Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Rage:

Umara:

Cítiê jumped to her feet as the Emperor sat back on his golden throne. He has taken me by the hand and has taken me out of the Great Hall where we entered. The maidens of her entourage follow us in droves. I don't understand why the little woman runs so terrified, it seems that the hounds of hell are after us.

We have arrived at the pavilion, Cítiê has dismissed the maidens of the entourage and has gathered the other wives. She has told them what happened and now they are all gathered around me.

—She's crazy!- Burya yells.

—Did he really do that?- Sarab asks, admiringly.

—In the middle of the Mayilis?- Zai asks.

—It's incredible…- Mem looks at me open-mouthed.

Cítiê walks from one side of the pavilion to the other. She is upset, angry and downright desperate.

—Do you have the slightest idea what you've done?!" He approaches me and shakes me, grabbing me by the shoulders. – If you have so much desire to die take a dagger and cut your throat, but do not continue with your disobedience If you keep this up, we'll all die because of you!

He turns around and walks away.

I am completely lost, disoriented and confused. I sit on a couch and hug my legs while I cry. Hiding my face against my knees. I really have no idea why I'm crying, I don't know if I'm crying out of shame…because of Cítiê's strong scolding, out of joy…because of the festivity that my people will be able to enjoy.

— Calm down, calm down. – Sarab consoles me. – We all once showed our rebellion when we were brought here. I myself have committed more attacks on that ass than anyone.

I sob, wiping my tears away with the thick, long sleeve of my dress. The girls have sat on the couch next to me or nearby, on the floor.

—Really, no one had dared to stand in the presence of the Emperor during the Mayilis, in a long, long time..." Burya whispers sitting on the ground. Mem gives him a sneaky elbow. – but it seems that our beloved has not taken it as an offense.

I stop sucking back my tears.

—Why do you say that?- I ask Burya.

She smiles broadly. It seems like the cat that has drunk all the milk and has stolen a couple of chickens as well.

—Our beloved has given you a pearl necklace. - He says touching the absurd and heavy necklace that I bring.- He has also recognized you as his wife in public and nothing more and nothing less than during the Mayilis, when all the nobles of the court and all the ambassadors of the different regions that meet. make up the Empire. – explains Burya. Enlarging the eyes even more.

—And what's so special about that?-I ask.

They all snort in exasperation.

—It is special and important…–says Sarab –…that you will have the same honors and rights as Cassandra.


I sit in the shade of an apple tree, while I reluctantly nibble one of its fruits. I have taken off my veil, because it is too hot to keep it on. The air out here is cooler and the girls have sat nearby. Some eat apples, others have preferred grapes or dates. The servant maids have returned and set up the stately buffet table a few steps from where we stand. Mem is lying on her back on the grass, her white-haired head resting on the knees of Burya who sits cross-legged and amuses herself by weaving flowers for the crown she places on the hair of ice.

—Okay.-Sarab begins. — First of all… you should know that although we are distinguished and belong to royal families in other countries, even holding the title of “wives”, here we are considered little more than concubines.

He concludes, stabbing a piece of cheese left on the golden saucer that has been brought to him. I wonder if he imagines that piece of cheese to be the Emperor.

—Yes.-protests Burya. – We are treated well, we are fed and clothed but… Lady Cassandra will always have higher honors than the rest of us. Not only because she was the first wife, but because our beloved publicly recognized her as such.

I compress my lips.

—Do you mean…that according to Kurani laws a man will be responsible for a woman from the moment he possesses her body. If he publicly acknowledges her as such, will she be considered his wife…if not, will she be treated as his concubine?

—Exactly.- Nods Mem.

In a couple of hours I have been given a summary of the main laws that govern family order in the Kurani Empire. A man will always be responsible for the woman he takes for himself. If it was only once, out of lust or passion, and against the wishes of the lady, he must wait the necessary time to verify that the act did not produce consequences and must pay one hundred gold coins to the parents of the injured party. After this, the woman will be his, and he can treat her as he pleases. However, the law stipulates that he cannot kill her, sell her as a slave or offer her in prostitution, this is punishable by the death of the man and the return of the woman to her parents.

In the case of the Emperor's wives, they are all treated as "Lady" which is an honorary title. But until today, the only one publicly recognized as a wife and therefore considered queen, has been Cassandra. Not even Citié holds that distinction.

—Which means… that if from now on I will enjoy the same privileges as her, I have become Lady Cassandra's number one enemy.-I whisper.

They all stop what they're doing to give me pitying looks.

A commotion breaks into our quiet afternoon. We can hear the agitated voice of a woman screaming and quickly we all sit up and lean out to see what's going on. Lady Cassandra approaches so fast, it seems that she is running. His face is completely red with fury and he screams like a banshee.

—Where is she? Where did you hide that desert whore!

Oh no. This doesn't look good at all...

Lady Cassandra's intentions are not good at all, but there is no way to avoid it, so I take a deep breath and since the "whore of the desert" cannot be anyone else but me, I go out to meet her.

—I'm here. What do you want from me? – I ask.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter