The Grey Storm

22

Eve of the Fifty-nth
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Isamiona ate in silence at a fancy restaurant. Looking over the view of the desert view of Lelia at night, wrapping the Kyï meat (Bear-lion meat) with cabbage dunking it in a sweet spicy sauce before putting it whole in her mouth. Her Kobe bead vibrated looking at her wrist while chewing her food, tapping the bead as her Eüya popped up on a digital three-dimensional hologram. "Eüya,"

"What fucking nightmare is this?"

"What happened now?" Isamiona asked while continuing eat her food adding more garlic as her Eüya watched. "That bird is dressing inappropriately, she's wearing pink! Pink! In my beautiful palace!" rolling her eyes zoning out her Eüya's temper tantrums. "Didn't you assign her a Lady-in-waiting?"

"Yes, Lady Vlesh." shaking her head and sighing to herself, "I'll see to it that, okay?" Lady Lelï hummed eyeing the child in disgust, "Don't eat too much! Can't have you being too tight in your clothes now?" Isamiona immediately stopped eating with cheeks stuffed, summoning the waiter to take her food away which satisfied the Lady Lelï who hung up immediately. "I still want my take-away,"

"Ay, Leya Isamiona." (Yes, Lady Isamiona.) she wiped her mouth as the plates where taken away.

Isamiona sat on the Throne chair in the Palace's Royal dressing room. Two Palace guards stood behind her, waiting for Hyo to come out. And see what her Eüya was complaining about. When the Korean mother and her daughter came out from the curtain both were startled, "I-Isamiona? Is something wrong?" Isamiona didn't reply but eyed the thin coral pink material and Seung-Hee wore a plain white dress, sighing in frustration. "Lady Rosemary, this is what you wear formally in Korean but in Zetharaoh as a Royal it's different."

"Is it Inappropriate?"

"Very. . .it's considered very insulting to Her Ladyship." Hyo gasped covering her mouth in shock, "I didn't know―"

"It is fine by me, your husband is useless to teach you these things." snapping her fingers once as a team of people came into the room, putting a knuckle against her cheek. "Give them the Champagne Golden Lioness dress Collection. The one's with the golden rose patterns." the people led the Korean females into the changing booth closing the curtains, Isamiona took out her take-away while she waited. Eating her Kyï meat wrapped in cabbage, dunking it in sauce adding garlic for flavour.

"Eüya did this?" she said not looking at anyone in the room but was directed at Hyo's assigned Lady-in-waiting. "Yes, Head Lady Rosemary, Her Ladyship gave them freedom to choose any dress but Lady Rosemary insisted she has formal wear. Forgive us Head Lady," waiting for a while, looking at the assigned Lady-in-waiting with two maids. They all looked down avoiding their Lady's harsh glare.

"She is his wife, Mother to my younger siblings. Not some competition, if I catch you or the others bothering them. I will sell off all your children as treaty brides to Meehan tribe." chewing slowly while sipping on Masta wine, checking her wrist watch as ten minutes had passed. "Yes, Head Lady Rosemary. Forgive me,"

Isamiona was eating as Hyo walked out, wearing heart shape cut gown, exposing her shoulders with a puffy skirt. The skirt was a wrap around circular skirt, the satin top layer was bedazzled in golden sparkles and golden diamonds. They curled her sleek hair a bit and jeweled Hyo too. Isamiona was speechless with the Kyi meat clinging onto her lips, staring in an astonishment. Hyo looked at herself in the mirror amazed, "Wow, I didn't even recognised myself for moment." looking back at Isamiona who was starstruck, the rose patterns was all made out of gold diamonds following a vine pattern. "You're beautiful. . .Hyo,"

Isamiona carefully analyse their outfits, Hyo giggled at Isamiona who shoved the food in her mouth to speak. Seung-Hee shyly approached Isamiona, "And me, Syrah?"

"Oof! Indeed, looking like a real princess now. Come here," holding her hand out for the little girl to come towards her. Seung-Hee was in a Portrait off the shoulder collar with a swan long lace sleeves and an unpressed pleats skirt same pattern as Hyo. Holding her hand as Isamiona spun the girl in a circle, seeing that she had a matching pair of ballerina flats. Isamiona fed the girl a bit of the Kyï meat, Seung-Hee ate smiling happily.

Beckoning the maids holding the tiara to come forth, picking up the mermaid shell style crown with diamonds. Isamiona looked at it sadly, it was a Royal collection from her mother's personal jewelry. The assigned Lady-in-waiting, Lady Fernadora Vlesh the Headmistress of the Liras Harem. Teaching Hyo how to properly curtesy:

Hands below the navel. Arms slightly bent. Left leg across the right and kness lightly bend. Shoulders dropped low with a head bowed low of grace.

Hyo slightly got it right but her neck stuck out too much, Isamiona placed the tiara on her head carefully. Hyo looked up confused, "Ladies at age wears crowns, married women wears tiaras. This was my mother's when she was Royal Lady Fianceé."

"Oh Isamiona, you don't have to―"

"Just for tomorrow, just be the best Hostess. You're a Rosemary now, Iseul's image needs rebuilding so help me with our family's tradition." Hyo nodded understanding before standing up straight, fixing her skirt a bit. "Syrah, do I also get a crown?"

"When you're older my Amestia." Isamiona smiled patting Seung-Hee's cheeks. Lady Vlesh stood there with her arms folded watching them in silence. "How's the etiquette classes going so far?"

"Good, good. It feels like I'm in a Royal court," Hyo giggled, Isamiona smile while continuing to eat as Hyo watched slightly. "Remember, no man has the right to kiss your hand. Only your husband, children and family or people dearest to you?"

"Why?"

"In Malagar, hand kissing is the purest way to show affection. It shows love, sincerity and respect." Hyo nodded taking in all the information, "When greeting important figures, nod your head deeply but you're Iseul's wife, you get to nod slightly since you hold more of a rank.

"When the dancing starts as a High rank, you hold out your hand. You are not asking permission, you're demanding from your perfect partner." Isamiona showed her in a pose, her gloved hand out with a hard look in her eyes and what seemed like a playful smile. "Dancing to us means a battle of dominance between man and woman, who is actually in charge or to overtake." Hyo stood there listening to Isamiona explaining, getting to see the talkative side. Seeing how she actually likes to speak and how she controls her speech a lot. "Everything prepared for tomorrow?" she stood up straight finishing her take-away. Hyo clasped her hands together cheery, "Ah yes, I did a last minute check. The Head Lady-in-waiting helped a lot."

Isamiona's silver moon orbs shifted sideways glaring at the Lady-in-waiting, who uncomfortably avoided the Head Lady's eyes. "Good, Palace comfortable?" Hyo nodded as Isamiona got the guards let them sit down preparing chairs for them. "I heard the boys went to say by Lady Dallia, why are you at a hotel?"

"I like the view and I can do Royal duties in peace without Iseul's tantrums." wiping her mouth with a napkin, Hyo's face darkened. "I really don't like it when you call him Iseul."

"I didn't know he was my father until after the accident,"