It was still dawn, with faint blue morning light illuminating the sky as I stood outside Julian's room.

I had woken earlier than usual to have my book, which I wasn't able to fetch yesterday.

Sleep still had its grip on me, but I had washed my face and fixed my hair. I had come now, just so the concubines don't spot me to make disgusting assumptions.

"Yes, gracious lady, he is awake," The guard replied and started opening the door.

"Wait, wait!" I was almost going to hold his arm, "If you could tell him that... I want my book and... maybe you can hand it to me... here only," I stated hesitantly.

"Uh, alright," With a confused look, he entered the room. I tucked my hair behind the ear.

Although Caspara's actions were hurtful, I wasn't going to complain about her. What would I even get by ruining her relationship with him? That would only draw more attention to me.

The guard came back, "He's calling you in." I closed my eyes to brace myself.

The milky curtains of his four-poster bed were halfway down, like a creamy fluid going about the bed.

My breath hitched. It was the first time I was seeing them hanging down. Strangely, giving a sensual look to his room.

I gasped and turned around when I spotted his bed. Was that... Caspara lying in there?

"What happened?" I heard his groggy morning voice. He stood near the long wooden table as he drank something from a small glass.

A single marron night robe draped him, tied around his waist with golden satin. The loose sleeves coming till his wrist.

"I uh," I gave a nervous laugh at my stupidity after seeing the long pillows, "I thought Caspara was... sleeping in there..." I trailed embarrassed.

After all, he did say the curtains were down for... hiding pretty activities.

He faced me, still drinking, but his eyes were hooked on me, "I sleep alone," he mumbled, his voice thick.

He sounded disappointed and suggestive at the same time.

"I- I see," I smiled awkwardly, "I um, came to... have my book."

His every step across the room was evoking a forbidden feeling in me. I kept my gaze fixed to the ground. It was taking my mind to so many not so good places that I refused to look around.

Closing the cupboard, he walked up to me, holding out the book. I took it timidly.

"Thank you. M- May I leave-"

"You made something yesterday?"

That caught me off guard.

"Yes," I stared down my book to calm my maddening heart.

He walked back to lean against his throne that stood at the centre of the room, crossing his arms against the chest.

"And that is?" he prompted.

"I tried recreating... Ishtar's offering," I couldn't look him in the face. His voice was drowsy, yet made me more awake than I already was.

"Didn't bother to give me some?"

I peeked a little, only to see the robe undone around his chest as he crossed his arms. I tried hard not to gulp.

"It was sent to your room... with your warm milk," I heaved out.

He placed his hands on the armrest, watching me with a tilted gaze, "You didn't bring it?"

"One of your c- concubines did..." I mumbled. Concubine Caspara B!

The sound of his low laugh rumbled the room, "Do you think she would bring your dessert to me?" he questioned, an eerie smile on his face, "She would've dumped it somewhere for all I know."

I felt the air knock out of me.

"W- Why?" Why do you have such toxic concubines if you know them?

"Don't be so naïve Althea," His fingers drummed the armrest as he pushed himself to stand straighter, "That you couldn't decipher their jealousy for you."

How- how can he be so direct?

"But I didn't do anything to make them jealous," I voiced out. I was a mix of rage and fear gnawing my insides," I barely talk to them..."

He watched my anxiousness with a stoic expression.

"Maybe I did something then," It was so sluggish that I didn't understand if he was telling me or himself.

"Make the cream in today's lunch," he ordered, before turning around to walk over to the intricate golden door. It gave way to an enormous balcony as the chilled swoosh of early winter morning came gushing in the room.

I watched on as he stood in the circular balcony, placing his hands on the railing to look up to the dawn sky.

I wanted to tell him to change my timings too, about my book recitation from the end of the day to sometime in daylight, for the sake of the concubine's suspicion, but that'll have to wait. I sighed before exiting his room.

Till the time the full Sun came up, I was done writing my accounts of 'kitchen of the 4th century BCE'.

Currently, I was serving breakfast to the women who thankfully ate in peace. Armonia was on her gentle behaviour, which was fantastic.

"Phoebe, you know mistress doesn't like it. You took a tremendous risk," I complained as we arranged the dishes after finishing our breakfast. She had told not to bathe and be as presentable as possible when it was a strict rule to be clean before starting the everyday work.

"Awh, girl, if you bathe two times in winters, you gonna get a cold," she chimed, wiping her hands with a cloth.

Zurin saw my confused look and cheered, "We are going to the Bath Arena today!"

When I asked them where it was situated, they took me to my room.

"I saw it from here only, yeah!" she pointed to a colourful area visible through my window. The one I would spend hours wondering what that place was.

"We will go after such a long time," Phoebe sighed, facing me with an excited smile, "And we are taking you too!" she jabbed a finger at my forehead.

"Do you have the permission of... His Honour?" I asked, unsure.

They looked on with open mouths, "Oh, come on, we are his concubines, not his slaves," They giggled, "We don't need permission for these meagre things," They waved a hand, laughing.

"B- But I need to..." I whispered. They looked on with narrowed eyes.

"I- I mean he made me sign a treaty that said... not to go anywhere without his permission," Quickly I fetched the copy of the refined treaty and handed it to them.

"Hm, but you need not worry girl," They checked the papers like some detective, then gave a bright smile, "We'll show you something," And they dragged me till the end of the corridor.

After the series of rooms ended, we could peer down the hallway. Looking down, I spotted the warrior practice area where Julian stood instructing the men who held long spears.

"See?" Phoebe implied, "He's here till lunch and again becomes busy after having food. And of course, we're going to return before!"

I chewed the inside of my cheek. True that he practised long, as I'd seen that day with Thalia. Still, I was a nervous wreck having to face the consequences if he knows.

"Are you... sure-"

"Yes girl yes, we are! It's not like you are taking that book of yours with you," They jeered, "No one knows him better than his concubines," she smirked and led me down the floors. It would've been good if Thalia accompanied, but she had this day off to visit her grandmother.

Two more concubines joined us with whom I had small talks this morning. They seemed nice, although were quieter than everyone else.

The air was warmer as we stepped out, with the Sun shining brightly. It was good that the sands helped to reflect the warmth after being heated by the rays. The carriage rode smoothly as I sat staring at nowhere in particular.

"Look at her, she looks like a new bride. All quiet and shy," Zurin snickered, smacking Phoebe's shoulder. They both chatted nonstop.

One of the quieter concubine Callie sat with a dazed expression, her eyes boring into mine. I shifted in unease.

She noticed my subtle movement, but that only made her stare harder.

"Is there... something on my face?" I asked sheepishly, giving her an uneasy smile.

"Your eyes... remind me something from my... childhood," she said in a hauntingly calm voice. I shivered.

"You can share... if you want to," I offered, hoping it won't get more awkward in this close sitting space.

She relaxed against the carriage wall, a soft smile coming on her lips, "The annual sacrifices."

I looked on curiously, "I would like to know."

She stared out the little window, and I couldn't make out if she was happy or sad at the memory, "There were times when the rains wouldn't come in the dry village I used to live in.

"Then the villagers would decide to make a human sacrifice to the rain gods," She faced me, "They chose the most beautiful woman from the village and after she was sacrificed, the gods would shower plenty of rain on us."

I more or less made out what she was about to say as I sat in dread.

"I remember a woman having the same eye colour as yours. Amongst every sacrifice, she was the prettiest. It never rained the way it did that day," she laughed softly.

And I never hated my eye colour as I did now.

"How was she sacrificed?" I asked, intrigued by yet another disastrous ritual.

"She was submerged in a river. From where we believed that the river god delivered her to the rain gods."

A twisted thought came in my head. Shouldn't I try this way of dying? Then I'll see if I return to my century or get offered to some God. Wow, that'll be fun.

"Hush, Callie, you gonna scare her," Phoebe scowled, "These things don't happen in Romanos, so shoo," she kept a finger on her lips.

There was an iron entry gate, beyond which were the colourful walls that I would see from my room. Strips painted in blue, red, yellow, gave a contrastingly beautiful view of the place. I couldn't see beyond the high walls, just people entering and coming out.

"She's with us," Zurin said as the guard gave me a sceptical look. People were paying gold coins to enter while we didn't have to give anything.

"Perks of being from the palace," Another concubine Agnes giggled.

We walked some more, taking turns, stepping up the stairs located around the wall. Even when the winters had arrived, there were plenty of people here.

When we stood at the top, I was awestruck.

It was a freaking water park of the fourth century BCE.

It resembled somewhere between the great bath and the stepped wells I'd seen in archaeological sites around the world. There were small stairs on all four sides of this huge rectangular area that led down to the final bath arena.

From two adjacent corners, water gushed out from the mouth of a large marble eagle.

Even the walls underneath the pool were painted, making the clear water look colourful. Both women and men swam.

Why the hell did Julian never tell me about this water park? I snorted.

"This is so beautiful," I breathed in the sweet smell of flowers that hung like vines from the trees which were placed at every corner.

"I know right!" Phoebe shrieked, "Who doesn't love a hot bath under the bright Sun in these winters," she squealed and holding Zurin's hand, entered the water.

"The idea was of His Honour," Agnes told when I asked her, "He thought it would be nice if people have more recreational places to have some break from the mundane everyday work," she smiled, "And the designs are by his talented creative sister."

I dipped a toe in the water, then lowered myself. It was hot enough to give my body a cosy feel and being soaked under the shining Sun was a complete luxury in these winters.

Flowers and herbs floated around, making me sigh. Oh well, why would I miss this opportunity? Twenty-first-century water parks were chlorine-bleached that had its side effects. But here, there was lemongrass to keep the water clean. So refreshing.

"Haha, don't worry, we've bought clothes with us. Here's a changing area too!" Callie informed at my question.

I learned how the water from the Nile was directed into these bathing arenas. Coming to the warm water, there was a turbine having rocks that heated rapidly upon providing little fire. They made the water to pass through those rocks, giving the hot bath.

"Hmm, soo..." Zurin dipped back her long brown hairs, rinsing them, "Althea, what is your relation with His Honour?"

I nearly choked. Concubines will remain concubines. Though we were friends now, still I could make out the slight jealousy in her voice.

"Businesslike," I said a single word. They raised a brow.

I sighed a fake sigh, "He's always so serious like he's talking about business. Listens to every word of my book in utter seriousness."

I continued, trying not to rush up, "The relation between us is so professional that's why I'd asked Caspara to take the dish. Wouldn't it look odd if someone who he talks only about work, takes a dish for him?" I laughed, "You all are much more informal with him so... yeah," I shrugged with a tight smile.

Huge grins danced on their faces and I internally high fived myself.

"Now tell me about you all!" I smiled, "What's your relation with him?"

Their faces fell.

"It... used to be amazing but..." she left a long sigh, "Ever since the second battle of Issus, he barely asks for us."

"Yeah," Phoebe laid her head against Zurin's shoulder, "It looks like he has... lost interest in us."

But I didn't do anything to make them jealous!

Maybe I did something then, His voice echoed back in my head.

Calm down, Caspara is the cause. Not what you are thinking, I told my erratically beating heart.

"Honestly, we thought it was you, but we've seen enough," Callie waved a hand, "If only we had more women like you, the palace would be a better place."

I weaved a hand through my wet hair. The bath wasn't deep and I could touch it with my toes, "But you do remember your experiences, no? What type of person is he... to be with?" I asked in curiosity.

They started giggling, hiding their faces, not able to look at me. I turned red.

"Oh, you wouldn't want to know from our perspective," Agnes shook with laughter, holding onto Callie who was blushing equally.

The two talkative concubines sang together, "All we can say is... he is uh-mazing to be with, in b-"

"Alright alright!" I screamed for them to stop. They burst in laughter.

When they quietened to snickers, Zurin rested her head back on the steps, her hands aimlessly moving in the water, "Ah, but one thing would forever remain wishful," she confessed,

"He doesn't kiss any of us."

I couldn't keep my heart at bay after hearing that.

"Exactly," Phoebe joined her, "It's only Caspara who tattletales at how it's only her, who he kisses, but we know even she's dreaming about it," she pouted.

"Why so? And why are you dreaming about him doing that?" I inquired. Honestly, I thought it was an everyday thing he did with them.

"Girl, his kiss is like an addiction," They said, almost looking starry-eyed, "He did it only once, I guess? When we were new to him. That's it. He never did it again."

"You can ask him to kiss you, then?" I advised.

They gasped, "Oh! no one has that courage. He sets rules on what is allowed and what not. Just like you, we are not supposed to cross our boundaries."

I thought back to the time of the ritual. Maybe that's the reason he hadn't kissed me. Maybe he reserved his special kisses for special people or had a secret lover hidden somewhere.

But the punishment for the... fifth rule? The thought made my heart hammer against my chest.

"Why do you have the expression like... he kissed you?" Phoebe narrowed her eyes at my dazed look.

"Phoebe!" I threw water on her, "In which way should I tell you, he has nothing to do with me?!" I splashed more, now laughing as all of us started doing the same.

It had been a long time since I felt this carefree. Girl time was the best time.

And coming to the fifth rule, I knew now that it's just a rule to scare me. After all, he never did it, and the concubines' explanation confirmed that he'll never do it. What a relief.

He is a busy king and could care less about me or the rules. He's focused on his warriors.

* * *

I could care less about the warrior's practice session. The issue at hand made me focus on her.

"My Lord, those two are still adamant with their views on the gracious lady," The guard from the cellar came, bowing down.

Following him, I stepped down into the bleakly lit cellar. The stone walls were cold as I grabbed a fire torch to reach the deepest section of this underground vault.

While the previous prisoners were dealt with accordingly, some lucky ones granted another chance to reform; right now I had five new ones, two of them thrashing against the guards holding them.

"Here comes the weakest king the world would ever see!" He shrieked upon spotting me. His teeth bared like some fangs.

"You dare talk to the king like that?!" The guard snarled, lifting the whip. I raised a hand for him to stop. He retreated, looking disgusted with the seething prisoner.

"Coward king!" The second one barked, "So coward that he made a woman his court writer! We do not approve of this decision! We will kill her!"

"Women should always remain under our feet! Ha! If only your fucking spies hadn't caught us, we would've fucked her until she- Aaaah!"

My sword slashed through the air, leaving a deep cut on his arm. He continued to howl, yelling out cuss words. I curled and uncurled my fist, itching to rip his head apart.

To know that they were planning Althea's murder had shaken my sanity to the core.

"Tie their mouths," I ordered, before coming face to face with them. The guards sprung to action.

"Don't forget you wouldn't have been in this fucking world if not for a woman," He cried out behind the gag when I yanked his hair. The smell of blood now raising in the area.

"I would've loved to break that neck," I tched, "But what can I do? I love my lions more."

I glanced at the second one. He was trembling out of control, still looked on with that glare. What a misery.

He scrambled back when I stepped to him, "Yes, you were saying something?" His nostrils flared as I crouched to his level.

"Cowards are the men who are too scared to give women a chance, equal to themselves," I squeezed his neck slowly, painfully until his eyes turned red with the pressure.

"Also, coward and king aren't words that go together, bastard," I shoved back his throat, causing his head to hit the uneven ground. At this point, I wasn't angry anymore. Their boldness was laughable.

"Let's see how brave you are," I chuckled. I didn't care how maniacal I sounded. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was much crueller than Draco.

"Take him to the snake cellar," I instructed calmly as the guards dragged his cursing self away. I was willing to give him a chance of reforming himself.

Only if the snakes spare his life.

And as for this fucker, I looked down at his pathetic self. My lions were getting a treat today.

Walking back up the initial cellars which were less gloomy; a man sat shivering at one corner, flinching at the tiniest of sounds.

"Two days," I entered his cell, "Were you able to remember who gave you those fake gems, dear?" I asked softly, crossing my arms to lean against the prison wall. He let out a cry.

"My Lord, he's probably gone mad," The head guard chuckled beside me, "He's been crying like a newborn lately."