Emeravwe has a secret.

She has no memories of her past and no idea where she came from. This is already enough to cause her deep inner turmoil. But in a palace where rank and social status are everything, she finds herself in the worst possible situation: at the bottom of the food chain, scrubbing floors. 

Yet, how can she be satisfied with this meager existence when surrounded by grandeur? So, she sets her sight on the very highest position in the kingdom -- the king.

Enlisting the help of her childhood friend, Eunuch Aslan, she enters the Bureau of Court Affairs and meets Mudiaga, a handsome officer of the Palace Guard, along the way. 

Can Emeravwe achieve her dream of becoming the king's consort? Or will the secrets behind the dark veil of her past be a mountain more insurmountable than any social ladder?

And what secrets do Aslan and Mudiaga hold?

The Moon of Xxene: Lunar Petal

Butu: female greeting. A curtsy with hands cupped in front of the chest. There's a 3rd, 2nd, and 1st degree, the curtsy deeper with each. 


Digwe: male greeting. A bow with hands cupped before the chest. 3rd, 2nd, and 1st degree, the bow deeper with each. 


Dou: informal greeting that can mean "Hello," "Thank you," or express sympathy or regret. 


Kada: king's response to the greeting "Umogu." Roughly, it means "Grace upon you." 


Miguo: a respectful greeting that can mean "Hello" or "Thank you." 


Umogu: deferential greeting only for the king. Roughly meaning, "Greetings to the revered." 


Égodo Orodje Aye/Aya/Agaenaye/Omote: official title of palace Maidens, all roughly meaning, "Maiden of the King's Compound." 


Aye ("Ah-yeh"): highest rank of palace Maidens. The Rode Aye are the three highest ranked Aye. 


Aya ("A-yah"): second-highest rank of Maidens. 


Agaenaye ("Ah-geh-nah-yeh"): third-highest rank of Maidens. 


Omote ("Uh-muh-teh"): lowest rank of Maidens. 


Ochuko ("Uh-choo-koh"): a seventh rank court official. 


Oga ("Uh-gah"): Sir. Title used for seventh and eighth rank officials/officers. 


Ólórógun ("Uh-luh-ruh-goon"): a second rank court official. 


Oniri ("Oh-nee-ree"): title used for third and fourth rank officials/officers. 


Onori ("Oh-noh-ree"): title used for fifth and sixth rank officials/officers. 


Onóturode ("Oh-nuh-too-roh-deh"): Prime Minister. 


Onughe ("Oh-noo-geh"): a court official of the eighth rank. 


Orori ("Oh-roh-ree"): Lord. Title used for first and second rank officials and lords from prominent families. 


Osiebé ("Oh-see-eh-bay"): a fourth rank court official. 


Ovye ("Ohv-yeh"): King. Ovye is a title used only to address the reigning king. 


Orodje ("Oh-roh-jeh"): King. Unlike "Ovye," the title "Orodje" can be combined with a court name and used to address any king, past or present. "Ovye" is the more reverent and formal title which addresses the position, and not the individual. 


Edidjana ("Eh-dee-jah-nah"): religious day of rest and worship. 


Oghene ("Uh-geh-neh"): Xxene's deity. Depicted as a dragon. 


Onorogu ("Oh-noh-roh-goo"): "The Honorable." Caste of nobles. 


Onéki ("Uh-nay-kee"): "Traders." Caste of big merchants. 


Ehwoéki ("Eh-hwoh-ay-kee"): "Market people." Caste of specialized workers, e.g. smiths, craftsmen, and artists. Includes smaller merchants. 


Ehworegha ("Eh-hwoh-ray-gah"): "Farm people." Caste of farmers. 


Ivyogbere ("Eve-yohg-beh-reh"): "The desolate." Caste of peasants, mostly indentured servants. 


--Yaroy: "Homeless." Subclass of Ivyogbere. 


Wuhwuh: "Ugly." Ostracized people who are not part of the Four Tribes of Xxene. They don't belong to any caste. 


--Orhorho ("Oh-roh-roh"): a person of mixed blood (Four Tribes + Wuhwuh). 


Agidigbo ("Ah-ghee-deeg-boh"): a rectangular box instrument with flexible metal bars attached to its center. 


Suffix "-me" (pronounced "meh."): Adding this suffix to the end of a name/word makes it possessive. As in "Ayeme," which means "my Aye," or "Ovyeme," "my Ovye." When added to a name or title of address, it makes the speaker sound more affectionate/endearing.


Glossary