418 To The King's Residence
With small talk out of the way, the young queen sat on the throne in the middle of the central hall. As per her usual, Esther did her duty to the harem first, asking the ladies if there were situations that needed to be fixed or addressed. Afterwards, she had the other royal ladies dismissed, leaving only Lady Clarisa in her presence.
“This concubine greets Her Majesty the Queen,” Lady Clarisa curtsied before her with a gracious smile and elegant movements, though what her real thoughts were, one could only guess.
Esther accepted it with a nod. “Welcome to the royal harem, Lady Clarisa.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Lady Clarisa replied humbly.
“No need to be so stiff and formal with me.” Esther moved out of the throne and sat herself on the head of the table on the side of the hall. She gestured for one of the servants to prepare another seat for the young woman on the opposite side of the table, as if to prove that she wanted nothing more than a friendly chat with her. Soon, small snacks and freshly brewed tea were also prepared on the table.
After the young concubine took her seat, the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting brought the gifts they prepared and placed them on the table, as Lady Tyra announced, “These are all the gifts Her Majesty prepared for the First Concubine.”
“Thank you, once again, Your Majesty,” Lady Clarisa said, but she didn’t even take a glance in their direction.
Esther calmly took a sip of tea while Lady Tyra took all the other people with her outside, leaving the two wives of the King by themselves inside the central hall.
“Are the arrangements made in your residence to your liking, Lady Clarisa? Please make yourself comfortable here in the palace…”
Lady Clarisa tried to enjoy the taste of freshly brewed tea as she listened, but for some reason, she couldn’t focus on anything but the young woman with honey blond hair. She already expected the Queen’s visit, but found it annoying that Esther had a serene expression on her beautiful face. Perhaps it was jealousy clouding the concubine’s mind, but she even found the sound of Esther’s sweet voice and the way Esther held her teacup unusually annoying.
“…If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask for it,” she heard Esther offer.
“It’s my husband’s home so there is no need for me to be uncomfortable,” Lady Clarisa could not help but say. “I believe His Majesty will surely look after my needs.”
‘Does she not know that from the decor of her chamber to the choice of food she eats, all these matters fall under the Queen’s control?’
Esther stared at her silently for several seconds, and then placed the empty teacup on the table. “Hmm, true. As the King, he has the responsibility to look after everyone’s needs, especially those of his wives’.”
Lady Clarisa deliberately put on a shy smile. “I would have come to visit Your Majesty on my own, but after last night, I am embarrassed to admit I am not able to do that. His Majesty is…he is too vigorous, and even now, my body still aches.”
Esther merely nodded, her expression still calm. She knew what Lady Clarisa was trying to imply but little did she know that Esther knew the truth—that their husband didn’t even stay with her the previous night and instead went to her, his first wife, his true love.
“After spending each and every night with him for the past year, I do admit he is a man with strong vigor,” Esther replied calmly. “Sometimes, even during the day…”
Before Lady Clarisa could say anything, Esther rang the bell sitting on her side of the table, calling for the people waiting outside. “Call Lady Tyra in,” she told the servant who entered.
Afterwards, Lady Tyra came in and handed over a small parchment scroll to Lady Clarisa. “First Concubine, this is for you.”
Lady Clarisa accepted it and unrolled the scroll. There were dates for the entire month written on it in elegant strokes and she heard the middle-aged woman continue speaking, “Your Ladyship, those dates marked in red, according to the physician who checked your body the other day, those are the days your fertility is at its peak, and the probability of you conceiving a child will be high. On those days, His Majesty is arranged to visit your bedchamber.”
Lady Clarisa stared at the scroll with an expression that was hard to describe. She looked up when she heard Esther’s voice.
“I have given Theron a copy of this scroll, and I am urging him to follow it, even if he claims he’s too busy to spare that much time coming here. You will see other dates marked as well, as the royal pharmacy will send someone to monitor your health from time to time. I believe Lady Clarisa has no problems with this arrangement? I am sure you fully understand that this is the best way to guarantee you will fulfill your role as Theron’s concubine.”
Hearing Esther call the King by his name as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, Lady Clarisa felt jealousy envelop her heart. But she quickly collected herself and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for looking after me.”
“These are the precious herbs that you need to have daily so your body will be healthy to bear a child,” Esther said as she looked at the gifts on the table.
“I understand, Your Majesty,” was all Lady Clarisa could say.
Esther finished her tea and said, “Wish to hear good news soon,” to which the young concubine nodded lightly.
With that, Esther dismissed Lady Clarisa from the central hall. She didn’t stay for long and went to her office inside the Vermillion Palace, where she reviewed the reports on the expenses that incurred during her absence in the palace.
Once she was done with her Queen’s duties, she decided to leave Vermillion Palace. As she entered her carriage, Esther asked Lady Tyra, “Did you ask where is His Majesty?”
“His Majesty finished the morning royal court session rather early. He is now in his study,” Lady Tyra informed her.
“To his residence,” Esther instructed.
The Queen’s carriage rode towards the King’s palace.