The War God’s Favorite
Chapter 36
The Diamond Palace
The Imperial Concubine’s tone didn’t leave Cassandra with much of a choice. Seeing how her Prince didn’t react, the young Concubine walked closer to his mother, wondering what was expected of her.
*Let’s see.”
As soon as she was close enough, Concubine Kareen stood up to face her, and Cassandra realized how tall the woman really was. She looked a lot like her children too, with her tanned skin, straight nose, and angular jaw.
“She is too thin. Even for a slave. And your skin is very white. Are you from the south, child?”
“Yes, Imperial Concubine,” said Cassandra, bowing slightly.
“Do not bow so low! You are an Imperial Concubine. Hold your rank. You look like anyone could trample all over.
you.”
Cassandra blushed and straightened her back. The Imperial Concubine slowly walked around her, scrutinizing everything for what seemed like hours.
“These hips are so narrow. And you need to eat more. But, at least you’re pretty.”
Concubine Kareen let out a sigh and turned to her son.
“So? What is your excuse for not introducing her to your mother sooner, Kairen?”
But the Prince remained silent, only walking up to Cassandra to put an arm around her. His mother pursed her lips as she turned to Shareen.
“What about you, Daughter? Do you think I don’t know how you behave in the Palace?”
Shareen stayed silent like a child caught misbehaving, crossing her arms and looking everywhere else but at her mother.
“Mother. The egg.”
Kairen’s cold voice got his mother’s attention. She turned to him with her hands on her hips.
“Is that all you came for? Well, I’m not going to just hand it over that easily. You’ll all stay and have lunch with me for once. The one time you come to see your mother.”
She clapped her hands and a bunch of servants came in bowing.
“Actually, let’s have lunch now. In the Courtyard.”
Immediately, most of the servants rushed out to prepare their meal, only a few of them remained by the Imperial Concubine’s side. She let out a dramatic sigh and turned to her children again.
“You two better behave. I am too old to scold you.”
Cassandra couldn’t help but wonder how old she actually was. She didn’t look much older than her children! As Shareen and Kairen were probably in their mid-twenties, their mother could be about forty. Her make-up was lighter than what Cassandra had witnessed on other women of that age, too. She was a natural and overwhelming beauty.
“Come, let’s go outside where it’s warm. You must be cold all the time, living in that dark place.”
“Here, have a seat.”
The Imperial Concubine’s outdoor garden was a beautiful space. It had walls and pillars around it, but no roof. A few branches covered just enough of the sky to provide some shade and relief from the direct sun. It was like something out of a fairytale. The floor was only flowers and grass, and every surrounding inch had some green on it.
It seemed like the place had been abandoned for centuries to the wild, as the stones had weathered and ivy had taken over. Cassandra instantly loved it. Though she was feeling a bit shy and stuck close to Kairen, she couldn’t help but glance at every little wild flower there.
“Sit here, child. What is your name?”
Concubine Kareen gestured to the seat right next to her, startling Cassandra a bit. As she took the seat, Kairen sat across from her to his mother’s left. It was a round stone table of a decent size, not too big, but just cozy enough.
“Cassandra, Imperial Concubine,” she answered.
“Cassandra. You’ll call me Concubine Mother from now on.”
“Yes, Concubine Mother.”
Around them, the servants enthusiastically brought as much food as the table could hold. There was the usual cheese, meat, and fresh fruits, along with some dried fruits, vegetables, brown rice, and cakes. Just as Shareen was about to take some, a glare from her mother had her pull her hand back.
“Let’s drink first.”
Without delay, a glass of wine was placed into Cassandra’s hands.
“Mother, do not force her to drink,” said Kairen with a frown.
“It’s fine. I had a cup once in a while when I was pregnant with you. This one isn’t strong anyway, it’s mostly juice. She can have some tea next.”
Cassandra brought the smallest bit of wine to her lips and indeed, she did not taste the alcohol at all, only the
sweet grape.
“Where are you from?” Concubine Kareen asked, as she took a sip of her own drink.
“From the Rain Tribe in the south. I was born there and was…brought to the Capital when I was a child, Concubine Mother.”
“A Southern Tribe? How interesting. Your people were known for wonders in medicine and agriculture. How shameful that such bright people disappeared over those barbaric wars. Had you achieved any proficiency before that?”
“I did. I use my medical knowledge at the Military Camp, Concubine Mother.”
Immediately, Imperial Concubine Kareen glared at her son.
“You took your concubine to the camp? Among so many men? I thought you knew better, Kairen!”
“She is my concubine. None of my men would dare to…”
“Of course not! But a military camp is still no place for a concubine! How selfish of you. You may be strong, but you underestimate others. Don’t you know how easy it is to die? You are being naive, my son. Your concubine doesn’t have the Dragon’s blood!”
Cassandra looked down. The Concubine Mother seemed acutely aware of the struggle to survive that common people face. She was visibly irritated with her son and kept glaring at him, though Kairen didn’t seem affected.
“Anyway. Your concubine shall stay here from now on.”
“No.”
Cassandra was caught between a new exchange of glares between mother and son, and they were totally overwhelming her. The Concubine Mother wanted her to stay here? Why? And for how long? Realizing her son wasn’t going to give in, Kareen turned on him.
“You have grown up far too sheltered by your Father, Kairen. Do you know how hard it is to keep a child alive in this Empire? Your brothers will be after her like dogs after a bone! If she returns to the Palace, she will be killed within a day! If she stays at the Onyx Castle, I would give it a week before one of them sends an assassin after her. And the military camp? Even worse! They could bribe any one of your men to do the job for them!” (2)
Cassandra felt her heart grow cold at the thought. The Imperial Concubine Mother was telling the truth. Sooner or later, this pregnancy would put her in grave danger; she turned her eyes to Kairen, who was looking at her too.
“I’ll protect her.”
“Kairen, I raised two children to adulthood, despite all your father’s other concubines. Do you think I don’t know what kind of world this is? I lost three of your siblings to those wenches!” (2)
Three? Imperial Concubine Kareen had lost three children? The Concubine seemed to be a strong and powerful woman! But if she couldn’t even protect all of her offspring… Cassandra was even more worried.
Cassandra turned to her, trying to control her fear.
“Concubine Mother, please. I’m… I really want to protect this child. Someone has already tried to steal Krai’s egg, and…”
“Did they?” asked Kareen, looking at her daughter.
Shareen had a smirk.
“Of course they did. Vrehan was furious.”
“Then thank the Imperial Dragon, I got there before them.”
“How did you know, Mother?” asked Kairen.
She rolled her eyes at him.
“Do you think I was born yesterday, my son? I know you. You never showed interest in any of the previous concubines your father gave you. Now you pick a slave, of all people, out of the blue? I knew it wouldn’t be long until I had a grandchild on the way.” 5