~.✧ Ethira ✧.~ [COMPLETE]

~.✧ eleven ✧.~

A knock sounded on my apartment door and I hurried up from where I'd been waiting in my sitting room. When I threw open the door, I instantly wrapped Kes in a huge hug, surprising both her and myself.

She laughed, hugging me back. "Hey. A servant said you called for me?"

"Yes, I did." I pulled away and smiled. "I feel like I've barely gotten to see you since we got back from the trip a week ago."

"I know, you've been so busy," she teased.

I rolled my eyes before stepping aside so she could walk in. I closed the door behind her and we sat down on one of the sofas.

"So I heard someone say that Varien invited you to the Advisory Gathering a couple days ago? How'd it go?"

"Honestly? It was kind of exhausting."

She chuckled.

"But it was informative at least."

"Yeah?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm not sure if it was the information that Varien and I had been looking for but at least we have some."

She raised a brow with a smirk. "Varien and I?"

I rolled my eyes at her, but had to smile. "You can stop gloating that you were right."

Chuckling, she said, her eyes squinted sweetly, "Sorry. It's just so fun."

"Yeah, yeah." I shoved her, both of us dissolving into laughter.

When we were able to calm down, I added, "And I found it weird meeting the ladies of the court. They were all..."

Kes waited but when I couldn't come up with a good word, she filled for me, "Exuberant?"

"Yes, that works."

"I would have to agree. But some of them are truly nice once you get to know them. You just have to be patient and get used to their excitement."

"Many of them kept asking me about hosting events for the court?"

Kes's eyes lit up. "Yes, the queen's parties! I'm not surprised that they would bring it up since Queen Mirellia never really hosted that often."

"What exactly am I supposed to do?"

"Generally, within the first six months after a queen's coronation, she chooses what is unofficially called by the court her Personal Court. Queen Mirellia had a Personal Court before her husband died and technically she did afterward, too, just not as many because she was so busy. But it usually consists of around five to ten ladies that are considered the queen's closest friends. And the queen will host events for her friends to attend. Of course, some queens loved the tradition. Like Queen Sania, who is Varien's grandmother. She held parties and gatherings every week and had fifteen ladies on her court. But others only have a few friends that they stick with and barely hold an event once a month. It's really up to the queen."