Chapter 21 – The Harem
I couldn’t sleep. Why? Because of the hot-headed royal charmer who nearly kissed me when I mentioned another man in front of him, despite assuring me he’d never spare me a second glance in that direction. That man confuses me greatly and I would be lucky if he doesn’t drive me nuts. Even the plush bed I reclined on within the secluded women’s pavilion felt oddly uncomfortable as my thoughts swirled around the enigmatic ruler of Nayak.
But what if Patrick were to attend the coronation ceremony? He was among the rulers of Ruqgu, so he would typically be present at such a grand celebration. I could simply feign ignorance, right? If Eria’s plans unfolded smoothly, I was already dead to everyone in Ruqgu. I couldn’t help but wonder if they had a grand funeral for me. Did my father attend? I doubted it; he had turned his back on me after my third year of marriage without a child. He embraced my stepbrother and stepsister and disowned me. He even turned a blind eye to Patrick’s cruelty.
I’d give a fortune in gold to witness the expression on my father’s face when I ascended to the throne of Nayak. No, it would be even more fascinating when I bore a child. They had treated me worse than an animal due to my infertility. I hoped for a swift conception just to savor the shock on their faces.
A smile crept across my face as I shifted on my temporary bed. Soon, exhaustion claimed me, and I slipped into a deep slumber. Annalise’s gentle knock roused me from my sleep the following morning, although not as early as the previous day. Three maids accompanied her, bowing respectfully. They promptly drew a warm bath for me in the adjoining bathroom, adorned with fragrant petals. Although exhaustion lingered from my sleepless night, the scent of those flowers eased my tension as the maids tenderly attended to me.
I was dressed in another sleeveless blouse, which I’d have to become accustomed to, given my limited experience with exposing my arms and chest. At least the skirts were full and voluminous, without any slits. The two-piece ensemble was a lovely emerald green, my favorite color, which brought a smile to my face. Maids brushed my hair while Annalise sat on the bed, arranging my hairpins.
“You will be meeting the members of the inner court today, my lady. They need to see their queen’s face before the marriage rites commence,” Annalise stated, securing a delicate silver pin by my temple. She left half of my hair cascading freely, bundling the rest into a neat bun. I admired her handiwork in the mirror. She and Eria would get along famously.
“I wish Eria were here with me,” I mumbled. Annalise only smiled and lightly squeezed my shoulder. She took care to apply minimal rouge to my face, as my fair complexion needed little enhancement. A touch of bright red lipstick completed the look. After donning my shoes, we were ready to depart.
The journey to the inner court wasn’t lengthy, situated within the pavilion of women. The grand hall was adorned with warm, colorful decorations and lush green curtains. Flower pots basked in the sunlight at strategic locations, adding to the hall’s charm. I couldn’t help but admire its appearance. As the doors to the court swung open, I entered with Annalise following closely.
The palace women were already gathered – the consorts, the king’s unmarried sisters, his aunt, and court ladies. They all wore sleeveless blouses with ample skirts, some opting for slits in their garments, and others daringly revealing low cleavages. I refrained from judgment; it was their fashion, and some of them may not have been comfortable covering every inch of their bodies, unlike my personal preference.
“Greetings, Your Grace,” they chorused.
I felt small beneath their collective gaze, which was quite ironic since I was taller and older than most of them. I reminded myself that I would soon be the head of the inner court, with all of them under my authority. Courage surged through me as I walked down the aisle, holding my head high. Nervousness lingered, but I refused to show any weakness. I was Lady Marilyn Rusè of the House of Rusè, the Golden Flower of Ruqgu.
“Greetings to you all. I am delighted to make your acquaintance, but let us conduct brief introductions for future interactions,” I declared with an air of authority that filled Annalise with pride. She was pleased with how smoothly I handled everything, despite the haste of it all.
“I’ll begin. I am Marilyn Rusè, the chosen bride of the king,” I announced, forsaking my husband’s name. They all bowed to their future queen.
“Why act like a queen when she isn’t one yet?” a woman, dressed in velvet red attire, muttered under her breath. Her words reached my ears. A single glance revealed her as one of the king’s consorts. The princesses, dressed more elegantly, had no need to impress anyone with their bodies, unlike the consorts. I chose to ignore her comments.
“I am Princess Suria, Your Grace, the king’s younger sister,” introduced a sweet young girl, about sixteen years old. She looked so adorable, much like Erxi, and I already adored her.
“You’ve met me already, Your Grace. I am Cixi, the king’s aunt,” Princess Cixi said, giving me a warm smile, a stark contrast to her unimpressed and bored expression from the previous night. I returned her smile.
The woman who had made the disparaging remarks introduced herself next, her tone oozing jealousy and disdain. “I am Meisi, the king’s favorite,” she declared, emphasizing the word “favorite.” Well, we would see about that. Others followed, and I discovered that the king’s other consorts were pleasant and kind. They harbored no ill will toward me, sharing delightful conversations with me at the tea table after our introductions. Perhaps the harem wasn’t as daunting as I had imagined.
The king’s aunt took her time to explain each step of the marriage rites to me. After meeting the palace women, they would adorn my face with black and white makeup, transforming me into a likeness of Natalí herself. They would then decorate my hands and feet with a black substance before escorting me to Natalí’s temple. The initial stages went smoothly, but exhaustion overwhelmed me upon reaching Natalí’s temple. I leaned against the door for support, only to witness the stone melting beneath my touch. The tears woke up, glowing so bright that everyone had to shield their eyes, except for me, as time froze and she appeared.