A Paradise Lost

The Most Awaited Day

Time flew so fast. The most awaited annual conference finally came. Queen Raya was nervous and excited at the same time since it was her first time to host such a big event. The last time that their island hosted an annual conference was during the time of her grandparents. She was 5 years old back then and she didn't understand what they're doing.

She rubbed the grounded coffee beans on her scalp. She massaged her hair to ease her headache a little bit. She was so stressed in preparing the things they needed for the annual conference. She wanted everything to be perfect from the food, accommodation, and surroundings. She looked at her hair in the mirror. She was disappointed with its color. She'd been rubbing her hair with grounded coffee beans for three months everyday to make it blonde but she could only go as far as brunette. She took a bath. She asked her servants to straighten her hair using two flat heated metals. After straightening her hair, she looked at herself in the mirror. She felt like she was staring on someone else. She looked so different. She transformed physically from head to foot from a dark, kinky-haired Maharlikan to a white, brunette European.

"You are the most beautiful woman we have ever seen." Anita complimented.

"I don't feel comfortable with my hair. It's too long for me. I didn't realize that it will reach my butt once it will be straightened."

"Do you want us to cut your hair?"

"Please cut my hair up to the waist."

Anita cut Queen Raya's hair up to her waist.

"Perfect. I want you to curl the side and bottom of my hair using a heated iron rod."

Anita obediently curled Queen Raya's hair.

Queen Raya applied the red rose petal wax on her lips, cheeks, and on her entire eyelids. She put henna on the side of her eyelids. She wore a diamond necklace that added her bloom. She chose to wear a Venus cut gown worn by Roman queens.

Anita and the rest of the servants were awed by Queen Raya's appearance. They felt like they're looking at a completely different person.

Queen Raya stood up on the podium facing the kings and queens from the different kingdoms of Maharlika. She cleared her throat and started her speech.

"Good morning. Welcome to Camotes Island. I hope you have a pleasant trip. It is our pleasure to host this annual conference. Please feel at home. We still have the same agenda just like our previous conference. We will be discussing about amending some of our policies for the benefit of our kingdoms. We will also be sharing best practices and the latest technology we have in our respective kingdoms and how we can apply it."

Everyone clapped their hands. Her voice was familiar to them but her looks wasn't. They were stunned by her beauty. She looked like a goddess.

"If you don't mind me asking, may I know where Queen Raya is?" Magiting, the king in Manila asked.

"She's speaking in front of you." Queen Raya smiled.

The king and queens in Maharlika were murmuring.

"Without further ado, I would like to hear the improvements you have in your respective kingdoms. I would like to start from Luzon, Visayas, and lastly in Mindanao. Since you're the first to speak among the audience, I would like to start from you, King Magiting. A round of applause, please."

Queen Raya sat down in the front row.

"Next time don't wear that type of dress. It doesn't suit a respectable queen like you. You look like a whore." Shiloh whispered at Queen Raya's ear.