XXVII

PRINCESS ROSHANNE

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The princess was once again in the tower of Maiden, she was talking to one of the dragon masters about a drastic change in the tower of the maiden, especially to the female dragons that reside inside the tower.

"Even I myself couldn't believe your highness!" The dragon master said while showing her one of the golden eggs that was freshly laid by one of the dragons.

"Just the other night three of the five dragons in the upper level Laid four to five clutches of eggs! And yesterday seven of our dragons from the lower level all laid a clutch of eggs, with the numbers not going below five...we hadn't seen this in a decade your highness!" He excitedly said, Roshanne stared at the egg for a moment... She suddenly felt unsure... This phenomenon can be connected to her father...was he perhaps falling back to the grace of the Gods? Was his marriage to Dae actually brought something good for him? But it was a good thing... The numbers are going up.

"That's good, please pay extra attention to them, make sure nothing goes wrong and make sure that all of them hatch." The Master nods his head before excusing himself. Roshanne stood there for a moment, she started at Wildfyre who hasn't shown any changes, signs of heat and that she is ready for mating, whilst her father's dragon has been mounting female dragons every now and then for the past two days.

"What bothers you so my dear cousin?" Roshanne looked behind her just in time to see Cashandra coming down from her dragon. A black beast with a streak of red scale, her dragons horns are in a shape that resembles that of a goats horn.

"It's nothing." She replied to her before looking back at Wildfyre who was slowly approaching Cashandra's smaller dragon.

" Shouldn't you be happy? I heard that several dragons here have laid several clutches of eggs. In the dragon dome the dragons are in frenzy, they're mating nonstop for the past two days... and during my exploration i found several caves with several eggs... twelve of those caves used to be abandoned." Cashandra reported to her. Roshanne smiles... But she was still bothered.

"What's wrong? Come on tell me." Cashandra encourages her.... Roshanne looked at her.... before sighing.

"It's... Just that... This started happening after my father's wedding... It's making me question my plan... Have I perhaps fallen out of favor from the gods? Did I perhaps... push my father back in their favor?" She finally voices out her concern before facing, and Cashandra scoffs.

"You? Falling out of their grace? That is impossible, just look at your hair and eyes" To make emphasis of her words Cashandra brushes her hair.

"Just look at your power still in your hands." Cashandra then holds her hand.

"Your not falling out of grace...If anything you have earned their favor more... This phenomenon is simply happening in preparation for you... When you finally takes the crown." Roshanne stared at her cousin's eyes... Cashandra have always been a supportive cousin.... She and her grandmother along with Margaret are the few women who raise her up... They are the one who told her... That it should have been her who became the heir... Not her brother who was weak.

"How can you be so sure?" Cashandra looks behind her and smile, before putting her hand on her shoulder and slowly turning her around... Only did then Roshanne had seen what was Wildfyre doing.... She's opening her wings, expanding it and then puffing her chest out in front of Minx, Wildfyre's dorsal fins were also extending... This was only ever done by the male dragons when attracting a mate... Wildfyre is showing traits only a male dragon would have... She is....

"Transitioning Roshanne... Your dragon is transitioning... And you know this only ever happens when the rider of the dragon is growing in power..

You are growing in power Roshanne." Roshanne stared at her dragon in awe... Of course! Of course! She laughed, oh how could she doubt herself? How could she doubt the gods?! This was in preparation for her ascension.

"The Gods must have loved me so." She murmured as she watches everything unravel before her eyes.

"The Gods did, and so are we... You have people Roshanne, we will stand behind your cause and support you no matter what." Cashandra had promised her, Roshanne then slowly turned towards her.

"I need to overthrow my father, and his bastard, I had to rid the palace of every viper it has... I need you with me in the palace." Cashandra smiled and nods her head.

"Of course cousin. Anything for you."

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Dae watched as the servants gathers and Carried her things out of the room... She had stood their just staring and wondering what will her life be now.... The Harem is a beautiful place, but regarding from her last experience... It wasn't a safe place. From what Neviska had told her it was filled with ambitious woman... Who's not afraid to murder anyone.

"Last lady the king had brought inside the Harem had jumped off from her balcony." Neviska had explained to her that morning.

"It was unclear of what the cause was... Many said it was because she had failed to give the king a son, or it was because she had lost her first born, that the grief was too much for her. But most have whispered that it was because of lady Clementine." Clementine... Now where have she heard that name before?

"Now my lady you should be extra careful when it comes to lady Clementine, the other concubines are mean yes... They love to humiliate those who they sees as competition, but none comes close to lady Clementine's sheer brutality... That woman literally feast on the weak. She would specially be eyeing you." Neviska had warned her then.

"She had been the king's favorite for the last five years. She was really good with words, men flocks around her. She could use your own words against you, so be very much careful. " Dae nods her head.

And now she stands in the middle of the room wondering how she could avoid the said woman.

" My lady, would you like to take a walk around the harem?" Neviska asked her, Dae lick her lower lip and nods her head, it's still early, she still have a lot of time before she meet with the princess.

" Hi grace... I saw him leave early today, where is he going?" She asked Neviska as they made their way to the harem.

" Oh? His grace... He went to the isle of bastards." Dae's brow furrowed.

" What is the isle of bastards? I've never heard of it before." She asked her.

" Well, the Isle of Bastards was in the far southern part of the kingdom, you have to cross the sea from here, but it was just a couple of hours voyage, the isle of Bastards is the island designated for the bastards kings and high Lords. It's basically their... Ummm what is the term?" Neviska paused for a moment.

" Sounds like a dumping area." She told her making Neviska flicked her finger together.

" Yes! Its where the royal and noble families throw away their Bastards to keep them away from them and to avoid having their name tarnished. The isle of Bastards was supposed to be a safe haven from the illegitimate sons and daughters but it is swarming with criminals, it's a lawless island, everything is allowed their." She told her.

" Well why is the king headed their?" Neviska looks around them as if making sure that no one is following them.

"Well from what I have heard my lady... A woman had just given birth to another bastard of the king, and someone claimed it has a golden hair and eyes. The king would probably see if the babe has a golden blood as well." Dae paused for a moment, and her eyes widen... another bastard? And this time it has a high chance that the child was bearing the gift of gods.

"If the babe were to have a golden blood... What would happen?" She asked in a whisper too.

"Then the king would name him his heir... The princess would probably be shunned away, she would probably be married off." Neviska stated.

"Would that also means he would have no use of me?" She hopefully asked, well if the king brought that babe with him then... She wouldn't have to bear him a child!

"I'm sure his Majesty would still love you all the same my lady. No need to feel threatened with that child, besides it's impossible... The kid will not be blessed, he born out of wedlock after all." The two of them continued to walk Dae's thought had lingered to the idea of that child... And she wondered what the princess reaction would be if in any case that the king had really brought in that child.

"And the older siblings would probably kill him before he could grow up..." Dae's head quickly turns towards Neviska.

"It's a common thing here my lady... The King's children are...like dragons themselves, they would push off the weakest outside of their nest. The King used to have more than 26 children inside the palace, the halls of the castle used to be littered with princes and princesses... That's until they Youngest were murdered, some by the eldest siblings, some by the concubines themselves" Lady Neviska shakes her head.

" Why... Did they do that?" She asked her.

" To avoid having more competitors for the crown." Dae's brow furrowed.

" Did the princess join in this too?" Neviska went still for a moment. She looks around again before swallowing and nodding her head.

" But you see my lady... The princess isn't necessarily bad... She just has to do what it takes to survive, being one of the two blessed children of the king... She was an easy target, there were multiple attempts in her life... Besides the princess didn't kill any of her siblings, she's just inflicting lasting injuries, much like what happened to prince Louis. The crippled prince." Dae had nodded her head. So the princess isn't a saint after all, but just like Neviska had told her, she understands that the princess was only ever doing it for the sake of her own survival.

" The king didn't do anything?" Neviska had shake her head.

" The king only gave small punishment, to those who are caught, but the murdering of the siblings had completely stopped, princess Adelaide was the only youngest child of the king that is left... Because she was under the protection of lady Ceris and the princess." Now that she had mentioned it, Roshanne had remembered the bubbly little girl and she couldn't help but smile, it was rare to see a child so outgoing.

" Where is she?" She asked Neviska.

"She's currently staying inside the Harem, she has the only one who has the exception. " Dae nods her head, now that she remembers it, from one of the lessons she has with lady Diana, she explained to her that the princes and princesses actually lives at the Prince and Princess palace, from what she she can remember it is located at the Southern wing of the palace, with the exception of the golden heir.

"Where is her mother then?" Neviska mouth formed a thin line, and she looked crestfallen.

"Something bad happened to her?" Neviska nods her head.

"Well the late lady Calaine of Castwell was a strong woman who held grate influence, she belongs to the renown family of Castwell, who handles serval large trading business in the kingdom, lady Calaine was an independent strong willed woman and she often defies the King's ordered and often went head on with few of the concubines, she also had put an influence within the harem... The king saw her as threat... And therefore she was accused of treason and was sent to the gallows. She died when princess Adelaide was but a babe." It was sad... Dae thought, a very sad thing to think of... The princess lost her mother before she even gets to know her better, but at some point, at least the princess was saved from the heart ache it might cause her, at seeing and knowing she lost her mother.

"Lady Ceris and Princess Roshanne were both a close friend and admirer of lady Calaine, that's why they took it upon themselves to take in the girl." Neviska finished, the two of them paused for a moment when they had seen the arch way leading to the harem, the beautiful harem, Dae had thought, though it was nothing but a pit filled with vipers... Would she be one of them? Or just another poor hare who fall down the hole?

"Are you alright my lady?" Dae swallowed and nods her head before faking a smile.

"Yes of course." She answered before she started walking inside... If push comes to shove, she would have to fight back, she thought. Because if she didn't she might end up dead and she does not wish for that to happen, she still yearns for freedom, still yearns to see the wonders of the world, so Dae knew she needs to fight back even if it means she has  to hurt someone. Besides the princess was also counting on her, she hated to disappoint the princess.

As the two of them walked inside, Dae got to see the Harem further more, the receiving area was in the middle of two gardens, just like before the harem was build as If to imitate the beauty of nature itself, the harem was also a cooler place, because of the trees planted, at the far end Dae knew that there was a man made lake, it was just a small lake but still big enough for the ladies to take a bath if they desires too. It was one of the few things that lady Eleanor had shown her during her visitation.

"Lady Dae." A woman spoke, they didn't notice the woman that was standing by the side until she had spoken, she had seen her before, she noted, but she didn't get her name yet.

"Good day my lady." She greeted her instead, Neviska stood by Dae's side, but she kept her head down.

"I believe we hadn't had the pleasure of getting to know each other. I am Lady Natalya Ritter... The King's fifth concubine." The lady introduced herself, Dae noticed the way the Neviska had tensed, but she didn't pay much attention to it. Dae instead smiles and offered her hand for a shake.

" It's a pleasure to meet you lady Natalya." She smiles, lady Natalya raised her brow and looked down at her still extended hand before she cross her arm... Dae awkwardly pulled her hand away.

"I just want to give you a fair warning Bronze princess." Dae winced at the nickname she was given.

" Do not get in my way... Just because you are the king's favorite doesn't guarantee your safety, so don't get in my way." After she said that lady Natalya walked away without another word... So she had officially earned another enemy.... She guess.

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PRINCESS ROSHANNE

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Roshanne stood by the window inside the parlor room awaiting Dae, from what her servants had told her, Dae had just finished moving her things to her new room, so far there weren't any interaction with the other concubines because they are currently busy doing something, well except from lady Natalya, whom Neviska had told her have given Daw a fair warning.

Roshanne knew what would happen next, because it was a play they all kept playing on repeat. Some of the ladies in the harem would dare and hurt Dae, they would make fun of her, play cruel pranks and so on, until Dae looses her own sanity. But Roshanne couldn't allow that, she has to protect her for now.

"Your highness, princess Dae is here. " Odette told her, Roshanne turn to looks at her and nods her head signaling her to let Dae in. Odette bowed her head before turning to look at Dae, she said something and after that Dae had stepped in, Odette quietly close the door.

"Good afternoon Lady Dae... I trust Neviska had walked you through the harem and it's rules." Dae nods her head, still standing by the door.

"What was one of the rule?" She asked her before taking a seat.

"I must not invite anyone inside." Roshanne nods her head.

"Very well, please take a seat.". Dae took a seat, though she looks nervous.

" What's the matter? You look rather nervous." She asked her with a raised brow.

" Oh... It was just I talked to my father before I went here." She murmured before looking down at her lap... Roshanne studied her for a moment, it seems that Dae had discussed something heavy with her father.

" Did he hurt you?" She asked her, Dae's head quickly snaps towards her, eyes wide before she shakes her head no.

" I-it wasn't like that, no... No." Roshanne didn't see any bruises, but then again they know where to hit Dae where no one could see it.

"fine... Here have some tea first." She pushed the cup of tea towards Dae who took it and take a sip, her shoulder relaxes at the first taste of the tea.

" That's an expensive one... It came from another kingdom from across the Hollow sea, farther than the kingdom of Greendale." She explained to her watching Dae closely as she savors the rich taste of the tea. Roshanne took a sip of her own.

"How was the Harem? Did any of the girls speaks to you?" Dae nods her head before placing the tea cup down.

"Oh yes... I speak to this one particular lady, named Natalya Ritter. And...ummm...it wasn't a nice meeting." Dae shared to her.

" Ah of course... Lady Natalya Ritter is a notorious... How would you say this?" Roshanne thought for a moment for the right term to be used

"Ruffian?" Roshanne looks at Dae.

"Yes... She is. She's notorious for causing trouble among the other concubines and has a big rivalry with Clementine, those two cannot be put in one place together." Dae nods her head, before looking down at her tea cup.

"Have someone already told you about the charity?"

"No..." Roshanne nods her head and places down her cup of tea.

"A charity event is something a concubine must have. Every year a mont was given to one concubines where they could held a charity event to help a chosen organization or group of people to help. I'll give you an example." She cleared her throat and smile when she saw how intense Dae was talking to her... Well this is their first formal conversation after all.

"Lady Eleanor has a charity event she held every year that aims to provide help for the kingdom's farmers... While lady Ceris has a charity event that aims to provide help for the first magic learning establishment in the kingdom, making our kingdom the first to have a learning establishment meant for harnessing good magic. While the other concubines held charity events just for the pleasure of the other nobles and to support the kingdom's needs. A concubine must have one charity work aiming to help or provide something for the Kingdom. Have you thought of any?" Dae look down for a moment thinking, before she looks up at Roshanne and shakes her head.

"I'm sorry... It's ju-" Roshanne raised her hand to stop her from apologizing.

" Stop... It's fine, I am not rushing you, you can come to me anytime once you have thought of something." She told her

" And quit apologizing for everything, you are now a part of Helios family, have some dignity in you... Anyway I didn't call you here just to discuss this charity... I came here to talk to you about your father."