Author's Note: I've decided this story will have some mild voyeurism in it. I thought I should warn the reader beforehand in case one doesn't enjoy such things.
******
When her menstruation cycle came, Rellenora was pleased for once. She didn't have to receive any visitors at all if she didn't want to. All she had to do was sit around and drink all the hot tea she wanted, but she didn't do that ... too often.
One day, Rellenora was asked to do something more important.
The Emperor ... Antonai ... had a few more written requests to deal with than normal. He gathered the least serious requests and sent them to his wife to deal with. He'd look over the decrees later, just in case, but he was more than willing to have her actually make decisions!
Responsibilities!! Rellenora had responsibilities for once in her life! She had to do something other than keep herself away from her family!
It was a dreadful, dodgy feeling, this state of knowing that ones judgment was so important. What if she did something wrong? What if someone died because of her? What if she ended up starting a damn war?!
After reading the first document sent to her, Rellenora felt slightly less afraid. She didn't have to decide which starving group of peasants get food, or something as heartbreaking as that.
Rellenora had two separate budgets, two sums of money allowed to her each month. The first sum was a personal allowance, called the Amusement Allowance. It was set aside for Rellenora to buy whatever her heart desired, from jewelry, to food that wasn't available in the kitchens, or even a new variety of rouge she might order from a traveling merchant. The second sum was a business allowance, called the Decree Allowance. This money was for important things, for example, if someone requested funding for a long voyage around the world to discover new lands in the name of the Royal Family, then the money would be taken from the Decree Allowance.
Keeping all of this important information in her thoughts, Rellenora had to keep an abacus handy and make a few notes as she decided whether or not to spend money. First, someone was requesting funding for a new orphanage to be built in the capital. Normally, orphanages were either private establishments or sections of large temples, but the person who had written this request had an idea for a government owned version. There was even a rough quote for the expenses required each month. It seemed like a harmless idea. Rellenora wrote her approval on a separate sheet of paper. Then she put melted wax on it and sunk her golden seal into the wax.
Second, a merchant wanted to come for a visit to show off all his finery to sell to everyone. According to what Rellenora had been told, he was a regular at the complex, one of many. It seemed that no matter how well established a merchant was, each time he wanted to visit a written request had to be approved of. Well, he had visited before and there didn't seem to be any problems. Rellenora approved of his visit.
The third, fourth, and fifth requests were similar. They were merchants' petitions to come to the Royal Palace and sell their pretty things. No problems there. Rellenora approved. The sixth request from a soldier. He wanted to marry one of the maids and take her to the capital so they could find new employment there. That was charming. Rellenora approved of that.
There weren't anymore requests. Rellenora had all this paperwork sent to her husband. Then she sighed and left her office.
With a cooling cup of tea in her hand and three ladies-in-waiting following her, Rellenora wandered around the halls of the White Jade Palace. She knew she'd never memorize the building's layout.
She happened to find the lovely pink and green room with the white statues, the one that her husband ... Antonai ... had taken her to.
She sat on a chair and looked out one of the elaborate windows. Her tea cup was halfway empty and cold. The ladies-in-waiting sat down too.
The sky was turning a little gray. Rellenora reached to open the window. A lady-in-waiting beat her to it.
The air smelled like a comfortable walk.
The clouds were heavy, rumbling. Wind came. Rain came.
Rellenora took the rest of her tea within a few gulps.
A room already filled with interesting memories ... and she wanted to look at the weather. But, after a moment of feeling the air, Rellenora's eyes rolled over to a certain couch, and she blushed.
***
The last day of her menstruation cycle had passed, and on this breezy morning, Rellenora wanted to go see Noffnoff. She brought four ladies-in-waiting to accompany her as she left the White Jade Palace. Not even a minute after she stepped out of the building, Galton appeared from somewhere, his long legs making Rellenora think of a fast spider crawling up a wall.
He didn't stop to kneel and give the polite greeting.
He just stopped in his tracks and started talking to her.
Rellenora kept walking. Her ladies-in-waiting followed.
Galton's tone became urgent and fiery. He was offended. He tried to follow his little sister, his voice growing louder and louder.
Rellenora cringed at every sound he made.
She heard the women's dismayed voices. They were probably amazed and afraid. This man didn't kneel to the Empress, and he was talking to her like she was beneath him. His blood relation made nothing about his actions acceptable, at least not according to Zenthian etiquette.
As the women walked on, the foreign prince nagging and fussing at the Empress, Rellenora began to understand some of his sentences.
"What have you been doing?! This is a time to strengthen familial bonds, and you've been refusing me?! The least you could do is tell that husband of yours to listen to me! What?! Are you honestly too stupid for that?! You're not too stupid to uncross your thighs for him, aren't you?!"
That last ... statement ... had the ladies-in-waiting gasping into their soft hands.
Rellenora rose a hand ...
And she almost ...
Called the guards ...
But that wasn't fair! She didn't want to be the Empress!
A new woman's voice called out.
Rellenora saw Princess Lagath and two of her ladies-in-waiting marching towards the scene. She, and her ladies, all knelt down and gave the greeting. Then they got back up, all while Prince Galton was still harping as if nothing had changed.
One of Lagath's golden rings shined as she reached out, and then she grabbed a large section of Galton's tunic, dragging him by his arm to her.
And she yelled at him.
Afraid of a fight starting, Rellenora waved at the guards and cried out, "Guards! Guards!" A large group of armored men came and stood by. Lagath released the fidgeting Galton, who took a few steps back and coughed. Rellenora scribbled on her slate, "Prince Galton is very stressed. He needs to rest. Please escort him to his residence, and don't let him leave the building for at least six hours, unless the Emperor disagrees with my demand, of course."
Her brother spat out something that sounded like a barefoot dragging across little bits of broken glass. The guards walked him away from the women.
Rellenora bowed to Princess Lagath and walked on, not wanting to miss any more precious piggy play time.
***
Noffnoff had satisfied Rellenora's need for play. She was such a darling, pink little piggy. Even the ladies-in-waiting found some joy in petting the piglet's soft ears and rubbing her belly. Soon, though, Noffnoff needed a nap.
A lady-in-waiting opened the exit door, and within a second the Emperor himself stepped into view. All the ladies-in-waiting knelt and gave the greeting. Rellenora didn't have to kneel.
The Emperor ...
Antonai ...
He asked all the ladies-in-waiting to leave without their mistress. Then, as the women left, he stepped to his wife and took up one of her hands.
He had a new perfume. Pine needles and charcoal.
He was an example of casual strength, a white wild cat that had recently eaten, leisurely stalking to the nearest watering hole. His fine shirt was mahogany with fawn colored strips on the sleeves and collar, imitating a robe. His trousers matched. His shoes were plain but well made.
He said something.
Rellenora felt his lips on her fingers.
Then he carefully pulled on her, taking her out of the piglet's room.
