Kitanna
Chapter 33: MOMENT OF PEACE

Chapter 33: MOMENT OF PEACE

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: TEAM~ LORDE]

When Larel heard of the hot tea incident, as the palace servants termed it, she had the best night’s sleep for the first time since she arrived at the palace.

She had gone to visit Almaria, but the queen rejected every visit except the one from the royal physician.

Larel did not bother to force her way in; she decided to be a filial daughter-in-law, so she let her mother-in-law have her space.

Inside her own chamber, she killed her boredom with embroidery. She hummed a song as she continued stitching a beautifully patterned forest.

"Greetings, My Queen. I did not know you could do needlework. Is there nothing you can’t do?" Axilla stood at the door, smiling girlishly.

"Look who we have here, Axilla. I have been waiting for your visit. Come, sit," Larel smiled, dropping the needle and pushing the embroidery hoop to the side.

Axilla giggled as she rushed to sit beside the queen. Apart from the princess and Clephas, the queen was someone else she felt comfortable around.

"I am sorry for keeping you waiting, My Queen. After the hot tea incident, we the maids have been living like we don’t exist," Axilla said in a low tone.

When Larel heard her mention the hot tea incident, she threw her head back and laughed to her heart’s content.

"Don’t get me started, Axilla. Get that parchment; today we will learn how to write your name, for a start," Larel picked up the ink stone and started grinding it. When it was ready, she picked up her brush.

Axilla helped the queen roll up her sleeves so the ink wouldn’t touch her royal garment.

Larel leaned forward and started scribbling the girl’s name on the clean parchment. When she was done, she raised it up and smiled, then she gave it to Axilla to look at.

"Woah! I didn’t know my name could look this beautiful," the girl blushed, raising the parchment to look at it closely under the candlelight.

"Do you like it that much?" Larel smiled. The way the girl appreciated every little thing warmed her heart.

"Yes, I love it," Axilla responded, going to sit with the queen.

"Then you can try and write too," Larel handed her an empty parchment and a brush.

Axilla leaned forward and started writing in the same way she had seen the queen write. When she was done, she tried to hide it from the queen.

"You don’t have to be perfect on your first try; show me. I promise I won’t laugh," Larel encouraged the girl.

Axilla finally gave the queen the parchment she had written her name on.

Larel picked it up but did not say a word. She continued to stare at the piece.

"Axilla, are you sure this is your first time holding a brush?" She turned to look at the girl, who was now giggling.

"You lied to me! Come here!" Larel moved forward and started tickling the girl.

"I...I did not lie...ah...I meant I was...not as good as you are, My Queen," Axilla could not help but laugh in between her words. Her face turned red due to laughter.

As they were both laughing, the head eunuch Felipe walked into the room. He was surprised to see the queen and a maid in such close proximity. He cleared his throat to call their attention.

Axilla jumped up and bowed when she saw the head eunuch. She stood properly and arranged her front dress. It was wrong for a maid to get too close to any one from the royal family, it attracted severe punishment, sometimes death.

She did not want to be a burden to Larel or even blow her cover about working for Kitanna.

Axilla pressed her hands together in fear.

"My queen, The king has asked for your presence." Felipe said, after which he bowed and left the room.

Larel turned to look at Axilla who was looking scared. " Relax Axilla, you did nothing wrong. Go back to your duties, and come visit me often. I need to meet the king now" she assured the girl.

Axilla bowed and left the room, when she stepped out Felipe was standing outside but he did not say anything to her. She hurriedly left the place.

Larel dressed in her favorite dress and poured a little spikenard and musk mixed with honey into a norigae. She placed it on her neck and dabbed some blush on her cheek. When she was done, she started walking toward the king’s chamber.

Before Larel entered, she turned to look at the head eunuch.

"The girl is someone close to me, like a sister. Don’t let other servants know that she is so close to me. You can treat her like you do with all servants," she said.

"Felipe saw nothing today." The man bowed his head.

Larel nodded before stepping into the room. She caught sight of Khelan drinking, and she smiled. The wine he was drinking was the one he only opened for special occasions.

"What is the occasion, My King?" Larel said gracefully as she bowed slightly to her husband.

"Tomorrow is Kit’s reinstatement, tonight I get to be with my beautiful queen," Khelan said, standing up to hug Larel.

The hug was brief, but Larel felt her toes curl when the king touched her waist.

"You smell like heaven, My Queen," Khelan said when he pulled away from the hug.

"I’m glad you like it, My King," Larel smiled shyly, looking away from Khelan.

"You have such a beautiful smile; don’t hide it," Khelan said, touching Larel’s chin.

"Come and sit with me," he tugged her.

"So tomorrow is the reinstatement," Larel said when she was comfortably seated.

"Yes, tomorrow. I want to invite the commoners," Khelan said as he poured a drink for the queen.

"That is nice. Can I invite my brother too? He said he hasn’t seen me since I got married. He is my younger brother and the one closest to me," Larel decided to chip in her worry to the king, since he was in a good mood.

"Anything for you, My Queen. He can stay here as long as he wants. Let the head maid get a room ready for him," Khelan said, handing her the cup of wine, which Larel accepted.

"How is Mother? I have not been able to see her. She prohibited me from visiting," Larel spoke before taking a sip of the wine.

"You know how Mother can be; she is very fine. Don’t worry about her; you will see her tomorrow," Khelan assured her.

"Enough about others. The drink is a strong one; it would be ungentlemanly of me to ask you to go back to your quarters after giving you such wine. Will my queen be willing to spend the night with her king?" He smiled, coming to sit close to her.

Larel smiled, "No better way to end my night than spending it with my king."