Free to explore

It was the first day of the end of my confinement. When I woke up Kaylee and Yema got me ready for the day like they usually did but they went a bit overboard.

They had me bathe in water infused in more herbs and roses than usual. They had me dressed me in my finest gown paying attention to every detail and making sure it was fitted perfectly, they did my make up. They sprayed so much perfume on me it was overwhelming my nose.

"There's no need for you two to go this far, I'm only going for a walk in the gardens." I told them. "I can barely breathe with how tight you made the dress and you didn't have to pour the whole perfume bottle over me."

"My lady you have to look your best when you go out. You never know, maybe you will bump into the Lord." Kaylee explained as she inspected my final appearance as I looked at myself in the mirror.

"Highly doubt that and if he did he wouldn't be paying any attention to me so again you two made all this effort for nothing."

Kaylee who evidently looked like she didn't agree with what I said as "My lady you need to have more faith in yourself." she started confidently. "This past month we've seen a side to you that is the exact opposite of the rumors that are going round about you. You are beautiful, kind and considerate, aside from the fact you ignore my pleas and go into the garden which could ruin all the efforts we make to keep you beautiful." She complained as she looked at me in the mirror. "At the end of the day my lady, you are still the Lords' wife and regardless of how he sees you now eventually he'll call you to him and you'll win him over them."

She had a wide smile on her face as she said it she truly meant what she was saying. Whilst I found Kaylee's efforts and her belief in me endearing, If only she knew I had no interest in the General neither did I have the intention to make him like me. In fact I wanted to stay clear of his way. I didn't want to participate in this little harem. If I was set to spend the rest of my life here stuck in this time period then I just wanted to live a peaceful life. In order to do that my only plan was to stop bothering the General the way Ayan used to and hopefully that would be enough for him to get off my case since he already didn't like Ayan.

Kaylee, Yema and I decided we would have lunch in the gardens so we packed up in preparation for a picnic. I had prepared a lot of dishes. We left the house through the gate of the wall surrounding the place. After being locked in for a whole month I almost forgot what the estate grounds were like. The servants that were moving around as we walked by all stared at me curiously. I had also almost forgotten about Ayans' reputation on the estate. We went round the house and followed a narrow pathway that led to the gardens.

The gardens of the estate were large and seemed to just go on and on. Many of the estate gardners were maintaining the gardens. They nodded their heads as we passed them but also stared at me curiosly. We found a good quiet spot near a tree. Yema laid down a large mat and we all sat down.

The two sisters took out all the food and laid it out for us to eat. I then took out the needlework that I had been working on and began to continue. I really wish I had a book to read or a phone to listen to music to or something more interesting to spend my time with however this was all I had. I was making a tapestry to hang up in the house as a decoration. Occasionally we saw the other servants of the estate sneaking up to look at us.

We spent the entire afternoon in the gardens, the sun now hung low in the sky as it would soon start to set. I put away my tapestry in the basket and got up from the mat.

"I want to see more of the gardens before we head back to the house." I told them.

"I'll accompany you my lady." Kaylee offered.

"I'll pack up everything and go ahead of you two." Yema said.

"Alright." I agreed. Kaylee and I left the area as I took in the rest of the gardens. I was taken aback by how beautiful they were, I was definitely going to be coming here more often. Then the sound of water flowing caught my attention I averted my gaze to see a small stream nearby. I walked along it following the direction it was flowing. Soon the stream branched out as it flowed into a larger pool of water.

I looked ahead and saw a bridge that went over the pool. In the centre of it, attached to the bridge was a small island gazebo. Table and chairs were placed in the gazebo and what's more there were people seated inside it. My eyes widened as I realized who they were. It was the other wives. They appeared to be in the middle of a discussion. I wondered they could possibly be meeting up for it's not like they were all friends.

The wives then looked my way when they saw me get close. In that moment I froze on the spot as they all looked at me. It took more another moment before I thought of what to do next. I simply bowed to show respect in their direction before continuing on with my walk going to another section of the garden.

"They are probably discussing their assigned duties." Kaylee told me as she glanced to look at them whilst we walked away.

Their duties of course! I thought as I remembered Ayans memories. Each wife had duties given to them by the Lord. They were made in charge of several things. For example the management of each of their houses, managing the servants of the estate and their activities, choosing the dishes to be prepared in the kitchen by the chefs etc. Essentially, various aspects of the estates maintenance.

However, amongst all the duties the most important role to be given would be Management of the main house. Which was currently unassigned as it was reserved for the wife who would give the general his first boy child. It was one of the reasons all the wives were rushing to have a child with the general.

The duties were assigned according to, once again, how much you were favored by the General. The more he liked you, the more he entrusted you with. As a result wives took great pride in being assigned house responsibilities.

As per Ayans' punishment she had no other duties assigned aside from maintaining her own house. However, before she was punished she used to be in charge of selecting the menu of dishes to be prepared in the kitchen and management of estates spending. I personally didn't mind having less duties, it meant less work for me.

Going back to the other wives who were seated in the gazebo, the assigned duties were meant to coordinated so every week all the wives would meet up and discuss the what they've done. They would organize what they've done and write down reports which would be handed in to the General's assistant, Kazil.

For the rest of the week I continued on with my usual routine that I had during my confinement, cooking and taking care of my garden but the only difference was I could leave the house from time to time. I even had Enan show me around the estate farms.

At the end of the week I was seated with Yema and Kaylee in the sitting room of my home. They were doing one of their treatments on me again. Kaylee ever the talkative one talking about something. I was absent minded looking around the room. I was thinking about what how to decorate my home. I had been staying in this room for a month now but I hadn't done anything to decorate it and make it feel more like a home.

"I want to go into the city next week." I told them.

"My lady?" Kaylee asked pausing her story.

"I'm thinking of purchasing some decorations for this home. It looks lifeless and unwelcoming." I commented. If I was going to be staying in this house for long time I might as well get comfortable.

It was then that we heard a knock at the door. All three of us looked towards the front door surprised by the sudden disturbance. Yema stood up to answer it. Shortly afterwards she came back into the room.

"Was it Enan?" I asked curiously. It could only be him he's the only other person who came to this home.

"No, my lady." she answered. "it was a baby from the main house."

"What?" I asked my eyebrows shooting up in surprise

"He relayed a message from the Lord, The Lord has asked you to join him for dinner with the other wives in the main house tommorow night."