30 How does he do it?

AYAN'S POV

I looked at the servants that had been sent to me and focused on Teeka who was surprisingly amongst them. They all bowed before me. "We're here to serve you, my lady." They said to me in unison.

They all watched me curiously, it wasn't like before when the previous servants stared at me with contempt. Perhaps it was a sign that things were going to be different this time around. It wasn't going to be like the time when all the servants hated being around Ayan.

"Please serve me well then," I told them.

With another quick bow, they then began to disperse and went to enter my house to begin working. I stopped Teeka before she could go inside though. "Just a moment," I told her pulling her to the side. She followed me as she looked at me with an unfazed expression. She didn't seem surprised as to why I had stopped her. I knew Teeka hated Ayan for how she had treated her so what was she doing back here?

"I thought you were now attending to Samira what happened?" I asked her.

"Nothing my lady, I just heard about how much you had changed... so I was just curious to see my lady once again. I talked to Lady Samira and she allowed me to leave. I hope you don't mind." She said politely.

I was touched. I thought it was sweet that she was giving Ayan a second chance and honestly the more support I had the easier it would be to live for me on the estate.

"It's alright but I hope you don't mind that unfortunately, you won't be in your previous position as my head maid."

My current head maids were Yema and Kaylee and I didn't plan to change that. I trusted them the most, they stood by me when no one else wanted me to serve me.

"I understand, my lady," she said in agreement.

"Well, then I look forward to having you serve me again," I told her as I let her go.

The new servants immediately began to organize all my belongings in the house. With my guidance, I told them where to put all the decorations that I had previously put up in the punishment home. Surprisingly, they actually listened to me and obeyed my orders with no issue. I didn't hear any snide or rude remarks about me from them.

*****

With more servants in the house, there were even more eyes than usual watching me. It was hard enough at the punishment home where with fewer people I still couldn't find a proper place to get rid of the poison viles I'd been given by my mother. So far the best option for me has been to keep them well hidden as I wasn't sure who would be watching if I tried to dump them somewhere on the estate.

The only room my servants couldn't go into without my permission was my bedroom. Now the harem house had a much larger bedroom and more cupboards and shelves to keep space to keep my private belongings. In other words, I had more options to hide them. So I was a little relieved about that.

As for bumping into the other wives since I lived closer to them now. So far I'd only bumped into Samira and Maris whilst moving around the estate, however, they didn't pay too much attention to me. They would glare at me momentarily before continuing on with what they were doing. I suppose after having enough dinners with them in the main house they may have lost interest. I hadn't seen Rina who was more vocal about her disdain for me. Perhaps, it was due to the fact that the closest home to mine were Maris and Samira's.

As the days progressed and Laika's pregnancy announcement had settled on the estate the harem was then called by the General to celebrate together in the main house. Laika had been staying in the main house with the General all this time.

At the time of the celebration dinner, when I and the rest of the harem arrived we already found the General and Laika seated at the table. We were all made to congratulate her on her pregnancy, which we did before we all sat down at the table as well.

I don't think the other wives were bothered by Laika's pregnancy, I mean I'm sure they'd seen it coming since the General spent the most time with her.

A magnificent feast had been prepared for dinner. The General kept Laika close at his side. He talked to her affectionately and caressed her. Not really focusing on any of the other wives. It was like they were in their own little bubble.

Understandably, all the other wives stared at Laika with jealousy. I just felt awkward watching them. The other night General Kang had also touched me and talked to me affectionately. He'd even confessed to me and told me he loved me. At the time when he told me he sounded like he loved me and me alone. But obviously, he was whispering the same things he'd said to me to her as well.

How does he do it? How was he able to love multiple people at the same time? He would go from one person tonight to the next person the following night. I would have thought he found it exhausting but it appeared as if he didn't have a problem with it.

Initially, I quietly went along with everything and had no interest in this little harem. I was just happy to get free meals, have a home I didn't have to pay rent for, and get waited on by servants. However, the more time I spent in it the more I got to understand it. Especially, after he'd confessed to me if I had feelings for him and he had told me that I would be slightly hurt when he spent time with another wife. Especially since the General clearly didn't spread his love equally in the harem.

Obviously, I as well as the other wives knew that we were in a harem and so technically we knew we to share him. However, I also understood the feeling of wanting to be 'the chosen one'.

I definitely sympathized with the other wives and the jealousy they felt when he was attending to another wife. I'm sure it would be annoying if the general told you he loved you today and then forgot about you the next day because he was catering to someone else. It's almost as if your feelings were getting played.

It was stressful as you didn't know if he would suddenly fall out of love with you tommorow after he'd been so kind to you the day prior.

We finished our dinner and returned to our respective homes all except for Laika of course, who was clearly going to be in his care for a while.

RINA'S POV

I stayed up a little late into the evening after my servants had left for the evening. Waiting for Teeka to arrive as we'd agreed. She was late. I was aware she was working for Ayan again and hoped she had good news after what I had instructed her to do the last time we met.

We decided we would meet once in a while so as not to raise any suspicions of our conspiracy.

After a moment Teeka came into the room and had

"You're late," I commented irritated.

"I apologize, she said." As the lady has only recently moved back in we it's taken some time to arrange and organize everything in the home so we often finish late."

She came and sat down close to where I sat.

" Any updates?" I then asked.

" So I have been watching her closely for the past few days and I haven't seen anything so far. She's been acting kindly to the servants and hasn't done anything to raise suspicions."

I let out an annoyed laugh. Looks like Ayan was playing this new role of hers well. I remembered the order I had given Teeka;

"I need you to observe her closely. She may have convinced the general of this new persona of hers but deep down I'm sure she's still the same cruel person. I need you to find signs of 'that' Ayan, she can't hide that. she'll slip at some point."

I just knew there just had to be something I would be able to use against her. However, I guess it wasn't that easy. I was hoping she would mistreat her servants or something more obvious.

" I suppose Ayan isn't making this easy. No matter. The General and the harem will be going to the Royal palace soon so I expect you to have more freedom to look around her house when we're gone alright?" I instructed.

"Yes, my lady," She nodded in understanding.

If she didn't find anything then, then I suppose I would come up with something and frame her for something. No matter what it takes I will bring you down, Ayan.