NOOR GULPED as she stood before the doors, wishing the guards would not open them. She didn't know what to expect at all. Were the women that aggressive as Marzaban claimed?
"My sultan, I beg you to rethink this choice."
This made Noor feel worse. Marzaban was really hating this.
He continued. "You may send her in there when the supervisor is around. But without her, it would be havoc."
"Like I said. Noor is big enough to handle herself."
He waved his hand, the guards opening the door. Her eyes widened when she saw the women. They were stunning.
Noor wasn't the kind to be insecure of herself. In fact, she would stare at the mirror with great admiration every time she'd fix her hair. But this? This was beyond words.
They stood silently, some giving Noor an eye and the sultan attention seeking looks.
"Hello, ladies. I brought someone new. Make sure to treat her right."
They all bowed, answering his command.
Marzaban cleared his throat. "My sultan-"
Cyrus pushed Noor into the wide room. Waving her goodbye before walking off. Marzaban stood still, giving Noor a sad smile.
"It's one night, my sultana. I beg you to stay safe."
"Marzaban, please do not leave me here!"
He shook his head as his eyes lowered. "My apologies. I'll try to talk to him and see if I can get you out earlier."
The door closed, leaving Noor helpless. She turned to see the women who wore beautiful harem pants and tops that showed the curves of their stomach and their bare arms.
"So you're the future sultana everyone has been whispering about?" One of them spoke. This one was probably the prettiest one in the room. Her dark hair like the night flowed down just beneath her hips, a couple of inches longer than Noor's. Her eyes were green with tints of hazel, lips plump and rosy, fair skin paler than Noor's bronze caramel one, and eyes shaped femininely like a vixen.
"I-I guess?"
"What kind of Sultana guesses? In fact, I would like to know what the king sees in you?"
"I mean, she does have silver eyes. I'm not one to lie, they are an attractive feature." Another one spoke.
The pretty one glared. "Please, they'll be dull when they put that crown of death on her."
"Actually...they already did."
Noor loved how she painted shock on their faces, some searching if it was on her hair.
"What?!" A random one in the back screamed.
"I survived the crown. That's why I'm being crowned sultana soon."
"Look at that, Sibylla! She gave you what the king saw in her."
Sibylla huffed, brushing her hair off of her shoulder.
"Do you know how to cook?"
Noor raised a brow. "Of course. I always did in the-"
"Do you know how to act nobly so you don't embarrass the king?"
"Definitely. I know my manners."
"Do you know how to take care of a child?"
"I raised my little brother."
"Do you know how to dance and entertain the king?"
Noor didn't want to answer the question, watching Sibylla smile. But, she wasn't going to allow her the satisfaction.
"I wouldn't do so even if I knew how."
"What a shame. You're not qualified to be his wife."
She stood up, her hips moving smoothly as her hands twisted into beautiful flowing motions.
"I wonder how disappointed he'll be on your wedding night. He's probably disappointed by seeing you fully clothed already."
This made the other girls in the harem laugh and giggle.
Noor's cheeks turned into a deep shade of red as she got angrier by each passing second.
"I have better things to do than dance and entertain the king! I will be crowned Sultana which means I have an empire to help run and help the Sultan carry the weight of his curse. Unlike you, my world does not revolve around foolish dancing which will benefit me in nothing. Maybe if you read a book on great rulers, you'd understand. Such a shame, you probably never picked up a book in your life."
Everyone in the harem fell into silence, backing up from Sybilla who looked like she was about to claw out Noor's eyes with one touch.
"Fine then, sultana. I have one more question. If you want to be a great ruler, you must know how to fight in urgent times. Do you know how to fight?"
"I can learn."
"You do not have the time to do so."
Sibylla took a hair tie and bundled her hair up into a bun. Did she want to fight?
Noor's question was quickly answered, Sibylla, charging towards her. Her feet collided with her stomach. She was sent flying back, her head hitting the ground harshly.
When she thought Sibylla would stop there, she was proven wrong when her hair was pulled at.
"Sibylla. I don't think this is wise. How would she explain the bruises to the king?"
"The sultana wanted to be smart with me, so I'll give her smart."
She dragged Noor by her hair, the sore girl trying to pry the hands on her head off.
"Sibylla! Stop this madness!" One of the girls yelled.
She didn't stop, dragging Noor deeper into the room. "Look at how weak you are. How would you ever rule?"
Noor tried to see through her blurred vision, her sobs of pain begging the dark-haired girl to stop. Out of self-defense, Noor whispered words of Latin causing Sybilla to scream in pain and fall down to her knees.
"What are you doing?! Stop!"
One more whisper sent Sybilla flying against the wall next to the doors.
Girls went to her aid as Noor bundled up in the corner of the room. She did it! She knew how to do it!
Courage had built in her as she stared the women who looked fearful. "Stay away from me," she whispered, her head and stomach aching.
"Or I'll hurt you."
♔
Later in the evening, the doors had opened as Marzaban entered. His eyes searched for Noor who was still bundled up in the corner sleeping with dried tears.
He ignored every other woman as he marched towards Noor, worry in his vision.
"Sultana?" He whispered as he knelt next to her. She woke up surprised, her lips ready to whisper a spell.
"Calm down. It's just me. I apologize for scaring you."
"Marzaban?" She asked as he rubbed her eyes.
"Yes. I have convinced Cyrus to avoid you from spending the night. You are welcomed to return to your chamber."
"Thank you Marzaban." Her eyes were lit with happiness as she looked at him.
"I am your advisor and friend. I shouldn't just stand aside and allow this to happen. You have nothing to thank me for."
He stood up, his hands on her shoulder to help her up. She slowly walked alongside him, trying not to bend in a way that would trigger her to yelp in pain. When they reached the middle of the hall, Noor hissed. When her hand rested her hand on her stomach, it replied with a sting.
"They hurt you, didn't they?"
"Not a word, Marzaban," she begged.
"What do you mean?"
"No one shall know about this. Especially Cyrus."
"Why do you ask for this? Won't it make you feel better if they got punished for this?"
She shook her head, a deep frown on her face. "Cyrus wouldn't punish them. This is would amuse him even more. It's what he wanted,
and I don't want to give him that satisfaction."