✿⊰✲⊱✿
"She's finally here!" Sue claps as we all rise
from our seats and walk to the Ballroom.
There they are, atop the marble steps!
Queen Donna and Dean of proud Vesian,
both dressed in bright red. The couple faces
each other with loving smiles as the cacophony
of cheers and claps echoes through the great
Luciuscemi Palace.

✿⊰✲⊱✿
From afar, I study Donna's beautiful gown;
the shade of wine, made of velvet, her sleeves
long and puffed. Her bodice embrodiery is
extraordinary; patterned with red Rose of Vesian,
but since her marriage, she added a white
one. The embrodiery comes alive under the
light of chandelier; glittering with intricately
cut rubies and agates and sunstones for
Donna's red roses, emeralds and peridots
for the coiling stems and thorns, quartz
and white opals and moonstones for
the white roses.

✿⊰✲⊱✿
Her hair in a curly updo, ringlets framing
her wise and kind face with a simple white
diamond tiara resting upon her head; a simple
rose chain and earrings to complete her look.
In contrast, King Dean wears a deep crimson
coat of red and white roses brocade that falls
past his knees and above his ankles;
slits on the sides  and on the back as well,
I imagine. I can see the black lining
underneath that fine coat.

EᔕᔕᕼI
~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
They enter the Queen's chambers.
So much light, yet sombre and silent.
Ainhara walks to the bedroom door;
rosewood with carvings of lilies, angels
and wings, and knocks, "My Lady?"
When she did not hear a response,
she knocks again. "My Lady, it's me
and Esshi. May we come in?"
"Yeah, come in..." comes a hoarse
voice on the other side which worries
Esshi and Ainhara both.

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
Opening the door, Ainhara enters first,
Esshi pushing the serving trolley behind.
They found their young queen sitting on
my iris-purple kimono robe
She is not in her grand-bed; also made
of rosewood with a cherry finish. Intricate
carvings of lilies and nymphs are on the
posts, the headboard even the cream marble
top.

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
The canopy curtains shimmer, cream-gold,
diamonds in the winds. Her rose-silk sheets
and pillows of creams, golds and browns are
covered in papers and open notebooks. Turning
their heads in the right corner of her room is
their young queen, sitting on the stool,
leaning on her hand-painted writing desk
with two large drawers, four small drawers
with golden handles; a gift from King Paul.

~ ⚪♫⚪ ~
Upon it are some small inkpots, gifts from
Queen Kim. She is even wearing her second
favourite kimono-robe, made from white rose
-silk with peacock embrodiery with matching
slippers; gifts from her mother.
Surrounding her are several letters, opened
and sealed. When she turns to face them,
they can see her smile is weak and touched
by fatigue.