Chapter 6

Baara's eyes twitch reacting to the awful music the birds made,

She aggressively sits up, her eyes widening observing how bright the day is, she gets up from the bed and ran towards the front door when she suddenly stops. She looks around observing her area, this was not her room, the room was as beautiful as that of the Queen. Well, no wonder she slept so deeply, the gigantic fluffy bed felt like she was sleeping on clouds.

She gasps at the realization that everything that had happened yesterday wasn't a dream, what's going to happen when the king finds out? Her head would be hanging by a rope that's for sure.

She takes in deep breaths trying to calm herself, thinking of a bright side. She looks up to the heavens and thinks to herself, maybe she's being punished for the continuous lies.

Her room door suddenly burst open, head maid walks in, she instantly bows without giving it a second thought

"Head maid I-"

"Good Morning, your grace". Baara's eyes widen as head maid bows before her "His Majesty himself has asked me to take special care of you"

Baara gulps "O-okay".

"Would you like to take your bath now? Would you like assistance?". This scared Baara, the woman who has trained her, constantly beat and abuse her, cursed at her, and is now in a room that's supposedly hers, bowing like she's  royalty

" Th-that's okay, I will take care of myself". 

"I will pick out an attire that will please his Majesty".

" His Majesty?"

"Of course, he has requested for you, you must hurry now". 

Baara awkwardly takes herself to the bath. She sees the big tub in front of her, and she uses her hand to check the temperature of the water, to her surprise it was warm, the pink peddles made it look so beautiful, but what if she drowns? The tub is so big, the water level might be above her head. fearful thoughts like these haunted her mind.

" Do you need any help?", the head maid asks catching Baara by surprise.

"Uhm, no, I was just about to-" Head maid suddenly pushes her, Baara falls into the water, she struggles to breathe as she slowly drowns

"Hel-help-m-me" 

Head maid lets out a sigh as she fakes a smile "Stand on your feet, your grace"

Baara stands and to her surprise, the water was just up to her chest level "oh". She said embarrassed "Thank you, all these are just so new to me and-"

"Please be quick". She leaves 

Baara felt anxious, and out of place, her life is now in the king's hands.

As soon as she was done washing up, Head maid dresses her in the prettiest silk dress, and wore so much jewellery, on her neck, hands, fingers, hair and ears, Barra looks at herself in the wooden mirror, she could barely recognise herself, she has never worn anything aside from her maid uniform and rags, a tear falls down her face, indeed she was a beauty, she looks very much like a Nobel.

She takes in a deep breath, even if she has to die, she should die enjoying the things she never thought she could have.

The Head maid escorts her to meet with the king. Darius was on the balcony in the garden, she was sited Majestically enjoying a cup of hot tea, and with him was his eunuch and Eitan.

Baara gulps as they approach them 

" Your Highness". Head maid greeted bowing to him, Barra does the same.

Darius wears a smile "Good morning". He greeted Baara who was avoiding eye contact with him "Have you had breakfast yet?".

Baara sheepishly responds " oh, your highness I'm not hun-" her stomach suddenly makes a loud noise.

Darius and the rest chuckle, and Baara's face turn red out of embarrassment "Please, sit". He instructed Baara.

" Of course". She quickly takes a sit, Diarus claps his hands and maids come running bringing different dishes "Help yourself to whatever you want".

'I better be careful, I am in the presence of the king himself, and the wrong move will cost my life' Baara thought to herself.

Baara takes a full spoon of the white thing in front of her, never had she ever seen food like this, she slowly takes a bite, her eyes sparkled and her tongue tingled, this was the most delicious thing she has ever tasted.

Darius and Eitan wear a disgusting looks watching Baara eat everything on the table like she's been starving for decades

Eitan whispers in Diarus ears "Are you sure you can take her as your concubine? She's a fine maiden indeed, but she lacks proper manners"

Darius whispers back "I know, she's been trained to be a servant all her life, so I don't expect her to act like a nobel, I just need her by my side to win the heart of the queen".

" You're still up to that your Highness? one might think you were being serious about appointing a concubine".

"Look at her Eitan, how can I fall for a girl like her? She's partially a pig, and worse of all, she's an oracle".

" That's the point of a concubine, you don't have to fall for her to sleep with her".

Calvin appears "Good morning your highness". He bows to Darius 

" Calvin, good to have you". Darius greeted with excitement

Calvin's eyes widen seeing Baara on the table eating, she didn't even notice his presence, the smile he had on  slowly fades away

"And, who is this?". He asked with a bit of annoyances on his tone.

Eitan replies with an amused tone in his voice "That is his Majesty's concubine".

" Oh wow, glad you took my advice, you have interesting taste sire".

Darius rolls his eyes "Oracle!" He exclaimed.

Baara stops and raises her head "Are you calling me your highness?". She asks with her mouth full.

Darius surely was disgusted by that "I would like for you to pay your respect to Prince Calvin, my brother".

When Baara's eyes met with Calvin, she instantly felt anxious, they were under each other's blackmail, they were both hiding something big, something that would cost them both their lives.

Baara stutters "O-of course". She bows " yo-your highness, it's a-an honour to be a-at your presence".

"Likewise" Calvin replied bluntly.

" I had a great meal, thank you, your Highness". She bows to Darius 

"Good, you may be excused".

" Of course". Baara leaves immediately.

The Head maid escorts her. 'What's going on? Could it be that Prince Calvin was the one who helped me? The way he looked at me, does he plan on telling the king I'm a fraud?' Baara was lost in thought

"Oracle!" She heard a familiar voice exclaim, she stops and turns and sees Prince Calvin, he approaches her "Excuse us" He said to the head maid.

"Of course sire". She bows and leaves.

Baara gulps "You were the one who made my prophecy come to pass".

" Yes, so you owe me. You are to keep what you saw that day in the garden a secret, even the queen herself shouldn't know you are aware of our affair".

"Of course, you have my word".

He takes a step closer and whispers in her ears "Good, because if I hear a word from anyone I will have your skull as a decoration in my chambers". He walks away.

Baara falls to the ground, indeed this must be a punishment from the heavens. rain starts to pour.

Darius returns to his chambers with Eitan.

"Do you think the queen is going to care about a concubine?"Eitan ask as he sharpens the Kings sword

"If she does feel something for me, she will".

" What if she doesn't? Will you finally get the message and give up on her?".

Darius smiles "that's not going to happen, how can I give up on the woman I love?".

Eitan lets out a sigh "Can I speak comfortably with you? Are you sure she doesn't have you under some kind of spell?".

"Nonsense! It's not a crime for a man to love".

Eunuch suddenly appears and bows " Your highness, the queen has yet again rejected your invitation".

Darius becomes angry "Are you sure? Did you tell her it's urgent?"

"Yes I did, she said except you are on your death bed she has no business with you".

"She dares insult me again!" Darius rises from his seat and walks towards his door

Eunuch tries to stop him "Sire...you can't possibly go to meet with her, it's raining and you might fall sick, let me go instead!". He pleads

Eitan grabs him by his shoulder "He is right sire, the rainfall is far too heavy".

" I don't care!" He yells, Darius enters the rain, and the eunuch and Eitan had no choice but to follow him, he storms to the Queen's chambers.

Baara falls on her bed "Should I just hang myself? Should I meet up with my uncle and beg him for half of the money I gave to him so I'll just move to another kingdom?". She said out loud. She touches the bed admiring the soft sheets "Never in my life did I think  I will lay on something like this, I can't possibly give up now.

I need to keep going in other to survive, I need to find a way to stay close to the king so I wouldn't feel threatened by Prince Calvin, but how can I keep deceiving him, it's like killing two birds with one stone" Baara suddenly hears a loud noise coming from outside.

She looks out her window and her eyes widen seeing the King walking under the rain with Lord Eitan and his eunuch constantly crying and pleading.

They were walking towards the Queen's chamber which isn't too far from Baara's. She decides to investigate what's going on. 

Baara takes a sheet to protect herself from the rain as she runs towards the Queen's Chambers, she hides behind a nearby wall

She suddenly hears the king yell "How dare you decline my invitations, do you know how insulting it is!"

"And I have told you numerous times not to come to my Chambers!" She yells back.

"You are my queen, you are meant to be by my side, obey me, respect me!"

"You are yet to earn my respect, for all I know you are just a puppet in the hands of your officials, they are more of a king than you are anyway!"

Baara gasps, she never thought it was possible for a person to ever speak to a king that way without the fear of them losing their heads.

Darius clenches his fist, he ask with a shaky tone in his voice like he was about to cry "Why-why do you treat me this way? What have I ever done to you!" Everyone around felt bad for the King, they could all feel his hurt.

"If you would respect my privacy we wouldn't have any problems". The queen was about to walk away when Darius grabs her by her hand.

"I have appointed a concubine, you are to carry her under your wings to train her properly to serve me since you want nothing to do with me". 

Atara's eyes widen, for eight years she's been married to Darius and he had only pledged to love only her no matter how badly she treated him, she never thought a day would come when he would appoint a concubine. Atara was about to say something when the king suddenly snaps his fingers 

" Oracle come here!" He exclaims

Baara hiccups, she was taken by surprise, how did he know she was hiding?

Baara gulps as she slowly walks towards them "Your majesty" she bows. Atara looks at her with disgust 

Darius wraps his cold wet hands around Baara "This is my concubine, take care of her". Without saying another word Darius and the others leave.

Baara and the queen stare at each other, the lighten suddenly struck and thunder made a loud noise.

" Scary isn't it". Atara said, "You must think you're some big deal now you're the only concubine to the king, but we both know the reason you were appointed is to make me Jealous". Baara instantly felt a dislike for the queen, she isn't wrong, Baara herself knows the King isn't capable of loving someone like her and the only reason she's by his side it's because he believes she's an oracle that can take away his misfortune. 

Baara bows " Please take care of me, your Majesty". The queen thinks she can threaten me, meanwhile it is I who should threaten her, I know her secret.

I, Baara a mere servant, who became King Diaru's first concubine, pledge to the heavens I will do my best to survive this misfortune I have brought upon myself.

Baara goes to her room, she wears a black lacy night dress and a robe that was given to her by the head maid. She puts on makeup and jewels to bring out her face. Today she will spend her first night as a concubine with the king.

She walks Boldly to the King's chambers, she bows at the entrance

"State your business!" A guard exclaimed

"It is I the Oracle, I have come to spend the night in the king's chambers if he would allows it". The guards goes inside and comebacks out

" Very well, you may go in". Baara was kind of surprised, half of her thought the king might reject her offer.

She slowly walks in, the candlelight brightens the king's chambers, and King Darius was on his bed half naked. His body was as beautiful as his face like that of a Greek god. She has never seen a man with such beautiful features. Baara starts drooling without her realizing 

"Why have you come?" Darius ask 

"I have come to spend the night with you of course".

"That's very bold of you, you are bold, just like the first day we met when you thought of me as a commoner".

Baara stays calm "Forgive me for my terrible mistake". 

"If you think I brought you here as a real concubine then you must have gotten the wrong idea"

"I haven't mistaken anything sire, I have only come to serve you the best way I can, remember I told you I can make your misfortune disappear? Sire, I'm going to help you win the heart of the queen and gain your respect, I only ask for your protection". Baara bows

Darius scoffs "You have no right to ask me for any favours, but since you insist, I have to see the progress first".

" Of course sire, leave it to me, like I said before, as long as I'm by your side, no misfortune shall come your way, you just need to do everything I say starting from today".

"Of course".They both exchange looks.