Stories
"There is artistry and poetry in the movements of the queen -- even when she's deadly."

The old soothsayer mused aloud.

“If I didn’t know better, I would have been jealous at your observation of my wife.” The king drawled in amusement.

“Ha!”, The soothsayer muttered as he and the king continued to observe the queen, who was practising sword fighting, vigorously but gracefully.

“What lays on your mind about the queen?” The king asked, knowing the old soothsayer never says anything or observes anyone for naught.

You sire.”

I?” The king turned and looked at the other man in astonishment.

“Aye”

“Do explain.”

“My king, you are the reason the Queen is restless, for she feels the need to protect you. If you will work with her more and listen to her more often, she will be more at peace.”

“I see.” The king narrowed his eyes slightly, “Has she told you anything?”

“My Queen, needs not to. Tis plain to see, for one such as I.”

“I see” The king repeated with a renewed understanding of his wife’s anxiety — the enemies within his kingdom.

“See that you do, sire” He scolded the king with fatherly concern.

“When you two have finished muttering about me, do join me for a picnic at the pavilion gardens.” Queen Indira said as she walked past them without looking at either of them.

“Aye, my Queen” the old man bowed slightly.

“She sounds…miffed,” the king said as he watched the queen walk towards her quarters.

The other man straightened, “That she is. And I believe we are about to hear how much, before the picnic is over.”

The King groaned.

“Do not despair.” He said a bit merrily and the king gave him a side eye at his choice of words. “The queen won’t eat you.”

He smiled at that. “I wish she would. In a romantic way.”

The old man refused to mention that the queen was feeling anything but romance. For anxiety over her husband.

“Well, shall we? We can’t keep the Queen waiting.”

“My king is wise.” The old man nodded as they began walking.

“Do not flatter me, old friend.”

“I do not, sire. You do know what to do. But your kind nature makes you hesitate, hoping your leniency will make the traitors repentant. But think of your Queen, sire. Your hesitation may put her in harm’s way.”

“I love her.”

“That you do sire — as a man and a king. But as a husband, you need to love her the way she needs to be loved, starting by putting out her fears, as far as her husband’s life is concerned.”

The King pondered on that.

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Christian Musings, Life, Purpose and life's mission, Sanguine thoughts, Singles' issues

Illusion of Innocence

This has been a long time coming. But now, I really think I must say something. Perhaps, to prevent women from being with someone who “settled” with them, rather than men who love them deeply and really want to be their husbands — for all it’s worth!

Welcome to a new week and month, Wonderbeau people!!! 🀩

It’s exciting to share my thoughts with you again. This may or may not take a while, but here it goes.

So.

Recently, some beautiful weddings happened! And I was grinning πŸ˜€ from ear πŸ‘‚ to ear πŸ‘‚.

The women had become legends in their fields. They were beautiful, very successful and famous.

They had also being single for so long.

So for those of us who are fans, their weddings were pleasant surprises.

Then of course, you had the folks who just had to find something unnice to say. Namely, their age.

The unspoken “spell” was that, a highly successful woman is less likely to marry her type, if she ever gets to that point.

By her type, I mean a man within her age group, handsome and as successful/rich, if not more successful or richer than herself.

So these recent celebrity weddings, broke that (damn) “spell”. From all accounts, the men were what some would call “high value men”.

Then it hit me.

If this is happening publicly, then a lot of this must be happening everywhere.

If you haven’t noticed, the “norm” was men married younger women, with lesser achievements and much lesser ambition than the men.

Now, I know there are men who prefer their equals in every sense of the word. However, negative narratives tend to trend more, than the positives.

So I was wondering. Are the men in their 30s and 40s, no longer interested in much younger women? If yes, why?

It’s part of the “whys”, I want to share here.

One of the reasons “some” men go for young things is the promise of innocence — something that is noticeably, conspicuously and painfully absent in today’s 18s to 25yr-olds. But I digress.

Now, females are touted to be more intelligent than males of their age. Few men, can handle that reality. The reality of dating or marrying women smarter than them.

Then there is the issue of, familiarity. Both genders of the same age group know one another too well. So there’s no room to sow any wild oats among your “classmates” because, you will not get away with it. We know the hands they are about to deal, before they even lift their hands.

Guess the female classmates know too much, so the males decided to go younger in their dating choices.

Younger women tend to hero worship older men. When I was 15, I had a wish to date a 30 year old man, because he will be more matured, more responsible, less of a playboy and ready to get married.

Now am I glad, that wish never came true. Because I probably would have been played, by a man or men, whose tricks are totally unfamiliar to me, but completely familiar with women their age.

This is why players and egoistic men go for young women. Just as men have the advantage of innocence and naivety of the young women on their side, the young women have the illusion that older men have the means and maturity to make their romantic wishes of happily-ever-after, come true.

Younger women were the clay and the older men were the potters. A lot of this relationships worked because one was the revered “lord of the Manor” while the other was the starry-eyed “student” whose “professor” could do no wrong.

Then things changed. There were a lot more Amber Heard-y younger women, than the gentle, “Yes m’lord” younger women. And men with strict preferences for younger women began to panic. Because some of them have already been in Johnny Depp shoes. Those who haven’t, are watching what is happening or they have friends who have been abused by some cute younger women.

And now, the men are beginning to see their female equals with new eyes. Women they have once scorned for being too much. Too opinionated, too competitive(successful), too “feminist”(not wanting to be subject), too rich, too high maintenance (has good taste), too “old”, and so on.

This must be an epiphany for men, who want younger women for the wrong reasons. They are being served, and they don’t like the meal. The innocence is gone. Their mates seem more innocent than the younger women who “served” them in ways they didn’t bargain for.

Now, I am miffed. Because I was beginning to fantasise about marrying a younger man. Yes. And why not? Priyanka Chopra and Meghan Markle are a bit older in age than their husbands, so what the heck?

Ironic, how both Priyanka and Meghan had a lot of bad press. I wonder why. One can only hope, it wasn’t because they “dared” to marry rich eligible bachelors who are younger than them! One can only hope. But even if it was. Millennial women grow more beautiful but “thicker” skin as they age. So what’s “bad press” gotta do with it?

Now that our classmates seem to be coming home to roost, I think we would like to know where the “hey” they have been. Because, they are not getting any welcome anything from me.

If you’re going to consider your “classmates” make sure it’s not one of those who had scorned you and gone after your younger sisters’ classmates.

You deserve better than a “burnt-out dude”. You didn’t wait this long to have the “left overs” of your younger ones. That is a humongous insult, upon monumental injury.

Do. Not. Settle. With. Anyone, who didn’t see you as a first option.

You have come this far. Pray that God connects you with the right man who will see you as all he’s ever wanted and all he will ever want, in a loving and cherishing way.

I know the wait has been long. But hold on. Don’t give up. Don’t compromise. Don’t settle with less.

Believe and trust God for the best, and God in His mercy will fulfill the good desires of our hearts in accordance to His will, in the might name of Jesus Christ.

Hold on…Your full scale laughter is closer to you than you think. Stay close to God and hold your peace. πŸŒΊπŸ’πŸ‡

Christian Musings, Life, Purpose and life's mission, Singles' issues, Stories

Emira and Friends

It was a video call with her friends on their TGIF girls’ date night.

“Where did you say, you’re again, Emira?”

“India.”

“What are you doing yonder?”

“Work related favour.”

“Any hot guys yet?”

Her deputy.

“Ye-ah. And nope, don’t wanna jaw ’bout it.”

Weekend Writing Prompt #202 – Yonder
Christian Musings, Stories

Peace Talks

Indira sat astride her window, as streaks of lightning pierced the night.

She recalled her plea to Queen Sapphire:

Pray persuade your husband that no element of your affection lies with my husband.”

Tis betwixt you and your husband. Our people deserve not to suffer for it.”

Weekend Writing Prompt #199 – Element
Christian Musings

Celebration with a Little Kitsch

“Thyme’s toes, Indira!” MayRose whispered in mortified amusement at some of the guests’ garish clothing. “Why is my sight tortured with kitsch colours for today’s Celebration of Harmony?!”

“They are trying to portray the symbols of my parents’ kingdom. I find their effort endearing, given the short notice.” Indira smiled at them in sentimental appreciation.

“My Queen”, A province chief and his lady made obeisance.

Indira warmly welcomed them.

Weekend Writing Prompt #198 – Kitsch
Christian Musings, Life, Stories

The Visit

The nights have been stormy and on one of such stormy nights, Indira sneaked into an enemy kingdom.

Soundlessly skirting a gargantuan fountain with splashes of indigo, Indira slipped into the queen’s bedchamber.

Queen Sapphire opened her mouth to scream, when she saw Indira, but Indira covered her mouth.

“My apologies, your highness. I mean no harm, but time’s of the essence and I need your help.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Indira. Emperor Sergei’s wife. I need to talk to you — woman to woman, your highness.”

“In this manner?”

Aye. To prevent bloodshed.”

“I’m listening.”

Weekend Writing Prompt #195 – Gargantuan
Christian Musings, Stories

Chronicles of the Crown: Preparing for Romance.

“Seduce him”, Empress Indira told a wife, as she looked through clothes needed to seduce her own husband.

What, my Queen?” The woman gasped in disbelief, as she blushed. “I cannot do that!” She exclaimed.

“And why not? Is he not your husband?”, Indira queried.

“Well yes, but…that is not proper!”

Indira arched her brow, “Not proper? Says who?”

When the woman kept stammering, trying to find a proper answer — Indira presumed, as she set aside a set tinkling breast net made of jewels. Finding it hard ignoring the ignorance of the young wife, she faced her.

“Look. If you don’t move fast someone who has no problem seducing your husband will get him. And not because he’s willing, but because his own wife is unwilling to love him, as he needs to be loved.”

She raised her freshly painted hand to silence the blustering wife.

“You came here seeking for the counsel of your queen, did you not?”

“Aye, your highness.” She replied a bit timidly.

“Now go to the market. Purchase the most scandalous dancer’s attire you can find in your husband’s favourite colours.”

Indira turned back to her chest of treasures and pulled out a glass-like anklet, “Prepare and serve him his favourite meals in the attires.”

Indira glanced up from admiring the anklet that had been part of her wedding gift from her husband, the king. “Surely, you can afford such luxury considering all you say your husband has provided?

“Yes, my lady”

“Ah. Before all that, have your maids prepare you as a girl about to wed.”

“If you really appreciate the love you say your husband has shown you, this should not be a problem. Can you dance?”

“Yes, my Queen.”

“Then do just that. Serve him yourself and dance for your husband in those attires for one week — starting today.”

She looked at the anxious looking wife and smiled in understanding empathy. “Just put your soul, spirit and body into it. Now off with you. Your assignment begins now.”

Long live the Queen, beloved of the King.” She said in obeisance and Indira smiled fondly when she said “beloved of the King“.

She was indeed loved.

And she intended to reciprocate not just with words but with her actions.

“Greetings Indira”

Indira looked up and saw her lovely sister in law with some maids carrying covered trays behind.

“Well Tickles.” Indira smiled in warm welcome.

“Tickles” was the nickname she gave her sister in law. Because her laughter always sounded like someone was tickling her.

“What brings you to this side of town?” Indira teased referring to the sprawling palace as a “town”

Tickles giggled. “An errand of love and the palace is not that big.”

“My brother, the king has put together a celebration in your honour tomorrow evening.” Tickles gushed.

Indira was touched. “He need not do that. I am humbled by the honour he bestows me.” She whispered.

“He also sends you these”, she signalled to maids.

They came forward, bent before Indira and uncovered the trays at once with fanfare.

Indira gasped. And so did her people that came to her new home with her.

It’s because the trays contained the clothes, jewels and sandals made in colours and designs of a female monarch from her father’s empire.

He must have picked up the idea from how her mother dressed.

But, it was unique in how Indira liked to dress herself. It was like he composed a description of her in the details.

“Indira? Why are you crying? Don’t you like them? My brother says it can be re-designed as you wish—-“

“Nay Tickles. I love everything here. Tell your brother I thank him. From the depth of my heart” Indira sniffled and smiled.

“A warrior queen crying.” Tickles shook her head in mock disbelief, “Never thought I will see that day.” She teased.

Indira gave a watery laugh, “Blame it on your brother.”

“As for thanking my brother. You will have to do that yourself. I’m done running errands between you two.” Princess Tickles said cheerily on her way out, as the maids bowed again to Indira before hurrying after the Emperor’s sister.

Indira touched the attire reverently. So beautiful… She thought as her cousin said the same out loud.

All Indira could do was nod in agreement. Her eyes fell on a dazzling brown gem pendant.

She squeezed and it clicked open. What she saw in it brought a huge smile to her face.

In her mother tongue etched in platinum:

…to many sentimental celebrations in the flying future, my Indira. Yours alone, β€’Sergeiβ€’

https://puttingmyfeetinthedirt.com/2021/01/01/january-2021-writing-prompts/ 11. Sentimental celebrations, 7. Ignoring the ignorance, 10. The flying future.

Stories

Chronicles of the Crown:…

“Welcome my Lord!”, Indira smiled as she ran into her husband’s…chest.

At her puzzled look, he brought his hands forward, to present her…the most breathtaking bundle of flowers, she’s ever seen.

Tis beautiful….” Indira whispered as she held the flowers to her chest.

He relaxed and smiled. “I knew not what flowers you preferred—“

Indira stopped her husband with a smouldering kiss. He had been tenacious in loving her.

T’was time.

Weekend Writing Prompt #192 – Tenacious
Life, Parenting Series, Sanguine thoughts, Singles' issues, Stories

A (Minor?)Breach of Privacy

Dear Diary,

Should it make any marginal difference if I don’t have a New Year Resolution?

“Yes it should”, Crownie’s mother said indignantly over her daughter’s shoulder.

Crownie jumped and shrieked.

Weekend Writing Prompt #190 – Marginal