Evere and Aijah watched in silence from the tables as Valyha passed them moving to Roriana. They were surprised.
Queen Aijah however noticed that the eyes of the men in the room followed Valyha like hungry hawks. Like she had hypnotized them somehow. Her hips swayed and so did the eyes of the men followed.
"Did you see that Stridia?" Queen Aijah whispered to her head maiden who was standing at her side.
"Yes. Queen Valyha is quite the woman," Stridia whispered back to her.
"Do you think that is why the Emperor chose her? Had she seduced him?" Aijah questioned. It was strange seeing a woman have this kind of shameless effect on men. Usually noble men are more discreet about their admiration.
"Perhaps. She does seem like she's aware of her own effect on men. I don't see how a woman like that wouldn't use her body to her own advantage. The Emperor is still a man afterall."
"What world is she from?"
"I hear she's human." Stridia answered.
"Do you think if I ask, she'll teach me how to seduce the Emperor?" Aijah questioned as she watched Valyha approach Roriana's table.
"I doubt the Emperor chose her simply because of her seduction or beauty. There were plenty of women more beautiful than she that did not even get selected into the Harem."
"Then what do you think is the basis of his selection?"
"Our current Emperor has expanded the empire almost double its size, adopting more foreign civilizations than in all of history. Trust me, do not worry too much about that one. I doubt she was chosen for any special reason, she was just lucky. Most likely a pawn put in place to make the Empire seem more open to outsiders. What's more foreign to Qiras, than a human? The one you should worry about, other than Queen Evere, is the one being approached now," Stridia whispered as she looked straight forward.
"Who, Roriana?" Aijah raised an eyebrow, judging. "But she's not all too pretty."
"Exactly why you should be worried. She is also low birth. She possesses no powers, magical or political. When a man brings a woman who offers neither decoration, labor, nor connections into his home on the same level as the ones who possess those things. It can only mean one thing."
Aijah's eyes grew as she looked at the scared looking green eyed woman. "She must be offering her value somewhere else."
"His heart may be the part that chose her," Stridia answered.
"You think so?" Aijah gasped in jealousy of Roriana.
"From my years of experience. It may be so,"
Evere watched carefully as Valyha approached Roriana. She felt strange, whenever she looked at her. She felt scared.
A part of her suspected a piece of Najeer's heart may have been captured by the low Qira.
It brought a painful feeling to her heart anytime she thought about it. Was it selfish to want the Emperor's heart to herself?
"You are Roriana?" Valyha said as she stood before Roriana who was still seated on a chair.
"Y-yes," Roriana's eyes grew in disbelief. Was Valyha really going to apologize?
"Good. I like your dress," Valyha grinned as she picked up a glass of wine from the table and poured the liquid all over Roriana. Making sure to soak her from her hair down.
The entire hall gasped in silence from the shock.
Then Valyha took another tray of food and offloaded it on Roriana's head.
Evere slapped her face from the horror. Aijah's jaw dropped and Salvyiti just stood there frozen in shock.
Valyha laughed as Roriana bursted into tears which only widened Valyha's grin. "Next time, don't get in my way." Her voice was cold and cruel.
Valyha walked away not even bothering to look back.
Trumpets blew through out halls.
That signaled only one thing. The Emperor's arrival.
As Valyha walked to her station, Salvyiti brushed passed her with a glare.
"How could you!" Salvyiti glared.
"You seem to think I have respect for any of you lowly creatures. Do not upset me," Valyha said with a cold authoritative voice.
Salvyiti rushed to Rori instantly grabbing a table cloth on the way to clean Roriana's face. She looked at the small shaking girl and Salvyiti's heart sank.
"You are a vile woman. With no manners," Salvyiti said as she held Rori's head to her chest to ease her tears.
Valyha only shrugged and returned to her seat and began paying attention to her nails, seemingly distracted as if nothing happened. Hiriah mentally slapped her head feeling a migraine coming as the other maidens stared daggers at her. Why did she have to be sent to serve Valyah!
Rori's mind began to spiral as Ivert and Salvyiti tried to calm her. Her dress her hair everything was ruined. And the event was about to start. How could she face the Emperor. Tears become over whelming for her.
"Come with me,"
Rori peeked through her wet thick eyebrows. Her pupils dilated upon seeing the warmth in Salvyiti's eyes.
Why was she so kind?
"Trust me. I'll make this right," Salvyiti says with a deep feeling of guilt in her heart.
Rori hesitantly nodded and glanced at Ivert. Ivert gave an approving nod. At this point there was no hope.
Salvyiti took Roriana by the hand and led her away.
Evre discreetly glared at Valyha. She had never once met anyone more openly shameless. Because she wanted the Emperor's affection she chose to play dirty. Disgraceful.
Everyone suddenly stood from their seats and bowed as a figure walked in slowly. Evre's eyes grew and Aijah's lips curled upward as they both stood and bowed their heads to welcome the ruler of the High courts. Their future husband. His eyes seemed to be distant as he took his seat in the middle of Aijah and Ever. As he sat, the audience joined him and stretched their glasses to him to show their respect. While the wives, covered their right eye with their palm bowing slightly.
The five Elders, court lords and generals followed behind and took a seat opposite the grand table. Najeer's eyes glanced at the side of his table, two seats were empty. Queen Roriana and Salvyiti