After that strange girl had left, soon another replaced her. The second had seemed a little frightened but she'd relaxed afterwards.
The morning after, the girl was sent to the harem and he went back to work.
All throughout the days following, that one girl had lingered in his mind. She had been very brave to speak to him that way, and her words were also a sign of her wit. No one else had ever done that.
He would sit at his desk and ponder what that beautiful girl had said, "You're no Sovereign! You're just a man who was given a position you don't deserve to hold." He clenched his jaw.
She was a disrespectful little thing.
The days passed and every time he thought about her he would either become furious or curious.
"My Sovereign." A voice called him out of his thoughts. He looked up and saw one of his advisors, Lord Stone.
The Sovereign nodded for him to continue.
"My Sovereign," He bowed, "We respectfully call to attention the subject of our queen. There are only less than one hundred virgins left and you still have not selected one." The man bowed his head and sat down.
He thought about this. They were right, he hadn't chosen any of the girls, but that was because none of them enticed him, or pleased him. Not one of them lingered in his mind the day after.
Except her.
She had. He could select her. She was clearly intelligent, she was not afraid to stand up to him and she was beautiful. He only hoped she could live up to his mother's standards, more like his standards of what a queen should be. His mother had been the perfect depiction of that.
"Very well. The girl that was brought to me four nights ago was appreciated. I will select her to be my queen." He announced.
"Excellent, my Sovereign." Lord Damien praised, "Bring the girl from that night." He told a guard standing in the room.
The guard bowed and exited the room.
Soon a girl appeared, a happy smile glowing on her face. She walked forward and curtsied to him.
Her golden hair flowing down beneath her shawl and her pink dress swaying as she stood.
"This is not the one." He said angrily to the guard.
"Apologies my Sovereign. But this was girl that visited you that night, or so the eunuchs said." The guard explained, with bowed head.
"Bring me Hadok!" He ordered the guard that then hurriedly bowed and left the room in haste.
His eyes then drifted to the girl standing before him. Her face wore an expression of pure devastation. A feeling tugged in his chest but he pushed it away.
Hadok entered the room and stood before him, bowing to show his respect.
"Bring the girl whom was brought to me four nights ago." He ordered.
Hadok looked at the trembling girl standing next to him, "My Sovereign, this is the girl."
"No. No she is not. The girl, the first one you brought!" He said.
Hadok's eyes quickly changed but rehardened.
"Bring me, Hydrangea of Crescent." The Sovereign ordered.
Hadok nodded and turned to leave the room.
"Take her back to the harem." He ordered pointing to the girl shaking at his feet. Hadok reached out for the girl and she followed him, whimpers leaving her lips as she did.
A couple more matters were discussed and then he dismissed the counsel and went to his chambers.
A servant changed him from his ceremonial robes to a more casual tunic and robe, he then entered the main chamber.
His eyes searched for her as she should be here, and he found her. There she stood, instead of looking at the bed, this time she was looking out of one of the windows.
She wore a simple dark blue gown with golden thread, her ebony hair was up in a braided bun atop her head and adorned with a golden chain.
When he shut the door her head snapped to his direction and she met his eyes, before quickly looking down.
He frowned at this, it annoyed him, he quickly regained his blank expression.
Her lips had been painted red and her collarbone and cheeks were dusted with gold.
"Hydrangea… yes, Hydrangea of Crescent. I have a proposition for you."
She looked up and narrowed those silver eyes at him.
'That's more like it.' He thought.
"I propose that you become my queen." He watched as her face changed from one of shock, to horror and then to disgust.
"It will just be a ceremonial position, there's no need for us to share a bed."
A look of confusion passed over her face and her eyebrows creased.
"You will maintain the palace and look after the harem. When I need to procure heirs I will send for you, but other than business affairs we shouldn't have to see each other."
Her face was still gathered in confusion.
"You may pack whatever you wish and then you will be moved into your wing of the palace and prepared for the Union." He waved his hand toward the door but she was still in the same position.
"You may leave." He said insistently.
"Why me?" She raised her eyes, "Why did you choose me?"
He wasn't sure how to respond. He could tell her the truth but that seemed too vulnerable.
"You should be flattered." He said avoiding the question.
Her eyes burned at him with hate. He turned and filled a goblet with wine.
"How could I ever be flattered to be joined in marriage with a bastard such as yourself." She said her voice low and filled with venom.
He threw his goblet down, spilling the red wine, and she flinched. 'She dare insult my mother.'
This girl had a death wish.
"Why do you desire to provoke me?" He asked her, his voice filled with rage.
She looked at him and straightened her back, "I will agree to become your queen but I have conditions."
He raised his head in mistrust, this girl was crafty whatever the conditions were they could have dire consequences. But this was the one he wanted.
"Name it." He said coldly.
"You will treat me as your equal. You will listen to my counsel and respect it. You will not treat me as just another women in your harem. I am, after all, to be your queen."