Chapter 11.
1770 Words
Astra hated everything.
From her lack of a handmaiden to the fact that Prince Caspian had not yet given her an audience.
Her woes started when she reached the castle.
Fortunately for her, her plight had been able to garner enough pity for her and even gave her an audience with the Queen. Who was very sympathetic to her plight.
She had hoped that this would also make the Prince want to see her but it didn't work out as she planned.
Prince Caspian didn't see her, nor did he request to see her. In fact, he had seen nobody except for Monica, who had gleefully spilled in the tea room that they had met accidentally in the garden.
Astra could tell that she was lying. Accidental? There was nothing accidental about meeting a Prince who everyone had been trying to get through for days.
She had been trying to get an audience with the Prince but suddenly Monica was able to run into him?
It didn't make sense to her, but at least she knew who her competition would be.
The other girls weren't competition. At least she was sure they were no match for her.
Darcy and Diana from House Tyrrell hung on her every word. They weren't competition for her, but they made good minions.
Monica on the other hand was the only one who was able to make an headstart. She had a private audience with the Prince. Unchaperoned too!
As scandalous as it was, it was allowed. Monica seemed to be pulling out every trick in the book to ensure she would win.
And then there was Elizabeth. Boring and unremarkably plain Elizabeth from House Astoria, the richest noble house. And also House Astoria had always been close to the Royal Family. A union between the two families had been long anticipated.
And who could forget the fact that Prince Caspian and Elizabeth grew up together, they had been friends since they were kids.
And Elizabeth didn't hide the fact that she and the Prince were close.
The mere thought of her or Monica becoming Queen infuriated Astra.
But the Opening Ball was going to change all that.
She had made sure of it.
"Tighter."
She said as the servant looked up with a confused look on her face as she helped Astra with her corset.
"My Lady are you sure about this?"
Astra rolled her eyes as she gritted her teeth, the corset seemed to be digging into her ribs but she didn't care, anything to be able to fit into the new dress she had got for the opening ball.
"Yes! I am sure. Now do as I say!"
The servant went on without complaining while Astra doubled over in pain.
Her parents had arrived the night before and they were settling in. Fortunately they got her a new handmaiden but not one she was fond of.
Weirdly, she missed Summer and her smart mouth and witty retorts.
She sometimes thought about her. She wondered how her brother must be feeling.
He must have been shattered. But it was probably for his own good.
They were never meant to be. It was best he forgot her.
And it wasn't like she was ever going to make it, Summer must be dead or long gone already. She thought as she sighed.
Summer was long gone. And soon her brother would get over her.
But in the meantime, she had to fit into her dress and woo the Prince.
"How is everything going here?"
Her mother asked as she walked in, a fan in her hand. She was already dressed. In the finest gold silk that was their house colour.
She smiled as she looked at Astra.
Every little detail had been planned.
From her dress, to her hair to the way she looked.
"Almost done."
Astra answered and her mother nodded.
"You must struggle to make your mark with the Prince today. I know you said that he didn't grant you a private audience when you got back, but maybe that can be used to your advantage."
"This is a great opportunity..."
Astra rolled her eyes.
"Don't worry Mother. I've already made plans. Trust me. After tonight the Prince won't ever forget me."
She said as she looked into the vanity mirror in front of her.
Her cheeks were red and her face was in a scowl.
She relaxed her face, trying to smile a bit as the finals sashes of her gown was tied.
Her mother came behind her with a beaming smile on her face.
"Remember. This is the only chance you get at being a queen."
She laid her hands on her daughter's shoulder and sighed.
"You're very lucky to have been given this opportunity. I was already married when there was another Queenstrial after the King lost his first wife and many times I wonder how my life would have been if I had been queen."
"I do not want you to have the same regrets."
"Thank you Mother."
Astra said as she looked at herself in the mirror.
Oh she was going to win Queenstrial and become queen.
She just knew it.
Lord Rowan Athalar sauntered into the palace with a furious frown on his face.
His trip had been futile. He hated it when he ran into dead ends. And for the past few months he had been running into quite a few.
He didn't have enough time.
The King was on his neck about the plague that was eating away at the land and the soil. Farmers from far away places in Castamere who were gravely affected had traveled miles and miles just to complain to the King.
He himself had gone to the places to inspect the damage and it was worse than he had thought. Very soon it would start affecting their food supply. But in the meantime he advised that the Kingdom save up grains just in case a drought comes upon them in a few years time.
He had a lot to do.
And he had to find the rest of the elemental stones.
He also had to do another spell. Fast.
Hopefully he would be able to get a more accurate location of the other stones once his energy levels were back on.
He had depleted his energy resources while trying to heal the soil in Adrosai. One of the faraway lands in Castamere where the plague had hit them the most.
Adrosai had poor people and villagers who would not be able to afford to feed themselves if the plague continued to eat at their crops.
He had not imagined that he would exert that much energy trying to heal the land. It could take days till he was back to his normal self.
Fortunately for him, the Queenstrial and events in the palace would keep him busy enough.
He had been away from his duties for quite a while. He was sure the king was waiting for his reports while Prince Caspian and everyone else was waiting for him to go back to socialising and charming the crowd.
He had no interest in attending the Opening ball of the Queenstrial. But he didn't want to get into any trouble with the King.
He also didn't want to watch noble families trying to pawn their daughters off to the royal family or the girls vying for the Crown Prince's attention.
Maybe, just maybe he would endure it for a few hours.
Then find someone to take to bed for the night.
He thought as a small smile crept up in his face.
As he walked past the guards who bowed their heads lowly, the doors of the Grand hall opened and the light, music and ambience was what he saw first.
"Here we go again..."
He muttered under his breath as he weaved his way through the crowd.
His eyes set on the dais where the King and Queen sat.
He had to pay homage to then first.
"Your Majesty."
"Her Majesty, The Queen."
"Ah! Rowan! I was beginning to think you wouldn't make it."
The King said in a deep low voice as Rowan raised his head and met his gaze.
He looked bored. And tired. There were bags under his eyes.
The queen however, looked as haughty and as radiant as ever.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Your Majesty."
"And how was your journey? Fruitful I hope?"
The King asked eagerly.
Rowan smiled tightly.
"Your highness I'm afraid this isn't the appropriate time to talk about such sensitive matters."
The Queen added and the King sighed.
"Very well. You may go Rowan. I will demand your presence when we're free of all this."
He sighed.
"I look forward to it Your Majesty."
It was a lie. He knew it but he had to at least give the King hope or whatever he said would ruin his mood for the entire night.
He walked away, weaving in and out of the crowd and stopping to exchange pleasantries.
His eyes briefly looked around for Caspian and he found the Prince in the middle of two noble families who seemed to be vying for his attention.
Oh boy!
He looked like he was going through quite a lot.
Rowan thought as he chuckled.
The next few moments went in a blur has Rowan indulged himself in wine.
He wasn't paying attention but he knew that the ladies from the noble family were being called out.
He had seen a few of them before he left for his trip, he believed Caspian the Crown Prince would have a lovely time with them but unfortunately Caspian cared little about looks, especially when it came to women.
In fact, the Prince didn't care for women as much as a young hot blooded male should.
"And finally, Lady Larissa of House Whitby."
House Whitby?!!!
Rowan thought as he turned sharply towards the stairs.
Silver Falcon has a daughter?
He wondered as he looked at the pretty maiden with her white blonde hair piled on top of her head.
Even from afar, he could see she was stunning.
And her gown left a lot to the imagination. Covering up as much as possible, the only thing he could see was the creamy flesh of her hands underneath the see through lace sleeves of her dress.
The dress she wore seemed to be made from the darkest of blues and it seemed to sparkle underneath the light.
He had never seen her before.
And from the look of everyone else in the room, they hadn't either.
- Writer
