C21 Audience

NOELLE'S POV

Maya runs to my room and jumps into the closet with excitement. She holds out a navy blue fitting dress with an open back.

''This will make you look like royalty, perfect to sit next to the King.''

I put the dress on and it fits my body like a glove. I must give it to Maya she has good taste I do look like a queen in this.

''Now let's make the rest of you match with the outfit,'' she says.

Maya puts my hair in a tight updo and hands me blue sapphire ear hangers. I hardly recognize myself because I am more of a casual dresser. But Maya looks satisfied, ''Off you go before you will be too late.''

She pats me on the back and I quickly get up. When I walk to the ballroom it's already filled with people. At the end of the ballroom, there is a big throne made of sea pearls. Roan is sitting there in a green suit the same color as his eyes. Next to his throne is a smaller one but similar. When I walk into the room people gasp for a moment and make a bow. Roan nods at me to let me know that he saw me and then points to the chair next to him. There is not even a hint of a smile on his face. The atmosphere breathes authority which is such a contrast with how I saw him this morning.

I walk to the throne next to him and sit. Roan finally looks at me, ''You look like you were born to be a queen.''

My stomach flutters a bit when he compliments me and I blush because I feel all the people staring at us. Roan stands up and everyone becomes silent, ''Welcome everyone, I hereby open the royal audience. Please come forward with your problems and questions and I will see what I can do. Today I have help from my honored guest Noelle Pupillo.''

I give the people a smile when they all look at me. Roan sits again and the first man comes forward.

''I am from the western village, my king. My daughter still has nightmares from the attack and can hardly function anymore. I have tried everything but she keeps trying to take her own life. I was hoping someone as wise as yourself would know what to do.''

Roan looks at the man with softness in his eyes, '' I am very sorry to hear that your family has suffered from the attack. We have some good physicians for physical and mental health at the castle. I think it would be a good idea to let your daughter get treated. She can earn the treatment by working in the castle.''

The man makes a deep bow, ''Thank you, my King.''

The next person is a woman with a baby, ''My king I am but a simple farmer's wife but my husband died and I have no idea how to work the seaweed fields. I need to feed my baby can you please help me.''

Roan looks at me, ''Any ideas Noelle?''

I think for a moment and say, ''How about you send her to another farm to learn how to work the seaweed fields. The baby can go with her in a baby carrier.''

Roan scrapes his throat, ''Not bad let's try that.''

For a few hours, it continues like that. Sometimes Roan involves me to hear what I think.

Then a group of men barges in holding a woman in their midst.

''What is this and why do you disturb the audience in this way?'' Roan asks demandingly.

The men all bow, ''We are sorry my king but we caught this woman practicing healing magic,'' they pause for a moment, ''On a dark human.''

The crowd gasps. Roan stands up and his eyes go dark.

''Is this true?'' he asks the woman.

The woman falls to the ground sobbing, "I...I.. swear I was not trying to do anything bad. The dark human is my husband you see. He was captured by Hella and turned into a dark human. But some of his former self remained and he found his way back to me begging me to heal him.''

Roan looks at the men, ''Where is the dark human?''

''Outside my king,'' they answer.

There is no kindness in his voice when Roan says, ''You know the punishment for interacting with dark humans is death. I can see you have been deceived so I will only punish you for the crime of practicing healing magic. You are hereby banished from the sea realm,'' he stops for a moment, ''The dark human will burn at sundown.''

The men have to hold to the woman because she is screaming when she hears his words, ''No no no I swear I healed him he is no longer a dark human. Please don't let him die.''

Roan looks unmoved, ''That is impossible, now guards escort this woman out of the realm.''

I can't believe what's happening here.

''Roan stop, you don't even know if what she says is true. What if he is human again? And why can't she use healing magic?''

Roan seems not amused and grunts, ''You will address me as your king and it is not your place to question my judgment.''

I feel like he just punched me in my stomach by talking to me like that.

''At least let her say goodbye to her husband,'' I demand.

Roan sees how pissed I am and says, ''Very well then.''

The woman looks at me grateful when the guards bring her away. Roan turns to the people, ''I believe a little break would be good now, I will be back in 15 minutes.''

He whispers to me, ''I think it is better if you don't return after the break.''

I stand on his foot when he walks past me and says, ''Gladly.''

I storm off to the living room when I hear Roan coming after me.

''Noelle wait,'' he shouts.

I turn around with eyes burning with rage.

''I'm sorry Noelle but you can't question my decisions in front of the people. They have to respect their king.''

I snort, ''Pff okay your majesty you could have warned me that you were gonna be a dick.''

I gasp for some air and ramp on, ''And what is this for the bullshit you banish a woman for using healing magic which is amazing? And you don't even look into her story. How is that fair.'' Roan sighs, ''Calm down hothead. You are right it is not fair but sometimes fair is not what a realm needs. If we lose our structure from laws and protocols then the realm would fall apart. I have to stick to the methods that have worked for 1000 years. When the war is over then I would love to make changes.''

I feel annoyed because he always makes me feel like I am the crazy one but what he says doesn't sound entirely illogical so I calm down a little.

''And what about the healing magic?'' I demand.

''Healing magic only exists in the sky realm normally if it appears here it would attract attention from Hella. That is the last thing we want.''

I look at him a bit grumpy still. He gives me smolder again like this morning, ''Hey come on, I know what you need a big fat hug.''

He pulls me in his arms and I can't stay angry any longer. I smile against his chest and he whispers in my ear, ''You look beautiful by the way. But I can't wait to rip that dress off you.''

Heat starts to rise in my lower body with the thought of that. I look up and kiss him. He puts his hands around my waist and pulls me closer. I press my body as close to his as possible and feel his hard muscles through my dress. Then he lets me go and I see restraint and regret in his eyes.

''I would love to continue this but unfortunately, duty calls. I will see you tomorrow morning though for your magic lesson.''

He kisses me on the forehead and walks back to the ballroom. I sigh from disappointment and decide that tomorrow I will definitely have to release some tension with the king of the sea.