"You sound like you speak from experience," Saorise said.

Peter smirked, "I grew up in that Court, I know how much of a war zone it is, only made worse by the fact that our patron god promotes such a thing. When Court is in session I will listen to every member equally, as is my duty as King, but when it is not...I do not have a say in what occurs there unless laws are broken, and you'd be surprised how many ways there are to manipulate a person without breaking any laws".

Saorise had no doubt that he definitely spoke from experience for that last sentence. There seemed to be a promise in his eyes, a promise of just how manipulating he could be. Considering he'd kept his crown despite his reputation, Saorise had to believe it. She sighed before she answered his initial question, "The Eastern Representative will be appointed via a vote of the Eastern noble families, of course, you will have final approval".

Peter nodded as he looked at the man beside him, "Make a note to have that added".

The man, no doubt his attendant, did so quickly.

"The other points I can see no problem as they are fair compromises that do not undermine my authority in any way. However, I must stress the point you have removed should be kept in," Peter stated as he leaned forward.

"Our people do not practice Polygamy," Saorise stated, her eyes narrowing, "I thought I made that clear".

"You did," Peter nodded, "However, seeing as I am compromising so much to ensure that your culture is kept, surely you can respect the culture our Royal Bloodline has kept for thousands of years".

Saorise sat back, clearly annoyed to have her words and opinions thrown back at her.

Peter sat back as well, giving a half-hearted wave to his attendant.

"As you know, our Patron God is Excavor, God of War. Warfare however, is considered an art more dedicated to males," the attendant spoke, "The Harem is a way for the most powerful women in Wendolan to conduct a war all their own. The War for the King's favour, for further influence in the Court, and for the line of succession. All these things are fought over and decided with members of the Harem playing integral parts. The King of course, mediates when things become too violent. It would do the Empire no good to lose an heir or a prospective mother of an heir, but this job is eventually handed to the one crowned Queen. Usually this title is given to the mother of the Crown Prince, but there have been incidences where is has been otherwise. The point is, the King's Harem is a powerful and influential entity. An entity that could very well be influenced by the East in future".

Saorise listened, as did the others at the table, then, after a moment of tense silence, she spoke.

"You speak as if Polygamy occurs nowhere else in Wendolan, I am not so naive as to believe that," said Saorise.

The attendant nodded, "It does, though only those Harems of the direct Royal bloodline are considered legal. Any second generation or beyond of a Prince that was not crowned King is monogamous by law. It is not uncommon in social practice for Officials to take Mistresses, though it is not considered proper for such a thing to happen".

There was silence for a long time before Saorise spoke again, "These Concubines...will we be allowed to appoint them, or will his majesty choose whom he desires?"

The attendant hurried to answer her, interpreting her question as interest, "There will be of course be certain standards to be met, but his majesty will..."

The attendant turned to Peter, clearly uncertain whether or not he should speak for him Peter continued where his attendant left off, "So long as the standards we give are met, I will select concubines from a pool of gathered candidates. I realise you are likely thinking to offer me one rather than three in order to compromise, but I put three down for a reason. The same principle will apply as in the court. Alone, they will be in far more danger and at a greater disadvantage".

"So, it is not because of licentious habits?" asked Saorise with a raised eyebrow.

Peter smirked and shrugged a shoulder, "I never said that".

"The whoring was not a complete lie, I see".

"The whoring was half the fun," Peter smirked.

The rest of the Eastern party clearly looked disgusted, but Saorise, while not entirely happy, held back amusement at the King's nonchalant attitude.

"What requirements?"

Peter again indicated to his attendant.

"She must be of marriageable age. She must be a virgin. She must be fertile. She must be of sound mind and body. She must not carry or bring a weapon into the Harem. And, she must be willing to enter the Harem under the promise that she may not leave nor see her family without the King's express permission," the attendant stated.

"Such Isolation will not sit well with our people, we are free at heart and in our souls to live within the forests among our brothers and sisters," Saorise spoke immediately. It saddened her greatly that this would be the fate of three women from the East. That this was the fate of any woman.

"I cannot give freedoms to them that aren't afforded to those from Wendolan," Peter spoke firmly.

Saorise looked up and down the line of representatives then back to Peter.

"I will need at least a fortnight to see if there is anyone who meets the requirements willing to fill the role".

"A fortnight?" asked Peter with a frown, he pointed to the points on the table before him, "You decided this overnight".

"Yes, and that seventh point was removed by their brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers. Do you expect their answer to be any different now?" asked Saorise.

Peter frowned, "So you will ask the women directly?"

Saorise nodded, "It is likely the only way you will get any volunteers. I will scribe the letters tonight and send them to the families. I will give them three days to decide before they send a reply back. In the meantime, your majesty, you might want to think of alternatives should no one desire to volunteer".

"There must be hundreds of noble women in the East, how are you so sure that none of them will say yes?" asked Peter.

"Because I wouldn't," Saorise replied, then she stood and retreated to the door, her party in tow, "Do send over a copy of the revised terms when you have completed them. I will assume the seventh point will remain the same, though I will also highlight the fact that the East views men and women as equal, putting the reward for a male heir as five times higher than a female will be seen as nothing less than insulting".

Then she left without another word.