TSC Book 3 Part XXVII
You may be a fan of my work or just want to test if my writing style suits you, I'm just glad you're here. Just beware that this is a continuation of my epic fantasy series, The Sahara Chronicles.
As guided by her teacher, Maria went to the royal couple’s private chambers an hour before dinnertime.
Only Sudha accompanied her this time and Maria felt a little less embarrassed. This time, she wouldn’t have a lot of people to humiliate herself in front of.
When they arrived at the chamber, Sudha stepped forward to knock.
“Who is it?” called a voice from the inside.
“It is Geria Maria Thesea come for her private audience with the germain and germaina.”
“Come in, please.”
The door opened and a soldier – a bodyguard – stepped aside. “You may enter.”
The two women entered the chamber and the men shut the door.
The royal couple were seated at their desks on different sides of the room. Maria curtsied the way Sudha had taught her just an hour ago. They smiled at her correction.
“I see Sudha has been teaching you some of the palace manners you weren’t aware of,” Illiyana spoke up. “I’m very sorry, I should have thought about this before you made your audience. I’m sure you felt humiliated.”
Maria smiled. “It’s all right, Mama, I’m not that delicate. One of the things Mother Gothel did to me all those times on Earth was to harden me. I’m not as embarrassed as I suppose I should be.”
“That’s good.” Illiyana turned to her husband.
Ayon picked up the conversation: “So, tell me, my daughter, what is it that you wanted to ask us?”
Maria cleared her throat and glanced at the stoic Sudha. “I… You remember Milo Skander, don’t you?”
“Remember? Of course, I do! He even sought a private audience with me just yesterday to humour me with some magic tricks he had up his sleeve!”
“Well, I actually asked him to be my bodyguard and to show me around the kingdom when in disguise. After all, it is part of the training you told me to do.”