Empresses of Pangaea: The Clash of Queens [ BOOK 1 ]

12

Location: The Sovereign Middle Court, The Royal Palace of Sekhe, West African State, African Lands

It was finally auditioning day and the palace was in a frenzy. The sovereign middle court was perfectly set up ready for auditions to present themselves to the new empress.

Rehema was first putting on her outfit for the day before she would officially be out and about. Her nails were freshy painted and manicured. She put on an elegant purple flowered pattern gomesi, and her natural hair was styled in a bun with a slip gold bridal leaf tiara on top of her head. She put on rhinestone bell design jhuma earrings, and simple necklace with a x closed circle pendant.

After she done, her servants helped her exit the room and took her into a carriage to set her to the sovereign middle court. When she reached the court, they took guided her to the backstage area and that was Rehema saw that Ekon, Esi, and her two main advisors were already there.

When she took a step on the stage everyone greeted her kneeling down, and saying in unison, "A thousand years of harmony to her majesty." Rehema told them to all rise and went over to her seat.

Rehema sat in middle of Ekon and her main official advisor Dayo Saro- Wiwa. Her second main advisor Lungile Yar'Adua , stood behind Dayo, and her younger sister Esi stood behind her, while guards and servants stood across from each other on the stage. They were all on a stage platform the three of them seated. Rehema sat in the middle of a simple large brown throne draped over in soft lion's fur.

Rehema relaxed, leaning back in her seat.

"Are you ready to begin, your majesty?" Dayo asked.

Rehema nodded, and raised her hand slightly, "Lets get on with it."

Then a loud bong clash came, and the audition finally began to start. The first row of young men came lined up. Rehema took a good look at the first eight men standing in front of her. Most of them were African men, Rehema could tell that two other ones were foreigners. She could tell they were all in their best dresses and stood up straight, with good posture. All to impress her.

Rehema looked over at Ekon, and then to her advisor Dayo.

Dayo gave Rehema a nod, seeing that she was hesitating "Your majesty the ball is in your court. No one is allowed to pick who is in your harem but you."

Rehema felt her stomach twist. All day she was going to have the face the looks of certain males' disappointment when they see she rejected them. They came a long way to impress her, but she just simply could not pick all of them.

Rehema turned to Dayo and urged him to come closer to her. He nodded unsurely bringing his ear to her lips.

"After the auditions are over, go the department of Exports and Purse and have them deliver gifts of chocolate to remaining men that didn't get chosen," Rehema whispered in his ear covering her mouth.

Dayo nodded doing so and leaned back in his chair.

Rehema took a deep breath and began to select. She based on decisions on what would be the best luck. Empresses in the past have had more luck picking a diverse harem, and not basing everything on looks.

She could hear her mother words in her head when she would lecture her, about her future duties. "You know one day you're going to be in my shoes. You are my eldest girl, a future empress. Soon their will come a time when you will have to select not just one husband to fulfill our family's dynasty but more than dozens. You must not base everything on what you see. Your eyes can trick you from seeing the actual reality."