Merin didn't have much time to enjoy the bliss of finally becoming a mother. Sure she could finally enjoy palace life of luxury again. She had servants to keep her clean and pampered. Her silky silver hair was finally washed, and she could wear her favorite colors without hassle.

But her woes had yet to thrive.

Unexpectedly, Vera, Merin's long-time annoyance and the Emperor's consort, arrived. She was accompanied by a group of maidens she intended to offer Red during Merin's recovery.

"I did this with you in mind. A Rutilus has needs." Vera said above her tea cup with a smug expression.

She is such a bitch, Merin thought. The smug consort had the same tenacity as the Emperor. Both of them had too much time on their hands to be this invested in her life.

"Anyone who can hold my dragon, Acuzio, for longer than a minute can stay. Those that don't will die." Merin said, referring to the dangerous task of even touching her powerful companion.

Vera blanched before recovering quickly, and she said, "If Rutilus Aram saw this, then I'm sure he'd punish you for getting in the way. You should know your place by now. Even if you give the empire a Roseus you're not impervious to being replaced."

"Red knows me and everyone knows my temper. Try my patience and see how hard it will be to replace me," Merin said. She stood up from the low table, a brand new piece of beautifully crafted furniture she adored, to grab Acuzio, who was slumbering on top of Alev. She didn't want the table harmed but if it got rid of Vera then its sacrifice would be worth it.

The dragon was quite hefty now, and Merin needed to hold the beast with two hands. She plopped him on the table, and he blinked as he looked for a target.

"I'd leave unless you want to try your hand too, Vera," Merin said, dropping all the niceties and fixing a cold stare at the other woman.

The intruders scurried off like prey, and Merin let Acuzio eat from their plates as a reward.

"There will be more Russus," Zoltan said. The man blended well with the walls and appeared instantaneously. "You should allow a couple to observe. There can be a great benefit in--"

Merin's eye twitched as she glared at him. Zoltan's calm expression shifted into panic and pain as he clenched his throat and started choking.

Merin looked down and saw that she had clenched her hands. She released them and took a deep, steady breath to retrieve her senses. Slowly, color returned to Zoltan's face, and his hands eased from his throat. He gave a hoarse laugh and waved off her concern.

"I'm sorry, Zoltan. I still don't have a grasp on my powers." Merin said.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

Merin's thoughts, even mere whispers in her mind, had the power to shape the world around her. A flicker of annoyance, a hint of torment, and pain could be inflicted with a mere thought, a power that both fascinated and irritated her. Merin prided herself on control, but ever since Red found her, she'd never regained her infamous command over herself.

Vera was good at rubbing salt in the wound of Merin's low self-confidence. Red could open up his harem and take another Russus. It was something Merin hadn't asked him about yet. Up until now it wasn't fathomable because no one would willingly join it. Now that Red was no longer the nameless prince and had a Roseus, he was a hot commodity.

Could she share him?

"If I hold him, can I stay?" A voice interrupted Merin's thoughts.

Merin stared at the young girl who didn't balk at the idea of picking up Acuzio. She was so tiny Merin didn't see her. The little girl lifted the fattening dragon and stared at it, sweat dripping off her brow.

"I can be your servant when I finish the minute, right?" The girl said, not looking away from Acuzio's bored eyes.

Merin blinked and said nothing as she counted down the seconds. It was a moot point to do it entirely because if Acuzio wanted to kill the girl, he would have by now.

The girl survived, and Merin gained a new follower, Emine. The girl chirped so much she might as well have been a bird. Merin found out Merin had healed the girl and wanted to repay her.

Merin was used to the quiet Letha, who granted her solitude, and the absent Bellare and Zoltan, who disappeared with the breeze.

She was not used to Emine, who talked her ear off and asked questions about everything. Emine was more dedicated than even Letha in being Meirn's shadow. The girl was almost too much, and Merin nearly tripped over her more than once. This was just the girl's first day and Merin already regretted taking her under her wing.

Supper was at least peaceful because everyone but Red, Alev, and Merin's animals were gone.

The simple, peaceful meal was interrupted by a visitor. Vera might have given up on throwing women at Red's feet, but she wasn't the only one with thoughts. Doga, a Russus Merin had never paid attention to, came through the door scandalously by opening the handle herself.

Merin chewed on her tender quail meat as she marveled at the woman breaking protocol. A Russus, as all Habrin royalty, knocked or gestured for the guards to open doors, but she swung it wide like a heathen.

Before Red or Merin could react or say anything, the woman dropped to the ground to prostrate herself.

"I beg of you, Rutilus, to take me into your harem." The woman said around a mouthful of hair. "My Rutilus is dead, and I seek harbor in your harem."

Merin could feel her heart drop as all the humor was wiped clean from her face. She looked at Red and said nothing as she lifted her cup to wet her dry mouth.

Merin was going to get the answer now on what Red wanted. Did he want to expand on his harem? What would she do if he did? This was a moment where their cultures could clash in ideology.

"I'm not adding anyone to my harem," Red said.

Merin could feel her heart start to back up, and she glanced at his expression. Red looked murderous, a common sight these day, but it was at the guards who failed to stop Doga.

Before Doga could protest, Zoltan and Bellare dragged her out.

"Can you pass the quail?" Red said, and Merin mutely handed it over.

Dinner resumed, and nothing was said about what had just happened.

Even more women were dropped by to tease and seduce Red in the upcoming days. Red tossed them out this time, and that alone seemed to stop the raining maidens. As far as Merin hoped, that was all Red knew. Since she knew how he felt about it and didn't have to ask herself what she would do otherwise, it was time to be proactive.

Merin took the offensive route to stop the offers and free herself from the harem drama.