"There are plenty of servants; why only mine?" It was a foolish question; everyone knew why. Athena looked at me, and her complaints multiplied as she continued, "All their servants are reliable, but what about that homeless one?" I couldn't deny that; she would definitely strike her without reason or justification. She took hold of Tait in front of me and struck her fiercely with a wooden stick.
Petra didn't move, and everyone stood looking at the agitated Athena. Perhaps she saw the betrayal of Achil in Tait's eyes, and Tait accepted all her thoughts.
Athena looked at me after exhaustion had consumed her, and maybe she saw something in my eyes that she didn't understand, so she suddenly asked, "Why don't you tell Achil? I'm sure he would stop me with just a word... You know I love him." Tears began to fall quietly.
"Why do you accept my insults, the hot tea, and my strikes?" Then she screamed loudly, "Why don't you reciprocate my jealousy!" Then she looked into my eyes again and continued in a calm voice, "It hurts me that someone who stole Achil from me doesn't even love him."
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The wooden stick fell, and Athena left the room. I hurried to the poor Tait, and we left as well. Laverna secretly visited us at night to check on Tait.
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Night fell, and as usual, Achil brushed away the hair from my face while lying next to me. "Achil." He smiled, looking at me inquisitively. I continued, "You will receive a visitor today, a concubine from the Kingdom of Henlka." The Kingdom of Henlka was the latest kingdom opened by Aron in the North. All concubines from the kingdoms were supposed to go to Aron, of course, but the concubine from the Kingdom of Henlka was an exception, as was me. However, it was an exception that announced the authority of the High Empress, not just a concubine whose mistake the Emperor forgave by throwing her to another prince.
My situation was well known, as the mother of the crown prince informed Athena as revenge against the empress, who had begun to expand her power. Athena, in turn, spread the news, and it became the talk of the palace.
Some considered me proof of love and a more exciting story than Athena and Achil's virginity, while others felt that I was a virus infiltrating the innocent girls of the empire, causing them to lose their virginity. Achil's party saw me as an ink stain on clean paper, but no one tried to do anything about me, not even the empress. Of course, the happy Achil is better off than his miserable self.