Esmeliyah returned to her pavillon as grandly as she left it. Colene prepared a scented bath for her which she enjoyed. She also had massage and pampering services. The kidnapped clothing officials presented her new dress to her and helped her fit into it.
The dress was exactly what Esme wanted. The bottom half was a full skirt of pure white (painted white) feathers and tiny diamond stones and pearls scattered about so that when she twirled her skirt caught and magnified any light. The top half had sleeves of lace also covered in feathers, diamonds and pearls. The bodice was just lace stretched over silver silk. The silver silk underneath the lace showed enough skin to be considered provocative for a noble woman. At the waist the dress was slimmed by a jewelry made of pure gold. The back of the dress closed up in a corset with no lace underneath so that it showed her skin.
Despite her harsh manner of making the officials commit to making the dress for her, they looked so fulfilled and proud of their work as she twirled lightly in front of the mirror. Esme commanded Colene to reward them with some money and a dinner fit for a royal as they had skipped meals making her dress.
Esmeliyah choose plain white heels for her shoes again, her make up was done and her hair was styled to perfection and designed with silver butterflies, flower petals and feathers.
When she finally looked the part of an exaggerated concubine she stepped out with her procession again. By this time the sun had fallen and the moon was out shining. As she gracefully strolled her way to Jolag pavillion from where she had received no invitation, she caught the eye of everyone as her dress constantly reflected the moon.
The master of Jolag Pavillion was a concubine just one rank above her. Normally with any other concubine or consort who was ranks above her she could have been admonished for showing up uninvited and dress even more than the host, but as she was only a rank lower scolding her so would only make the other concubine look too arrogant and prideful. The poor lady could only order that Esmeliyah be received with a welcome.
Esme was escorted into the palace hall where the event was taking place. As she stepped into the hall every where went silent apart from the music, even the currently performing dancers missed their steps and stumbled over their own feet. A large half of the population present, courteseyed to greet her as she entered and she had to courtsey to a few others.
Esmeliyah approached the host and delivered a personal courtesy. The lady held a tight smile even as she received her and made a space for her at the gathering.
When Esme had greeted everyone important she sat in the spot improvised for her and began enjoying the show even as all eyes remained on her.
A few minutes into the show she beckoned Colene who stood behind her chair.
'Make sure that a performing spot is open three performances from now'.
Colene, tired of asking questions just bowed her head and went to do her mistresses bidding.
Once Colene had secured her a spot, Esme excused herself and went backstage where she prepared instrumentalists for her own performance.
The gasp in the audience was loud when Esme stepped on the stage in place of the acrobatics team. She assumed a pose and as soon as the music began she started to dance.
It was something mildly sensual and mostly wholesome.
Esmeliyah enjoyed the dance but even as she did she kept her eyes peeled out for the entrance.
At the three minute mark of her dancing, the arrival of the King was announced. Customarily all should have paused to acknowledge his presence buy he had been announced by a certain additional title that meant he allowed for the show to have no pause.
So Esmeliyah danced and smiled brightly as the King was lead to sit center stage. By his side was the Queen who clearly was displeased and only stayed because she was staking a claim on a man with numerous wives. There was also someone else that Esme did not count on joining the party, Her father the prime minister.
Esmeliyah smiled brightly as an idea came to her. The beat in the drum changed and that was her cue to add her voice. She locked eyes with the queen and let her smooth voice flow. There were gasps in the crowd at the sound of the strength with which she controlled her voice.
The queen had disrespected her for only knowing how to sing and Esmeliyah didn't discover that she was holding a grudge until she was on that stage showing off.
Tayan had taught her to sing when she was little, it was the only noble thing her sister was good at and because of that her father had let Tayan spend time teaching her. Those few hours taking Tayans lessons were the most freedom she had as a child and not even the Queen would spite that.
It was great being a spy after all, there were many important people she would be pardoned for spiting.
Her eyes wandered to her father sitting to the Kings left and she smiled at the slight look of discomfort he was fighting to control while watching her dance.
So he knew it was her.
That's why he couldn't stand to see her dance even remotely sensual.
Esmeliyah turned her back to the crowd and introduced a step that was not part of the original routine. Again the crowd gasped at the audacity of the movement she made. She kept her back turned to the King for the full effect until she ended the song.
When she turned around to take a bow, she noticed her father was not in his seat. The ridiculously loyal prime minister had excused himself of the Kings company? How scandalous , she couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
So there were situations that could interrupt Dajeon Avan-Knightly's loyalty to his King.
She would torture him.
The crowd clapped acknowledging her performance some were genuinely impressed while others looked exactly how she suspected they would look.
The King openly rewarded her for her dance and gave her the privilege of requesting anything she wanted from him. Esmeliyah smiled and shyly announced that she would like to think of her price.
She then promptly began to pant heavily and rapidly which made the King give her a pardon to leave the ceremony before him. She was applauded again as they left.
Once back in her inner chambers with her clothes off and her bath taken. Esme asked Colene for the time.
It was the seventeenth hour.
Esme calculated that she would have six or seven hours before her actions caught up with her. Determined to enjoy her last night in a good bed for a long time she drank a sleep aid medicine and knocked out.
She got eight hours of sleep before she was rudely awakened by an arrest.