JAPANESE WORDS USED IN THESE CHAPTERS AND THEIR MEANINGS
Shuah. - King.
Kyanpubeddo - Camp bed.
Tōrō - Lantern.
Matto - Mat
Rūmu. - Room
Towa chōku. - Permanent Chalk
03:00 pm 1608年3月18日 (18th March 1608)
Caulifla tried to make herself comfortable in the highly furnished room. She still could not believe that this was the room being given to her by the Shuah.
She expected a poorly furnished Rūmu with Kyanpubeddo, a very poorly used Tōrō and maybe a worn-out Matto at the middle of the poorly lit Rūmu and also expecting outnumbered impoverished servants who will be sharing with her this little room. That was how servants were being treated back in her Empire.
She knew that this is not how servants are being treated. She clearly knew that servants were given worst treatment than this. Then why was hers so different?
Why was the good looking man who was being addressed as King giving her a almost seemful guestful treatment? She has heard worst tales about him.
How wicked, just and cruel he was!
She was expecting a more worse treatment judging from the part that she was from Tsumago empire, Persia's number one enemy.
But now he was being so nice to her although she would say he was being too cruel just because of her. Giving strokes to a guard just because he had touched a mere servant's back does not at all make sense.
"Thank you" She said to the guard who smiled and closed the door as he left. She admired the room once more and discovered there was a door twenty feet away from the King sized bed which was situated in the middle of the gigantic room.
Walking towards it, she admired the iron door. The door was the shiny era of beautiful silver, shiny and spotted despite the years it has been since it was bought and maybe used as a door. Where there should have been some fancy matching handle was only a square diamond of white ravishing metal.
She wondered what was behind the door.
Opening it, her eyes admired the most beautiful bathroom she had ever seen. For perhaps a split second her thoughts were suspended, the surprise protecting her until it shattered like glass.
The bathroom had an earthy feel. The walls were as white as the rare diamond combined with white honed travertine. and the floor was made of light brown tiles. The vanities were of a fine wood and the counters were a brilliant white quartz.
One golden faucet in this king- sized bathroom would surely be enough to earn a fortune. The light in the bathroom was bright and sterile, lacking even a trace of warmth.
This was even more expensive and more royal than her own bathroom back in Tsumago. It was not a doubt anymore that the Persian Empire was the most richest Empire known. She closed the bathroom door and suddenly realized that the room has a balcony.
The balcony was a concrete ledge, square rough edges and a rusty rail, but it felt as if it was her She always enjoyed sitting on her balcony back at home because on her balcony she could enjoy the breeze, the sun and even sometimes sit out in misty rain.
Looking down the beautiful balcony, below the city flowed in it's tense way, bustling and honking. But ten floors up she was far enough removed from it to be a passive observer, not troubled by it's strife.
She could not accept all these. This was far too much for her. Even though she was a Princess, she supposed to be a mere servant and she supposed to be treated as one.
And there was a knock on the door.
"Please come in" Caulifla said as the door opened.
Caulifla gazed at the old woman before her. At her age she should have one foot in the grave. Her gait should be wonky with arthritic joints and eyesight failing faster than my school grades. Were it not for the lines in her face she would think she was Sixty years at the most given her sharp mind and easy motion;
But they are so deep and saggy - like the skin no longer has a connection to the skull underneath. In maybe a photograph, a person my clock her as ninety or more, and Caulifla thinks that's where she is.
It is her litheness and articulate speech that gets the person she is having a conversation with, an echo of youth in someone so old. She was dressed in black regalia and her hair was packed behind her.
"Are you the new servant?" The woman asked, jilting Caulifla from her thoughts.
"Yes, i work for the Shuah. Greetings ma'am" She bowed in respect to the woman who looked at her suspiciously.
"How low of a servant to get such a loving room. You do not deserve this because you are a servant. You must have manipulated the Shuah just like Shāhbāno Abreshmina, the cruel woman who calls herself a Queen.
"I do not blame you young maiden because your beauty is enough to make a sane man insane so count yourself lucky. The Shuah has asked me to get you some clothes and prepare a routine for you and here it is. May the Lord be with you"
The old woman had said as she handed Caulifla the slate and the clothes, walking out of the room. The woman was right. She was a mere servant who does not deserve this. But who was Shāhbāno Abreshmina?
She looked at the slate which was carefully outlined with Towa chōku. She was scheduled to be in the King's chambers in thirty minutes.
She dropped the slate and quickly entered the bathroom.
If she was going to serve the King then it should not be in her unclean state.
04: 00 pm 1608年3月18日 (18th March 1608)
Shāhbāno Abreshmina walked into the King's chambers in an angry state. She had made up her mind to face the King and if made possible, fill the King's thoughts about this useless slave with lies. There is a high possibility it will work judging by the fact that she was the King's favourite. He supposed to listen to her.
"I request to see the Shuah at once" She told one of the guards at the entrance of the King's chambers.
"I will alert him at once my Queen" He had said as he entered, coming out a minute later.
"The King is quite honoured with his Queen's presence" He said as he bored to the Queen.
And then Abreshmina entered.
"My lovely Queen,what brings you here?" The King said as he stood up from his chair.
"I request to speak to my King in private" She said as she bowed her head.
"You heard your Queen, alert the guards at the entrance and tell them to leave at once" The King has ordered, causing the guards to leave at once.
"What bothers my Queen so much to honour me with her presence?" The King asked as he sat down.
"The reason for gracing your presence is about that new servant whom you had carried to the guest quarters. It is not at all normal to treat a servant as a guest. People gossip and this is their main topic of discussion. She is a servant my King and is not worthy of your attention".
Burning rage hissed through his body like deathly poison, screeching a demanded release in the form of unwanted violence.
Every word stung only fueling the fire that burned inside of him. Every violated phrase was like gasoline to it, his fists began to clench and my jaw rooted.
It was like a volcano erupting; fury sweeping off him like ferocious waves. When the final mento had been added to the coke inside of him, he exploded with anger, with no control objects levitated and broke.
"I had told you many times not to question my actions. I am the King and no one tells me what to do and how to do it. If gossipers find it fit to gossip their Shuah then let them gossip. No matter what you say the girl deserves it because i say so. Now if you don't know what to say then get out" he said.
"How cruel to talk to your Queen and mother of your heart. You do not behave towards your Queen like this. You have turned your back towards me because of this girl. You have forgotten how to love me but you love this girl instead"
"Who I love does not concern you. I do not believe in love Abreshmina. I keep you here because I trust you and you are the mother of my heir. Do not kill the trust I have for you. Now leave my presence"
The Queen frowned as she turned and was about to leave when the King had said;
"One more thing Abreshmina, do not by any chance oppress the girl. I have heard well of how you always oppress my other wives. So if you think i am giving this servant soft treatment and maybe love them you must be mistaken. I feel that for no one. You may go"