Queen Era: The Monster I Love - Chapter 113
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CHAPTER 113
“Yes, please. If it isn’t much trouble, your grace,” Era began, taking a little pause to get clarity first.
“No worries, ask.”
She took in a deep breath, keeping her poker face straight to the best of her abilities, trying to hide her nervousness.
“I would love permission to access the Chambers of Chronicles.”
Vidor took a long pause, studying her first before saying anything.
“Why might I ask?”
Earlier on, the moment she asked, he was tempted to say yes but when he studied her and saw how nervous she was, he took his time to analyze what she might want with the chronicles all of a sudden.”
“Nothing really. I believe as Etheria’s queen if I want to function properly on my duties, I should study the chronicles well enough to understand what has been. It would help me make the right decisions and also avoid making similar mistakes my ancestors might have made.”
“Your reason is not bad but you must know that the chronicles are more or less of the kings and not the queens.”
“Yes, I am aware of that. I never said I just wanted to learn about the queens only. No. I want to learn about the kings and their queens. If I am to rule with you, I must make sure to understand your ancestry and know where you are coming from and going to be able to be on the same page with you and not go against you.”
“I see.”
“I hope that with my reasons, you would oblige my request, your majesty.” She closed her eyes a bit, lowering her head.
“Hmm. I would get back to you on that. Is there any other requests?”
“Not at all, your majesty. This is my only request.”
“I see.” He nodded his head in understanding.
A part of him had wished that she had come for some other things like wanting to check on him but since she did not say, who was he to wish further.
“Since his majesty would consider my request, I would love to take my leave now.”
“Fine. Wait,” he abruptly called out, reaching for her with his hand before pulling it back to his side when he saw that his impulse was uncalled for.
“Your majesty?”
Even the way her eyes widened in shock told a different language. He had to clear his throat first to not make the scene look any more awkward than it was.
“I’m sorry. Wait a minute. I have a question to ask.”
“Okay.” Settling back on her seat, Era waited and listened carefully to the question he was to propose.
“Ahem!” he cleared his throat again, adjusting the collar of his robe for proper breathing.
“I was going to ask you this the other day bit you seemed too cold and busy so I did not. Anyways, I was wondering,” he looked up at her. “Would you love to have dinner with me? Just the two of us, outside in the garden.”
Era blinked. She did not know what to say or do. When he said he wanted to ask a question, she felt it must have been pertaining to the question she asked about the chambers of chronicles.
Instead, here she was, being asked on a date. Could her day get any better? And could the already awkward atmosphere be any more awkward?
“So what say you?” His second question had pulled her back to his first but even at that, Era was still in a dilemma.
She did not know what she was going to answer him. These days she had decided to try as much as possible to avoid him especially during meals and be to herself while she plotted her revenge.
But even that now, seemed to be impossible.
Even the chambers of Chronicles was also supposed to be an opportunity to get buried and not disturbed, particularly to aid in her avoidance scheme bit all she got was this.
Not getting any response from her, Vidor snapped his fingers in front of her face, pulling her back from her reverie. “Era?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Umm.” He averted his gaze from her face and looked elsewhere. It was now his turn to be nervous or better still, they were both nervous. “I asked you a question?”
“You did?”
0_0
“Oh, of course, you did. Sorry, your majesty. Can you please repeat the question?”
“You want me to repeat that question?”
“Yes, if you do not mind.”
He was tempted to scream out, of course, he did mind. If only she knew just how long and how hard it took him before he could ask her once and now she wanted him to repeat the question again.
“I… My mind was a little bit occupied your majesty. I sincerely apologize for that. Please.”
“She had personally hoped he would not repeat those words back. Of course, she heard him clearly the first time but out of shock, she said that.
Who would want such a monster to ask them out n the first place, let alone repeat those same exact words?
Those were the thoughts running through Era’s mind at that moment and seeing as it was hard for Vidor to repeat it, she decided to capitalize on it as a way to escape the situation or give him an answer in the first place.
For some seconds neither of them spoke to each other, thus making the already awkward meeting between the two of them more awkward than most.
Finally, Vidor chuckled, causing Era to frown a bit and what started as a light chuckle soon escalated into a peal of laughter.
By the time he was done, he was left with a puzzled, more or less angry Era.
“My apologies. I am not laughing at you but just at the situation.”
“What situation would that be, your majesty?”
“This. You and I. This would be the first time; I am asking a lady out. I asked you to have dinner with me outside, just the two of us in the garden.”
Somehow after laughing at himself, he found the courage to voice out what had been so hard for him in the first place.
‘He finally did. I really hoped he would not.’ She lamented in her mind.
“So, what is your answer, my queen? Do not tell me that you did not hear this time around because my laughing seemed to have bothered you and triggered your attention quite well.
‘Sneaky king. So that was his plan all along. Tsk, I fell for it so damn well.’ Era was aggrieved but dared not to show it out.
“So? I am waiting for your response.”
“Fine. I heard this time.”
‘And? What is your answer?”
“I think your majesty should spend more time knowing his people and rather than a date, I would prefer your majesty take that time to stroll around and see things for himself in his kingdom.”
‘I hate this girl sometimes. Why can’t she say a simple yes as most girls would?’ Vidor gritted in anger in his mind.
“It is wise and beneficial for every king to have explored their kingdom and see what is going on.”
“Beneficial yes, you may say but that does not make a king a great leader. Dealing with the needs of the people and ensuring they are met while making adequate decisions that would favour the is what makes one a great leader.”
“I am glad you said that,” Era began. “But checking to make sure that the provisions for the needs of the people were met is also paramount. As I said, be careful who you trust. Trust a few and those you trust make sure they have earned it.”
“What are you saying? Say what you mean and mean what you say.”
“Your majesty, it might interest you that some of your people are not having it good and it is not as a result f them being lazy but the taxations are high and they are not even getting the gift, provisions for survival the king is giving.”
“How so?”
“Very so. I am sorry but you won’t hear it from my mouth, your majesty. You need to confirm this yourself.”
His chest rose with so much force as he stared into Era’s eyes to see if she was lying.
All he could see was fierceness and pain etched deep within. When it came to the people she did not mind going against him. She was strong and fierce but when it came to their personal life, she looked so…
“Fine. I would go but I would love my queen to accompany me on my very first outing to see my people.”
“Okay. If I go you will cancel the date?”
“No. As king and queen, we are allowed to share these simple things.”
“So in all, I never really had a choice.”
“If you put it that way yes, but no.”