Happy birthday!"
It took Everette by surprise. He remembered her birthday
Not many did.
Everette smiled as she gazed into the lavender pond.
Today was a day like any other, and it was a day were she fell in love with a certain prince.
And a certain prince told her he loved her, for the first time.
She knew not what the future held for them. He could be quite stubborn at times with his emotions. But she'd do everything in her power to protect him.
Whatever it took to keep their relationship strong.
Whatever it takes.