10 The Harem II

'There are fifteen women in the harem that I inherited from the late king. When I first introduced myself to them, it was plain as day that they absolutely hated Calluna… which complicated things. Being under the impression that they were there against their will, I had initially wanted nothing more than to speak to them, tell them my plans for the harem, and then let them be. However, they seemed put out by this.

So I've decided to put forth my best effort to get to know each of them and understand them better. Unfortunately, I don't have long before I must head out on tour – meaning I won't be able to spend as much time with them as I'd like before my coronation.

Hopefully all goes well.'

"I'd greatly appreciate it if you could all write your names and favorite colors on this paper for me," Calluna said with a smile, placing down a quill and a sheet of fine stationery before the harem.

"Of course, my Lord," the dark haired woman spoke on behalf of the group as she had done before. Calluna had learned that her name was Hyacinth, and that she was the longest-working member of the harem.

All of the concubines waited their turn to write on the sheet, and it only took around ten minutes for them all to finish. The crown prince reclaimed the paper then folded it into a square, and placed it neatly in the black-leather pouch that sat on her hip. She sighed and took a breath in an attempt to steel her resolve; because as strong a woman she was, it was still difficult to ask a room full of people who disliked her to eat dinner with her.

"I was hoping I'd be able to have supper with all of you this evening," she began, feigning a confident and sophisticated tone.

"Of course, your Highness. What will we be eating?" Hyacinth queried, sat on the sofa with her fair hands folded neatly in her lap.

"Anything that you ladies desire, I will have it made. My only wish is to spend time with all of you, and maybe drink a little to forget some of my worries."

They were initially surprised when Calluna said that they could have whatever they wanted, but one of the younger girls spoke up to ask the question they were all thinking:

"My Lord, we all love sweets! But… we were forbidden to eat them in order to prevent weight gain-"

The crown prince was stunned that such a rule was in place, and it took everything in her not to shout abuse at the heavens for allowing these poor women to have such emotionally damaging rules. "That rule is abolished as of now. I will have all manner of desserts prepared for you all; your weight means nothing to me, as you are all beautiful regardless."

The younger blonde concubine that had initiated the question looked as though she were on the verge of tears upon hearing Calluna's statement. None of the other women even knew what to say, but it was obvious they were all, at the very least, excited to have sweets for the first time in ages.

Calluna then kissed each of them on the hand and departed back to her own chambers to read the harem questionnaire, and plan their evening accordingly.

Once back at the princess' room, Calluna stood in her large closet; her amber eye searching the sea of silk and fabric. Her plan was to choose dresses of the concubines' favorite colors and have them tailored to fit each one. She had no need for any of these gowns, but they were all very beautiful and she felt that it would be a waste just to toss them out.

"Calluna, are you nearly ready to return to the harem?" Eleanore's voice called from the doorway.

"Mhm, I think I've chosen one for each of them now. Please have them packaged and labeled."

"Yes, miss."

As for the crown prince herself, she had also decided to dress up a bit for the occasion. Calluna figured that it would be in her best interest to look as little like her body's original owner as possible; meaning she would be going for a fairly masculine look.

She wore one of her new specially-tailored ensembles with the accents a mesmerizing shade of crimson. Her hair was braided and pinned up, framing her face and eyepatch in a very precise manner in order to make her features seem sharper. Then, to complete it all, Calluna's makeup was made extremely natural save for the signature splash of scarlet on her lips.

"Eleanore, I'm ready."

"Yes, let us head to the Dusk Chambers now."

Calluna entered the harem's abode with a rather impressive entourage. Most notable were the kitchen-workers, each carrying several plates covered in a wide variety of desserts and sweet drinks. They quickly moved into the chamber and began setting up the tables; each of the dishes placed with great precision and care.

Then, following just behind, there were also the maids that came bearing the gift-boxes. Each box was wrapped in the corresponding color and decorated with satin bows, each woman's name written in Eleanore's fine calligraphy, and signed on the side by 'Crown Prince Calluna'. She was hesitant to write her name on the gifts at all, as her handwriting had just barely begun to develop, but decided it would be more meaningful if she did it regardless of her insecurities.

"Welcome, my Lord. We're very grateful that you've decided to spend supper with us," Hyacinth smiled softly and curtsied before the prince. Her voice was followed by a chorus of welcomes and hellos, and Calluna would be lying if she were to say that she didn't like the exaggerated greeting committee.

"I am very happy to be here; I have a very important promise to keep with all of you, after all." Calluna replied as the maids seated everyone.

Dinner started out somewhat awkwardly; all of the women were careful with their words and cautious with the topics of speech. After the alcohol was brought out, however, everyone seemed to brighten up.

"Do you even like ush calling you Lord?" a small girl asked, slurring her words in her drunken stupor.

"I do like it," Calluna responded honestly, trying very hard to communicate effectively despite the inebriation beginning to pull at her brain. "But you all can call me by whatever you- hic- want!"

"Lord Prince," another called, taking a swig, "is it really true that you've lost your memories?"

"As true as the day is long! I've been having to learn how to read… I feel like a toddler!"

"Learning to read?! Really?"

"Yes! The stupid princess n-never even learned to read, can you believe it?!"

"You talk as if you simply aren't the princess," Hyacinth chimed in, her voice echoing through the ornate goblet that she was sipping from. "Though I can't say I'm surprised you were illiterate before."

"I'm not her! I'm the crown prince now! It's been… s-so hard making people trust me when this brat was so dislikeable! Especially since I can't tell everyone that I've g-got amnesia." Calluna responded, taking another swig straight from the bottle.

"You really were troublesome before, Prince," Hyacinth replied with a giggle. "You're right, though, you are so different now that it would be foolish to think you were the same little girl you used to be."

Many of the other women nodded vigorously in agreement with her statement, laughter escaping loose wine-stained lips and filling the room with liveliness. Everyone partook of the rich pastries, sickeningly sweet puddings, and savory candies; it was an eventful evening full of relaxed chatter and uninhibited conversation. When the date was nearing its end, however, Calluna had sobered up a bit and started to think of her situation once more.

"Day after tomorrow I will be leaving for the imperial campaign," she announced to the harem sadly.

"I forgot that was something you needed to do," one of the women responded, "we haven't had a change in power during our time at the castle before."

"How long will you be gone, my Lord?" Hyacinth inquired, placing her cleaned dish back onto the table.

Calluna met the dark-haired woman's gaze and sighed. "Fyodor said it will take three weeks."

"That isn't so bad!" Another added, a wide drunken smile on her face.

"It isn't too long, but I feel sorry that I have to leave when we've only just started forging bonds. I don't want you to forget me while I'm gone," the crown prince replied with a discouraged chuckle.

"How could we? In the last week that you've talked to us every day you've already been infinitely better than the late king! You even- hic- brought us beautiful gowns of your own as gifts!" The young blonde shouted.

"Yeah! You've also decided to keep us here without forcing us into things even though that was supposed to be our job," another said indignantly. "Crown Prince Calluna is way better!"

Their unfiltered notions made the prince giggle and she felt her unease begin to subside as they spoke. If it weren't for their willingness to accept her, adjusting to life at the castle would have been a lot more daunting. She had worried that there would be no one there to support her aside from Lukas, V, and Eleanore; but it was evident that her concern was all for naught.

"Will you all see me off?" Calluna asked nervously.

"Of course!"

"Absolutely!"

"Yes, I will bring you a few trinkets for good luck, too!"

She released a breath that had trapped itself in her lungs, and felt her eye become slightly wet at their heartfelt promises. It was then that she decided that even though the late king had been quite the disappointment, he had at least chosen a bunch of wonderful women for his harem; and for that, Calluna was grateful.

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