Chapter 4

“Greetings sir.” Ophelia greeted Tom politely as she walked into his pottery yard. 

Tom is an average height pot-bellied man, in his early fifties. He is known as the best potter in the kingdom. He makes and displays the best works in the Vorgar kingdom. He had two children but no wife, and no news or even a story about his wife. 

Ophelia had gone to him that evening as instructed by her mother to collect the stone jar her father had asked him to make before his death.

“Oh welcome, welcome pretty Ophelia, how are you doing?” Tom asked, smiling cheerfully at her. 

“I’m doing very well sir,” Ophelia responded, smiling.

“You came for the stone jar right?” 

“Yes. My mother asked me to come get it, the one at home is really damaged” she answered politely.

“Alright, I’ll go get it,” he smiled.

“Okay sir”

Tom was about to go in, when he suddenly paused on his track.

“Ehnn Ophelia” he called, turning back to her.

“Yes sir.”

“I am so sorry for what happened to your family. Knowing how close you and your father were, this must have hurt you the most. Please accept my condolences.” Tom spoke out, feeling nothing but pity for Ophelia.

“It’s alright sir, heaven knows best.” she tried to fight back the tears that were almost dropping from her eyes.

“Did the palace compensate your family? Your father is a high-ranking soldier, so he must be compensated.” Tom further asked.

“No they did not, and I don’t really care about that. I just want my father.” Ophelia burst into tears, unable to hold it anymore.

“Oh my! Please Ophelia stop crying, it’s not nice for pretty girls.” Tom consoled, moving closer to her and patting her back soothingly.

“It’s fine, Uncle. I don’t think I wanna talk about this anymore.” Ophelia stated, wiping her tears with the back of her hands and trying to act as if nothing had just happened. 

“I get pretty, and I’m so sorry for bringing this up. I’ll just go get the jar now” he muttered, and then walked into the inner part of the yard to get the jar.

He soon came back with a beautiful jar and handed it over to Ophelia.

“Tell your mother not to bother about the payment, and also tell her I’ll come over soon to officially visit.” 

“Thank you so much uncle, I appreciate this kind gesture and I’m sure my mother does too. I’ll surely pass your message across.” Ophelia spoke softly, forcing a smile.

“Alright,” Tom smiled.

“I’ll get going now uncle” Ophelia announced, and then started walking away almost immediately, with the stone jar in her right hand.

Tom stood and watched her leave till she was out of sight, then he heaved a heavy sigh.

“Poor girl!” he thought to himself, as he shook his head and went back to what he was doing. 

*

Minutes later, Ophelia walked into her compound and was shocked to see Madame Rhoda seated outside with her mother. They were having a conversation. 

Madame Rhoda is a popular and wealthy woman, known for helping young ladies get job opportunities and also training girls to have profitable handwork.

This woman is a known philanthropist who has been helping families over the years. But for reasons best known to her father, he despised her so much! He doesn’t even want to hear her name.

Madame Rhoda has always admired Ophelia from afar, but couldn’t come close because of her father. Now he’s gone, she saw this as the right time to do her bidding.

Madame Rhoda is a short plump woman in her late forties. She has a round face and she was always putting on this bossy look. She dresses in a funny but wealthy way. Everyone in the kingdom knew her for this bossy character of hers.

Ophelia was surprised to find her in their compound today. What is the reason for her visit? Could she be here to help her? 

“Oh, there she is. Here comes the most beautiful maiden in the Vorgar kingdom.” Madame Rhoda smiled brightly, exposing all her teeth as soon as she saw Ophelia.

And she wasn’t exaggerating. Ophelia was indeed the most beautiful girl in the kingdom, and it was known to all. This is the main reason why she has no friends, because the envy was too much, even from afar. She made her father her best friend because of this, but now he’s no more.

The whole kingdom knew and addressed her as “Pretty Ophelia” because her beauty and skin color were a sight to behold. Her parents have always been proud of this. Having the most beautiful maiden in the kingdom, it was such a thing of joy.

“Greetings Madame.” Ophelia greeted politely with a cheerful and smiling face, unable to hide her expression.

“Greetings my baby. And please you don’t have to call me Madame, just call me auntie okay? Madame Rhoda said sweetly.

“Okay,” Ophelia nodded, smiling.

“Ophelia dear, how would you like to learn a skill from a neighboring town, or work for wealthy people to earn a living?” Madame Rhoda suddenly threw the question at her in a very enticing manner.

“Yes, yes Madame…sorry yes, Auntie. I would like that a lot.” Ophelia answered almost immediately, she couldn’t help the joy that she was feeling. 

“You see! This is what I have been telling your mother. It is really something to consider, given the fact that you just lost your dad. And I’m so sorry about that, accept my condolences.” She spoke nicely and soberly.

“It’s fine, Auntie.” Ophelia faked a smile, her earlier bright smile had disappeared. She doesn’t like being reminded of this, even in the slightest way. But what could she do? She’s gonna be getting that a lot for now. 

“How old are you?” Madame Rhoda threw the question at her.

“I’m twenty-one ma” Ophelia answered immediately.

“Perfect! Now that your mother has your younger siblings to cater for, you have to assist her in the little way that you can.” 

“Yes ma, I would really want to”

And all this while they spoke, Toma just sat down quietly trying to think or conclude on what to do. She knew if her husband were alive, Madame Rhoda would not be seen anywhere near their compound. She didn’t know the reason, but it was so clear that her husband hated this woman and there must be a valid reason for it. That is why she’s being skeptical about it, but Ophelia seems really happy about the offer.

“Alright, Toma. I would leave you guys now to think about it, and please think about it thoroughly.” Madame Rhoda turned to Ophelia’s mom, getting on her feet.

“Sure, we will.” Toma released a faint smile.

“Here are a hundred coins, have it and do something nice for the children,” Madame Rhoda announced, placing a small bag of coins in Toma’s palm.

Toma could not believe her ears. Did she just say a hundred coins?

“A hundred coins?” Toma repeated to be sure.

“Yes, it is…..

“Thank you so much Madame Rhoda, thank you, you have no idea what you’ve just done for my children and me.” Toma was almost in tears now.

“Thank you so much, Ma,” Ophelia added.

“Naah, it’s nothing. There’s more where that came from, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ll come back to take her when you finally make up your mind.” Madame Rhoda assured.

“Alright I’ll take my leave now, you all be good, and Ophelia please take good care of yourself okay?” 

“I will ma, thank you so much I appreciate it,” Ophelia replied politely. And with that, Madame Rhoda walked out of the compound. 

“Mother!” Ophelia walked up to her mother who was almost in tears, and gave her a big hug.

“Ophelia my child, are you sure you want to do this?” Toma suddenly asked as soon as they disengaged from the hug.

“Of course mother, why not?” Ophelia was shocked by the question.

“I don’t know Ophelia, your father despised this woman so much. I just have a bad feeling about this.” Toma opened up to her daughter.

“Oh come off it, Mother, I’m sure it was something personal father had against her”.

“Mother look what she gave us just in the first meeting, we can settle uncle Esau and have more to spare. So just imagine when I start earning money, our lives will change.” Ophelia spoke with so much confidence.

“I just don’t know why it feels like I’m selling you off.”

“Come on, Mother, why would you say that?” Ophelia huffed.

“As long as your father despises this woman, it just doesn’t feel right,” Toma continued.

“Come on mother, father is no more and we have to face reality. Who is gonna cater for us now? You only make a little profit from your sales at the market, and that’s definitely not enough. We need this mother, and don’t worry I’ll be fine. You know how strong I am.” Ophelia tried her best to convince her mother.

“Are you sure? We can return her money to her if you don’t want it, it’s not too late.” Toma assured.

“We don’t need to do that mother. I’ll be fine and we will be happy we took this decision” 

And immediately, Toma pulled her daughter in a life-squeezing hug, hugging her passionately as tears rolled freely down her face. 

“Thank you, my dear child,” she said in between tears.

She just hopes she’s making the right decision and Ophelia would be just fine, because she would not even know where to start from if anything should happen to her daughter. 

*

“Come on Georgia, it can’t be that hard,” Princess Savannah pleaded.

“It is, Savannah. How do I explain to you that Prince Castor doesn’t even have time to speak to his wife, let alone you?” Princess Georgia huffed. It was clear from her tone that she was tired already.

Both princesses could be seen in the open field, with maids and guards around them. They were having a discussion, and it was obviously about the crown prince. These days, Prince Castor is all they talk about when they are together. And honestly, Georgia was getting sick of it already.

It’s been this way ever since Savannah opened up to Georgia about how she feels about her brother.

Savannah is the only daughter of King Aza of their neighboring kingdom, Biza. Savannah is the first child of her father, and she has just one younger sibling. A male, who is the heir to her father’s throne.

Savannah and Georgia have been friends since their childhood. They go everywhere together, play games together, eat together, and tell each other everything going on in each other’s lives.

Ever since they became teenagers, Georgia noticed that Savannah likes visiting their palace more often. Georgia doesn’t even go to her palace anymore because she wouldn’t give her a chance, it was always Savannah that visits.

Georgia notices the way she acts when Prince Castor is around, and she’s caught Savannah staring at him several times. But she shrugged it off, she didn’t just want to imagine it was what she was thinking. It’s been going on for years, till some months back, right before they went to war. Savannah came and confessed to Georgia that she has feelings for Castor, that she badly wanted to be his concubine, and that Georgia must make this happen.

Georgia was shocked by this. Castor of all people? Not even Caspian. She wondered how it was even possible to fall for someone as cold as Castor.

And as a princess, Savannah is not supposed to be a concubine to anyone, instead the main wife. Concubines are daughters from noble families, and not princesses. 

She is betrothed to a prince from another kingdom, but she doesn’t like him at all and she gives him cold shoulders. She just wants to be Castor’s concubine.

Georgia is the daughter of Empress Morgana, the stepmother to the princes. Empress Morgana was formerly the Emperor’s concubine. But she was crowned the Empress after the late Empress’s passing. 

The late Empress, being the mother of the twins, died in place of the Emperor when he was about to be killed by his brother Apollo. She knowingly took that which was made for the Emperor, knowing fully well it would cost her life. But she felt her duty was to protect the Emperor, and expose the evil doers.

It was after this, king Apollo ran away and went to rule in another kingdom. He was banished from the empire for life. But now he still instigates trouble, fighting so hard to take over the Empire.

Georgia is the stepsister to Castor and Caspian. She’s been loved by them and not treated indifferently in any way, but she still somehow fears Castor.

Castor is a cold and emotionless person. Although he is not a wicked person, he has never acted on emotions before. He is really blank, one could never tell what is going through his mind. And he really likes his personal space.

Georgia has tried several times to talk Savannah out of her impossible task, but she just wouldn’t listen. His wife, Crown Princess Rowena, and his concubine, Lady Amira both don't even get his attention. He only manages to spare some of his time for the crown princess when needed, and never for Lady Amira. So how much more a second concubine?

Savannah knew very well that her father would never allow her to become a concubine to any man, over his dead body. Yet, she still keeps trying to be one to Prince Castor. It hurts her so much that over the years she’s been frequenting the palace, Prince Castor hasn’t even noticed her for a day. Instead, she keeps getting advances from Caspian, that Casanova, whom she always turns down.

It seemed impossible, but she wasn’t ready to give up. She had hope because Georgia told her he believes in one man, one wife, and he hasn’t seen the one he loves yet and isn’t even sure he will. So he has to stick to the royal policy. But she’s trying her best to make sure she is the girl he finally falls for. She believes that one day, he will definitely notice her. 

“Come on Georgia, pleaseeee” Savannah kept pleading.

She was pleading with Georgia to go see him in his chamber and act like she needed something from him, while she would just tag along. Georgia would get to introduce them, and everything could just start from there. But Georgia is letting her know it is impossible.

“Savannah, how many times do I have to tell you that I can’t go into his chamber? Yet alone for some stupid reason, and with some stranger.” 

“The guards won’t even let me pass through. And even if they do, I might get punished for it.” Georgia explained tiredly for the umpteenth time.

“I know Georgia, but we can at least try. Who knows, we might be lucky.” Savannah pleaded again, and this time Georgia quickly turned to her, giving her a funny look.

“Can you even hear yourself? You can try, huh? It’s so funny! Do you even know who we are talking about here? I see you don’t even have an idea what kind of person you’re crushing on.” Georgia spoke up, rather mockingly.

“Of course I know. Look…..

“Please please Savannah. I have things to do, and I would not be part of this madness.” Georgia cut her short, knowing she was about to bring up another absurd idea.

“I’m going to my chambers, when you’re ready you can come meet me there,” Georgia said with finality. And then she got on her feet and started walking away, her servants following her immediately.

“Georgia, wait!” Savannah called after her, getting on her feet to follow her friend.