Kingdom of Alba…
Ethera's pov:
It has been a couple of days since I've arrived at the palace . Everything is gorgeous here , the people helping me round are also very lovely . I haven't run into the king or queen since I've arrive , probably because I have been confined here learning some things from Hygai about the palace rules and hierarchy dynamics. According to him , me along with the other ladies are on the 3 category in the king's harem , the first category is Queenship which is held by Queen Thelma , the second category is Noble consort which is given to the most beloved of the king amongst his concubines and can also be a rival to the Queen and then the last category is concubine which is what we fall under.
Hygai told me that in the harem , the ladies quickly become rivals as they try to win the king's favor to go up in rank and avoid being bullied by the ladies with power.
Of course he didn't forget to tell me about the king's sister , princess Hadassa who is for now living in seclusion due to heavy grieving , no one has seen her in a long time , poor her.
For now her position is not threatened according to Hygai for there is no other princess born yet but once one of the king's wives give birth she will be second to her and thus the most loved princess.
"Remember my lady, you must bear a son if you want to have a chance at surviving this ruthless race in the harem. But also unfortunately once you bear the king a possible heir you will become a target to both your colleagues and the Queen for you would have taken her place. Be careful" I nod as I listen carefully to his advice. Ever since I entered the harem he has been my mentor and advisor in many aspects even though he was assigned to me as a servant.
"Okay then , I think for today this is enough quote on quote tutoring " I signal for him to go ahead to his other duties as I turn back to the different scrolls he left for me.
He was almost going to leave when he turned back and said "oh I almost forgot. Today the Queen requested for all the concubines to join her for lunch as an official meeting between her and all of you ladies. I will let Heizel take care of preparing you for it , fair warning the Queen is a bit assertive at times , it's her way of showing her superiority so don't take anything personally, just be prepared to be interrogated and maybe tested , actually all ladies should be prepared for that . It is never just lunch with her highness the Queen" he gently pays my shoulder and give me and compassionate look before leaving again.
Heizel has been updating herself with how the maids work around here and adjusting their knowledge to how I like certain things , because of this we have not been talking a lot and spending our usual quality time together but I understand she has to do these things so I don't have to worry about management of this place. My place .
"There you go Ethera , you look gorgeous with that silk material. Blue is really your color . Fingers crossed the Queen doesn't murder you for looking better than her" Heizel jokes and I shake my head , Hygai enters and hears her and laughs as well ,
"Well I guess you are going to give the Queen a reason to pick on you, great" he teases me while I stress and feel all sweaty because of nerves . Breathe in and out Ethera , all will be well. You got this. You will go through it smoothly, no one will even notice you , as usual *sigh
We arrive in the Queen's garden area , her personal quarters. There are a lot of servants moving with silver jugs of water and platers with grapes and all sorts of fruits . As I walk further I see all the other concubines already seated in two rows facing each other at the table and the Queen sitting at the very end , one of the Eunuchs of the Queen announces me once I make my presence known .
"Behold , lady Ethera , 6th and youngest concubine of the king." I then bow to the Queen and wait there for her to permit me to lift my head up,
"Um the youngest huh? Lift up your head young lady , let me see your face" I then lift up my head and look straight at her .
She chuckles "how lovely , truly a beauty that was chosen for the king. You may take your seat Ethera" She says while smiling but for some reason I hear mockery in her voice , maybe I am just overthinking.
I sit next to Elmira who is furthest to the Queen's seat , yes I am hiding from her . She gives me the chills.
"Well now that everyone has arrived let us have our meal shall we?" The Queen says as she gestures the servants to start serving the food.
All of us eat and make minimal conversation as it is viewed rude to talk while eating especially with a higher rank around , in our situation, the Queen.
After eating an Eunuch tells me to serve the wine to the Queen as for of respect since I am the youngest on the table. I then stand up and I am given a carafe with wine in it and I advance towards the Queen . As I reaching her side someone's leg gets in the way and I trip making the wine in the carafe spill on her majesty's pastel blue dress.
I gasp and look at the Queen mortified by what I had just done .
"Your majesty I am so terribly sorry , it was an accident , I swe-" I am cut off by the furious Queen "Enough ! This is scandalous " she exclaims and servants immediately come help her clean up.
She then looks at me and continues "At first when you came in with the blue dress I thought you wanted to copy me and steal the spotlight from me but then you seemed too sweet to have done that but now you purposely spill wine on my dress so that you remain the only one with that color dress here, such vile jealousy . Are you entering competition mode already? Are you craving my position so bad already?"
I look at her with teary eyes" No your highness I promise it was an accide-"
"Enough of that . I am returning in my chambers, the rest of you enjoy the banquet" she then walks out with the assistance of her servants and I remain on the ground with my face down in shame.
I can hear the other ladies whispering and silently pitying me. How pathetic.
Tobias pov:
I am currently in the barn supervising the veterinary taking care of the sick horse who gave birth a few weeks ago. She had some complications during the process but at least her little foal is perfectly healthy. Now only the mother needs extra care.
"How is she doing Sam?"
The veterinary looks at me and shakes his head "I don't think she will make it your grace. Her lungs are slowly giving up , with the operation that had to be done to deliver the foal , further complications occurred and now her situation is irreversible, i am terribly sorry" I shake my head as well and gently stroke Linda's back.
Oh no . Poor Linda , she was such a strong horse and she won't even be able to be with her child all throughout.
When I was heading out of the barn Michael, one of my attendants came running up to me and said "Your majesty it seems the banquet the Queen held with your concubines went wrong , there was a confrontation between the Queen and one of the ladies and apparently it all started with lady Ethera"
Ethera? What could she have possibly done. She is not the stubborn one from what I know.