The Favourite Mistress

I woke up, but not in heaven or hell. I was in the same room where I died, in Prince Erwin's chamber.

"oh dear, You've slept for 13 hours." Said Prince Erwin, who was sitting at behind his work desk. He got up and walked towards me:

"I am supposed to dead dont me? then why i still here" I asked.

"The liquid you drank last night was not poison, but medicine. It was the medicine that the pyshican used to give me so that I could sleep peacefully."

"You deceived me."

"Not really. I cant just let a beautiful young girl wasting her life like that."

"YOU DECEIVED ME." I said again.

"Is that all you can say?"

I stopped talking.

"Now it's time to have your lunch, my love." He said.

Then, he brought me some food.

I shook my head.

"Eat, please, or you'll get sick. You want me to feed you?"

"You eat. I'm not hungry."

"Well well what can i say. If you get sick, i'll be very sad. Eat this food for me, dearest Anna."

"I want to go back to my room."

"Okay, Miss. When you return, please tell everyone you slept with me. Please, obey my order this time."

I nodded.

Prince Erwin then Scratch off his pointed finger. He spilled his blood on the white blanket of his bed. I understood what he was doing.

"A symbol that you lost your virginity to me last night." He said.

*****

At the harem, I was welcomed by the harem girls. They all look so curious.

"How is it? Did you make a child with Prince Erwin? Did you experience heaven with him?" Hagya asked.

"Yes. That's how it was." I replied.

"Is he good in bed? Is his thing big and long?" Hagya asked again.

"What the hell is your question? Have some manners. By asking questions like that, you're insulting the prince."

*****

Nighttime came...

The Harem workers organized me again. They prepared a bathtub and a beautiful dress. They also put makeup on my face.

"This is your second night with him. Girl, you are such a lucky lady."

What a terrible custom, I thought. All the girls here love a man they could never be loyal to. Jealousy is the most painful feeling. What if the prince they love is sleeping with their best friend? The prince can change bedmates, and they can't do anything about it. I would never love a man who could sleep with a different girl every night.

Erwin was a little strange too. I feel like he is on the edge of ordinary and insanity. But I felt sorry for him too. He looks pretty lonely. I can't imagine a human being who doesn't have a single friend to share their feelings with. So what if he's sad? Who would he pour his feelings out to? What a pity. I don't know how he can stay rational like that. Life in this palace is horrible, even for the royals.

Instead of taking me to Erwin's chamber, they took me to another chamber.

"But, the prince's room is down that hall?"

"You're going somewhere else. There's someone who wants to see you." They said to me.

"But, the prince is waiting for me."

"The prince hasn't returned to the palace yet."

****

I arrived at a lovely chamber. There stood an extraordinarily beautiful woman, and her servants stood behind her. The lady waved her hand, and the eunuchs and madams went out. Only me, the lovely lady, and her servants were in this chamber.

She came closer, taking a look at my face. Does everyone in this palace like to observe other people's faces?

"Beautiful. You are beautiful. But not more beautiful than me," She said.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"So you're Anna?"

"Yes."

"Do you know who I am?"

"Sorry, I'm new here. I didn't know."

"Of course, if you did, you wouldn't be so bold as to look me in the eye. I am Tiana, King Darril's favorite mistress."

Oh, so she's the king's main mistress that everyone talks about.

"My lady..." I said as I bowed down to her.

"Sit down."

She sat on the chair while I sat on the floor near her feet.

Then, she cheekily lifted my chin with her foot.

"Kiss my feet. Show your respect."

I feel like she is crazy for respect. But I had to do as she said anyway.

"Have you made a child with Prince Erwin?"

"I did last night, my lady."

"Honestly, I don't believe you. Your eyes are purple. Everyone's known witches only owned purple eyes. You may be a witch sent to kill our only prince."

I fell silent. I didn't know what to say.

"Foolish slave girl, I must test your loyalty. I don't believe that you are just a mere slave. Prince Erwin never accepted any girl to sleep with him, but you conquered his desire in one night. You must have bewitched him, right?"

"I am not a witch, my lady."

"How dare you speak to me in such a high tone?" she sounds furious. "You're a slave here. You are lower than pig shit."

It hurt my heart when he said I was lower than a pig shit. I can't help but snap back:

"A slave lower than a pig shit? Aren't you also a slave? You're the favorite and have given birth to two princes, but the king hasn't freed you yet. You are also a slave. We are both enslaved. Our status is the same, my lady."

Suddenly, she kicked me in the forehead with her foot. My head hit the edge of the bed, and it hurt like hell. Blood flowed out of my nose.

After that, she went berserk and yelled at me.

"Who do you think you are to say such a rude thing to me? I am the king's favorite mistress and the queen of his heart. I am the highest-ranking woman in this harem."

"No, you are not. The highest-ranking woman here is the princess."

"It's forbidden for you to talk back to me. I'll punish you."

She grabbed my hair and roughly dragged me out of her chamber. Oh, why does she hate me so much? Hearing my screams, the Harem girls gathered around to see us. Then, he ordered a soldier at the harem gate to torture me.

"Soldier, strip her naked and kick her womanhood! It's her punishment."

"But my lady, I can't make her naked in front of everyone."

"Do as I say, or I'll kick you out of this palace."