Chapter 16: Reform
1380 Words
Chapter 16: Reform
Third Person's POV
The night passed with conjectures and hidden schemes as the sunrise signaled the start of a brand new day.
Nem dazedly stared at nothing in particular as her soft and slender body languidly laid in her bed. The night's sleep did not lessen the worries deep in her heart.
She sighed softly, closing her eyes and bringing up her arm to her face to shield her from the striking sunlight that shone from the open window of her royal chamber.
Quiet and orderly footsteps sounded out outside of her chamber that is soon followed with a couple of knocks on the door.
"Your majesty the Queen the sun has risen."
The sound of six palace maids talking in a unison chased away the silence in the chamber and brought back Nem's wandering consciousness.
She shook her head and slowly got up from her position.
She doesn't have the time to wallow in self-pity as there are still hundreds of thousands of citizens that needs her support, especially those that are suffering in silence in some corner of her kingdom.
"This Queen is awake...prepare this Queen's attire appropriate for a formal event."
"Yes your majesty, we obey her majesty's words."
The palace maids outside entered the chamber, as two of them entered the right side room to look for Nem's attire, while the two at the back placed the tray of delicious breakfast to the bedside table.
The last two palace maids helped Nem to wash her hands and face, before placing a small table on her bed and arranging the sumptuous meal on it.
The palace maids are all quick in their chores, and it could be seen that they have done this for a long time.
Nem looked at her meal and the fragrant smell as well as the appetizing visual raised her mood in a pleasant way. Good food is always a way to get someone in a positive mindset.
"Your majesty please enjoy your meal."
The four idle palace maids spoke in unison before entering the left side room quietly to prepare Nem's bath water and other essentials.
Nem finished eating and was helped to enter her left side room. She gestured for her maids to leave.
She had never let her personal maids help her in bathing though it is a normal custom in the aristocrats and the royal family.
She gazed at the clear steaming water in the man-made marbled small pool that can fit three of her size. The pool is filled with rose petals, and was mixed with some rose and citrus extract bringing it a fresh and refreshing fragrance that can instantly calm the mind.
Her slender fingers unfastened the white nightgown she wore and the silk fell as she moved her body to approach the pool.
The steam blocked the visibility of the room, but her youthful slender body and pure-white skin like the softest milk jade seems to emit a gentle light. It is like the always moving clouds as her amber-colored hair is like the setting sun amidst the lively green forest like her vibrant deep forest green eyes.
Her body slowly submerged in the hot bath that immediately settled her nerves. The relaxing feeling brought out a smile to her lips.
Bowing her head to wash and carefully scrub her body, her amber hair slide down her right side and her white nape with an unusual indented mark of a small twirling flame looks so seductive in the steaming atmosphere.
She leaned her slender back at the edge of the pool, and her languid and enchanting appearance retaining her youthful visage can make any man do anything if it is by her wish.
Her disordered thoughts about the Old Duke's ailment and Amayris' situation disappeared in this rare quiet moment.
A relaxed sigh escaped her moist lips as it curved slightly because of the loosening of her tense muscles from a night of dreary sleep.
Nem took an hour to finish bathing and she walked out wearing a white silk bathrobe as her cheeks are tinted with a reddish hue from the steam. Her moist eyes and still dripping wet hair gives off a different kind of beauty.
The palace maids diligently waiting outside the left side room immediately assisted her in wearing her attire.
A black long sleeves dress perfectly fitted her figure. It has a gold belt hugging her slim waist and there are intricate lines like twisting golden flames all over the dress.
Her attire gives her an aura of a ruler above the masses without her doing anything else. Looking at herself in the full body mirror, Nem lightly smiled and asked her maids to call Zyar.
Not even a minute passed when Zyar arrived outside the door of the royal chamber with another ten robust royal knights wearing their armors.
"Your majesty the Queen the time is ripe."
Nem casually glanced at them before lifting her foot to leave. Zyar and the ten followed her in a semi-circle position to ensure her safety.
"We greet her majesty the Queen and wishes the Queen to rule for hundreds of years to come."
All of the palace servants and officials that they passed bowed in reverence while wishing her a long life.
Seeing the giant golden gate of the royal palace, a luxurious carriage bearing the flag of the royal family is parked at the center of the gate.
"We greet your majesty the Queen to live for hundreds of years."
The sentries guarding the gate kneeled in unison as their resounding voices echoed in the wide road.
"This Queen permits you to rise."
Nem nodded and with the help of Zyar, entered the royal carriage. Her destination is the central square of the capital city where tens of thousands of citizens from the surrounding towns awaits her decree.
It is related to their occupations or whether the conditions of their current life will change for the better or for it to directly be worst.
The normal farmers with their low salary because of the tax are especially nervous. This announcement decides whether they will starve or not.
The citizens did not wait for long as Nem arrived in less than fifteen minutes in her carriage. The royal knights rode their horses to follow her while Zyar was the one who directly drove the carriage.
Nem's arrival aroused the lively cheers and exclamations of thousands of individuals that the noisy atmosphere could even compare to her coronation.
"The Queen is here!"
"The Queen is so noble and graceful like a fairy!"
"Your Majesty...!"
The royal army also brought out two thousand mounted soldiers to keep the order and security of the venue.
She waved her hand wrapped up in a light golden glove. The cheers did not stop until she ascended the stairs to the gray marbled platform of the central square.
Her presence and her ethereal looks quieted down every single person present in the scene.
"This Queen greets every citizen of Regin that has come."
She raised her left hand and Zyar standing five steps behind her promptly took out a golden scroll that holds her decree and opened it in front of her.
"I, Nem Asteria, the ninth ruler and current Queen of Regin hereby declares the ministry of finance to decrease the current tax by half and to absolve the tax given by the farmers of the kingdom as they are also given appropriate remunerations for the official stamps of the land deeds that are still in the hands of the ministry of agriculture."
The unexpected announcement stunned everyone, especially the poor farmers that suddenly burst out into wails.
They have been paying tax since their ancestors and they still needed to pay for the official stamp of their land deeds every year which is not a small amount, so how can they not be happy at the timely water that was given in their most thirstiest period.
"Royal father please wish me the best."
The joyful atmosphere affected Nem that her eyes shone with happiness. The happiness of the kingdom is her happiness. She wanted to word hard to not let her father down and to live up to her own expectations of herself.
- Writer
