Chapter 12: Public
Jayde
Isadora had blinked at me in surprise when I showed her the dress I wanted. “That’s very untraditional.” She had started, “Maybe we should look at something more appropriate.”
“I’ve looked, this is the one.” I said with a smile.
She nodded in defeat. “I will have the designer here tomorrow afternoon to start the fitting.”
“Thank you, Isadora. Now let’s get back to those menus.” I said and we had started shuffling lists around when there was a knock on my door. It was Philip.
“Excuse me, Ladies. Lady Jayde, our king is requesting your presence before his public address.” Philip stated nervously.
“Sure, Philip. Where is Kohl?” I said noticing his eyes widen slightly whenever I just called Kohl, Kohl. He could get away with it but I wasn’t allowed to?
“He is in the throne room.”
“Throne room?” I repeated as my stomach seemed to turn to knots for no other reason then it’s mention.
Philip nodded and escorted me over to the one room I had never been in. I walked in and wanted to walk right back out. Kohl was dressed a little more formally than usual. He wore a navy military uniform with a few medals dangling from thick ribbons on either shoulder and two on his chest. He even had a crown on something I didn’t even think Kohl owned until this moment. He never seemed like the traditional, regal king that had crowns and jewels.
I looked around the throne room, it was massive. White marble floor, Large marble statues, on either side of the six thrones. Six gold thrones after all this time they still had six thrones. A massive chandelier that easily had to weigh a few tons. Gold accents seemed to give the room a timeless regal feel. The large gold chairs with white plush, perhaps velvet backing, were intimidating alone. They were heart stopping when combined with this room.
“Lady Jayde.” Kohl said as he walked over to me. He had something in his hand that he was fiddling with. I couldn’t see it until he walked down the few marble stairs and closer to me. I wanted to run away. I was not about to wear a crown in public! This was becoming too real too fast.
I stood in place because my body never actually listened to my brain. “So the meeting is at three, in a half hour. I thought I’d give you something for the big reveal. He said handing me a small tiara. “Technically this is not a Queen’s crown. It is the crown of the Prince’s prospective wife, but I figured you are the Uncoronated Queen, this is okay.” I looked at the small tiara with it’s tall jewels at the top cascading downwards, the jewels getting smaller the further they went from the massive center jewel.
“Thank you, it’s beautiful.” I chirped out.
“You seem nervous.”
“You look like a King.” I said meeting his dark gaze. His mood lightened with that.
“Sometimes I have to.”
“Should I change?” I asked knowing my navy dress might not be appropriate.
“Actually you look perfect, I informed Isadora about the meeting this morning and she dressed you for the occasion.”
I looked down at my dress again. Wasn’t it a little tight fitting for a queen? Didn’t I have to wear a gown like all the movies portrayed?
“Shouldn’t I be wearing something more conservative like something that covered my legs?”
Kohl did a quick appraisal, “It's the twenty-first century, you’re dressed formally enough for a meeting, you are dressed formally enough to meet the kingdom.” He pulled the tiara out of my hands and placed it on my head. “Well, now you are.”
“But I don’t have to wear a crown at those meetings.” He shrugged and started walking back to the thrones. “There are six thrones. Basically you can sit anywhere but…” He paused to look at me for a moment and continued. “You are technically a royal on your own so these two.” He said pointing to a set of thrones, “Are your family thrones.” I nodded. “I was hoping you would sit beside me but I have conflicting feelings on that.”
“Why?” I asked thinking it was a logical sitting arrangement, there were only two of us, why should I sit two chairs away?
“Some may take it as a sign of you and I being engaged with the throne and the tiara. It also may cause negative feelings in Sy’s kingdom.” Kohl said it exasperated that he had to scrutinize everything even where we sat.
“Fine, I’ll sit here.” I said sitting at my family’s thrones, particularly the king’s chair.
He smiled, “If you insist, King Jayde.” I stuck out my tongue in response. “I do hope you act more mature during the conference.”
“I thought I was behaving better?” I replied hurt that he wasn’t acknowledging all the progress I had made today.
“Actually you’ve been wonderful today.” He said a shy smile coming to his face. I smiled at that. I was trying really hard to make Kohl and everyone not think I was a disappointment, I was glad he was recognizing it.
“Thanks,” I said standing from the throne. I would have to stiffly pretend I wasn’t uncomfortable in a few minutes.
“So did you make any progress on the ball?” he asked trying to lighten the tension in the room.
“I found a dress.” I replied happily.
“Already?” He choked out surprised.
“Isadora went to dozens of designers today and organized a whole book of sketches.”
“I take it Isadora is working out well.”
“Oh, she’s wonderful, I couldn’t have hired a more perfect person myself.” I said and we exchanged pleasantries until the room began filling with people. I looked around startled. This was an even bigger crowd than I had anticipated. How was I supposed to talk to these people? Assure them that I would do what was best for them. I wasn’t even sure I could stand in front of them without forgetting every single word in my vocabulary.
I noticed Kohl’s posture stiffen as two of his guards closed the door to the throne room. “It’s showtime,” he whispered knowing I was the only other person that could hear him. Kohl stood and walked to a podium of microphones that had been set up after I arrived. He had instructed me to stay seated until he called me up to the podium with him.
“Encante, it has been a long time coming that we get to welcome back one of our lost. This kingdom has been in shambles for nearly two decades following the tragic demise of the Last Kings.” The last kings he had also informed me was the name of the last ruling families when the war started, so basically our parents. “My uncle worked very hard to keep my father’s ordinances viable. Thanks to both of them, I am here today announcing that Encante has a brighter future on the horizon. With the return of Lady Jayde, not only have we gained valuable leadership, but we have gained an end to the war that has killed so many of our people. That has killed many kings and queens. That has killed the peace and tranquility that Encante is built on. Lady Jayde’s coronation will be the beginning of a new era.” I stood on cue and walked towards Kohl. Trying not to shake.
“I introduce to you, Queen Jayde.” I gulped at the new title. Kohl stretched out a comforting hand to me and I walked towards the podium. Cameras were snapping everywhere and my eyesight was spotty how was I supposed to follow Kohl’s moving and uplifting speech.
“Thank you, everyone. It is a great honor to be here today. I have learned so much about this wonderful society and thanks to many people, I feel as if this is a place I can call home.” I took a steadying breath. “Although a heavy burden has been placed on my shoulders, I ensure you that I am ready for the challenge. I am ready to assist in bringing Encante back to its former glory. I do not take these decisions lightly and my only goal is to do what is best for all of you. Thank you.” I said and stepped back from the podium.
“Lady Jayde and I will be answering questions in the main dining hall where there will also be refreshments for everyone. Please follow the guards to the next location.” Kohl said and everyone in a disorganized and hurried fashion found their way out of the throne room.
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“That was intense.” I said relaxing my stiff stance once the last few people left.
“The hard part is just getting started.” I groaned inwardly, could I really handle this for the rest of my life? Well if I was married I could make my husband do all the speeches. Kohl was a great orator, why would anyone want to take that away from him? Kohl grabbed my hand hoping it would at least reassure me everything would be okay. “You did great. Queen Jayde.” He said with a smile that made me smile back at him.
“I’m holding you to that,” I said and we left to the main dining hall.” There were several tables covered in different dishes from quiches to finger sandwiches to a chocolate fountain surrounded by fruit and small pieces of bread, there was everything. Waiters were walking around bringing drinks to the mass of people. It seemed like everything was being devoured. The kingdom must appreciate a king that spoiled them with treats and absurd dishes.
“Over to the right is where they set up another podium for us. I’ll be right back.” He said and walked away. He swiftly made his way through the crowd and was soon engulfed so that I couldn’t see him anymore with or without his crown on. I walked to the podium hoping I’d get another moment to myself today. Kohl was at the podium seated with two plates. “Took you long enough,” he said with a boyish smile. He handed me one of the plates and I nibbled at the assortment he had placed in front of me. “I also grabbed some chocolate.” Kohl said reaching for a small cup he had placed on the podium.
“You are so thoughtful. ” I replied teasingly. Another guard came to the podium and calmed the noisy crowd. I placed the nearly empty plate under my seat and prepared for the ambush.
“King Kohl, is it true that agents on both sides of Encante have been trying to determine Jayde’s whereabouts for the last few years?”
“Actually” Kohl said standing at the podium. “My uncle had been searching for Jayde since the day she went missing. I cannot report on what has happened in Encante-South.
“Queen Jayde, is it true that you were raised by humans?” I gulped and looked at the reporter.
“Yes, I was raised by two wonderful humans that I still consider my parents as well. I lived in Brazil my entire life.”
“Do you remember why you were lost, Queen?”
“I was two at the time so no I do not.”
“Have you had a meeting with King Sy, yet?”
“No, I have not properly made King Sy’s acquaintance, but that is something that will soon be remedied.”
“King Kohl, although it is mentioned in the treaty guidelines, have you scheduled for Queen Jayde to meet King Sy?”
“Lady Jayde already has a meeting with King Sy, any information about the whereabouts I cannot give you.”
“Queen Jayde, how long do you think it will take you to end the war?”
“Well I’d like to be coroneted first hopefully, but in all honestly I cannot make a definite answer until I meet with King Sy.”
“Have you been informed about the bombings, and spontaneous underwater attacks by Encante-South led by King Sy?” A reporter yelled back.
“I’m well aware of the damages of the war and what specifically has been done. Although these attacks are difficult for us to explain, I cannot ignore treaty protocol based on possibly erroneous judgments.”
“Are you justifying what King Sy has done?” He shot back heatedly.
“I’m not justifying what he has done, but I am saying I can’t judge a person I do not know. Yes, a lot of bad has occurred and I do want to see an end to it, but I have to keep all of the people of Encante in mind not just this territory.”