Heirs of Sapphire

It is Emperor Galen's birthday, he is sitting in his throne and the Governors of different cities brought different gifts for him. "Your majesty, these jewelries came from the Governor of Turquoise city," prince Dealth, the emperor's brother told the emperor. "Very well, thank you," Emperor Galen smiled at the Gorvernor of Turquoise city. "My honorable emperor, this are my gifts," it's Lord Leonart of Dandelion city and some of his men brought five women. "Receive your humble servants,majesty," Lord Leonart was talking about the women that he brought for the emperor. "Let me go!"One of the women that Lord Leonart brought stepped on the soldier of the governor and quickly run to escape. "After her!" Lord Leonart commands and his soldier ran after the lady. "Help!" the lady screamed. "Be careful, that's a lady," Emperor Galen told the soldiers. "You animals! You don't respect women!" The lady said to everyone in the feast. Prince Dealth took out his sword. "Insult the emperor again and I'll cut your throat," prince Dealth point his sword to the lady's throat. "My brother, forgive the lady, she doesn't mean it," Emperor Galen said calmly and went closely to the lady. "What is your name, my dear?"Asked Emperor Galen. "He is asking you, answer now!"Prince Dealth told the lady impatiently. "Cielo," the lady replied. "That's a very nice name," said Emperor Galen as he smiled. "Dahlia," Emperor Galen called Lady Dahlia, the one in charge with the emperor's harem. "Majesty," Lady Dahlia bows her head. "Assign Cielo in my brother's harem," Emperor Galen told Dahlia. "Majesty, I don't need another woman," said Prince Dealth. "You'll thank me someday," Emperor Galen tapped his brother's shoulder. "Faster, now," Dahlia harshly pulled Cielo away."So as all of you," she told the other women brought by King Leonart. "Everyone, let the feast continue," Emperor Galen told everyone. The two guards from the palace took Cielo so she was able to follow Lady Dahlia. "She is an additional to your harem," said King Galen. "I don't think I have a harem, sets of servants maybe," said Prince Dealth. "Why? You don't want a harem?" Asked Lord Amethyst of the Cerulean city. "Women, they are powerful," Prince Dealth glance at Lady Fuschia who's sitting next to his father,Lord Leonart. Fuschia smiled. "If you give them a chance, they'll manipulate you just like what Eve did to Adam," said Prince Dealth. "He is right but a good woman is useful for a man to be successful," said Fuschia. "Just like you, my lady," Lord Amethyst turned to Fuschia."But that Cielo, could be someone as good too," Lord Amethyst said with a meaningful tone. "If all of you insist that I need a woman, maybe I do but not as this time that I have to be by my brother's side all the time," Prince Dealth sipped from his goblet with a wine in it. "If you don't want that Cielo in your harem, I will be glad to accept her for my upcoming birthday," Lord Amethyst chuckled. "We'll see about it, I'd rather set her free," Prince Dealth grinned. "Then I'll have her captured," Lord Amethyst's eyes narrowed. "Women are indeed powerful and enchanting, two handsome men already fighting over a concubine," said Lady Fuschia. "There's no competition, the prince owns her,am I right,my brother?" Emperor Galen said just to avoid the continuation of the discussion. "Right," Lord Amethyst grins as he agree. Lady Dahlia took the ladies to the bath and other girls from the palace harem helped them to clean up. "You will be clean for the emperor and for the prince, some will be chosen for the emperor and some for his brother," Dahlia explained to the ladies. "No one owns me! Not even the animals from the royal and nobleman!" Cielo protested. "Shut your mouth!"Dahlia slapped Cielo. "How dare you?!" Cielo pulled Dahlia's hair and the other ladies stopped her. "Hold this woman!" Dahlia told the ladies and slapped Cielo who can't even fight back now that her hands were held by the other ladies. "If I escape, I'll kill you!" Cielo is really furious. "You are not getting tired of this,are you?" Dahlia glared at her."Just clean yourself, eat your food, live today and think about fighting tomorrow," Dahlia told Cielo and left the bath house. "Let me go!" Cielo told the girls and they let go of her. "Please, don't get in trouble, I'll help you clean up," said Jamaica, one of the ladies brought by Lord Leonart. Cielo tried to control her anger and sat in the corner peacefully. After cleaning themselves, the ladies were told to line up and follow Lady Dahlia and as they walk, they come across with Prince Dealth. "Bow your heads," Dahlia told the ladies. The ladies bowed their heads. "Why is her face inflamed?" Prince Dealth notice the redness of Cielo's cheek. "She needs discipline to behave, my prince," Dahlia replied. "She looks well-behaved now, she deserves to be treated, we don't want to destroy that pretty face," prince Dealth told Dahlia. "I'll give her a cold compress myself later, my prince," said Dahlia. "Good,she belongs to my harem,you take care of her," said Prince Dealth. "We'll take our leave,my Lord," Dahlia curtsy and the prince nodded. "That is prince Dealth, the emperor's brother, you should pay respect everytime you see him," Dahlia told the gifts. "Lady Dahlia," it's Lady Luna, one of the emperor's favorite concubine. "My lady," Dahlia curtsy and so as the other girls. "Are they the new concubines for the emperor?"Asked Lady Luna. "Yes, my lady, except for that one that belongs to prince Dealth," Dahlia glance at Cielo. "And why is that?" Lady Luna walked towards Cielo. "The emperor ordered, my lady," said Dahlia. "That's odd," Luna looked at Cielo from head to foot. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Cielo glared at Luna. "Cielo,you'll get in trouble," Jamaica whispered. "Are you a queen?" Asked Cielo looking straight into Luna's eyes. "No, I'm the emperor's favorite," said Luna. "Just a favorite, not even a consort," Cielo raised her one brow. "How dare you?!" Luna is really mad. "Here comes Emperor Galen of Sapphire!" The guard announced. "Bow your heads!" Dahlia told everyone. The concubines bowed their heads. "Luna," Galen smiled as he saw Luna. "My Lord," Luna curtsy. "Oh, have you met my brother's concubine?" Asked Galen and turned to look at Cielo. "Yes, my majesty, I've seen her," Luna replied. "She can make him happy, I sincerely believe," said Emperor Galen. "I hope so,my majesty; Prince Dealth is very picky, he don't even want a woman for himself," said Luna. "Dahlia, you may take your leave with the ladies," the emperor told Dahlia. "Yes,your majesty," Dahlia curtsy and signaled the ladies to follow. "Luna,"the emperor uttered. Luna turned to look at the emperor. "I am really sorry that I have to give my brother a new concubine that I think he might end up to like," said the emperor. "Majesty, why are you saying this?" Asked Luna trying to act like she doesn't know what the emperor means. "Luna, I know that you're in love with my brother, you are my favorite because you are an intelligent lady and despite the fact that you love my brother, you did your obligation as a concubine to grace me in my bed," said the emperor and then he caressed her cheek. "But you must move on, the palace is not meant for feelings or for love but for the sake of the stability of the country," said the emperor. "My majesty, forgive me," Luna kneeled in front of the emperor."I don't want you to feel that I am not honored to be in your harem, I just can't help what I feel," Luna's tears fell down for being ashamed . "Stand up, I am not mad at you," said the emperor.Luna stood up but still, she can't even looked at Galen in the eye. "I just want you to help yourself, the man who saved you do not love you or even care for you that much, prince Dealth's heart only looks after the country's welfare and men as responsible as that don't even look for love," the emperor explain.Those words hurts Luna, it is the painful truth she have to swallow from now on. "I'll be leaving," said the emperor. Luna curtsy but just as the emperor left her sight. Luna began to cry and went back to her chamber in a hurry. "This love is hard, it is painful...I can see the love of my life everyday but I can't have him, in this land,this country...It's tradition...I will never be happy..." Luna told herself. Dahlia took the concubines to the education room, it's a classroom to learn how to behave well and learn the basics in the palace. "Good morning, ladies," it's Lady Amilia, the teacher responsible to teach the ladies to behave well. "Greet her back;say good morning, Lady Amilia," Dahlia told the ladies. "Good morning, lady Amilia," the concubines obeyed what they have been told. "Today, I'll teach you how to act like a lady," said Lady Amilia."How you will act if you have given an opportunity to entertain the emperor,"Amilia continues. Amilia wrote something on the board.In their culture most women can't read unless they are member of the royal or the wealthy people of the country. "Okay, this is the name of our emperor," said Lady Amilia. "Galen Knight," Cielo uttered. "You can read,lady?"Asked Amilia. "Yes,madame, my father taught me," Cielo replied. "That's so amusing," said Amilia."Just like lady Luna that knows how to read as well," Amelia continues. "That girl..." Cielo uttered. "Lady Luna knows how to read, his father is a former king's guard before he was deceased," said Amilia."When you have your education, you excel, you might end up being another emperor's favorite or his brother's favorite," Amilia continues. "Is that really important? They will just use our bodies, feast on it like an animal,what good will it do?" Cielo said in a proud tone. "You," Amilia glared at Cielo."Hundreds of girls are dying to have that spot, it's honoring our emperor," Amilia told Cielo and look around to warn everyone with her glaring eyes. "My freedom is priceless," Cielo said firmly. "Don't worry, you'll be a good fit for entertaining the royals in no time," Amilia raise her one brow. "You seem to be tough," one of the girls whispered to Cielo. "I have to," Cielo replied. "My name is Hera," the girl whispered. "Cielo," Cielo gave a polite smile. "No murmuring in my class!" It's Amilia who hears the whispers. Cielo and Hera chuckled before making an effort to behave. After the class, they were all sent back to the room for them to rest and eat their lunch. "Prince Dealth of the royal palace, pay your respect," it's one of the royal guard announcing the arrival of Prince Dealth. Dahlia signaled the ladies to stand up and bow their head. "Good afternoon, majesty," Dahlia curtsy so as the concubines. Prince Dealth nodded and his eyes wanders as if searching for something and clears his throat as he saw Cielo's face. "I can see that your face is not swelling anymore," Prince Dealth said and was about to touch Cielo's cheek but Cielo avoided his hand. Dealth frowned and felt insulted. "Who do you think you are?!" Dahlia felt embarrassed by the way Cielo behaves. "You really think highly of yourself,let me show you your place in this palace," Dealth said and then turned to look at Dahlia. "I want her in my chamber tonight, let my concubines prepare her for the night," Dealth told Dahlia and left the concubines' chamber. "I will not obey you!" Cielo screamed in anger. "We'll see about that," Dealth replied without looking back. "You!" Dahlia was about to slap Cielo again but Hera stopped her. "She'll be sleeping with the prince, we don't want to give her bruised or anything that will ruin her face," Hera told Dahlia so Dahlia needs to calm herself down.