The Banquet

Sylvester left Desire in the Queen’s care and left just as he came; without a notice.

Desire looked at the door from time to time, hoping her master would come back in and take her to his mansion but nothing of such happened. 

Queen Naomi gestured for Desire to take a seat in front of her. She had been facing some challenges lately and she didn’t know who to tell or why she should tell someone. She was really glad to be able to see someone to talk to. Someone who had promised to take freely to her.

Dressed in her royal regalia, she sat with her leg tucked under her thigh, the long and huge dress hiding her long, beautiful legs. 

“How have you been, Desire?” The Queen asked, attempting to start the conversation with the girl. 

“I’ve been fine, My Lady. Thank you for asking” She replied respectfully. Even though it was expected of her to respect the queen as a norm of the Region of the Light, she still wants to always respect the lady willingly. 

Queen Naomi called for one of her handmaidens who were standing outside the chamber. She instructed the young lady who came in to get her and her guest a tea. 

Desire never dreamt of a day like this, where she’ll get to drink tea with the Queen. A slave like her had never had such a terrific thought. 

A royal tea was not something Desire had ever thought will go down her long neck someday. 

The young maiden returned with two cups of tea and after tasting the tea by herself to confirm if it was poisoned or not, the Queen dismissed the young lady. 

Queen Naomi noticed Desire was staring at the girl as she left the room. Desire was only looking at the dress she was putting on, wondering if all royal handmaidens dress like this. Seeing the cloth the girl was putting on made her question all the stories she had heard about the palace. 

“Had they all been lies?” She asked herself.

“You’re curious about something, Desire” Queen Naomi asked 

“No, My Queen” She lied.

“I’ve already told you that you can tell me anything. I’ll listen to you” Naomi wanted to question her words, ask her why a Queen like her would worry about nobody like her. But she knew better. She knew better than to run her mouth like a fountain. 

“I don’t want to bother you, My Queen” She replied quietly. 

“You’re never a bother, Desire. Talk to me”

Desire finally succumbed to the pressure knowing she couldn’t trouble the Queen any further.

“I was only admiring their dresses and wonder if every handmaiden here dresses like this” She answered truthfully.

“Only my own handmaiden dress like that in this palace, when I got here, I didn’t like the way others dressed so I told the King and he agreed that I give them any clothes that I want as long as they’re under my services” Desire couldn’t help but respect the Queen more. 

How could someone be so noble, nice, caring and respectful? 

 “That is really nice of you, My Queen” 

“You think so?. Would you love to become one of my handmaiden?” Queen Naomi asked. As much as Desire would have loved to jump that opportunity, she knew she shouldn’t try it. Her Master will be very furious and angry at her. 

“Only my Master can allow that, My Queen” 

“Sylvester would usually do anything for me. But sharing you or giving you away will be a problem. I’ll have a talk with him and see if he’ll agree. Okay?” Desire nodded even with being confused at her words. “Look at me Desire and tell me about how you spent the day at the Harem”

Desire didn’t look at her directly, she only raised her head and looked everywhere else except at the Queen. She narrated her story. Her eyes shone when she talked about how she met Kim and what she did for her. She didn’t leave anything out till the point where Ying took Kim Chui back to the Harem and how she came to the palace with her Master.

“Where’s Ying now?” The Queen asked curiously.

“I don’t really know, My Queen. Only My Master can answer that question”

“So, this girl that Ying took back to the Harem, do you think there’s something going on between them? Did they know each other? Do you think they’re related?” All of these questions made Desire suspicious but she knew she couldn’t voice out her opinion. 

Could it be that...... she quickly swallowed the stupid thought coming into her head.

“I’m sorry, My Queen, I don’t have an answer to those questions. I’ve only met Kim Chui today and I do not know anything about her family or anything about Ying. You mentioning his name just now is why I know he’s called Ying. I’m sorry, My Queen” she apologized 

“It’s okay, Desire. I’m only worried about Ying. We grew up together and he happens to be your master’s best friend. He’s like a brother to me” 

Even though the Queen didn’t have to explain herself, Desire couldn’t stop herself from thinking about how she had reacted to just that part of the story. 

She called herself back to order and concentrated on her Queen.

She was so deep in thought she didn’t notice when the Queen ordered for the royal seamstress to be brought into her palace. 

Few minutes later, the seamstress came into the room and she reminded Desire of the court Lady back at the mansion.

Desire stood up for the lady to take her measurements and even after she was done, the seamstress still had complaints. 

Complaining bitterly to the Queen about how it’ll be difficult for her to sew the dress as Desire was too thin and also the limited number of days.

The Queen instructed her to stop complaining and do as she had instructed. 

Desire stayed in the Queen’s chamber after that. Sleeping in the room reserved only for the guests and having breakfast, lunch and dinner with the Queen was a norm for three days. She ate alone only on days when the Queen was requested for by the King. 

For these three days, she didn’t see her Master and she didn’t bother to ask after him. 

She still hated him! 

Or has his three days absence from her life, dissolved the anger building up in her. 

The Queen had only told her he was attending to national issues once and after that, his name was never mentioned again. 

On the day of the banquet, her dress was brought into the Queen’s chamber. 

They both arrived at the banquet together. Once the arrival of the Queen was announced, everyone except for the King and the First Queen stood up as a sign of respect. All eyes were fixed at the Queen’s direction and at the mysterious,  beautiful young lady standing behind her.

Even the Prime Minister,  Sylvester Ho didn’t recognize her.