The first dinner

"My lady, you've been invited to have dinner with the lord tommorow evening." Yema relayed the message from the servant thst had come.

I blinked hard, surprised. Why? I thought to myself.

"My lady this is your chance!" Kaylee excitedly told me as she got closer to me. "Finally he's calling you to him!" She continued as she began to shake me.

Kaylee was way too excited as if she herself, was the one being invited to dinner.

"Relax, Kaylee." I told her as I got her to stop shaking me.

"I'm sorry my lady." She then said ashamed but you could see the excitement in her eyes.

Still I wondered why I had been invited. This was the first time the General had asked something of me since he gave me my initial punishment. I couldn't help but feel a little nervous. The last time I saw he was fuming with anger.

I'd managed to avoid any trouble thus far so, hopefully, I could continue to make it stay that way. Trouble only seemed to follow Ayan when she bothered the General and the other wives so I wanted stay away from them as much as possible but obviously I wouldn't be able to keep it up for long.

At the end of the day I was still the General's wife and I was a part of his harem I was going to have to interact with them.

The following day I spent the day doing needlework and getting beauty treatments from Kaylee. I wanted to go into my garden but Kaylee complained that I would ruin all the treatments.

So I was just sitting with a grumpy expression. As I got abused by Kaylee. That girl was so mean to me and her treatments were torture. "My lady don't make that face you'll get wrinkles." She complained again.

I couldn't even be angry in peace.

Despite me finding her annoying I couldn't get angry at her. She was a sweet girl overall but when it came to my treatments Kaylee was an unstoppable force.

Luckily the time seemed to be moving quickly as the day soon came to an end. And all the treatments came to an end, finally. I was happy for a moment but then I realized it was just one freedom before I was going to be locked in the next prison. It was now time for me to prepare for dinner.

Kaylee and Yema got me ready,Kaylee going overboard with her plan to make me extra 'beautiful'.

Once I was done being prepped I then left my house and headed for the main house. Crossing the courtyard I was met with stares yet again. I was to this by now. I didn't

I walked into the room to see the other four wives were already seated at the table. They were in the middle of talking but stopped and they all stared at me, no, more like glared as I slowly entered the room. Their eyes followed me as I took a seat at the table at the only other seat that had utensils set up. The silence continued even after I sat down. I was feeling extremely self conscious, they really didn't like Ayan. The General hadn't arrived yet. I was seated furthest away from where the General would be seated.

The wife I sat next to was Rina. She turned to me. "It's been a while Ayan." She started with senile grin. "You've been quiet lately and now look the Lord is rewarding you for good behavior." she laughed at me.

I paid her no mind and said nothing to her.

"What? you still aren't going to say anything?" she asked.

"The Lord has arrived." We then heard a servant announce from one of the dining room doors. The general walked into the room. The tall handsome man was dressed in casual robes, his golden locs were loose and came down his shoulders. We all stared as he took his seat at the head of the table.

"Good evening, ladies" he said. "Sorry, I'm late. I had some work to finish."

"Don't worry about it my lord, we didn't wait for too long." Maris said to him.

"Is that so?" He laughed as looked at all the wives.

Then his eyes landed on me and his expression changed. I felt my heart stop beating for a moment. I didn't want to get in trouble.

"Ayan." He said my name, making everyone turn to look at me. I felt like a student who had been picked by the teacher to give an answer, but I never raised my hand to give it in the first place.

"My lord." I responded slowly doing my best to remain collected. If I thought the other wives gaze on me was bad then I wouldn't even know what to consider the generals'. It was intense and terrifying.

"How have you been doing? " He asked me. Though that was his question that didn't seem like what he was really asking me. He sounded like he was testing me.

"I'm doing well my lord." I answered politely. "Thank you for asking."

"Is that so?" he asked curiously.

"Yes, my lord."

"Well then if that's the case, let's go on to have our meal shall we?" He then said to everyone as he waved his hands to the servants to bring in the first course.

I was glad I didn't have to cook tonight. In this room where I felt very unwelcome that was the one thing I looked forward too.

The first course was a light vegetable soup. I relished it as I wondered if I could make it for myself. In the meanwhile the other wives were in the middle of talking to General they were all trying to get a word in with him. All competing for his attention. The general, as he watched them all fight for his affection seemed to have a cocky satisfied grin on his face. He was enjoying the attention.

I found it disgusting the way these women were fighting for this man. Looking at how Harems worked, people put in the embarrassing position to beg for love. However, I couldn't say I blamed these women they had to do this, aside from being taught to do this, the General was their meal ticket he provided for them. Unlike my mother from my timeline who technically had a choice. As I continued to look at them, I met eyes with the general to which he continued to stare at me over the other wives that were talking to him.

Nervously, I looked away and focused on my soup again. The other wives continued to talk to him as I stayed quiet eating my soup. I noticed the General continue to cast me glances as we ate. He didn't say anything though.

It appeared as if the general had called me to dinner to observe me. I wasn't sure what to make of it but I hoped he wouldn't draw attention to me and so I just focused on the soup. As we finished the first course the general then signalled for the next dish to be brought out.