THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 30

It was at night now but the banquet would still go on. The guests were lively and they enjoyed every bit of the party. Astrid had gone into her chambers to change into another dress. Luciana dutifully helped her and she tied the drawstrings of Astrid's purple dress.
"You are now a married woman my lady," she said and handed Astrid a matching set of purple earrings and necklace.
"I can't believe that I am Luciana. I feel confused. Very soon I'll leave for Egypt where I'll know no one. It will be a new life and I can already smell the hostility from Rashida and Meritaten. They haven't been friendly towards me."
"It must be because you will join their family soon. It's quite normal for them to be cold because you marrying into their family is a change for them but they will warm up to you eventually."
" I really hope so. I am lucky to have Seti though. He is a good man and I can feel it."
" Of course he is. You should hear how much the other servants are praising him. I have a feeling that he will make you very happy."
" I really like your optimism," Astrid said as she smiled." I have to go back and entertain the guests. Meanwhile enjoy yourself and have fun."
" Yes my lady," she said with a curtsy and escorted Astrid outside into the gardens. She walked straight towards Seti ignoring the fact that she had seen Aretha and Julian still talking.
" You look beautiful in that colour," he praised his wife.
" Thank you Seti."
" Here, have some wine," he said as he passed a cup. She took it after offering a quick smile. Her eyes darted towards her now ex lover and her cousin.
" He must be very special," Seti said as he looked at her.
" What ?" Astrid asked. She was shocked.
" Him. The man sitting beside Aretha. What is his name ?"
"It's Julian."
"He is special to you. Earlier you were distracted by seeing both of them together. I saw it all."
" That's not true. I just... I don't know Seti. He was my betrothed before but I broke off our engagement."
" Why ?"
" Well, my grandfather ordered his father's execution because he was found guilty of treason so he broke our engagement. He left and when he returned moons later, we got betrothed again but I broke off the betrothal when I was informed that the both of us are to marry."
" Do you still love him ?" he asked. He dreaded the answer he would most probably hear because he had fallen hard for his wife but he knew that she did not feel the same way for him. He wanted to know where her heart lay.
" I don't think that what I feel matters. I am your wife now," she replied." But to answer you, I don't. I used to but not anymore," she answered with a sigh and he relaxed.
"But why do you keep looking at them from time to time ?"
"It's just that I can't believe how fast things change. A few moons back, I would be the one with him but now, I am with you and he will be with someone else. I think that it just hurts to let go of something you once held with high regard."
If she had no feelings for Julian then it would be a good starting point for him to earn her love and trust. He had to. Very few women were like her and he would not miss the chance to make her his. He wrapped his arms around her and she found herself leaning on him.

"I am glad to see my sister married," Fabian told Germaine as they danced together in a dimly lit corner. Both were tipsy and it gave them the courage to talk about things they wouldn't talk about in their sober state.
"Me too. I wish her happiness. She is your younger sister and here you are not married."
"I will marry soon," he said. For a while he remembered Luciana. She was the one he would want to marry but that was far from possible.
" What are you thinking about Fabian ? Huh ? Tell me," she said as she smiled.
" About my wedding. I have always wanted to marry a beauty. A woman who is both intelligent and delightful."
" I am sure that you will find one," she said with a blush on her cheeks. She fervently hoped that she would be the one for him. She often fantasized of her wedding with him and how she would help him rule the kingdom if she got lucky to be his queen.
" You're also lost in thought," he laughed. She laughed back as she apologized and without thinking he crashed his lips against hers. Her eyes widened at his sudden move but she welcomed the kiss. If someone saw the two, the news would spread fast and both would be embarrassed. They didn't care at all though because the wine was at work. However, Luciana who was walking around saw the two. She couldn't believe her eyes but there was nothing she could do. She could only watch as the two who were of the same social class enjoy each other's company. She was the one who could enjoy his kisses and embrace but now it would be Germaine. Was the stabbing pain in her heart the same as the one Germaine felt when she saw him and Fabian in the painting room ? This was painful to watch and another addition to the pain she felt of knowing that she and Fabian would never be. He had clearly moved on. She had no doubt of that and for her sake, she walked away but bumped into someone.
Upon raising her eyes to see whom it was, she quickly apologized as she wiped her tears that she didn't know were there with the sleeve of her dress.
"You are Astrid's maidservant, aren't you ?"
"Yes I am, Prince Thutmose."
"You're crying," he said as he folded his well built arms.
" No my lord," she said as she looked at the ground. He lifted her chin upwards and looked at her carefully. She was indeed beautiful. Not as beautiful as Rashida whom he was in love with but she was beautiful.
" You were crying," he said and he looked at the direction from which she came and saw Fabian and Germaine giggling at each other. It was easy to put two and two together from the sight. What a poor maidservant she was. It must be hard for her to not get the love of the man she wanted because she was of lowly class.
"May I leave my lord," she asked.
"Yes yes," he said and she left immediately after a quick curtsy.
That was one dramatic day. Smenkhhare was already drunk and dead asleep in one of the rooms in the castle and Thutmose knew not of the reason why he drank too much. Here was another scene where a maidservant got her feelings hurt after finding the man she loved in the arms of another woman. Thutmose simply shook his head at what he had seen on that day but little did he know that some few years later, that maidservant would mean the world to him.