The King’s Courtier

Chapter 10 - Eyra

  When she awakened the next morning, Aurelia realized that she had now completed all the tests, so the king was likely to be making a decision by night fall.

The king had said he wouldn't return to the room until Eyra leaves, which according to him would be in about two days. Aurelia couldn't understand why the king needed an escort anyways, despite the countless hours she spent thinking about it.

He clearly fancied Eyra if he wouldn't even be bother to show up to his own bedroom. Aurelia couldn't help but sulk. She was always told that on her eighteenth birthday she was to lose her virginity, yet here she was wishing she had already lost it to Iliyus instead. She was glad she had done other things with him. It made her feel less worthless as she roamed around the empty room.

Her worth since birth was dependent on her future as a p********e, and here she was, not giving any service to anyone weeks past turning eighteen. She huffed. She was the beauty of Elexia, how could he resist?

Her thoughts flickered to Kaiyus and how she could lose it to him just to spite the king, but she quickly refrained from thinking of him. He could sense when she thought about him and she didn't want to boost that insufferable man's ego.

It was hard to re-educate herself about everything she was taught since birth. The truth was, Elexia was so much bigger than the oblivion, and she could be worth something outside being an escort. She could change her faith, specially given that she was walking distance away from the man who put the faith upon her in the first place.

She always wanted to be more. She had always been the child that helped the others feel good about themselves. In ancient times, it was a movement called feminism. 

That movement was no longer required in Elexia, though. Feminism wasn't necessary because males and females were treated as absolute equals. Many women, such as Eyra, out ranked men even in the more masculine categories. Not a single category favored men, and there was no harassment or mistreatment of women and thus, no need for feminism.

Yet by some twist of faith, she was one of the very few who got the short end of that stick. Women in the oblivion were treated as objects as they were two hundred years prior. They were the forgotten, the dreaded. 

Those in the oblivion and void faced both sexism and racism, and it was only due to sheer luck that she was in the minority.

Eyra was the spinning image of Aurelia. The only difference among the two was that Eyra was raised amongst the wealthy in one of the most valued categories. She was respected and loved globally. No one would dare call her names or consider her worthless the way they would Aurelia. Aurelia hated her for it.

Aurelia was stronger than Eyra. She was more beautiful, and far more capable than Eyra in every sense. Yet even the king picked Eyra over Aurelia. Just the thought made her roar with rage.

Tonight, Aurelia was invited to a dinner where they were to inform her of the outcome of the tests she had done. She was fairly certain that Eyra would be present, so she made a point of getting ready four hours beforehand to look absolutely ravishing.

After Aurelia was completely ready with professional makeup done, serving Smokey black eyes with sparkling black eyeshadows and a mix of red and black lipstick to make her look powerful and feared, she walked outside the room to look at the view of the balcony. 

Getting in the ravishing black tight lace dress had rather been a struggle. The dress was short, but her knee high see through boots helped make the outfit appear less exposing. She wore a golden necklaces atop her black lace dress, the golden color resembling her eyes. Her hair was beautifully styled, some of it open and some of it tied up, dispersing around her shoulders. Despite looking breath-taking, Aurelia realized she was left with two hours to spare, which was when she decided to roam around.

From the balcony, she could hear a slightly distant noise coming from the outdoors area of the castle. It was Eyra. "Is Iris gonna be here for the meeting?"

"He will, but he'll be leaving before Aurelia joins us. His next mission starts in four hours and he doesn't have time to spare meeting her." said a voice she recognized as Niklaus. They were both seated on the swing located downstairs the balcony. Although Aurelia couldn't see them, she could hear them perfectly.

"Gods above I miss Iris. I can barely believe I'll finally be seeing him in less than an hour." 

Clearly they planned to have a meeting to discuss Aurelia before she was invited in. Rude. Aurelia could never understand why Eyra constantly talked about Iris. She was clearly charmed by King Sulfur and clearly had a relationship with him. Perhaps she liked them both.

Her thoughts once again flickered to Kaiyus. Perhaps Eyra feels the same way Aurelia does towards Kaiyus and King Sulfur.

The bells rang loudly, and Eyre and Niklaus rushed to the meeting room. 

Aurelia couldn't help but pry, taking gentle steps towards the room in hopes of getting a glance at the infamous Iris. 

The room withheld sound. Not a single trace of talking could be heard from the outside. Aurelia gave up and walked elsewhere when she realized Iris was probably already inside. She found it rather rude of them to be discussing her in her absence. It was her faith! And why would Eyra, a mere commoner be allowed a seat at the table when she wasn't? She could out spar Eyra any day, and she had made a vow to do so if she was categorized under strength. Melody had once suggested getting Eyra to train her. That would be fun. Reporting back to Jer telling him that Eyra is too easily defeat-able and that she needs an upgraded tutor. Aurelia smiled at the thought.

After two hours, the path started shining, showing the way to the meeting room. She supposed this was their way of summoning her. The technology never failed to impress her. She had walked to the very end of the castle where the aquarium was stationed, and still the path lit up to her, finding her immediately.

She followed the path and walked in to the meeting room, seeing the nine of them seated. No trace of Iris. Aurelia gave a very small bow before she walked in, noting down the reaction of each of the men as she walked by them looking like a goddess. 

"Beautiful." Niklaus smiled, earning an eye roll from Melody.

The King smiled. The only sign of his satisfaction. Eyra was seated beside him. She looked pretty with her long blonde hair open, covering the tattoos on her arm. 

The sight of the tattoos further triggered Aurelia's rage. Aurelia had always wanted to get a tattoo saying 'the superior Oblivion' but they weren't allowed. How come Eyra was allowed so many tattoos? 

"And where am I to sit? I had been told the king's courtier sits beside the king." Aurelia said smugly.

Eyra narrowed her eyes, but she moved one seat to the right allowing Aurelia to sit next to the head of the table beside the king.

"We've decided to put you in the strength category." The king announced. She had already gathered as much seeing that Eyra was in attendance. Why else would her presence be required.

"Is that all? I was hoping for a more detailed report about how I did in every field..." Aurelia pried.

"Are you sure that is what you want?" Kaiyus responded before King Sulfur got a chance to reject. Kaiyus was helping her. 

"Indeed." 

"Very well then, I will give you my own report and the others can determine whether they wish to give you theirs." King Sulfur glared at his friend, his eyes narrowed into slits. Clearly they had discussed and agreed on not informing her beforehand. It made Aurelia question the type of power Kaiyus held to defy the king so blatantly. "In the athletic category, you were overall amongst the top ten. This has not been reported anywhere considering you're not an official member of the Category, but compared to our list, you would safely be placed as fourth place and would be welcomed to the kingdom with your high ranking." 

Aurelia hid her shock well. She wasn't particularly shocked because she ranked so high, more so because Kaiyus had tried to help her or even compliment her in some ways. He smiled, clearly sensing how pleased she was. 

"Very well then, I'd like to give a report too." Amyra went next. "Your IQ was high enough to join my category. Your skills in science and math weren't particularly outstanding, but with your IQ I'm almost certain the skills can improve over time. It was expected for you to be lacking in those departments consider you haven't had prior tutoring and training. Although your IQ would allow you to be a member of my category, I'd say that you clearly excel more in other categories. You'd be welcomed nonetheless."

Amyra was sweet. Her beauty was mesmerizing yet she kept true to herself and didn't try to flaunt it around. She was seen for her brains rather than her beauty, what Aurelia had hoped for all her life.

Next, Alaya spoke. "I would like to give a report as well. You did fairly well. I think you are somewhat talented, but you would not earn a high rank among my category despite being in position to join." 

Melody went next, "To my dismay, you have the potential to play piano in the grand opera house if you were given the proper tutoring and training. But a word of advice, being second best will never top being best, and there are many things you could be the very best at. I wouldn't say this is one of them." 

A rather backhanded compliment, but nonetheless pleasing coming from Melantya who hated Aurelia most.

"You would do well in my category, yet I doubt you'd like to join." That was all Lucifer said. Short and concise. He was correct regardless.

"You always have a home in my category. You would be welcomed any day. You were stolen from me by Jeremyus though" Niklaus winked at his friend who spoke last. 

"You were the best I had seen in all my time observing. I have been around for many years, but only once had one managed to disarm me, and he was immortal. Your strength reeks of immortality. You are wasted as a mortal." Jeremyus clearly had more to say but he was interrupted by the king 

"That is enough." King sulfur said. As Aurelia turned to Eyra, the flash of hurt was evident.

Had Eyra ever gotten praised the way she had? She knew as a fact that Eyra had been told some of those words back when she was the best. But she no longer was. Aurelia took her thrown. 

Aurelia was almost glad that Eyra witnessed all the compliments. Aurelia was qualified enough for all courts while most mortals were barely qualified for one of the categories. It was never before seen.

When the king granted her this opportunity, he said they were to decide if she was worth teaching. They had all deemed her worthy. They all said she would be welcomed in their court, but it appeared Jeremyus convinced them to leave Aurelia to him.

"So now all my other capabilities will be discarded and I will only focus on strength?" 

"Indeed. Your extra lessons with Jeremyus will take place in the mornings when I have meetings and missions. All other times you are to follow the rules I set for you on the first day and you will remain in your room." King sulfur said.

'In your room' he had said. Perhaps Eyra didn't know that the king invited Aurelia to his own bedroom. An invitation to hurt Eyra.

"In your room you mean, your majesty." 

The amusement in Kaiyus's eyes were evident while Melody tried - and failed - to refrain from laughing. The king's eyes narrowed. 

"Yes. You are dismissed now." Was all he said, anger and rage filled his eyes while amusement filled all his friends's. 

Aurelia stood up and made an almost mocking bow before she walked through the long dining hall towards the door. "In your bedroom?" Eyra almost screamed

Aurelia couldn't help the broad grin at Eyra's anger. It had worked. She simply walked out the door while she heard the chaos unravel before her.