THE KING’S CONCUBINE

Scarlett's POV

It was him! I widened my eyes in surprise!

He ran up to me in an official's robe.

Wait? Official's robe? Usually Oliver wore tight black leather pants with a jacket.

"What are you doing here?...in an official's robe at that?" I asked while scanning him from top to bottom! He was dressed in a royal blue buttoned up silk shirt and trousers with a black Cape on his back.

The way he was dressed seemed like he was from the ministry of taxation. The branch of the administration that I hated the most.

"Story for another time Scarlett, now tell me.....why are you here???I searched so many places. You left after asking me to take care of your family. You didn't tell me what exactly was going on! " He looked at me with worry in his eyes.

Oh that wasn't going to cut it, I needed to know why he was in that robe!

"I'm not telling you anything until you give me an explanation for this! There has been no recruitment of official this year-this means that you have had this job for almost a year" I said angrily, still trying to keep my composure.

"Anyways I'm glad I finally found you after two weeks" He said.

Clearly he was trying to dodge my questions.

"I see you're not ready to answer my questions, now if you'd excuse me...." I motioned to leave and enter the Palace of The Queen Dowager.

He held me back and said "Fine we'll talk, but not now. When do you have a free day?"

"On the 30th day of next month, I'm free" I replied quickly and rushed to leave without hearing his response.

'I have to wait more than a month to hear my answers. Is real name even Oliver? Did I do the right thing by entrusting my family with him???' I silently thought

At the entrance of the Palace of the Queen Dowager, I took a deep breath and went in hoping to not get kicked out.

There were three doors before we got to the room of the Queen Dowager with four Courtladies at each door....'why so many Courtladies to serve one person?' I thought to myself. Was it even comfortable to have so many people around? I'd hate to be one of those courtladies.

Finally, we arrived at the third door where the Eunuch announces "COURT LADY AGATHA IS HERE AS YOU HAVE ORDERED" in a loud draggy voice!

An elegant voice replied "let her in". Although the voice was faint, the Eunuch was able to hear and told us that we may go in.

We walked in with low bows as I looked around and saw different interior design sculptures, vases and even portraits of the Queen Dowager herself.

This room is bigger than five of my house sizes combined together!

There was a translucent screen covering her. Regardless, we bowed three times times according to the training I had received and on the third one we remained on the floor until the Queen Dowager said "You may sit comfortably"

We obeyed.

Her saying we may sit comfortably didn't mean we could have grabbed chairs to have a chat. It meant that we could straighten our backs but still lower our heads while we sat on the floor!

My neck hurt so bad! I needed someone to please help me!!! All these feminine formalities made me sick!

"Agatha, you may leave now" she continued.

I was tempted to beg Court lady Agatha to stay, regardless of the fact that I didn't exactly like her very much.

When Court lady Agatha left the room the Queen Dowager said "Come here!"

I carefully stood up and went closer to the translucent screen, while the courtlady serving her closely carefully raised the screen.

I dared not raise my head to see her face, only the lower part of her purple dress could be seen by me.

In an arrogant tone she said "You seem like a smart girl, as you might have already guessed I will be in charge of your test. I hope you are fully prepared"

"Yes, Your Highness Dowager!" I replied in the most decent tone I could think of. I could only walk carefully on eggshells at that point.

"First you will answer a riddle: What has roots that no one sees and looms much taller than trees? Up it goes but yet it never grows"

What has roots that no one sees? Looms much taller than trees?

I started to think of possible natural things that could be taller than trees but don't exactly grow! And then it occurred to me A mountain! It goes up but doesn't grow because it's a non-living thing.

"Your Highness Dowager, a mountain, is the answer I have arrived at after carefully thinking" I said

"Smart girl! Now another one for you let's see if you're really capable: If they are closed, the world becomes almost unbearable to live in, if they are open, the world becomes a better place."

This was a tough one. I started to overthink!

Relax Scarlett! Think outside the box!! Uhm...First who makes the world a better place?? Someone with power and resources for it....A Ruler yes! Fingers crossed!

"A ruler" I quickly answered

She laughed hysterically "Why do you think so? Come on now, look up and answer me"

Finally I could raise my head.

I looked up to see a very beautiful and young queen dowager. How was that even possible?! She looked like she was thirtyears old or there about! It appeared to be one complex family tree.

How old was the king then? Ten years old? I hadn't been opportuned to see the king or even hear anything about his activities since I arrived at the Palace. All I knew was, there was a king in the palace!

I answered her "If a Ruler is open to the pleas of the people, the world is a better place but, if the Ruler is closed to the pleas of the people and turns a blind eye to the people, the world becomes unbearable "

She nodded in agreement "you have a fine answer but it's not the answer I'm looking for "

Oh—

"Now close your eyes and try looking around this room" I was mid action of doing that when she asked "can you see anything? You can't! Imagine living in a world like that...pretty unbearable right?" She took a sip of her tea.

"Yes, Your Highness Dowager!" I replied still closing my eyes!

"Open your eyes now!"

When I opened my eyes, I immediately realised the answer to the riddle!

The Eyes!!

I quickly got down on my knees begging her not to kill me. She came down from her chair and held me to get up!

Are people of the Royal family this nice? Definitely not.

"Oh you are so dramatic! I'm not killing you!....as long as you do as you're told" she said while going down the little steps that had led to her chair (her very own mini throne). I followed her till she reached an abrupt stop.

So I could get killed. I knew this would happen.

"Your major test is easy. You will serve the king, from today till tomorrow night, you are not allowed to change shifts. Nobody will interfere with whatever happens, it is all on you! Your performance determines if you get to keep your life or not" She said sternly.

Again! My life was being threatened.

"As you leave this place, go to the head court lady of the Eastern Palace (Palace of the King) she will guide you on the King's schedule. Resume your duty immediately" she said moving her hand in a shooing motion, signalling for me to leave.

*****************************

As the Queen Dowager had ordered I went to the Eastern Palace to get the King's schedule. The schedule looked so detailed and tight! Did he usually go through with all that?

The warning that was given to me by the head court lady of the Eastern Palace kept ringing in my head "The King is as cold as ice, never smiles. He eludes the aura of perfection and wants everyone around him to be perfect. He doesn't tolerate rubbish from anyone! Goodluck Scarlett"

My life.....

I made my way to the King's Chambers which had more people serving there than the Queen Dowager! Oh my....

I was just in time for the quick shift change. Six Courtladies went out as I was entering and no more ladies were coming in after me.

Was I expected to do the work of six ladies?

It was already time for the king to go for archery. I rushed into his Chambers, I HAD TO GO THROUGH THREE DOORS AGAIN!!

I took a deep breath as I entered the main room of the king. Seeing as I was in a courtmaid's uniform I was allowed in easily.

"You're alone? Oh well, get me changed then" a deep wonderful voice said while he got up to go to the closet room.

Why couldn't he do these things by himself?

I carefully removed his previous clothes and started to dress him up for archery.

Lastly, I wore a red upper garment with furs at the collars on him and then secured the outfit with a belt.

I realised that I was forgetting something! I started to walk around the closet room looking for his shoes. Where were they??

"What are you searching for? I have no time to waste" He said.

I quickly got down on my knees and started to beg for my life "Your majesty, this servant is too incompetent as she can not find your shoes. Punish me as you deem worthy"

The warning refused to leave my head "The King is as cold as ice, never smiles. He eludes the aura of perfection and wants everyone around him to be perfect. He doesn't tolerate rubbish from anyone! Goodluck Scarlett"

He sighed, came down from his dressing platform, walked a few steps to the right, looked at the fifth column, fourth row of the show shelf, found the shoes, put them on himself, went back to the dressing platform and stretched his hands forward.

Yes the fore-arm guard!

I put them on his two fore arms carefully to avoid making another mistake.

He came down the dressing platform and went to sit infront of the dressing mirror.

I followed him and stood beside him without raising my head.

He cleared his throat, suddenly I remembered that I hadn't done his hair!!!! What was wrong with me?

As I approached him, he said "those serving me closely are allowed to raise their heads. You'll be more efficient that way"

I only rose my head a tiny bit, just enough for him to see my face. I was really too scared to look in the mirror and see his full face.

"I mean...what if he has a young body but an ugly face?"I had a ridiculous thought

I muttered a quick "Yes, Your Majesty" as I walked to get the things for his hair. It was not much work. I just had to comb and tie his hair up and secure with a pin.

His hair felt so silky-smooth and too good to be true.

He got up to leave when I noticed an area around his chest was undone properly I quickly rushed up to him. As I rushed towards him, I tripped, leaned on him and then we both fell. He cushioned my fall with his body so we were face to face and I couldn't avoid his face this time around.

Even though it was a glimpse of his face I saw, I thought to myself "this is one handsome king"

Amidst my thoughts he glanced down at him and cleared his throat again to catch my attention.

Couldn't he just speak?

His facial features reminded me of something....or someone. I wasn't sure.

He went down his huge room, at the immediate door his personal guard was waiting for him.

Well it was a wrap for me, all I had to do now was to sit and wait till he got back.

***********************

I slept off. I knew I was so clumsy but was I really stupid enough to sleep off??

I woke up to see this handsome man staring at me intently....handsome man? King? Oh shit!!!! It was practically almost dark outside!

"Are you awake now?" He asked

I hurriedly stood up.

"I wasn't asleep, just uhm....meditation.....Your majesty" I replied

"Some meditation? The nerve of you to even dare lie to me! You're interesting! I'm famished, hurry up and get me my dinner" He said and I started to walk as fast and as elegantly as possible to the Royal kitchen!

I got back with the meal 20minutes later but he was nowhere to be found. I dropped the meal on his dining table and searched the chamber, on getting to his main room, I saw a window widely open.

And we had a runner!!

It seemed like the King 'escaped' so I didn't want to alert the others incase he just needed a breather.

I went through the same window and followed a straight path I kept walking and walking until I saw familiar lanterns on a bridge. I ran over to the bridge! Oh I remember here, I got lost then I met Felix.

I hadn't met him again since that time! I didn't know his face well. Would we ever meet again?

I diverted from my original purpose to find the King and walked towards the tree Felix and I had our little conversation. Approaching the tree, I saw that someone was already there.

"Scarlett? Is that you?" The person asked

"Yeah .....?" I asked, hoping it was actually him.

"Yes it's me, Felix. Come over let's have another chat"

I nodded in agreement as I approached him.

"How was your day?" He asked

I replied "pretty hectic, my test was to serve the king at the Eastern Palace. It wasn't so difficult but I kept making many mistakes. You know, the king is perfect and I'm messed up. Even though I have until tomorrow I already think that I've messed it all up"

Felix listened to the rest of my rant for about ten minutes and mid conversation I remembered that I had been looking for the king.

"I'm screwed! I have to leave now" I said as I stood up in a rush.

"Wait, let's go together" Felix said while he motioned for us to go together.

As if he knew where I was headed.

We approached the bridge with lanterns so it was a little brighter. In a moment of realisation, I stopped in my tracks. Something definitely wasn't right!

Felix noticed and turned back.

I scanned him from up to down. His outfit looked exactly like what the king wore for archery. I dressed the king up! I knew he looked familiar!

What did that mean?