Is The Queen Ill?

Elizabeth had the most comfortable bath that morning which made her feel good about herself afterwards.

The ones who had taken care to attend to her were altogether four in number, two of whom she had enquired of their names prior to having her bath—Oletha and Mirelinda.

Once her bath time was over, Beth was donned in a beautiful dress and fine sets of jewelleries which she felt was too ceremonious for the morning. In her thoughts, she reasoned that even if the king was trying to replace her former rended garment, then it would have been better to help her wrap the dress up instead of letting her wear it already.

Besides, would it not get messy on her journey back home to Griffinwald? And wouldn't it have made for a perfect replacement to present to the kind old Mr Lynchfield whose dress she had formerly had her Bessie rent for her?

Therefore she felt she ought to get clothed in something ordinary...something less beguiling of Royal taste at least.

At this hour, Beth stood herself before an oval-shaped silver mirror which was immensely beautiful and high up enough to afford her a view of her hair down to the breath of her majestic ball dress.

Oletha, at this time, was adding some fine jewellery to her lady's beautiful hair which they had folded up neatly with the support of diadem hair pins. Beth didn't feel right about everything, but she held her thoughts in place until the other maidens exited the room leaving her solely in the company of Oletha.

"Why do I feel like a bride who is about to be wed, Oletha?" asked Elizabeth while she continued to admire her beautiful reflection in the mirror.

She had never been this preciously adorned all her life and the only jewels she had been exposed to wearing were her sister—Louisa's cast-offs except for the one jewellery Elizabeth had taken of her sister's to the Castle unknown to Louisa.

While she waited for Oletha's response, she let her mind wander freely.

'Surely, there is something odd about all this? I have neither seen the king-which I doubt would ever happen nor the kind master Ezekiel, yet this much kindness is being bestowed upon me all of a sudden... I just need to get across to the court lady in time to have her explain things to me' thought Beth.

Meanwhile, Oletha had simply smiled at first once her lady had asked her the question of marriage.

She thought...

'I don't know Lord Briceus so well, but he doesn't seem a man in a rush to wed a maiden. Still, this lady before me is adorably beautiful and what if the king was liking her secretly?'

"...Oletha!"

"Yes, milady."

"I have waited long for your answer already yet you will keep me quiet?" asked Beth.

Oletha smiled again but spoke up this time.

"I am sorry, milady...But if I may-"

"Please, go ahead!" requested Beth as she turned around to look at Oletha who had to resist the urge to cower at such beauty standing before her and so humbly engaging her in a casual talk.

Did Beth really not know how much of a beauty she was? Or had she never been told. Surely she should have an idea and should have known that her facial skin was the kind most girls in the town would visit a medicine store to request a herbal mixture to help them get.

Taking away her thoughts from how inferior the lady before her was causing her to feel, Oletha finally spoke.

"Thank you for your permission. Firstly, I would apologize because I don't mean to be so bold because I am unaware of your connection with the new king. However what I intend to say is simple—it seems as though milady has received this kind of treatment for the very first time, therefore it is normal to feel overwhelmed and you certainly are beautiful but we have no information of a wedding happening just yet, so be rest assured!" said Oletha.

Elizabeth then heaved a sigh of relief and clutched at her chest.

"Thank goodness for that, Oletha," said Beth in such gladness.

Then she turned herself about and Oletha finished up her hair work. Beth loved what they had done to her hair, and she was dying of excitement to appear before her Bessie to reveal all the goodness she had encountered after the confusion of the night before.

'Haha! Bessie would think my tale is from another of my books,' Beth thought and struggled not to smile because of what she wanted to ask Oletha next.

"But speak, please...tell me why you suspect the king would go through so much trouble to have me look this way?"

"Why, milady? Don't you like the effort we put into your looks?" asked Oletha seemingly alarmed.

Elizabeth quickly understood that the girl had misinterpreted the meaning of her words. But why? Her question was direct enough not to be misquoted.

"Not so, Oletha. You and the other girls have been truly kind and you all have done an excellent job that I can hardly recognize myself."

At these words, Oletha smiled a smile that could have been mistaken by Elizabeth to signify a blush.

"...however I am simply asking if you know why the king had you all do this much for me," Elizabeth spoke her words carefully this time.

"But milady, I and Mirelinda told you afore that we have no idea but were sent to simply fulfill our duties on you."

"Yes indeed! I remember our earliest conversation, but I still hoped you must have heard a clue or something like that," insisted Elizabeth.

In truth, Oletha knew something but it wasn't in her place to tell or reveal. One act was gossipping with her fellow castle maid servants, another thing was telling Elizabeth words that she was not obliged to speak.

"Milady, let not your heart be troubled but be happy about the change. Meanwhile you should be hungry but if you insist, then it is only best that I take you to be with the court lady right about now." Oletha affirmed politely.

At the mention of the courtlady, Elizabeth's eyes widened beautifully as one who had just thought up something quickly.

"Quickly, Oletha please tell me where the court lady is. As for food, I am famished but I will think about that later. For now, I would like to see the kind court lady. I owe her enough thanks already," said Elizabeth while smiling briskly as she remembered her freedom was largely due to Sigrid's involvement.

"Well, surely I'll take you to her. At about now, lady Sigrid should be by the garden collecting some healing herbs to prepare Her Majesty's special tea."

At this revelation, Beth was puzzled at the instant. First she never thought that the castle had a garden but what castle doesn't? Elizabeth questioned herself. Also why was the court lady collecting some healing herbs for the queen?

"Is the Queen ill?" Beth asked impulsively.

"Not necessarily so, milady but I can't give you any further explanation. Now come."

Oletha attempted to lead the way out but Beth's words stopped her in her tracks.

"Wait, please!"

Then Elizabeth thought that if Sigrid was doing her duty would it not be a wrong time to interfere?

"Pray, tell..."

"I am listening, milady." Oletha said once she had turned herself around to once again look at the beautiful maiden—Elizabeth.

"If I should appear before lady Sigrid at her busy hour, won't it be a bother to her?"

________________________________________________________________

📚 Hello everyone! ❤ So this is my first chapter as a contracted book. Yippee!!!🎈I would love to thank everyone of you for your kind support so far. Also I promise steady chapter updates from now on(I've been a bit under the weather). So, expect a second chapter any moment from now to celebrate our success(Hooray!).😍

Let's give this book all the support we can lovelies. You all are exceptional. Kiss kiss😘