Chapter 6

Akila,

Akila woke up to the commotion that happened outside the room she shared with the other six girls.

She ignored it after a while and went back to sleep. Whatever was happening outside didn't involve her.

She doesn't know anyone here and no one would definitely care to pay her a visit.

Even her sick grandmother can't handle the long journey to the palace.

"Are you going to keep sleeping like a lazy mare? At least have some curiosity?"

Akila almost jumped out of her bed when someone whispered in her ear.

She held her hand on top of her chest and panted in fear. As a beautiful girl looked openly at her.

"Good. Now I can say that you are awake, not presentable, though, but we can work on that later. Now get up and meet my father outside. He is waiting for you."

With that, the girl turned around and walked out of the room. Leaving her staring at the space she has been occupying.

Akila headed to the door after being confused for a long moment, but she indeed was curious about that girl and what she wanted.

The moment she was out, she stumbled back and almost ran back to her room.

Outside, there were lots of servants who carried big wooden chests and heaps of fabrics.

In front of them, an older man stood beside that girl who rudely woke her up.

"My dear daughter, you are finally awake."

The man said with a warm smile and a deep bow. The young woman looked around her to see who he meant, but everyone present was staring at her.

She bowed deeper than the man and spoke in a small uncertain voice muffled by the head wrap she insisted on sleeping with.

"My lord, I think you might confuse me with someone else. My name is Akila and I'm nobody you should bow to."

The man's warm smile broadened and he approached her with wide open arms as he hugged her tenderly.

"You should never call yourself that, my dear child. From this day till the end of my days and even after. You are my second daughter, not related by blood but chosen by heart. The king has already approved."

Akila sniffled a little as she accepted the old man's hug and then she looked down, trying to hide her glowing eyes.

She wasn't sure what was happening, but this was the first time anyone had considered her anything more than a bad omen.

"Now, now, father. Don't upset my little sister. We also have a lot to do and little time to get ready for it. The examination will start by midday."

The man patted her back and then left Akila with the energetic girl and the other gawking candidates who were talking in high voices now, not bothering to hide their curiosity.

"My name is Heba and, as my father said, I'm your sister now, Akila. I will be with you along the road and I will guide you as best as I could. Now let us go to the baths to get you ready."

Akila followed the girl who dragged her while rumbling cheerfully.

She looked behind her to see if anyone would follow, but only two servant girls did with their hands full.

After heading to the back of her quarters, Akila gasped when she saw what Heba called the baths.

It was a vast area that contained a few deep holes that were filled with clear water.

And each pool had a silk sheet that was covering it. And even though the ceiling was opened, and the sun shone upon her, the area was private in design.

It looked beautiful with the decorated columns and painted walls. It also smelled divine, like nothing she ever encountered.

The girls jogged before she could reach the pool and began to pour scented oils and flower petals inside of it.

The place smelled even better after that and Akila almost wept when her little toes touched the chilled floor and cool water.

"None of that. Take off your clothes first and let's clean you up and shave all this unnecessary hair."

Heba said as she pulled Akila's head wrap and the other two girls took off her robe.

She stood embarrassed and tried to cover her naked body as the women looked at every piece of her flesh.

"Wow, you have a light hair and a very pale skin. Why are you hiding all of this beauty beneath all of that fabric and....dirt?"

Akila looked down at her feet and spoke in a faint voice. She wasn't sure if she was allowed to answer the noblewoman's question.

"People stare and that makes me uncomfortable. Then they call me names and treat me as if I'm defective. They think that I'm cursed for my eye and hair color."

Heba tsked and circled her, trying to see every nook and cranny. Akila followed her each move still trying to hide her naked body.

"You are gorgeous Akila. Those people are just jealous of your beauty. Gods, if I didn't know better, I would have thought that you are noble, too. You have the most perfect unblemished complexion I have ever seen."

The girl's cheeks reddened after those flattering words. This was the first time she heard such a thing from anyone but her grandmother.

The two servant girls began to work quickly but efficiently. They first shaved some placed in her body and then trimmed her hair.

Then the girls helped her to dunk her entire body in the cool water before washing the dirt away from her hair and body.

They used Natron, which was mixed with some oil and milk to scrub and clean all that filth.

In a few hours, she was raw and clean. Her entire body was red, but she felt great.

"Now let's dry you up and cloth you. We need to do your hair and makeup afterwards."

Akila gasped when she saw the purple dress that the noble lady twirled in her hands.

It was so light and flowy. It felt like silk beneath her fingertips and the color was so vibrant and vivid.

Heba chuckled at her reaction, and Akila smiled shyly at her. She wasn't embarrassed at all; she was just happy that she will try it on.

A few more hours and when the sun was just above her head, they were done.

She looked at herself in the mirror and touched her hair, then her face, not believing that this was her reflection.

Her hair was smooth and flowed freely down her back. A small golden piece that was shaped like a lotus flower held it in place.

Her green eyes were framed by dark kohl that made them look like green fire.

The dress was long, but it showed both of her thighs as she moved.

Its top barely covered her breasts, but her pink nibbles were obvious to the plain eyes.

She looked like an exotic noblewoman who came from a place behind the sea.

She doesn't know why this specific description came to her mind, but it felt right.

"Lady Heba, your father has sent me to urge you to come to the great hall. We all are ready and waiting for you."

The noblewoman clapped her hands like a little girl and for the second time; she dragged Akila behind her to go somewhere.

"Ok, now is the hard part. Don't be scared or guarded. Don't fight them and obey. Just be at ease."

Akila frowned at Heba, but before she could open her mouth to ask about what she had meant, the enormous doors they were standing behind opened.

The commissionaire of the royal court announced her arrival

"The last candidate is Her ladyship Akila, daughter of Babu. King's most trusted advisor and a noble with pure bloodline."

Akila's legs shook as she staggered after this announcement. Heba smirked and then gave her a little push.

She swallowed harshly and looked at the faces that stared at her with the same surprise that was written all over her face.

Babu, the older nobleman from before, nodded to her, and she sighed in relief, and then she almost threw herself at his opened arms.

He chuckled faintly and hugged her side before holding her hand and standing behind the other girls and what she assumed were their guardians.

"I take it that my daughter didn't tell you about all of this, which is good. I don't want you to get scared and try to run away."

The man said in a hushed voice that was meant for her ears only. His face was looking ahead of him with his back straight.

"Now the royal physician will examine you to see if you are pure or not."

Akila lost her footing and almost hit the man in front of her, but Babu steadied her.

"Again, don't be scared. It is not an important thing for us really, but in this situation, it's needed. The second queen must be pure and untouched, which you are!!"

The man asked his indirect question and Akila nodded her head absently as she watched in horror how the first girl lay on a small bed and opened her legs to everyone in the room. Which was full of all kinds of people.

"Good, good. Then all you need to do is lie still and relax. It will end quickly."

The frightened girl looked up at the throne and found two sets of eyes watching her, one with worry and the other with hate.

She shut her eyes tightly and said a small prayer to the gods above.

"Have mercy on me."