Free Web NovelChapter 12: Chapter 12
The day of the banquet was here. The servants had been running about trying to set up the hall and the entire palace. The prince had announced that morning that the gates of the palace would be open, and whoever wanted to be there would be allowed to dine with them.
Hera had washed herself and sat quietly as one of the servants fixed her hair. They had tied it with a few ribbons the night before to hold up her curls. The results were beautiful. It was neatly packed in a loose bun with a few strands falling down her face. Then came the diamond pins, placed on strategic areas of her head to create the final touch of elegance.
She chose a deep blue outfit with gold threads embroidered around its hem. The bodice crossed diagonally across her chest, leaving her stomach revealed, while her skirt flowed in layers, oscillating gently with every gait, like a soft evening breeze. Her veil was sheer and expansive, trailing behind her.
"You look absolutely beautiful, sister," Astrid gasped. "The best among women," she declared.
Hera blushed. "Thank you," she said, a little shy. "But why haven’t you gotten ready yet? We’ll be late."
"Calm down, Hera," Astrid chuckled. "Not one of the other princesses will arrive on time, I can promise you that. And even if they did, they would make sure to parade themselves around the room to be noticed. You’re aiming for the same thing these other women want badly."
Hera shook her head a little and sighed as she went back to examining herself in the mirror held up for her. "Do you blame me?" she asked quietly.
"Blame you? for what?"
"For not being as zealous as the other girls. For giving up too easily."
Astrid laughed quietly. "We haven’t been here for long, Hera. You didn’t have as many chances as the other girls to gain much of the prince’s attention. And even if you did, and you’ve simply lost all interest and only do this because of the great sense of responsibility you have, I still would not blame you."
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" It was Larissa and Iris, with two of the girls.
"You look exquisite, your majesty," Iris said in an exaggerated drawl. "May I have the honour of being your escort to the banquet, my lady?"
Hera grinned from ear to ear. ’’Thank you, Iris. You look quite exceptional tonight as well, all three of you."
"You’re trying to steal my sister, " Astrid said, sounding a little pained.
"Oh, please," Iris scoffed, "spare me. You haven’t even gotten ready yet. You want to make her late, like how you always are?"
Astrid rolled her eyes and folded her arms at this.
"Well," Iris said, "Can we go, princess?"
Hera stood, looked herself over one last time, and took Iris’s outstretched hand.
"Don’t waste too much time getting ready, sister. Don’t keep us all waiting."
Astrid smiled and nodded.
Their gaits were slow, a deliberate sway of the hips with each step. They walked down the stairs and were guided by a servant through the chaos of the anteroom, towards the back, outside.
"It truly is breathtaking," Hera gasped.
The girls nodded in unison.
The banquet hall projected outwards, flowing from the main building through many flights of stairs, built into the rear end of a cliff. It was airy and tall, with evenly spaced columns surrounding the structure. The light from the crescent moon illuminated its walls, while the waves sent a soothing breeze that chilled the air.
It was already packed with so many. People ate and sang joyously, swaying drunkenly from side to side. The wine had seeped through their senses, freeing them from the burdens they carried.
Hera could hear a few whispers as she entered the hall with the girls. Watchful eyes followed their every step, looking to unravel the mystery that they were.
"They’re all watching Hera," Iris whispered, "You’re simply oozing charm and beauty. I hope that your poetry doesn’t kill whatever interest they seem to have right now."
Hera lightly nudged her with her shoulder and walked on to join the other princesses, where they had been assigned.
She squeezed in between Ophelia and Andromeda, with Hope just to the right of Ophelia. Everyone was present: the king, the princesses, and members of the king’s council. It was nerve-wracking to know that she would have to perform before all these people.
"I don’t see your sister," Ophelia noted, "Isn’t she coming?"
"She is, she is. She’s just getting ready."
"Hmmm... She might just outshine us all yet again," Andromeda joked.
Hera smiled awkwardly. "She’ll be here soon," she said again.
Adonis sat by his Father’s side. Adorned in a golden crown and his clothes fitted snuggly on him.
"When do they expect us to start our performances?" Hers asked, "Or did we simply gather here to eat, drink, and be ogled at?"
"Soon, I think," Hope replied from across Ophelia, then she leaned in to whisper. "A few minutes before you came in, it seemed the prince was getting chewed out for a certain someone missing. "
"You mean Lilith?" Hera whispered back.
Hope nodded.
Hera looked at the other two girls for confirmation.
"There’s nothing to be done about it. I’m sure the king realized that," Andromeda said. "They didn’t linger on the topic too much." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
"This is all speculation anyway," said Ophelia, "they could have been talking about anything in general. But Hope here is a professional lip reader. Or so she claims."
"Hey..." Hope grumbled. Ophelia shrugged.
"I think we’ll have dancers perform for us first," Andromeda chimed, a little absent-minded.
She was indeed correct. Dancers came in a short while later, performing difficult stunts and routines. The noise that had ensued at the time was unbearably loud, but they watched in awe. Then the senators made toasts to the king.
Someone caught her eye among all the talking and excessive adoration. He was seated beside one of the senators. Tall and sinewy in form, with hair falling to his shoulders.
"He’s a fine-looking man," Andromeda said.
"What? I wasn’t... " fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Andromeda held up a hand to stop her. "It’s fine, Hera. You can look at other men. All the other girls do the same. We know we’re not all going to marry the prince."
The banquet stretched on into the middle of the night before they started with their presentation.
One by one, the girls all went in front of the crowd. A few sang, others danced, and the crowd cheered more loudly with every princess that came out to perform. Ophelia had opted to sing an old folk song from her kingdom, while Andromeda and Hope had danced.
It was time for Hera to take the stage. Her legs trembled as she walked to the centre of the room. But slowly, she let out a breath and steeled her nerves.
Her poem spoke of vast lands and great powers, of a love that transcended time. A turbulent love, addicting in every sense but eventually destroying its wielder.
When she finished, the hall was silent, like time had stopped. But then the first clap came, then another, then a thunderous wave. She received a standing ovation from the king, the prince, and the senators.
"How did you come to know this poem, princess...?" The king asked after the hall quietened.
"Hera your highness. Princess Hera of the kingdom of Epirus," she said in a courtesy.
"Yes, princess Hera, tell me, I have never heard such desolate yet beautiful words. I have been to Epirus, to many other kingdoms along the east and west of the seas, and this is the first time. "
"I composed it myself, your majesty. "
"That is exceptional, Princess Hera." He said, ’I’ll remember the name. "
Hera broke out in a wide smile and bowed.
"That was amazing," Ophelia said, nudging her playfully with her shoulders when she sat back down.
Hera exchanged glances with the man she had noticed earlier, but averted her eyes before she would read more into the interaction.
The banquet further went on through the night, but the nobles had begun to leave one by one, after the main performances were done.
Hera slipped out of the hall, to the terrace, to a dim corner by the side. She wanted to feel the sea, bask in the cold night air, and see how expansive this side of the palace was.
As she immersed herself in the tranquillity of the night, she didn’t hear when a pair of feet walked towards her.
"Enjoying the night?" It was the man from earlier.
"My word," Hera yelped, "you scared me."
"I apologize, my lady," he said solemnly, holding out his hand to her.
She took his hand, looking quietly at him as she watched him kiss hers.
"Nikolas, your majesty, but you may call me Niko. Son on Senator Grascus." His grin was wide and charming. Up close, his face looked even more beautiful.
"Hera," she replied. "Princess Hera of..."
"Epirus. I heard," He said. "Where did you learn to recite poetry like that? " He said. "It felt extreme, irrevocable, but the irony of this is that everyone still wants to feel such consuming love."
Hera smiled and said nothing.
They stood silently, watching the waves hit harshly against the cliff.
"May I see you again? Nikolas blurted abruptly.
"I don’t think that’s a good idea, sir. I am still in the race for the prince."
"You do not possibly think the prince will marry every one of you."
"I know he won’t, but I would rather be safe than sorry with what little chance I have."
Nikolas smirked. "Fine. But we could be friends?"
"You might never see you again," she said, her face still turned towards the cliff, "what use is such a friendship when I am behind these walls?"
"Not to worry, princess, I have my ways."
