Chapter 43 No! I missed a sacred dress code
Amarien’s POV
“The emperor has gotten really sick. He has been unconscious for days now.”
I leaned in to the door of my room, listening to the concubines gossip in the passageway. I couldn't dare join them. Not when all of them still think it was I who was responsible for the emperor’s illness.
“I pray he lasts a bit longer…” one of them prayed. “The thought of the nunnery scares me. I'll never be able to see these beautiful palace walls again.”
“The nunnery is only bad for those who disobey. Once you get on the good side of the nuns, you're good.” One of them said naively, making the rest of them laugh.
“You're so silly, Kiala. The nunnery is literal hell. We will never be able to get out till we die! There's no way out!”
They all panicked.
“Oh, the gods. It's that evil concubine's fault. She got the emperor this way.”
“I don't think so. They say it's the effect of the red moon portion.”
“Don’t act ignorant, Kiala. The emperor was as healthy as a horse before that damned woman came here. She is the one doing all of this…”
Someone cleared their throat, making the women gossiping shut their mouths.
“All concubines should converge outside now!” The lady who stepped in announced. “Princess Catherine, the Empress-to-be, is here.”
I froze. What's she doing in the concubine quarters? Quickly, I darted away from the door, threw a robe on, and matched outside.
The women who were gossiping right at my door were startled by my presence, but I didn't even bother to look their way. I kept my eyes up as I walked out of the outer court's chambers to the open-air garden where most of the concubines were already gathered.
Princess Catherine was already there, surrounded by her maids, some of whom fanned her with giant peacock feather fans. While others had their heads bowed to her.
She looked radiant and unbelievably pretty, almost intimidating.
I lowered my eyes, lest she find my face, and our eyes met. But it was too late. She had seen me before I could hide.
“Ah…there she is. Concubine Amarien. Could you step forward, please…” Princess Catherine said.
I felt my heart leap in my chest. Everyone whipped around. Their eyes were burning right through me. I tried hard not to shiver and crumble to the floor like I so desperately wanted to do.
But I stepped forward. My hands were clasped in front of me. Everyone concubine made way for me, almost shivering off me like I was a plague that could infect them.
“Your highness…” I bowed, my gaze fixed to the floor.
Catherine's eyes searched through me like leaves in a book.
“What's that you're dressed in?” Catherine said almost inaudibly, as if she were in strong disbelief.
I looked up and then at my clothing. I was in one of the green concubine silk dresses the Emperor had so lavishly bestowed on me. “It's an outfit gifted to me by the Emperor, your highness.”
I heard scoffs in the crowd behind me.
Catherine's eyes trailed me with nonchalance. “Aren't you aware of the new dress code?”
Dress code? No one told me of a dress code.
“Y y your highness…” I stammered.
Catherine raised her eyebrow like she was anticipating an excuse.
“No one told me of any dress code,” I finally said, making everyone in the crowd burst into laughter.
I looked around, confused. And then it struck me. Every concubine was in plain white today. How could I have missed that?!
Catherine rose to her feet. Her icy cold eyes peered through me. “I commanded all concubines to be in white today while we pray to the goddess of health for recovery for the emperor’s health.” Catherine shook her head. “It's hard to expect anything different from the cursed concubine who brought this ill fortune on us.”
I shook my head. “Your highness…I didn't…”
But Catherine cut me off.
“This act of yours isn't just disobedience. It's rebellion and must be punished likewise!” Catherine lashed.
I fell to my knees. “Please forgive me, your highness!”
Catherine spat on me. “Your malicious act of disobedience has cost us all our weeks of fasting and prayers! Now, we have to start again!”
The crowd sneered and spat.
“She’s cursed!
“She's evil!”
Catherine whipped her gaze to the guards. “Take this vile thing out of here! Have her scrub all of the lower quarters, till there's no spot of dirt in it!”
What?! The lower quarters. Not the lower quarters! Even the palace maidens reviled cleaning those quarters. I will spend weeks trying to get rid of the dirt there.
But I was given no chance to protest. The guard snatched me off the ground while all the concubines cheered like Catherine had delivered to them the long-awaited justice they craved.
Authors' note here:
Thank you so much for reading this far. Like I said earlier. Commenting, sharing, and talking about this work to your friends will go a long way. I really like to know what you guys think about the story so far. I'll be in the comments with you.
Also.
I want you guys to tell me. Are you team Daevir or Team Theron? I know Theron is supposed to be the bad guy, and I haven't even given him enough word-time. But I find the scene with him and Amarien interesting. Too interesting. Wink.
The next episodes will make you guys want to come for me because there are PLOT TWISTS coming up!!!!