Chapter 8

/p gt;If Shadia had not been dragging the Solinar prince into the bedroom like some common slave at the very first sight of him, none of this would have happened!”/p gt;Shadia’s voice rose sharply, and Nefetia matched her with wide eyes and an equally furious shout./p gt;“Please! Stop meddling in my affairs! Just leave me alone to do exactly as I wish!”/p gt;“How long are you going to keep acting this way! You’re an adult now. The age for doing whatever you please has long passed! Listen and take responsibility!”/p gt;“I…!”/p gt;Nefetia’s voice caught in her throat the moment she tried to retort, her trembling lips freezing./p gt;Adult. Responsibility…/p gt;“I… I…!”/p gt;She knew Shadia was right. Watching Arkin’s reaction, she could see the warning clear as day, yet some stubborn part of her refused to admit it. But… but…/p gt;Shadia fell silent, and Nefetia lost her words. They both panted, the silence stretching painfully. Finally Shadia leaned on her staff and spoke in a small voice./p gt;“After the tournament ends and you return to Kepet… then the selected concubines and their unions will begin.”/p gt;“…Eh? Unions?”/p gt;Nefetia’s shoulders stiffened the instant the words sank in./p gt;“Shadia. What do you mean by unions?”/p gt;“In plain terms. The sons have already been chosen from every noble house. They’ve trained their bodies, prepared for conception, and now stand ready to serve you.”/p gt;“I… I’m not ready yet! That can wait, can’t it? Mother’s still healthy, so why… why am I…?”/p gt;“Her Highness has decided. She wishes it hastened.”/p gt;“Decided? She gave no word to me!”/p gt;The hand clutching her sleeve trembled violently. She had always known such a day might come, but it had felt distant, like a future far beyond reach. She could accept it when the time arrived…/p gt;“Your Highness, the King worries for you and wishes to move quickly. The countless trials he endured while unable to conceive were even reported to me, who stood beyond the borders at the time. Do you truly believe no such trial could ever befall you?”/p gt;Shadia’s voice cracked at the memory, and she slammed her staff into the floor./p gt;“Because of those who dared question the greatness of Queen Mahati, the royal line nearly crumbled. Only the prophecy you received saved the situation.”/p gt;“I’m not Mother, Shadia. Kepet’s future will bloom magnificently under my hand, regardless of when the unions begin.”/p gt;“The prophecy mentions nothing of succession.”/p gt;Shadia cut her off firmly./p gt;“Even when Mahati ascended, the physicians feared her body was too frail, and worry filled the court. That is why, before coronation, she began the unions early—only to lose the precious daughter. After that, rumors spread that the throne had been claimed by someone else and the prophecy had been altered. Because of that horror, it is only natural that Her Highness worries over your unions.”/p gt;Shadia’s calm rebuttal left Nefetia with nothing to say./p gt;Nefetia’s chest grew tighter. I hate it. I hate it. I’m not ready yet./p gt;“They are the young men who have devoted their bodies and hearts solely to you. They live with the joy of touching your sacred form, handsome, strong youths who will spend their lives at your side. Even if it does not sit well at first, you will soon find pleasure in their company.”/p gt;“…Shadia. Stop trying to soften it. I hate those men. I hate them with every fiber of my being.”/p gt;Shadia fell silent, her gaze dropping./p gt;Long ago, sixteen noble houses had risen with Kepet. When a new king was born, they offered their healthiest son as a concubine. The king then bedded them in rotation to sire an heir./p gt;According to their belief, only supreme pleasure could produce healthy heirs, so these youths lived only for the king, their bodies sacrificed in service./p gt;The sacred contract had begun to rot over time./p gt;Was it too much to sacrifice the precious son of a noble house to a concubine’s bed? As their influence grew, most concubines became “abandoned children.” Flaws were ignored, but the result was greater corruption./p gt;Lazy, licentious men filled the role, sparking endless intrigue. The king, the embodiment of sanctity, grew isolated. The concubines, free to act, schemed freely. When trouble arose, they escaped punishment and returned to the king’s bed to play the part./p gt;The concubines of Queen Mahati were no different. None of the sixteen showed any restraint outside these walls. They knelt before Nefetia, declaring loyalty, yet their eyes devoured her face when they left./p gt;Attempts to determine whose seed had reached her never ceased./p gt;“Princess…”/p gt;Shadia began cautiously./p gt>“You dislike it, I know. But this cannot be refused.”/p gt;“I…!”/p gt;“Your life until now and the one ahead will be entirely different. That is the way of rule. You must become clever and calculating. What is bedding a concubine compared to a king? You need only conceive an heir. But no noble house must be slighted; all sixteen youths must enter the chamber or scandal will follow. So endure what you dislike and treat them kindly.”/p gt;“I understand… but…”/p gt;Nefetia fell silent and drew a deep breath. The empty eyes of Queen Mahati rose before her, choking her breath. The vague fear in those eyes unsettled her./p gt;Upon Nefetia’s birth, Queen Mahati had drawn a firm line: no more attempts to conceive./p gt;Yet the sixteen concubines still appeared whenever the king retired./p gt;They found excuses, coaxed him with sweet words, and demanded the required visits even without the expectation of heirs./p gt;Had they grown old and ugly so quickly because they no longer needed to try?/p gt;Their bodies swelled from rich food and revelry, their eyes gleaming./p gt;The Queen had taught her nothing of the lonely shadows of the throne. Everything Nefetia knew was only her own guess./p gt;She had no desire to live such a life. If she could not save her mother, at least she would live differently./p gt;Above all, Nefetia possessed a perfect prophecy. Absolute power to do anything. A sovereign born of divine will. She believed it would serve as her shield./p gt;“Shadia.”/p gt;Nefetia turned to her with a serious question./p gt“What if I have found my Hetasept?”/p gt>Shadia frowned at the unfamiliar term./p gt>“Het… what did you say?”/p gt>“Het-a-sept. A fated soulmate in the old texts.”/p gt>“Huh? What does that…?”/p gt>“Shadia, every person in this world has their own Hetasept. A destiny that shares in the happiness and pleasure of life.”