Bello was just anxious the rest of the evening. He had to stay at his post for the whole feast and party but was dying to leave already, ever since he saw Esi leave in a hurry during the middle of the party and hadn't returned since.

"What could have possibly held her up," He thought on a day like this.

Bello's shift was finished once the ball ended, all the guests left, and the ball and throne room were cleaned up from the feast. Bello was quick to help the servants, maids, and other guards cleaned up, trying to get everything out of the way to leave sooner.

Once all the party guests had left and the clean-up for the feast was over, the staff was now allowed to leave and most were heading to bed since it had been a long day, but Bello had other plans and he dashed his way to Esi's bedroom quarters.

When he arrived in the hallway where her bedroom was, he quickly approached Esi's door but stopped. He was tempted to knock at first but heard a noise from inside the room, causing him to pause. It was Esi's voice but moans of pleasure. Bello felt his stomach sink, who could she possibly be sleeping with at the moment? Was it a lord she met at the party?

He hesitantly twisted the doorknob and saw it was locked. The noise and moans in the room continued to grow.

Bello bent down to look through small the keyhole lock of the room and could see in a slight blur Esi naked and sweaty on her bed under another naked man with shoulder-red golden lock dreads. They were sharing a passionate kiss as he was thrusting back and forth in her. She had her legs wrapped around his waist and her hands rested on his shoulders. The naked man was no one other than the classified wanted criminal Ajani Croome.

Bello's eyes widened in horror, and he took two steps back away from the door with his hands placed over his chest. He was out of breath and trying to make sense of what he saw. There was just no way, how could have Ajani managed to even sneak in when there was double the number of guards roaming around the palace for the coronation? Did Empress Rehema know of this? How did Ajani just come two appear when he had been gone for almost two years?

Anger and envy started to twist in Ajani's chest and started to crawl up his throat. Hot tears started to form in Bello's eyes blurring his vision. He could feel his face turning hot, Bello balled his fists and started to walk away from Esi's bedroom, down the dark light candle dimmed hall, slightly trembling.

After the party and feast Sang-chul, his mates, and the rest of the harem went back to their homes after such a long festival day. Their bellies were full, and their bodies were sweaty from dancing, and sitting in hot rooms all day.

Sang-chul had to admit he truly felt like he was at home. He got to have a one-on-one dance with the empress herself, which he never imagined to happen. Especially on a night full of history that would be recorded on her majesty's legacy. He didn't even care if Omari Dalli attempted to poison him the next day. He was the first to give crowned empress a dance, and no amount of glares and scowls of jealous rage was going to take this away.

Now tonight after all the festivity he was taking a bath on the looming night, in a circle-shaped tub that was about four feet and made of fine wood. Addo was scrubbing and rubbing him in the tub, while Sang-chul relaxed in the tub with his knees close to his chest, while he had his back near the rim of the tub. The warm bath water was soothing on a chilly night and Sang-chul felt his body brewing as Addo scrubbed the dirt away.

It was nice to be able to get two or three baths a week here. Before he became a concubine and was just a commoner he could only afford to bathe once a month. It was what his family could afford, and they would mostly go by the spring river to do so, but not too often otherwise it would dry out the river. When he was under Empress Fan Du it was about once a week. But since so far Empress Rehema had a smaller harem, resources were not as tight.

"You had one hell of a night master," Addo said breaking the silence as he was scrubbing Sang-chul's back. "Her Majesty had eyes of love on you," Addo continued.

Sang-chul blushed, "You think so?" He chuckled. It still felt surreal to him. He was even more thankful that Ivan helped him make his move.

"Your lucky you have seemed to make a good friend," Addo added. "Sir Ivan does not showcase selfishness and cruelty when it comes to the other brothers of his harem."

"He always gives me and Apophis advice for when he gets visits from her majesty. Things that can help us to gain favor from Empress Rehema. Like the foods she likes, what looks best on us, the music and art she likes, and he tells us the best way to win her heart is to just be authentic."

"Don't be a fool master," Addo snapped, and he stopped scrubbing Sang-chul. "You still must be careful. Very careful. Many men had eyes of envy watching you dance with the empress. Even the emperor, Sir Ivan needs to be careful too since he is currently her majesty's most visited concubine."

Ivan was getting picked on more and more by Omari these days but he didn't seem to care. He would brush it off. Other concubines would gossip about him, but Ivan brushed it off as well. Ivan refused to it get under his skin.

Rumors were starting to flirt around about when Empress Rehema might be pregnant again, and if it were to be true Ivan could have a strong chance of becoming a father.

"Sir Ivan and his Imperial House staff need to prepare a stronger defense in protecting themselves from the wrath of Omari Dalli, or even the Emperor's secret eyes," Addo warned.

Sang-chul knew Addo meant the treachery that Omari and Chike could pull can be deadly and lead you to be framed. It was the dirty politics of sharing a wife, trouble always brewed.

When Addo was done he patted him dry and dressed him in a green nightgown to wear. Addo then finally wrapped him in warm blankets for bed and ushered him to his bed so he could finish cleaning up as house.

As Sang-chul was attempting to sleep, Addo discovered a book as he was sweeping under Sang-chul's bed. Addo took hold of a book that was tucked away in a secretive position under his master's bed. Curiosity swept him, as he opened the book and gasped in shock at what his eyes were showing him on the book pages.

Addo's eyes widened in shock, "Sir Sang-chul! This is forbidden for a concubine to have such a vulgar book! Only prostitutes read such licentious content."

Sang-chul eyes snapped back open and he cursed himself the minute he heard Addo yell. He found the book. Sang-chul sat up from his bed to face Addo.

"Why do you have such a promiscuous book in your household?" Addo demanded an answer.

"Ivan gave it to me when we went to visit the library, and I need this book Addo, it's not an enemy, and it's not for trouble's sake. When I am done with it, I will return it," Sang-chul responded trying to get Addo to lower his voice before someone else could hear them.

"Why! If the Imperial palace staff found out, you have this book you will be dealt with punishment or even banishment and could be charged with infidelity. You must return it immediately!" Addo argued reaching for the book.

Sang-chul moved the book fast enough away from Addo before he could retrieve it. "I need it because I have no idea how to please a woman, Addo. I was a forgotten concubine for empress Fan Du and I am nervous about my first time. When Empress Rehema summons me, I want to be prepared. I don't ever want to be forgotten again."

Addo bit his lip and brought himself down on his knees. A realization came over him that he had no status to order a concubine of the empress around. "I apologize for raising my voice at you Sir. I was only worried for your faith."

"It's okay Addo just please help me to keep it stay hidden, and if it ever gets discovered I will fully take the blame," Sang-chul replied calmly.

"You are carrying such a big risk, your majesty do you truly find this plan of yours to be worth it?"

Sang-chul gave him a toothy smile, "We'll just have to find and see."

When Esi woke up the next day Ajani was already getting dressed to leave.

"Are you sure you don't want me to sneak you breakfast?" Esi asked as she kept the blanket close to her chest. The morning sun beamed from her stained-glass window.

"No," Ajani said. He was adjusting his belt and finished dressing. He was dressed in complete black and adjusted his cloak hoodie.

"When am I going to see you again?" Esi asked, sitting up from the bed. The blanket that was covering her chest fell to her waist.

Ajani smirked, "And risk bumping into your sister?"

Esi motioned her index finger for him to come to her. Ajani took a few steps towards her and bent his body down to bring his face close to hers. Esi rested her hand on his cheek and gave him a quick kiss on his forehead.

"I meant everything I said the other night about fixing things, meddling, how much longer are you willing to be on the run when you can just free your name," Esi whispered close to his face. Ajani stared blankly back at her, processing her suggestion. They then both at the same time leaned into each other, with their lips ready to touch, when suddenly a knock came at the door, and they both froze.

"Shit," Esi muttered.

And Ajani quickly jumped back and went to the window preparing to exit.

"Princess Esi! Her majesty is calling for you at the breakfast table," A servant shouted from outside.

Esi reached for her nightgown on the floor and quickly got dressed.

"Ok tell her I will be there in a minute!" Esi shouted! Esi turned to the window, Ajani had already opened it and was ready to leap out.

"Ajani..." Esi muttered. He gave her one glance from the corner of his eye and left leaping from the window. Esi rolled her eyes at his dramatic exit, disappearing down the sunny morning blue sky.

Esi brushed her hair and exited her room to go to the dining room to meet her sister before she got suspicious. Rehema was at the table sitting and drinking tea while reading a document laid in front of her.

"Where were you last night?" Rehema asked when Esi sat down next to her at the breakfast table.

"I went to bed earlier than usual, because I was more tired than usual," Rehema said with a yawn. She didn't like to lie to her sister but if she knew that Ajani sneaked on the palace grounds, she would be furious, and it was too early to deal with an argument.

"Weird you're usually the last one to leave after a good feast and party," Rehema joked.

"How was your night anyway, I saw you dancing with the foreigner one," Esi asked spreading butter on her toast.

"It was wonderful!" Rehema smiled. Rehema shared dances with many of the harem men and had a final dance with Chike. After the feast, she went to bed with Ivan, and they slept together. The night was intimate and placid. Rehema couldn't help but feel a growing connection with Ivan day by day. Ivan grew up being the eldest sibling in his home just like her, and could relate to growing up with the assigned duty to strengthen the family, while holding the heavy burden of protecting the family legacy and future. It felt nice to be deeply relatable to another individual on that level for once, especially from one of her husbands.

"I can see that," Esi noted. Noticing her sister was glowing from happiness.

"Can you do me a favor?" Rehema asked.

"Which is?"

"I need you to stop by my father's house and talk to him."

"About?" A servant came from behind and poured Esi juice.

"Why he is deliberately not speaking to me, he never showed up to the feast and dance."

Esi groaned, "Maybe he is just sick, Ekon sees you as a child of the goddesses you need to relax and just give him space."

"Please Esi when you have the time, stop by him, and I grant you permission to access his quarters," another servant came from behind Esi putting down a signed document with Rehema's signature.

Esi rolled her eyes, "Fine." She hated when she was sometime put in the middle of family conflict because it meant treading lightly to appease both sides.

"Well, if he is doing all of this over the being kicked off the coronation committee then you're better off finding a new replacement for Emperor Dowager," Esi suggested.

"ESI!" Rehema shouted.

Esi shrugged, "Come on seriously he's going to miss your coronation, your big day over that. Your empress now, you should stand your ground and not feel the need to put up with nonsense before people feel like they are right to manipulate you.

"Esi please just get him to start leaving his house," Rehema said not wanting to argue over this. She got up from the dining table and grabbed her parchments, and left to attend to her imperial duties for the African lands.