THE QUEEN'S SERVANT

13

It was the day of the Gerewol festival. Rocky had been very surprised when she first heard of it. The king talked about it with much amusement and excitation, just as everyone else in the palace. The festival was organized after every rainy season and its purpose was...Peculiar.

A specific Chadian tribe called wodaabe organized it in the southwest regions. Their unmarried men were to dress up, put makeup on, and dance or make other performances, in order to attract a spouse among their female audience. Rocky had never heard of anything like that before. Wasn't it supposed to be the other way around? She could not imagine such a festival taking place in her own kingdom. Men were not to beautify themselves in order to attract women's attention but in Chad, it was apparently a very normal thing.

"Does it mean you were supposed to put makeup on and dance for me, my king?" She had asked her husband. "Did we do this wrong?"

"I am not wodaabe, my queen. But if I was, that's the way I would have done it certainly."

Rocky had smiled, just imagining the king with makeup and dancing for her; Sad that she would never be able to witness that. After hearing so many fun and exciting stories about the festival, she'd started looking forward to it too. Plus, it would be her first time stepping out of the palace since her marriage.

After wearing her gown for the day, she giddily stepped out of her bedroom. She found Birni speaking excitedly with other young servants. She was all dressed up. As one of the queen's servants, she could accompany the royal couple to the festival. As soon as she saw Rocky approaching, she waved goodbye to her friends and joined her with a huge smile.

"You seem extremely joyous today," Rocky said to her with a smirk.

"Of course. This is my favorite time of the year. One day, I will go to the gerewol festival with the purpose of finding my husband."

Rocky looked at her with wide eyes.

"Seriously? Are you part of that tribe?"

Birni nodded.

"My mother and I came here when I was very young, after the death of my father. Sometimes, I miss my people and my city. That's why I enjoy the festival so much..."

Once again, Rocky felt guilty for not knowing much about the lives of the people that surrounded her. She promised to pay more attention to her servants and talk more personally with them in the future. As they went down the stairs, she could hear her husband's voice before even seeing him.

"It's adorable..."

Rocky smiled, wondering what was so adorable to the king. She turned around a corner and saw him, standing next to the large entrance of the palace. Yet, Rocky lost her smile when she saw who he was standing with. Raja. She could only see his back but could guess that he was holding something in his arms. Rocky scoffed as she noticed he was dressed as if he was also going to the festival.

"Why is he wearing that?" She said through gritted teeth.

"He is coming with us, of course," Birni replied.

"Why?"

"Well...He is one of your servants, dear queen."

Rocky clenched her fists and walked towards the two men. The king's face brightened when he saw her. She forced a smile and accepted to hold the hand he was stretching towards her. She noticed the sharp glare of Raja towards their intertwined fingers.

"Look what this boy has brought to you, my queen."

Rocky looked at Raja's arms and despite being so angry at him, she couldn't hold her squeal. The servant boy had a tiny lion cub in his hold. The baby feline yawned and stretched its little paws against Raja's arm.