Chapter 13 - turn it

Pamela wanted to yell in pain.

Eva hushed her, "Shhhh. Why are you raising your voice? I am only teaching you a lesson. Since I have the responsibility to do so, I cannot slack off on my duty. I must make you realize your place, how you should talk, how you should act. I believe after today, you will understand better. You will, won't you?"

Pamela did not respond. All she did was cry softly.

"I asked you a question. You better answer me, lowly concubine!" Eva spat.

"I will learn my lesson. I have learned my lesson, side consort. Please, spare me!" Pamela begged.

"Side consort, please stop," Patricia said. She had been silently observing the situation.

Eva scoffed, "The shameless concubine speaks. What is your name? And how dare you tell me what I can and cannot do?"

"My name is Patricia. I am not bossing Your Highness around. I am just speaking for the benefit of Your Highness. Blood on a consort for the first few months in the palace is termed a bad omen. As it signifies inauspicious. I am afraid that the good luck of Your Highness would be tainted the moment Pamela begins to bleed, Your Highness." Patricia answered. She had made that up.

Eva gasped; she had never heard of this before. But Patricia seemed so sure of what she was saying. And Eva was scared of being inauspicious. She wanted peaceful days in the palace. She lifted her feet from atop Pamela's hand, cleared her throat, and answered, "I remember very well all the do's and don'ts. I do not need a lowly concubine such as you to remind me." She turned to leave.

As soon as Eva stepped out of the room, Patricia rushed to Pamela and raised her gently. "Are you alright?"

Patricia checked Pamela's hand. She was bleeding.

"Patricia, I was so scared. Why did side consort Eva treat me this way?" Pamela kept weeping.

Patricia embraced Pamela and began to calm her. All Patricia could think of was how to get back at Eva for this. Eva reminded Patricia of Margaret. And as Patricia had dealt with Margaret, she was determined to deal with Eva.

***

Edward ate lunch at his mother's table. The queen just sat there watching, without uttering a word. Edward could guess what was on his mother's mind. He did not want to discuss it, so he kept eating.

The queen had wanted Edward to plead with her. From her disposition, she was giving him every indication that she was upset. When she realized he was ignoring her, she hit her fist on the table, "All you do is eat. Can't you apologize to your mother?"

Edmund dropped his cutlery. "I am sorry, Mother," he picked up his cutlery and continued eating.

Queen Constance gasped, "Is that all you say to your mother?"

Prince Edward swallowed and responded, "You wanted me to apologize. I have, Mother."

"You did not talk about what you did wrong," she argued.

"What did I do wrong?" He asked.

"Yesterday, you were not with your crown princess. Why? Where were you last night?" His mother asked.

"Official business, Mother. I can't talk about it. But, if you want me to leave, I will." Prince Edward rose to his feet.

The queen's eyes widened. "Do not leave. I want you to stay for a while."

Edward sat down again.

"My dear, Perry is your crown princess. You need to give her attention. You should have been with her on her first night in the palace. The other ladies might look down on her. And this is not good for the royal family. Reputation is important. You must fix it tonight. You have to stay with her through the night. I hope you understand?" His mother scolded.

***

Edward wanted to go see Perry, but he decided to see Patricia first. He had enjoyed their encounter today. He wondered if he had acted a bit too much. He had not wanted her to recognize him. He had even taken a pill to change his voice. But with the attention he showered her today as prince Edward, he knew there would be a lot to talk about.

He walked towards her room, carrying food. He asked for permission and entered the room. The ladies were not as vibrant as they used to be.

He thought of where Patricia could be. He walked to the place they had stayed to talk the previous day. He smiled on seeing Patricia there.

"Hey," he called. "You don't look so good." He walked over to her and sat beside her. "You should be glad. I hear you have secured the attention of the crown prince. Everyone is talking about it in the palace. You have become famous, Patricia."

"I want some peace. I do not want to talk about it," she snapped.

"Tell me what is eating you up?" He asked calmly. "Side consort Eva! She is eating me up. She came to my room, bullied all of us, and injured the hands of my terrified roommate. Why did she do it? You want to know right? Because of the crown prince's attention."

"You wanted the crown prince's attention. I thought you would be happy about what happened today," Philip was trying to understand her.

"I wanted the crown prince's attention, yes. But not so early. I wanted to take my time. I want you to understand me; the crown prince has not shown affection for any woman. Not even the crown princess. And all of a sudden, he showers attention on a nameless concubine? Tell me why I will be spared? Of course, all the jealous women will want my head." She was pacing as she spoke.

"So, what do you want to do now?" He asked. "I will lay low for a while. Maybe avoid the prince until it is safer," she said.

"Wrong move," he corrected.

"You can't be serious?" She spat. "Take it from me. You are already in a very serious situation. Either you fight for your survival, or you get trampled. And believe me, if you do not survive, you can't even get revenge. It will just be an illusion," he was thinking deeply as he spoke.

"What do you think I should do?" She asked, as she stopped walking and glared at him.

"Fight for the prince's favor," he blurted.

"What?" She couldn't believe her ears.

He was dead serious. "You heard me. This is the only way of warding off attack. Turn his attention and favor to your defense."