Chapter 15

A new phase of life has begun for Erona. After a sad period of humiliation, the days of glory came. She was the Prince's first mistress, no, she was the only mistress. Everyone had to treat her with respect now. The servants bowed and she herself walked through the halls with her head held high. She knew what the jealous maids and the rest of the servants whispered behind her back. Not so long ago, they indifferently passed by the penal cell intended for rebelling slaves. She spent several days there in the dark and on water alone. The slave master preferred this form of punishment to beatings, especially in the case of women. He used to say that it spoiled their skin, fasting was effective, after a few days a man would do anything for food. She shook off those thoughts. The steward himself, Omar, avoided her like the plague. But Erona had bigger worries than Omar right now.

For the past three weeks she had occupied the chambers adjacent to the prince's rooms. She had two rooms at her disposal. They were no match for the splendor of her native home though. Erona's father was one of the richest merchants in Bazaldia and could afford all kinds of luxuries, from ebony wood to inlaid furniture. Everything was raw here. Carved from gray or black granite. Even the furniture was unadorned, angular and simply basic. The only sign of luxury were the red-tinted glass windows in the great hall. The other chambers were of the same severity. And so she had a bedroom with a smoky fireplace and a huge bed, but without a canopy, next to which stood two chests of clothes and a chair and a table for women's trinkets. The second room contained a comfortable bench, a table, two padded chairs, and a beautiful tapestry depicting a view of mountain peaks and a herd of deer. In fact, she even had her own maid who helped her dress and do her hair. Now she was getting dressed for the evening party. The young girl did her best to pin up her thick curly hair.

"Pin this flower on me here" - Erona demanded - "leave the rest of your hair loose."

The maid sighed softly in relief.

"What dress do you want?" Erona smiled at the polished tray that served as a mirror, she was called Lady again

"The light one in cream color" She said imperiously, fixing her hair up.

The maid headed for the chest and in a moment was carrying a cream dress. Erona did not know and preferred not to wonder who it belonged to before, now she was the one to wear it. With the help of the girl, she pushed herself into the corset and then almost fainted while lacing.

"Don't pull like that, I can't breathe," she panted

- Oh Lady, this dress doesn't have so much space for the bust, but I'll loosen it somehow - the girl nervously loosened the strings with thick fingers - better?

- Now, yes? Saying this, she turned around, sending the maid a charming smile. The dress perfectly adhered to Erona's female figure, emphasizing her waist and round hips, but above all her ample bust. Puffed sleeves with slits revealed a lining of gold fabric. The neckline and hem of the skirt were trimmed in the same color.

"Like a goddess, the prince won't be able to take his eyes off you my lady." They both began to giggle happily.

Gorsep wasn't laughing at all, from the morning he was nervous and very serious. He was about to have a conversation with his father. He was already in the courtyard to make sure everything was in order, he looked through everything, he was even in the kitchen, from where he was thrown out by the saucy housekeeper. He went to the stables once more, he liked to personally check how the grooms were taking care of the horses.

He walked over to his chestnut stallion and handed him an apple he had taken from the kitchen. The horse reacted quickly and happily ate the treat. Dark thoughts swirled in his head constantly. He was to come face to face with his father and tell him how he had killed his brother.

It's strange, but he had no remorse about it, just this conversation ... He wasn't afraid of his father, but he felt discomfort. He patted the horse's soft nostrils, passed a stable boy who was just hauling out horse dung in a wheelbarrow, when he heard the horn blare. It was high time, his father has just arrived. Gorsep left the stables, walked past the barn and turned left past the storeroom straight into the cobbled courtyard. His guards were already waiting, nicely in two ranks. They wore only leather caftans and iron helmets, the visors of which covered the face halfway, leaving rectangular openings for the eyes with a slightly extended nose. They had spears in their hands. Gorsep stood aside.

On the stairs stood his mother, after a moment's thought he approached her to greet the king of Equerd together. In the distance, the clatter of horses' hoofs could be heard in the tunnel, and after a while the entire guard squad, led by my father, appeared in the gate. Courtiers and servants cheered for him. Hadbel smiled and gave a slight nod of his head, returning the signs of joy. In the courtyard, he dismounted from his horse, exchanged two words with the commander of his unit, and then with a determined step approached the family waiting for him.

"Husband," Ledwira bobbed courteously and her husband placed a light kiss on her cheek, then looked at his son and said, "We need to talk right now."