Emily put on one of the fancy nightgowns she found in the closet; it was not tailor-made, but it fit her properly. She also braided her hair and tried some of the makeup and perfume kits in the bathroom. As she crossed the mansion's embellished corridors, she ran into a couple of her fellow sisters. They all greeted her with particular respect and admiration, though some of them stared at her in envy. Emily realized many Rosettan women would be jealous of her current position. Even so, being the luckiest slave in the room certainly did not make her feel any better. She was approaching the main hall, where the ball would take place, when she saw Jenna walking by. She smiled brightly and immediately rushed to meet her.

–Emily! Look at you! You are so beautiful in that dress.

Emily pulled her for a hug, touched by her sister's genuine enthusiasm. If she only knew all the painful emotions she was dying to pour out.

–Thank you, my dear. Lord Leandre wanted me to meet the royal family, so I tried to dress accordingly.

–Everyone will be charmed, no doubt about it. Just be yourself and enjoy the show. Do not drink too much, though. You might be blessed with a baby soon. I am so happy for you!

–Oh, yes… Praise the gods.

–I am in a hurry right now; we need to finish preparing the feast, but I will see you later and we will go through everything. Good luck!

Jenna stormed back to the kitchen and Emily continued walking down the corridor. Briefly after, she peered at Lord Leandre standing by the staircase, conversing with a younger man. Judging by the emblems on his jewels, Emily quickly deduced that he was one of the king's sons. Apparently, he wanted to request Lord Leandre's advice before the event started, but she intuited that something was awry. Her master did not seem to mind her presence, though. He listened to the prince's speech with growing impatience.

–Like I was saying, my Lord, I am completely devoted to Rosetta's wellbeing, and I have numerous ideas to boost our industrial development. I am also a fervent believer.

–I know that. You are a suitable successor, and I appreciate your solid conviction. However, if you really want to ascend the throne you need to prove your worth to the religious council.

–I am aware of that, Sir. I don't know what my brother may have promised you and your colleagues, but I guarantee I can improve the bid.

The prince muttered his last sentences. Despite that, Emily was still able to hear him as she passed by. She also grasped Lord Leandre's dishonest intentions.

–You are a clever man, I like that. The religious council is interested in exploiting and administering the vacant lands by the shore. Perhaps we can discuss that later…

Emily seethed with anger as she left. The elite's barefaced corruption was simply incredible. The religious authorities did not care about the gods' will or the citizens' devotion. Most of them were only after the money. And all an aspirant king had to do to fulfill his personal ambitions was to buy the council's favor. The worst part was that the majority of Rosetta's population still believed that men like Lord Leandre were essential to maintaining the realm's sacred welfare.

She reached the main hall feeling restless. The splendid chandeliers beamed over the dining table, the flower arrangements, and the grand orchestra. Lord Arthur was greeting the first guests, while a few maidens saluted them and handed them glasses of sparkling wine. Just like Jenna had commented before, some of the attendees brought lavish gifts for the staff, including fine hats and veils. Emily sat at the back and peeked at all the distinguished men: prominent religious authorities, renowned soldiers, successful merchants, and their corresponding families: a bunch of tidy little boys and their female babysitters. Lord Leandre stepped in shortly after. He presided over the royal family's glorious entrance. Emily had to stand up and pay her respects then, just like everyone else in the room. Lord Leandre gripped her wrist as soon as he saw her, driving her to the middle of the crowd.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

–For those who don't know her yet, this is my lovely maiden, Emily Ratzer. Hopefully, she will give birth to our first child by next fall. Please, be kind enough to keep her in your prayers.

Emily faked a radiant smile, as everyone around her took turns to congratulate her. The king and his partner complimented her on her good judgment, and they gave her a magnificent pair of earrings as a token of their appreciation. Arthur was staring at her from the corner of his eye, sipping champagne in silence. He eventually snuck away, heading to his father's seat in the back. Emily did not understand why many people called his father weird or depraved; at least to her, he looked like a completely regular person and a loving parent. Perhaps his only "fault" was his natural distaste for men.

Emily did her best to mingle and enjoy the party, just like Jenna suggested, but she felt uncomfortable among those fancy strangers. She danced with other bond servants and conversed with some of the guests, including a few leaders from the religious council. They all seemed polite, charming and educated at first glance, yet Emily sensed they were most likely greedy and malicious like her master. Lord Arthur, on the other hand, would spend most of the night eating and drinking with his husband. Emily longed to be with him, to touch his perfect face and kiss his lips once more. She wanted to confess her feelings to him. However, she realized that would only make things worse. She decided to avoid him for the rest of the event, focusing on the lively music and the delicious food instead.

Out of the blue, she recognized Lord Leandre on the dimmed balcony, visibly drunk, flirting with the king's son. He whispered something in his ear and patted his back discreetly. The young man seemed fascinated. It was just a matter of time before they turned around and disappeared towards the lonely gardens. Just as Emily assumed, a few other guests had noticed too, including Lord Arthur himself, who immediately stood up and left the room, enraged. Emily felt so sorry for him, she simply couldn't conceal her indignation either.

*

Arthur finally mustered up courage to challenge his husband in the middle of the garden, as soon as he was done fucking the prince behind the glade. He watched the king's son kneel on the cold ground and suck him dry, while Leandre tugged his hair and made him gag. Arthur waited until they parted ways to address him privately, blocking his way back to the mansion with a decisive stride.

–I have tolerated countless snubs for the sake of our marriage, but you've gone too far this time. I will not allow you to humiliate me in front of my family and the entire court.

Leandre recoiled slightly, taken by surprise. He was embarrassed and intoxicated, but he still managed to excuse himself.

–I am doing this for us, too. That man is about to become the next king of Rosetta. I want our firstborn to marry one of his future heirs. Do you understand the importance of that alliance? Our family would gain control of the entire realm. Moreover, the lands by the shore are only the beginning of our deal. I could also put pressure on him to send troops to the pagan islands. I heard some of their villages are struggling with famine right now, so it is the perfect opportunity to conquer them and spread our faith.

–Are you serious? What the fuck is wrong with you?

–Why would you even care about the pagans, love? Your grandfather used to slaughter them in hordes. That is how he earned his titles, remember?

–You are a shameless liar and a plunderer. I can't believe I used to dream about a future together.

– Arthur, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I certainly don't give a damn about the prince or any other lover. Everything I own is yours: the fields, the horses, the mines, the shops… Those rich islands could be yours too.

Leandre tried to caress Arthur's hair with his slick hand, but he automatically pushed him away.

–You don't understand. I am sick of you. I will leave you for good, and in case Emily is expecting, I am taking my child with me.

–Our child. He belongs to me, and so do you, until your last breath.

Lord Arthur became infuriated. He instinctively reached for his sword, which made his partner whistle to his sentinels.

–Let me remind you something, you filthy bastard. Not only am I your husband, but also your religious authority. So you better watch your next move carefully, unless you want to spend the rest of your life extracting coal in a prison camp, you and your sinful, disgusting mother…