15 Courtyards

AN: I am very sorry for the late update, so I somewhat made it longer here. I am currently busy because it's finals, and no one really cares about that so yeah.. Enjoy reading!

I looked back to the kid and then the stairs leading up to the door of northern palace. I should just let him wait here for me. I see him trying hard and I already have a guess when I saw how the other servants reacted when they saw this kid. Also the fact that he seems frail and weak compared to other servants, even some maids are better than him.

"Uhmm.. What's your name?" I stopped at the side of the stairs as not to bother the others who are going up.

"This servant name is Rory Dalibor, my lady." He answered quickly, as if he's afraid to not answer my question. I stepped forward and held the luggage up before he dropped it to the ground. Must be because of fatigue. I can't help not to sigh.

"Well then Rory. I asked you earlier to leave it when I reached the palace, but it seems I can't carry this luggage anymore, so I am trusting you to take care of this luggage and wait for me here, do you understand?" I smiled as I handed him my luggages. I didn't really give it to his hands, more likely that I already kept it close to the side of wall where he can wait for me and be shaded from the sun at the same time. I don't know for sure if we'll be there in the palace hall for a long time. I am just making sure he doesn't pass out from the heat.

"Y-yes, your grace! I shall guard this accordingly!" He said and energy filled his eyes. Must have been really happy. This kid might have been being bullied here for being weak, but I can feel he's a good kid.

Before securing some important stuff in my pocket, which I mean the string bag and the ring, I went to the palace. As I was walking up, I saw the huge board that is hanging up the door.

"One that soars and sees all from above, Blue Sky Dragon."

Well that was pretty erratic. They could have just said this is the Northern Sky Palace, than putting up that passage up there. I really can't understand ancient people's culture. Well, even in the modern world, there are still people who does this so whatever. Nevertheless, that calligraphy is really good. It was simple, straight forward, yet there's this regal and imposing aura in it. Must have been created by a master calligrapher or artist.

"All ladies, please proceed to the hall. Master Zuo will be arriving soon. " One Maid said as the ladies passed through the door. As walking in, I felt something passed through me and I turned around to look at my back. I scanned the area and I found a guy in the far back. Well, I'm not sure if he's really a guy, he's quite pretty to be a guy but based on his bone structure and physique he should be a guy. I looked at him as he cover himself with a white fan. His silver white hair and robe flutters as wind passes. His skin glimmers with the sunlight striking. He held his fan down and smiled at me. Which I returned with a bow and smile then walked away.

Creepy. Real creepy.

I checked my body for anything, but I couldn't feel anything wrong. Maybe I was just overthinking things? I turned back one's more and look for that guy who looks like a girl but he's no where to be found. Was that a ghost I just saw? I felt my skin shivers and goosebumps rose from my skin. Just keep moving, Reen. Just walk.

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"Master Zuo. The ladies have gathered to the Northern Hall." One of the servant said through a screen door. The man in Blue robes put down his pen and stood up and opened the screen door himself. Which startled the servant.

"Did His Highness have arrived to the Zenith Palace?" The Man in Blue Robe asked. The servant was confused, but a man in black clothing stepped in and bow down.

"Master. It was reported that His Highness never did left. Although His Highness did send one of his subordinate to check on the ladies to come." The Man in Black clothing reported. The Servant stood there waiting for orders as he look at Master Zuo looking at the Northern palace.

"How many ladies are left?" Master Zuo redirected his attention to the servant. The servant then presented eight envelopes with names at the back.

"In all history of the Consort's Selection, this has been the least amount of candidates. Nevertheless, this candidates have their powerful connection. This would still have its merits." Master Zuo said as he shuffles the envelope and read the names. There are no one who caught his attention, besides the lady from Wahlberg Clan, Alexandria Wahlberg and Questa Cairon, 3rd daughter of Marquess Adlar Cairon from the south.

"Tell the High Priest to come over to the Northern Palace." Master Zuo said to the black clothed man as he walk out from his residence heading to the Northern Sky Palace. His servants then followed.

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I arrived at the hall last. Every one was already took their own sit. Mostly those who are from the same place sat together, but I noticed a young lady with dark skin and brown hair, seating at the back. More like she's sulking.I saw Belein looked at me with Alexandria at her side. Alexandria then smiled at me, pointing to the sit beside her. I then smiled, but then shook my head as I pointed the sit besides the sulking girl. Alexandria looking a bit sad just nodded and smiled at me. I just looked at her and smile mouthing I'll make it up to her.

I took the liberty and walk besides the sulking lady. I tapped her to the shoulder and she looked at me confused.

"May I sit beside you?" I asked. She then look at me with eyes wide and mouth open. I chuckled then used my hand to close her mouth as I sit beside her.

"I haven't even said yes." She said after I sat down. I just shrugged as I looked over to the girl with beautiful dark red hair not far from where I am sitting. She's Yisa if I recalled. She looked at me and gave me a smile which I then returned back.

"Master Zuo have arrived!" Announced by a guard besides the door. I looked at the ladies, as they stand, so I did too. I am still getting to know the custom here and most of my knowledge is either from Reenste's memory or from the books I've read. So I am a working progress to be considered as a local here.

The door then opened and a tall man with long dark brown hair and sharp apricot colored eyes walked in. He was walking and gazing straight and I stared at him, because I can't believe that there are just swarming of good-looking man in this age. Like, is the paintings and records in my previous world history is right? The Ancient people are very good looking? Is the secret of good looks is fresh air from the surroundings and less toxic environment?

As I was starting at Master Zuo and thinking of how can he look so good, the others said their greetings so I did too.

"Greetings to Master Zuo." I bowed my head copying from the ladies and everyone's movement. I certainly don't want to stand out. It was alright outside the palace, even though there are more people outside, but inside here, there are those people who would monitor you 24/7. Being selected as an Empress, even as a concubine would be the most comfortable life I can have in this old era. So it would be indeed nice to be picked, but being noticed this early on would be a little too much for me. Since Ermyntrude Family seems borderline aristocrat and commoner. I don't have the influence nor connection that would back me up in this pageantry of an aristocratic life.

"Greetings to all. Please, be sitted ladies."The Man said, or Master Zuo said. I wonder why was he called a Master? In the books I've read, one can be called a Master if you have the expertise in a field. So what field does he have? Like in Martial Arts or because he's a High Ranking in the Palace?

"You all ladies must be very tired so I'm keeping it short." He said straight forwardly as he received a paper from a servant. He read it silently and his brows frowned a bit before turning his gaze at the back, which made me turned my back too and I saw the creepy looking guy smiling to Master Zuo. I immediately turned away then I saw Master Zuo looking at me. Just smile, Reen. Just smile.

But then his frowned show more.

What? Why is he frowning? Why did he looked at me? Why is that creepy looking guy here? Was he not a ghost? What's in that paper? The heck!

"As I was saying. You all are fewer than what is the norm, so there would be changes in the selection. You all here, are to be the Emperor's lady already." Master Zuo said which made the ladies react. In a way that this is some sort of blessing. I mean, what? Like what? I am so confused right now and this all happened just in a matter of minutes.

"But this does not mean, you are already a wife of the Emperor. Still, you are to live in the Palace bearing in mind that you are to be the Emperor's woman and you will also be treated as one." Some girls can't help not to be happy but what Master Zuo said. Being treated as the Emperor's wife maybe did brought them happiness, but there's probably a catch here, right? I mean, this is still indeed a selection.

"You are going to live here for 3 months. That time, I will see, and test you whom can be selected as the Emperor's concubine and most importantly, to be the Empress." The ladies then stopped and turned serious. This is really a weird situation to be in. Just a few days ago, I was in my office doing paper work, now I'm in a palace and competing in a some sort of pageantry and the price is to be a wife of some really rich dude.

"But of course, if you are to catch the Emperor's fancy, you might sure as well have been selected. So you have two options, either be selected by me or charm the Emperor. Which of course I'll give my support to you all if you can." Master Zuo smiled, but not the friendly kind of smile. More like a sarcastic smile. Of course, it's not like everyone aren't already aware of what the Emperor is like. So the only way is to really do great in the selection. Which for me, I don't really have to. I just need to be somewhat a concubine and if I'm not, I guess I'll just visit those three girls and have a job.

"That's all I have to say for now about the selection. Now I'll assign the courtyard you are to live in." Master Zuo then started to unscroll a list then read each name with the name of the courtyard they are to live in. It is said, by one of the books I read about the Concubine Selection, that this assignment of courtyard was done by the High-Priest. Which has the power of some sort of Divinity that helps the people and Emperor. The High - Priest made the list based on the person's attribute and some other thing related to the person. This assignment of courtyards was said to show the probability of a lady to how she will succeed in being selected. It said that the more you are closer so the Zenith Palace, the more you are fated to the Emperor. I mean, wherever courtyards you are, you can be close to the Emperor since the Zenith Palace is in the center of the whole place.

Anyways so far, there are four people who have their courtyards assigned close to the Zenith Palace. One is Alexandria, she's in here, the Northern Sky Palace. Second is the sulking girl earlier which her name is Questa Cairon, she's in the South Earth Palace. Third is Annette which is in the West Lake Palace. Fourth is Yisa to the East Sun Palace.

The other three, was in the mid range. It's not too far from the Zenith, but it isn't closer compared to the earlier four.

Now mine is?

"Reenste Ermyntrude... Shen Courtyard." Master Zuo said then looked at me. I looked back to him waiting when he will say where palace it is, then that's when I heard the people's reactions.