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CHAPTER 19 – Horse Riding

By the next day, Era carried on with her morning duties and ate breakfast with everyone as usual.

Fortunately for her, Vidor did not speak to her and for that she was thankful as she did not have what to say to him either.

By late morning, she decided to go horse riding and had her maids prepare her the needed outfit.

She was dressed in a white body fitted pants with a black top and a black leather jacket atop it and a long black boot reaching close to her knees and a lovely cow girl hat.

"You look stunning, your majesty," Aeverie complimented her.

"As expected of her, she is queen after all," Aquata chipped in.

"No, Aquata, it is not because she is queen but because of who she is. Her personality say sit all. Your majesty, you look gorgeous. His majesty would be so.."

"Alyx!" Aeverie yelled her her name out before she actually committed treason for speaking ill of the king.

She looked down, unable to meet the eye of Aeverie and Era. "I am sorry, your majesty. I spoke out of turn."

"It is okay, Alyx. This is me, but in the presence of another, you could get in trouble. Just be careful next time."

"Yes, your majesty, thank you for the advice."

"No worries. Now, see you girls later, I must take my leave."

She dipped her head in a bit just for fun and smiled to her maids before exiting the room. The moment the door closed behind her, Aeverie glared at Alyx.

"I should not be speaking much on these things. You should know better than this. If I do not scold you, you would make that mistake outside."

"Yes, my lady."

"But my lady, you cannot blame Alyx so much."

"And why is that?"

"Because, she spoke the truth. If it is not bothering you, it is bothering us. She is queen but never have they consummated their marriage. He treats her as though she was not relevant but he forgets that she is an important factor and a part of his kingdom," Arya backed her.

Aeverie sighed. These girls are not understanding, were they?

Things weren't just as simple as they thought in their minds. This was not just any kingdom but the kingdom and Vidor controlled how everything went.

One could not tell who was loyal to whom here because they all scurried for his favour but as for her and these girls, they were fateful servants who believed that there could be something more other than the life their king chose to live and cause to others.

"Just be calm. Things would be better. I believe in our queen. She is different. Now get back to work before you get into trouble."

***

By the time, Era got to the stables, she a man leaving there in a hurry but ignored it. Somehow he looked familiar but she felt that was just her intuition and nothing more.

"Your grace, good morning. Welcome to the stables," the stables head attendant, greeted upon laying eyes on her.

"Thank you. Morning to you too. Please I would love to go for a ride."

"I can see that. Come this way, I know the perfect horse for you."

"Thank you," Era said with an innocent smile at him and followed after him. They went into the stables, not stopping until they go to the very end where she saw a white horse standing proudly at a corner, separated and isolated from the rest.

"Here you go," he would be your ride.

"Oh…" Although the horse looked majestic, she could not shake off this odd feeling she had about it but seeing that the attendant had told her this was best, she took his word and agreed.

"One question though, why is it separated from the rest. Well, his majesty rode him once and stopped. It has been a while but for fear of the king, most people don' ride it. Since you are here and you are queen, then it is suitable for you."

"If you say so." She smiled at the horse and moved closer to it. "Hey beauty, I am sorry no one has ridden you. I would be sure to take you for a ride, okay?"

Turning to the head attendant, Era smiled at him once more and paved way for him to do the needful. In no time the horse was brought outside and steadied for her to ride.

"Thanks for the help," Era said, bidding hom bye and rode off.

Funny enough, she was a pro surprisingly. He wasn't even expecting she would be able to climb the horse let alone ride it but to his dismay, she climbed excellently well and her riding….

"Well even if you do know a thing or two in riding, that horse is not one that just anyone can ride, let alone tame it. I wait to see you breaking a leg or two and getting my reward, hahhaa…"

Just then, Azzura walked over to where he was. "Sorry mister, please have you seen the queen?"

"Why did you ask?"

"Because she informed us she was coming here to ride. She forgot her handkerchief. So I hurried here as soon as I could to give her."

"Oh, sorry. You are late, she has just ridden off."

"Oh, I see. Wow, which horse did she use because all of the horses are still here?"

"She used the White stallion at the end over there. Now if you would excuse me, I have important matters I would love to attend to."

Without another word to her, he quicly truend around and scurried away.

To Azzura's dismay, she had not expected for Era to rode fast and all. All she could see even from where she stood was the dust raised on the path to which Era had taken.

"Hmm, her majesty is fast and talented to be able to ride a horse that way. Let me see who is the lucky horse that got selected."