Esther 2:17-19

New Century Version

¹⁷ And the king was pleased with Esther more than with any of the other virgins. He liked her more than any of the others, so he put a royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. ¹⁸ Then the king gave a great banquet for Esther and invited all his important men and royal officers. He announced a holiday for all the empire and had the government give away gifts.

Mordecai Discovers an Evil Plan

¹⁹ Now Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate when the girls were gathered the second time.