VALORIA WILDEROSE
"High Concubine Yara! We—we weren't expecting you." Her once-delightful gaze turns to shock, terror flickering in her eyes as she stares at this new woman with deep brown skin that glows like polished bronze.
"And I wasn't expecting to stumble across a peculiar sight, Ivana." Her voice carries enough intimidation and elegance without needing to be raised.
I try to see her face, blinded by the bright sun burning into my eyes. Who is this woman?
"Tell me, do you usually use the maids assigned to you to do all your dirty work, including this?"
"It's not what it looks like. I can explain!" My inviter—who I now know as Ivana—defends herself frantically, coming undone under a simple question.
"And you will. It might not be a well-respected rule, but outright violence against another concubine is an offense in the king's court. We will talk about your punishment later."
Silence follows, no one daring to argue with her, the issue settled.
