Chapter 15 - Behind the walls

For the most part of the meal I could feel Gabrielles eyes on me even when she was chatting quietly with Elaina. I sadly could not hear what their conversation was about but I could see that she looked a bit less guarded afterwards. Well as much as it was possible for a woman who oblivious was quite in control over her own emotions and behavior. You could clearly see that she was raised inside a quite strict household. However she did not seem to look down on my companions even when she learned that Johanna was a former prison guard and Marie an now freed slave.

During the meal Marie explaining some off the odd terms I had encountered to me while Johanna just sometimes asked a few short questions towards me and Gabrielle but mainly just enjoyed the full meal in front of us. It was a simple one by the standard of a palace. Just a soup at the beginning then some plates with meat and baked goods as well as some sweet sauce and with some kind of pudding as a finisher. However even after a week of eating in the royal palace I was still overwhelmed with the quality and quantity of the meals. And it looked like that my own kitchen was no lower in standard then the royal kitchen.

After the meal we decided to return to the office for one last round of digging trough the documents. From what I had found there were two separated actions necessary. The first was the release of all the old slaves and offer them a position as servants. The second to build up a way to make the rest of the slaves live more acceptable so they had a more relaxed life and would be able to actually gain something. I sadly could not just release them according to the laws. I bet that some bastards like the old duke had fought for that but I was certain that I could find a way to either that law or release them outside of the kingdom in a manner that would not endanger me or those around me or at last make their seven year stay with me something that would benefit them instead of being seven lost years.

Gabrielle seemed to be well versed in those rules, at least enough to be able to tell if something sounds reasonable or not. Overall I could see how it was going to be quite interesting to work more with her. She was able to determine easily which part of the large amount of books needed our attention and most likely without her It would have been a task of weeks to even begin to understand all of that. However, she had dodged most of the private questions. Not in a offending way but she was clearly used to not saying to much if she didnt wanted to. Like when I asked about how living together with multiple wifes was for her I got only a no committing. "You get used to it after a while " and then she pointed out a interesting fact she had noticed in the documents and focused the conversation towards that.

We were just on the way back when we heard something. At first it was just a soft distance voice singing a gentle tune. The voice carried easily far trough the mostly empty hallways, and when we got closer was joined by a harp. We all stopped, and I looked curious to Gabrielle who shook her head slightly but smiled. The song got louder more distinct and I could hear now that it was a young woman singing a gentle song. She had obliviously many years of experience similar to the player of the harp.

We went slowly got closer to where the music came from but the closest, we could get was a piece of the wall that had decorative holes at the top to allow the air to move freely in between the rooms. All the doors were only on the opposite side and there was no oblivious way to enter so I assumed that the area behind here was part of the harem. However near this wall was a comfortable seating area for which purpose one can only guess still we sat down in silent and listen to the hidden musician. I did noticed that Gabrielle had her eyes closed and was silently nodding along obliviously knowing the song.

They played on for a short while even getting a bit louder. The music was slow but happy and relaxing. Something that would be perfect to sing while you watched a sunset after a hard day of work. It finished and we all looked a bit sad to have it end so soon suddenly another song started again this time just the instrument on its own but we still sat and enjoyed it. None of us wanted to make any loud noises. In general it seemed to be more quite then before in the empty halls. Not that there was much noise here in the palace in general but all you could hear now was the rustling of the trees outside and the soft soft touches of the harp. The second song ended and after waiting for two three minutes before we decided with silent nodding to move back to the office.

"Was that one of the others?" I asked Gabrielle as soon as we were a bit further away. She smiled but shook her head slightly. "We promised each other that if our husband would ever hear her sing we would not tell him who of us it was. Now you are not him but since you inherited every contract that he owned I think you got this one as well." She chuckled a bit then winked. "You will have to talk to Suha about it."

I was a bit surprised by this but then nodded towards her. Because as moma says. Trust is the most difficult good of all. You cant trade it. You cant sell it, you can only earn and give it, but without it you will be poor for your whole life. After this looked a bit more into the books until the it was deep in the night and it turned out that my plan to just letting the slaves go was hampered by shear size of my possessions.

Still we managed to decide on a plan for how to proceed the next few days. By then it was already dark outside most likely already way past the bedtime. There was a steady glow coming from small installations behind small opaque glass screens on the wall, but I had not noticed anybody getting in to light a oil lamp or something similar. However I was so focused on my work that I might have just missed that.

"Well friends I think that was enough for a day. Gabrielle will you return tomorrow to help Marie a bit more or do you have other tasks that will keep you busy?" She smiled and nodded. "I will be busy with teaching the little ones for three hours but bevor and after that I will be able to assist yes. But why help her however and not you? Will other duties keep you busy?" I smiled softly. "I want to spend tomorrow morning like I wanted to spend today and explore a bit about my new home." I sighed and rubbed my neck. "I only spend today deep in the books because I realized the urgency in these matters. Non the less I will return tomorrow definitely later in the day just not the whole day."

She nodded once more then sorted trough some of her notes and got read to leave. "The harem will expect you alone tomorrow for a launch. Please refrain from eating to much bevor that." She hesitated a bit. "We can't and won't forbid you from entering the harem of course. After all it I your house now but if you would be so kind, we would like to ask you to not visit on your own until we invite you in. It is our only home and our daughters are a bit scared from all that is going on. And while they will become your daughters too at the moment they don't know you at all."

I raised an eyebrown then nodded. It was a bit strange for me that she waited until now to tell me all this, but then maybe she just had waited till now to know how to address all this. "Well then ... umm I assume one of the servants can guide us to our rooms?" She chuckled and nodded the clapped her hands two times loudly. Two women came into the room with lowered heads. They wore the now familiar attire of the maids. A white dress with a thin summer skirt and an elegant sleeveless top rounded with soft shoes and thin short socks.

They both looked relaxed and calm and not tired at all even though it was already at a late hour. "Can you please guide our Guest to their rooms. And has the lords chamber been prepared for the new Duke?" Gabrielle asked them calmly. The one on the left answered without hesitation. "Madam Laferin has made certain that the Master chambers are prepared and ready milady. Shall we guide you to your chambers your Grace?" She said and looked straight towards me with a soft smile. "Uhh " It took a long moment for me to realize that she meant me with your grace. Until then Gabrielle had already answered. "No that is fine I will be the guide for my husband tonight."

I blinked and looked towards her. She had a soft smile on her lips but I could not read if the husband was meant sarcastic or not so I just nodded a thanks. "As you wish milady, if the esteemed guest would be so kind to follow us?" They guided my friends away and two more hidden servants stepped up. "With your permission milady can we clean the office or should we lock it for the night?" She hesitated then looked toward me for permission bevor speaking. "You may clean but please leave our notes where they are so we can continue tomorrow and dont forget to lock after yourself when you are done." They bowed and steeped inside and flanking the door waiting for us.

"Well shall we?" I nodded but turned towards the bowing maids fist. "Thank you and sorry for keeping you up for so late at night." They smiled and bowed even a bit further. "Thank you milady!." They said in union without any hesitation. "It is absolutely no problem to be off service for you. Madam Laferin makes certain that we get enough rest milady." The one on the left said with a smile. It did sound quite honest and without any fear so the guilty feeling of having someone clean up after me faded a bit a bit when I follow Gabrielle. The whole day had been strange. The servants were always present never far and always willing to help. There was never a harsh word spoken or needed but still they kept their head lowered whenever I got close. I was so tempted to order them to look me straight into the eyes but I promised myself that first I had to get a feel for this place. I walked next to Gabrielle, the way was rather short since it basically was just one floor up over the large marble staircases before we were standing Infront a large ornamented door.

"Well then in here are your private chambers milady." She said with a soft smile. "If you forgive me but I think it is to early to share them with you as well as Suha has not given me the permission to share them with you yet. So If you dont mind I will retire towards my own chambers inside the Harem now." I chuckled. I could guess that the permission thing was how they had fought the advances of the old duke. I bowed slightly towards her. "Thank you for guiding me the long way milady and for welcoming me and assisting me in my selfish desire. Till tomorrow." For a short moment I could see surprise in her eyes before she smiled and bowed as well.

"Till tomorrow my Duke." She said with a soft smile before she turned and walked down the stairs. Her steeps were as elegant and graceful and my eyes may have lingered on her elegant ass a while longer then they should have. I only now fully realized what she had been wearing the whole time. It was a neat set of elegant frilled shirt and a long skirt. The skirt however managed to hug her full round behind before flaring out slightly to give it a heart shaped appearance her shoes were hard and flat so that ever steep of her made a loud echo on the hard Granit stairs.

After she disappeared out of sight I finally decided to open the doors to what would be my bed chambers from now on. Behind them however I was greeted with a fully saloon. There was a large seating area directly next to the door formed with large couches assembled around an low table. On the other side was a relatively normal table with 8 chairs around it. Behind that was a large bar full of all kinds of different liquor. Maybe at some nights I would have the time to explore its content. There was no fireplace but that was not uncommon in the warm climate of this city. The walls were decorated with paintings of different landscapes and a lot of bookcases. The books appeared to be strange all form fitting, of similar colorstyle and shape and arranged by said colors. I took out one and it had the unbelievable tempting tittle of 'A small collection of Poems of Mr Hummersmith'.

After reading just two poems I knew now that Mr Hummersmith might have been dedicated enough to create a book, but he was definitely not a gifted poet. His attempt to match Bell with Dead Horse in a poem about Appletrees was not something I would be able to forget anytime soon. I carefully put away the heavy book full of deadly poetry and continue to explore the room. Apart from the seating area there wasnt much more in it however. There was enough empty space to hold a small feast and it was only taken up by a ornamental mosaic rose on the ground. On the opposite end it opend up to large open doorways that guided out towards a giant balcony.

On the balcony was another pavilion with a chair and a writing desk below it. There seemed to be a lot of different comfortable seating pillows spraweled around between green large plants that framed the edge of the balcony. It was all illuminated by the white glassed light stands that seemed to be all over the palace. There where two more doors leading away from this room. So I opened the first one, only to be greeted with an empty office ... another one. How many offices does one man need? This one however was less decorated then the main one. And it seemed to be more of a study then a real office.

There was one book left open at the center of the table with a small book next to it. The big foliant was an history off the northern desert and the smaller one where notes. Apparently he had tried to find the localions of one of the mayor settlements that used to be there when the land was still healthy and green. I shook my head slightly. Only a fool would dream off finding treasures there. I put the small notebook back where I found it and went back to the main hall opening the other room.

In the center of it was a giant bed. It was large enough that you could sleep sideways in it without ever risking to fall off. It had eight posts around it that were heavly decorated. But then I spotted something that made me hesitate. The posts had heavy duty rings on them. One on each side just hight enough that you wont hit your head but still could reach them. Why would you need ... I froze in realization then just shook my head and continued the exploration of my new sleeping chambers.

The bed was obliviously freshly made. And compared to my prison it was going to be heaven. There was a walk in closet full of different gowns that definitely would not fit me. A stance for a sword. As well as three other swords in that stand. All elegantly made. Way to fancy for a battle or something like that but they looked like real weapons and not just decoration. There wasnt much furniture in the room itself and only a door towards the balcony left. I was certain that ther was at least one hidden way for a servant to get in but i had made the mistake of sitting on the bed and just a second later i was out like a light.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Omg finally another chapter. The last weeks were chaos for me. From staying at home way to much (i usually write my story on the way to work in the metro) To haveing a mayor writer block over the hidden singer. Soo sorry that it took so long ^^ I hope now that things have returned a bit to normal again i will find a good rythem to write more again.

I love Gabrielle and i hope she is not to arrogant. From all the wifes i think she will be the one who can more easily adapt to the changed situation. I tried to not to focus to much on the byrocracy but it seems that most of you who read trough the whole book do enjoy my writing in detail. Anyway ^^ I hope you guys enjoyed it so far ;) Next chapter will come when its ready ^^