Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 165618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 165618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
Again, my tablet sounded and I pulled up the designs.
One was not me.
The other very much was.
I was a little concerned it was too close to the engagement party dress I wore, considering this new gown looked like it was made of slim, silver spikes, but it was totally my aesthetic.
The designer was Simma Zetfight, a demon Edgian designer who had a budding couture house in the city of Freefall, which was known as the most artsy and cultural city in Sky’s Edge. It was where all the runway shows happened. And it had the best art museum in all the Four Realms (according to me).
I already had quite a bit of her ready-to-wear in my closet (or now, both closets).
Thus, I made a decision.
“Let’s reach out to Simma.”
“You need an aide.”
This was Mira’s declaration.
I disagreed, but I wasn’t going to disagree with her in front of Jorda and Barret, especially since both Jorda’s and Barret’s expressions said they agreed with Mira.
“Let’s discuss that after the meeting, if you have an extra couple of minutes,” I said to Mira.
“I have a couple of things to go over with you after the meeting too,” she replied.
Since she’d been watching me like a hawk during this entire appointment, like she was waiting for me to slip up, I bet she did.
“Right then, since I know we all have busy days, let’s finish up,” I decreed. “I’d like Barret to go over the guest list, because she’s done this a million times, and she knows who should be on it. Can you two finalize it by the end of the week so Tanyn can look at it too?” I asked Jorda and Mira. “We need to get the invitations out.”
They nodded their assent. We discussed the last bits and bobs on the agenda while we finished the coffee and nibbled at the fruit and pastries sitting on the table between us.
The meeting done, Jorda and Barret left.
And Mira remained.
I’d wanted to finagle some kind of casual discussion with Barret about what she’d said about serving the “real king,” but apparently, now was not going to be that time.
So be it.
She was blushing and still hesitant to share her ideas.
It was probably too early.
And now to the matter at hand…
“About that aide,” I began when the door closed behind the other two females.
“You’ll need to start scheduling appearances,” Mira stated. “You’re already working with designers, and it would be beneficial for you to have a being in between you and them to communicate in case you don’t like a design, or don’t wish to work with them. That kind of thing should never come direct from your lips, or your fingertips on a device.”
“Mira—”
“Berg Castle only hosts the New Year’s Ball as their annual big to-do, but it’s an event where the planning starts practically the day after the last ball was held.”
I could imagine.
“You’ll also have your own engagement party to plan, and you don’t have a reigning queen to help you plan it,” she continued. “Not to mention, the wedding. You need to patronize charities. You need to fundraise for them. You need to establish your brand and communicate your mission. Obviously, I see this centering around the arts. But in the short-term, there’s not only the Ball, there’s the refurbishment of the citadel, and you and the king need to be seen. Sky’s Edgians need to be under the impression you’re here, and you’re here to stay.”
I sat quietly and listened to all her words.
And I noted among them there was an abundance of the word “need.”
When she was finished, I didn’t add my own tasks, which included the fact I’d put in notice. It had been grudgingly accepted, along with my boss agreeing it was the right course to promote Lua.
However, for the next month, I was still going to be doing that job along with training Lua to do it.
Only when Mira spoke no more, did I say, “I understand all of this, Mira. But as of now, I’m living with His Majesty. As of now, you know there are other matters that take precedence, so all the royals and future queens will be staying with us too. The king has made the decision not to communicate what’s happening until we actually know what’s happening. However, there’s a good possibility beings will find out I’m here, or we’re all here, and if that comes about, that will have to be handled.”
She inclined her head but said nothing.
I kept going.
“But as for me, this is too soon for them to be forced to digest another big change. Tanyn is king, but he’s been that for only a short time. Now, he’s courting me, officially. Me moving in, having a royal aide, scheduling appearances, patronizing charities and establishing a brand…” I shook my head. “It makes a statement. A statement that will be made, but it’s far too soon to make it now.”