More than a few people were curious about how Shirazad had survived that first night in the castle. When an order to prepare the Queen's quarters came on the very first day after that, everyone was shocked. Those quarters had been left empty ever after the death of Shahryar's first wife. Shirazad met all the servants who were supposed to help her. There were ladies in waiting: the Queen's personal handmaidens. There were ordinary maids, and courtiers -- who were often of noble blood. Shirazad tried on her regalia. It seemed a bit too much, but it was just a part of the royal protocol, and Shahryar gave no order whether to follow it or not, so naturally the servants simply followed it.
The servants whispered.
"So what if she survived? What if she is a queen? What does she know about palace life? We are the ones who were here before her, and we will remain here long after her. We are the ones who actually have power here," said Mehrnaz, the courtier responsible for all other maids under the Queen. Even though Shirazad was a queen, Shahryar was unlikely to give her any rights or powers, so she was a queen in title only.
Some people would even go as far as to bet how long she'd survive, thinking she wouldn't last much and she'd just been lucky because the king had been busy with many political affairs; and after her father's demise, he had to do some of his duties or to carefully consider other people who could substitute him.
***
"What is so special about her?" Lord Lhasa asked the king, revealing his curiosity. There were a few more noblemen there at that time, all of them anticipating the king's reply. Lhasa continued in a challenging tone, "Is she so good in bed? Then she must be a goddess, huh!"
Up to this moment Shahryar had not thought about that. He hadn't considered that people would be so curious about Shirazad they would even ask him questions directly with the risk of angering him... And by "people" he meant Lord Lhasa... precisely the person who almost married Shirazad once -- and was perhaps unaware of the fact that the king knew about it. Shahryar turned to look at the other direction, obviously considering whether to completely ignore these questions.
"If you are so curious about that, you may as well go and ask her personally. I don't have any information as to that," the king said.
Lhasa blinked in surprise. Was it possible? Shahryar spoke with such authority that he could easily allow himself such a public confession.
"You haven't... done anything with your wife, Your Majesty?" Lhasa exclaimed. "But she is your wife. If not with her, then with whom? Moreover, I know that you stay in one room at night. And you share one bed..." Lhasa continued, "...If you have one bed... Why, Your Majesty?" Lhasa had a kind of pompous, theatrical manner of speaking that was slightly annoying. But if Shahryar didn't answer, it would seem as if he was trying to avoid the subject and retreating, which would cause people to gossip and invent even more theories about what was going on.
Even though they had been drinking, Lhasa was a bit too outspoken, the king thought. However, he answered,
"Her father was a very close friend of mine and confidant. When I see her, it reminds me of him, so I can't touch her."
Everybody was surprised and remained respectfully silent. The king's words were so uncharacteristically direct they sounded like a veiled threat.
"Your Majesty, wouldn't she find that strange?" Lhasa pried once again, "Some men of confidence tell me that you stay up late at night with her and you even order food to your quarters."
"Men of confidence?" Shahryar snarled. "Have you made some empty promises again to some one or another of the maids so she could gossip with you?"
"... As best one can, Your Majesty," Lhasa laughed. "The important thing is the information is accurate."
Lhasa hoped to get another of Shahryar's comments, but the king remained silent. Lhasa looked expressively at him, flashing his teeth. In order to satisfy his curiosity, Shahryar added,
"She is telling me stories."
The others exchanged questioning looks. Some people might laugh as well but since the king was so serious, nobody dared to smile. Not even Lord Lhasa who had no other information from his "men of confidence" and was not sure if he should believe or doubt what he just heard. This time he just nodded.
Many people saw Shirazad's spoiled side, but actually Shahryar thought... You could have married into a good family a long time ago... You could have chosen someone to your liking, a rare opportunity for women...