When Lady Saira woke up the next morning, she was flustered to see the unfamiliar canopy. Her panic grew when she realized she was in the King’s bed and only then recalled what happened the previous night. She looked at the place next to her but it was empty. The King was neither in bed nor anywhere inside his chamber and she felt relieved.
‘I need to get out of here quickly.’
She covered her naked body with the blanket and stepped out of the bed with shaking legs. A certain part of her body was in pain but she bore with it and got her clothes strewn on the floor. Wearing them as fast as she could, she then went to the messy bed to set it right but then she found the stains of blood on the bed sheet.
‘Dear spirits, he would be disgusted if he were to see this.’
She pulled away the layers that were stained and collected them in a ball. She fixed her appearance and walked out of the chamber carrying that bedsheet, only to find one of the King’s aides standing outside the chamber as if he was waiting for her.
The aide bowed to her and she gave him a hesitant nod.
“Lady Saira, His Majesty ordered me to inform you he will be away from the royal palace for the next two days. He has permitted you to take time off as in his absence you don’t have any work to do. Your Ladyship is allowed to go anywhere you please–and he told me to relay to you his exact words.”
“Ah? T-Thank you…I mean, I am grateful to His Majesty’s generosity.”
Lady Saira felt like this was the best thing anyone had said to her since the Queen had left. She could not help but feel relieved that she didn’t have to face the King after what happened between them.
She returned to her chamber and looked at the bundled sheets in her hand. She could not help but recall the previous night. ‘Doesn’t he hate me? I thought he was doing it to vent out his anger on me but…but he was nothing like that. He didn’t say a single word last night but it was as if…as if he cared for me. Was it because he was drunk that he forgot he hates me?’
She shook her head. ‘Forget about it. As he has given me permission to go anywhere, I will just go and meet the Second Prince.’ A smile painted on her lips, despite feeling pain in her body. ‘I will be fine after I soak in hot water for a while.’
After Lady Saira washed her body, she took out a piece of paper, as she would need to first inform the Crystal Palace of her visit. It would be quite rude to drop by just in case there were other guests, and it would be disappointing if it happened that the Great Lady and the Second Prince were away when she arrived.
Just as she started, there was a knock on her door and when she opened it, Lady Tyra was waiting outside.
“Good morning, Lady Tyra,” she greeted her. “What brings you to the King’s palace? His Majesty is not here–“
“I am aware. I came to see you. How are you today?” Lady Tyra asked. Her intention was to check on her as she knew what happened the previous night. “Have you eaten?”
“I am fine, Lady Tyra. I am actually about to have my meal after finishing some stuff.”
The younger woman didn’t think about bringing up what happened as in her opinion, her spending the night with the King was by mere coincidence. The King was probably frustrated and had a sudden desire to have a woman. She didn’t need to tell anyone.
Lady Tyra didn’t press the issue and said, “Is that so? I am on my way to the Crystal Palace so I thought to see you before heading there. Do you have anything you wish to give to Dray? I can hand it over in your stead.”
“The Crystal Palace?” Lady Saira’s eyes brightened up like a young girl who just got her favourite thing.
Lady Tyra nodded and heard the younger woman ask, “Can I come with you? I mean, I was about to send a message that I would like to pay the Second Prince a visit. If you don’t mind it, please let me accompany you.”
Lady Tyra smiled. “Of course, you can. Rather, formally speaking, you are of a higher status than me, Lady Saira. It should be me accompanying you.”
The two women left to go to the Crystal Palace. Before leaving, Lady Saira got Drayce’s favourite berries from the royal garden.
Upon reaching the Crystal Palace, Lady Saira first greeted the Great Lady who had now become her mother-in-law, but her eyes were glancing at the door from time to time, seeking the Second Prince.
“Your Excellency, may I ask where is–“
Just as she was speaking, an adorable little boy entered the drawing room.
“Your Highness!” Lady Saira’s face lit up with a bright smile.
“Saira!” the boy blurted out in pleasant surprise. He had only been expecting Lady Tyra today, and was shocked to find out that his nanny had come along. “You finally visited me but what took you so long? Did you not miss me? Do you not love me anymore?”
Great Lady Theodora let out a delicate cough. “Dray, did you forget what I told you about Saira becoming your stepmother? You can no longer call her by name.”
Little Drayce was taken aback, and when he approached the Third Concubine, his face had a big pout.
Lady Saira kneeled in front of him and tenderly rubbed his head. “It’s only been months but Your Highness seems to have grown taller.”
“Of course, Grandmother made me eat and sleep a lot! I would have eaten more though if Saira–if F-Fourth Mother was here…” He pouted again.
“I know Your Highness is upset with me but I had difficulties coming over here. I am sorry.’
He let go of the pout and said, “Grandmother told me that Father married you and you can’t come here.”
Seeing him no longer pout, Lady Saira felt glad and could not help but hug the little prince as her eyes turned moist. “Things are better now, Your Highness.”
Drayce let her hug him and then Lady Saira offered him the berries she brought. “Since I’ve made you wait, will you forgive me if I give you these?”
“You remembered!”
“Of course. How can I forget your favourite? They’re freshly plucked. ” Drayce finally let out a brilliant smile and ate the berries as Lady Saira fed him. “I will be here the entire day to play with you.”
“Really? Then we can play in the garden.”
With her eyes moist, she nodded.
After Drayce and Lady Saira excused themselves from the drawing room, only the Great Lady and Lady Tyra were left behind to sip tea. They talked as they watched the two playing from the open veranda.
“…Is that what happened? Finally, my son did one good thing out of so many regretful ones,” the older lady commented. Lady Tyra had given her a rundown of the situation in the palace.
“But Lady Saira is not aware of it. His Majesty asked me not to tell her. Also, she doesn’t know it’s His Majesty who had asked me to bring her here to meet Prince Drayce.”
“As expected of my son.” The Great Lady nodded. ” After his reckless decision of marrying her, thinking it will bring Esther back, he is slowly fixing the consequences.”
“His Majesty must be feeling guilty towards her,” Lady Tyra commented.
“It’s not just guilt.”
“What do you mean, Your Excellency?”
The Great Lady smiled. “My son unreasonably vented his anger and grief out on those two, so it’s obvious there would be guilt. The thing is, they were both painful reminders of Esther. Seeing them would have been painful for Theron. That and his guilt made him send Dray to me but he could not send Saira away because she was his rightful wife by then. He could choose to ignore her for the rest of his life; however, as you know, the palace life is hard on those wives ignored or unfavored by the King.
“If she were to lose his protection, no one would be surprised if her corpse would be discovered the next day due to an ‘accident’. Saira is someone Esther has left behind–he wouldn’t let that happen.”
Lady Tyra understood. “I see. He decided to have kids with her because he cannot let others look down on her who was precious to his beloved wife.”
The Great Lady’s eyes continued to follow the pair playing in the garden.
“He is just protecting what my daughter-in-law cherished. In the end, everything comes from his love for Esther.
——
Lady Clarisa gave birth to a daughter, the First Princess of Megaris, while Lady Yavia delivered female twins roughly a month after, bringing surprise to the kingdom that three princesses were suddenly born at almost the same time.
When Lady Saira was expecting her first child, she was sent back to the Vermilion Palace, but she was his only wife allowed to enter the King’s residence, which showed that among his concubines, despite having the poorest background, she was the one most showered with his favour.
Even after Drayce became the King of Megaris and Theron shifted to the Obsidian Palace, the arrangement remained the same. Among his wives, only Lady Saira could freely enter his residence as she always made sure everything was taken care of in the palace according to the King’s needs. Though the King never talked to her, she continued her responsibilities without expecting anything from him. The previous king had withdrawn from society and she just accompanied him in silence, supporting him from a distance.
King Theron never took another queen. It was as if he was telling the people, ‘Everything in the world could change, but the love he had for his first wife would never.’
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When Lady Saira woke up the next morning, she was flustered to see the unfamiliar canopy. Her panic grew when she realized she was in the King’s bed and only then recalled what happened the previous night. She looked at the place next to her but it was empty. The King was neither in bed nor anywhere inside his chamber and she felt relieved.
‘I need to get out of here quickly.’
She covered her naked body with the blanket and stepped out of the bed with shaking legs. A certain part of her body was in pain but she bore with it and got her clothes strewn on the floor. Wearing them as fast as she could, she then went to the messy bed to set it right but then she found the stains of blood on the bed sheet.
‘Dear spirits, he would be disgusted if he were to see this.’
She pulled away the layers that were stained and collected them in a ball. She fixed her appearance and walked out of the chamber carrying that bedsheet, only to find one of the King’s aides standing outside the chamber as if he was waiting for her.
The aide bowed to her and she gave him a hesitant nod.
“Lady Saira, His Majesty ordered me to inform you he will be away from the royal palace for the next two days. He has permitted you to take time off as in his absence you don’t have any work to do. Your Ladyship is allowed to go anywhere you please–and he told me to relay to you his exact words.”
“Ah? T-Thank you…I mean, I am grateful to His Majesty’s generosity.”
Lady Saira felt like this was the best thing anyone had said to her since the Queen had left. She could not help but feel relieved that she didn’t have to face the King after what happened between them.
She returned to her chamber and looked at the bundled sheets in her hand. She could not help but recall the previous night. ‘Doesn’t he hate me? I thought he was doing it to vent out his anger on me but…but he was nothing like that. He didn’t say a single word last night but it was as if…as if he cared for me. Was it because he was drunk that he forgot he hates me?’
She shook her head. ‘Forget about it. As he has given me permission to go anywhere, I will just go and meet the Second Prince.’ A smile painted on her lips, despite feeling pain in her body. ‘I will be fine after I soak in hot water for a while.’
After Lady Saira washed her body, she took out a piece of paper, as she would need to first inform the Crystal Palace of her visit. It would be quite rude to drop by just in case there were other guests, and it would be disappointing if it happened that the Great Lady and the Second Prince were away when she arrived.
Just as she started, there was a knock on her door and when she opened it, Lady Tyra was waiting outside.
“Good morning, Lady Tyra,” she greeted her. “What brings you to the King’s palace? His Majesty is not here–“
“I am aware. I came to see you. How are you today?” Lady Tyra asked. Her intention was to check on her as she knew what happened the previous night. “Have you eaten?”
“I am fine, Lady Tyra. I am actually about to have my meal after finishing some stuff.”
The younger woman didn’t think about bringing up what happened as in her opinion, her spending the night with the King was by mere coincidence. The King was probably frustrated and had a sudden desire to have a woman. She didn’t need to tell anyone.
Lady Tyra didn’t press the issue and said, “Is that so? I am on my way to the Crystal Palace so I thought to see you before heading there. Do you have anything you wish to give to Dray? I can hand it over in your stead.”
“The Crystal Palace?” Lady Saira’s eyes brightened up like a young girl who just got her favourite thing.
Lady Tyra nodded and heard the younger woman ask, “Can I come with you? I mean, I was about to send a message that I would like to pay the Second Prince a visit. If you don’t mind it, please let me accompany you.”
Lady Tyra smiled. “Of course, you can. Rather, formally speaking, you are of a higher status than me, Lady Saira. It should be me accompanying you.”
The two women left to go to the Crystal Palace. Before leaving, Lady Saira got Drayce’s favourite berries from the royal garden.
Upon reaching the Crystal Palace, Lady Saira first greeted the Great Lady who had now become her mother-in-law, but her eyes were glancing at the door from time to time, seeking the Second Prince.
“Your Excellency, may I ask where is–“
Just as she was speaking, an adorable little boy entered the drawing room.
“Your Highness!” Lady Saira’s face lit up with a bright smile.
“Saira!” the boy blurted out in pleasant surprise. He had only been expecting Lady Tyra today, and was shocked to find out that his nanny had come along. “You finally visited me but what took you so long? Did you not miss me? Do you not love me anymore?”
Great Lady Theodora let out a delicate cough. “Dray, did you forget what I told you about Saira becoming your stepmother? You can no longer call her by name.”
Little Drayce was taken aback, and when he approached the Third Concubine, his face had a big pout.
Lady Saira kneeled in front of him and tenderly rubbed his head. “It’s only been months but Your Highness seems to have grown taller.”
“Of course, Grandmother made me eat and sleep a lot! I would have eaten more though if Saira–if F-Fourth Mother was here…” He pouted again.
“I know Your Highness is upset with me but I had difficulties coming over here. I am sorry.’
He let go of the pout and said, “Grandmother told me that Father married you and you can’t come here.”
Seeing him no longer pout, Lady Saira felt glad and could not help but hug the little prince as her eyes turned moist. “Things are better now, Your Highness.”
Drayce let her hug him and then Lady Saira offered him the berries she brought. “Since I’ve made you wait, will you forgive me if I give you these?”
“You remembered!”
“Of course. How can I forget your favourite? They’re freshly plucked. ” Drayce finally let out a brilliant smile and ate the berries as Lady Saira fed him. “I will be here the entire day to play with you.”
“Really? Then we can play in the garden.”
With her eyes moist, she nodded.
After Drayce and Lady Saira excused themselves from the drawing room, only the Great Lady and Lady Tyra were left behind to sip tea. They talked as they watched the two playing from the open veranda.
“…Is that what happened? Finally, my son did one good thing out of so many regretful ones,” the older lady commented. Lady Tyra had given her a rundown of the situation in the palace.
“But Lady Saira is not aware of it. His Majesty asked me not to tell her. Also, she doesn’t know it’s His Majesty who had asked me to bring her here to meet Prince Drayce.”
“As expected of my son.” The Great Lady nodded. ” After his reckless decision of marrying her, thinking it will bring Esther back, he is slowly fixing the consequences.”
“His Majesty must be feeling guilty towards her,” Lady Tyra commented.
“It’s not just guilt.”
“What do you mean, Your Excellency?”
The Great Lady smiled. “My son unreasonably vented his anger and grief out on those two, so it’s obvious there would be guilt. The thing is, they were both painful reminders of Esther. Seeing them would have been painful for Theron. That and his guilt made him send Dray to me but he could not send Saira away because she was his rightful wife by then. He could choose to ignore her for the rest of his life; however, as you know, the palace life is hard on those wives ignored or unfavored by the King.
“If she were to lose his protection, no one would be surprised if her corpse would be discovered the next day due to an ‘accident’. Saira is someone Esther has left behind–he wouldn’t let that happen.”
Lady Tyra understood. “I see. He decided to have kids with her because he cannot let others look down on her who was precious to his beloved wife.”
The Great Lady’s eyes continued to follow the pair playing in the garden.
“He is just protecting what my daughter-in-law cherished. In the end, everything comes from his love for Esther.
——
Lady Clarisa gave birth to a daughter, the First Princess of Megaris, while Lady Yavia delivered female twins roughly a month after, bringing surprise to the kingdom that three princesses were suddenly born at almost the same time.
When Lady Saira was expecting her first child, she was sent back to the Vermilion Palace, but she was his only wife allowed to enter the King’s residence, which showed that among his concubines, despite having the poorest background, she was the one most showered with his favour.
Even after Drayce became the King of Megaris and Theron shifted to the Obsidian Palace, the arrangement remained the same. Among his wives, only Lady Saira could freely enter his residence as she always made sure everything was taken care of in the palace according to the King’s needs. Though the King never talked to her, she continued her responsibilities without expecting anything from him. The previous king had withdrawn from society and she just accompanied him in silence, supporting him from a distance.
King Theron never took another queen. It was as if he was telling the people, ‘Everything in the world could change, but the love he had for his first wife would never.’
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