"Few years after he became king, King Donovan Restonville had his Queen selection event. At the selection event, eleven young noble ladies were in attendance and King Donovan gave the most unheard of order by making them all his wives. His response to everyone's 'whys' was because they all were too beautiful to choose from and...."
"The most intelligent of them all became the Queen and the others took the Special consorts and Consorts positions respectively" Zelda completed with a shrug. She had been told the story over and over again and now she already learnt it word for word.
"Our King surely is very powerful..I mean how can someone be able to satisfy eleven women?" She continued her Monologue, trying her best to make Reese forget what she was going to say.
"Milady.."
"Just imagine, with Fifteen children in the palace, they wouldn't be bored at all but infact there would be lots of dramas going on" She glanced at her maid with a grin. It was very obvious she was trying to annoy the latter and it was working because Reese was boiling.
"Milady!" Reese called with gritted teeth this time. But Zelda being Zelda only choose to ignore because she knew what would happen the moment she decided to respond.
"The tourn..."
"And most of the princes are married with kids, sure the palace is already a city on its own, don't you agree?"
"I'm not going to the tournament. I mean why should I? It's not like I'm in need of a spouse" The story of their King was always been told to her whenever there's a tournament in the palace. And till now, she had always avoided it. Going there is like putting herself on display for any interested buyers and she was never going to put herself in such a position.
"Milady, you are already past the marriageable age and you know most Young men don't want ladies with age same age as them. How else do you want to find husband if not through the tournament?" Reese felt like crying at this point. This fiasco before the tournament had been going on for four years now and her Mistress was still stubborn.
"I'm going to look for a spouse myself and I'll make sure to get the most handsome of them all" Zelda expressed with a dreamy look which made Reese shook her head but before she could reply, someone else came in.
"I knew it. Those useless romance novels you've been reading is the cause of all these" It was Zelda's Mother, Duchess Peepgrass.
Zelda's eyes widened in surprise, She immediately hide the book she was holding behind her. She didn't know her Mother was aware of her interest in Romance Novels. Already guessing who the culprit behind her finding out was, she sent a glare in Reese's way.
Reese lowered her head in guilt "You know I had to tell her for your sake"
"Don't you dare blame Reese for telling me. Are you saying I have no right to know what my daughter does with her leisure time?"
"Your dress up and sitting position, everything is totally opposite of how a maiden is supposed to be presented. Can't you at least behave like a young woman worthy of your status?" Duchess Peepgrass was frustrated. This daughter of hers would definitely be the death of her.
"Who cares about being lady-like when I'm in my room. It's not like there's an outsider here" Zelda gave a shrug. She wasn't a fan of being lady-like, so she wasn't bent on it.
"And that's the problem with you, remember how you chased all your suitors away the past years because of your behaviours. You claimed it was because you were in your house but your misbehaviour was done in front of strangers!" Duchess Peepgrass was now getting annoyed but she kept it in check because getting angry with Zelda was a waste of emotion. The girl doesn't even care whatever you are feeling when she's being stubborn.
Zelda sighed in defeat "Let us drop this matter and move on. I'm not going to the tournament and that's final" She brought out the book she had hidden, deciding there was no in hiding it anymore.
"Not even if I dragged you?" Her Mother asked which made Zelda raise a brow in amusement.
"You'll be the one to be embarrassed not me. Remember it's the palace we are talking about here" She gave a nonchalant response then opened the novel in her hand so she could continue reading, much to her Mother's frustration.
"Don't be difficult Zelda, we want the best for you which is why we want you to go there. And surely you will catch the eye of someone, whether a prince or sons of Nobles even notable young men from other Nations...my daughter is the most beautiful woman in Veerai so it isn't hard to find a suitor" Her Mother tried convincing her.
" You are making me feel like I'm a sort of commodity that needs someone to buy before I could be useful. Mother, I don't believe I need to be married to function in the society. And again what if I can't find a suitor?" She pointed out what her Mother was trying to ignore.
Duchess Peepgrass sighed, she should have known her daughter wasn't one to give up easily. It was all her Father's fault. He had spoilt her so much that she was allowed to do only what she wants and not what anyone wants her to do.
"Let's make a deal. If you find a suitor then you should consider marrying him and if you don't, I'll never force you to attend an event" Zelda's eyes lit up in happiness.
"That's a sure deal. But firstly, Reese get me a paper and ink" She told her maid who immediately had a confused look on.
"What for? My lady" Reese even though had been serving Zelda for years, at times doesn't understand her mistress at all. Like now, what does she need ink and paper for when she only needs to get dressed.
Zelda grinned on seeing the confused look on both of their faces "I need to make the deal written, I don't trust humans"
Reese and Duchess Peepgrass :....
"Be quick or we would be late for the tournament" She shooed Reese off and the latter came back to her senses only to roll her eyes and obey her mistress's order. She could believe what was happening. And shortly she was back with it.
Zelda collected the paper and ink then wrote down their promise then she dipped her hand in the ink to leave her handprint.
"Mother, your turn" She looked up at her Mother in anticipation. Though speechless, the Duchess did as she said.
"Now let me go prepare" Zelda immediately got off her bed and headed towards her dressing room.
"She's getting worse by the the day" Duchess Peepgrass sighed.
"I know right" Reese agreed.