The Emperor's Harem

Ch. 3 The Gardens Secrets 18+

It took about several weeks for Vera to recover in that time; she had a few girls ask her to embroider some of their sundresses like her own. She had Elise get some books from the library to research because of something that the girls had said. When she was finally able to get up and out of bed, she quickly got dressed, not waiting for Elise to come in and help. She quickly did her hair into a braid and was out of the room before anyone could stop her. She passed by some girls who were talking. "Did you hear that Isadora, Mia, Aubrey and I think two other girls are pregnant. They are so lucky I bet Isadora will have the boy because she was the one to get pregnant first." Vera shook her head. "I walked by the east wing after getting lost, and I heard sounds coming from behind the door." Vera heard enough and walked away. She walked past the East wing to see what the doors looked like. She saw that a guard was standing by the door. She heard nothing and walked back to the direction that she was going.

Isadora had followed Vera to the East wing.

Vera headed to the garden, where she went straight towards the white orchids. Other than Cyprian and her family, the white orchids would bring a smile to her face every time. She heard talking coming from somewhere in the garden. Both voices sounded familiar, so she started to follow the sound. She went into a maze, and it seemed like it was coming from there. She made her way in only to find a dead end. She went a different way only to find another dead end. No matter what direction she went, all there was were dead ends. Vera sighed, then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Cyprian in front of her. He looked stressed, and it looked like he had been for several days. His hair was messy, and his face looked like it had hair stubble. "Are you okay? Is there something I can do to help?" Cyprian stood over to Vera and buried his head into her neck and whispered. "I want your body," Vera blushed. "Not here, people will..." Cyprian stood there and shook his head. "They can't. We are too far into the Maze for anyone to see or hear us."

Cyprian only pulled away for a second before he pressed his lips against Vera's hunger for something. He pulled away and began to plant kisses along her collar bone. He pulled down the top part of her dress and grabbed one of her breasts and took the n****e of the other in his mouth and began to suck and nibble at it. A moan escaped Vera's mouth in pleasure. Cyprian groaned as he began to feel his pants tent. He pulled away and tried to get his pants down but he was struggling, which was making him frustrated. Vera stopped him and got down on her knees. "Let me do it." She was able to gently pull down his pants and his c**k was free. "Just relax and I will take away your stress."

Vera started to stroke his member and his ball sack before taking his shaft into her mouth and started to suck it. Cyprian let out a groan as he enjoyed the treatment that Vera was giving him. When he felt like he had enough, he took Vera and had her go on her hands and knees. He pulled down her underwear and began to rub his d**k against her p***y, moaning when he felt how wet she was. "Wait, if we do it know the chance of me getting pregnant is higher." Cyprian smiled. "Good, bare me lots of offspring." He shoved his c**k into her p***y and began to thrust in and out. He groaned. "f**k you are so tight. Get any tighter and I will go crazy." Cyprian started to thrust harder and deeper, sending Vera off the deep end until she orgasmed, which made him release his seed into her. While still inside her, he flipped her onto her side with one leg in the air and began to process all over again until they came once more. He then had her lay on her back for the final round. When they were done, they got dressed

"There is someone I want you to meet." He took her hand and guided her to the middle of the maze. There sitting on a bench was a woman with dark brown hair. She was looking up at a statue of a beautiful woman. "Mother I brought someone..." The woman looked up and her eyes widened. "No, it can't be your dead...." Vera looked confused. "No mother this is Vera the girl I told you about." The emperor's mother took a deep breath. "I am sorry it's just you are the spitting image of my good friend Lorena." The dowager Emperess pointed at the statue. "Oh don't worry Elise and a few other maids have told me I look like her, your majesty." The women smiles. "Please no formalities my dear it is Aemiliana ." This made Vera smile. "It is really nice to meet you your... Aemiliana."

Vera looked over to the statue of Lorena and noticed the most beautiful flower she had ever laid eyes on and one of the rarest as well. "Are those Juliet Roses?" Aemiliana and Cyprian looked over to just under the statue. "You have a keen eye my dear. Yes, those are Juliet Roses. They were Lorena's favorite flower." Aemiliana looked at Vera quizically. "How do you know about this rare flower?" Vera smiled and sighed as she looked at the dark haired women. "I have always liked all types of flowers but my favorite are the rare ones. The blue orchid is by far my favorite because it is a rare color you see. I do like white ones as well. The ghost....."

Vera stopped talking she flet like she going on to much she looked down kind of embarrassed. She normally did not like talking this much but the fact that she was talking about rare flowers got her excited. Aemiliana could only smile and so did Cyprian. "Vera it's okay to talk about something you really like." Cyprian said as he stood in front of Vera and with his hand gently lifted her chin so she was looking at him. "Don't ever be afraid to use your voice." Cyprian placed a kiss on Vera's forehead brought her into a hug.

Aemiliana cleared her throat. " Well I think it's time that we went back inside. I don't think the rest of the young ladies would be all too happy that Vera here was getting all of your attention not to mention that I need to meet all the other young ladies."

Vera pulled away when she heard the Dowager Empress speak. "Cyprian she is right I don't want the girls to think that I have favoritism since you have been trying to spend more time with me. I heard that Isadora and a few of the other girls are now pregnant you are going to need to spend time with them because one of the will most likely produce you an heir while I have yet to even get pregnant. Not to mention there are probably some girls who you have not slept with yet and I don't want them thinking that you don't want them." Vera gave a sad smile. "Cyprian why don't you and your mother head back I would like to spend a little bit more time out here alone." Cyprian nodded and began to walk away. "It was very nice to meet you Vera. I hope that I will get to see you again real soon." Aemiliana followed her son close behind as they left the center of the maze.

Vera took a deep breath. The fresh air was inviting, a bit chilly as it started to get later in the day but still a welcome comfort. She sat down on the bench and looked up at the statue she closed her eyes and began to hum the song that she loved to sing all the time to her younger siblings. She missed them so much and she wondered how her mother was doing. Isabella, Vera's mother, could not have any children or so they were told, so when Vera came to live with her and Henry, Vera's father, they were ecstatic. Five years later Isabella by some miracle became pregnant with a baby girl. They named her Ada. Vera had been so happy to have a little sister, so much so that she wanted to help take care of her. Isabella tried for a couple of more years to have more children but it was not until another five years later that they conceived a boy whom they named Jax. Isabella tried to have another child. Over then next eight years they ended up taking in two more children a boy and a girl, their names were Millie and Damon. In the eight year of them trying to conceive one more time before finally giving up Isabella became pregant with their final child. A girl was born but with this birth Isabella's health deteriorated and she became weak to where Vera had to step up and not only cook and clean but take care of the other children. Ada was a big help but would disappear if the chores became too hard.

A tear trickled down Vera's cheek as she remembered her family. She was going to have to inquire about how her family was doing. Suddenly she heard a rustling noise. "Hello is some one there." Vera looked around then she heard the whispers. "Vera.....Vera......Vera....." Vera looked around as she made her way out of the maze. "If this is one of the other girls trying to scare me it's not going ot work." She went one way through the maze only to come to a dead end. The voice could be heard again. "Vera....find the truth......find the truth." Vera was starting to get a little creeped out more because she felt like she was lost but the voice did not help out at all. She turned down another part of the maze and ended up in a dead end. She quickly turned around and tired a different path. That was also a dead end. Now she began to panic. She started to run because it was starting to get dark and she would not make it back in time for dinner.

"Find the truth......go to the east wing......" The voice said. Vera stopped and looked around and started backing up. "Vera.......Vera......Vera?" A hand reached out to turn Vera around which made her jump. "Vera are you okay?" Cyprian had come looking for her. He pulled her into a hug. "I was worried you did not show up for dinner." Vera shook her head. "I am sorry, Cyprian I got lost and it got dark I am fine." Cyprian guided Vera back to the entrance of the maze there were a few guards running around but when they saw Cyprian with Vera they stopped and were glad she was safe. "I will have Elsie bring you your food in your room since you will most likely want to rest." Vera nodded before making her way toward her room. They passed by the east wing a guard stood outside of it still. The voice's words were still ringing in her ears. Find the truth in the east wing. What truth? Who did the voice belong to? Was someone trying to pull her leg and get her in trouble?

Vera finally made it back to her room. Elise came running up to them. "Miss, are you okay? We were really worried." Vera smiled at her. "Yes, Elsie, I am fine. I just got a little lost in the maze." Cyprian came to stand next to Vera and placed a hand on her shoulder. "If you are okay I will take my leave, have a good night and I will see you in the morning." Vera nodded and Cyprian paced a kiss on her forehead and walked out and head to one of the other girls rooms. Vera sat down at her vanity and Elise began to undo her hair and brush it out. When Elsie finished, Vera got up and went to sit at the table in her room. Each girl had one if they chose not to join the others for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Elsie brought an assortment of food that was supposed to be good for women who were trying to become pregnant.

"Elsie, can you please tell me the story of what happened in the east wing?" Elise looked around nervously. "Miss, we are not suppose to talk about it we could get into a lot of trouble." Vera picked at her food. "I know but why can we not talk about it?" Elise kneeled before Vera. "All I can say is that we lost two people that day one was a innocent baby who had just been born in to the world. They found a blanket covered in blood next to...." Vera held her hand up. "Elsie you don't have say any more I understand. I will drop it." Vera soon began to eat her food while Elsie began to turn down her covers of Vera's bed. "Elsie can you please draw a bath?" Elsie disappeared into the bathroom with a nod and next thing water can be heard running. Vera finished eating and goes in to the bathroom. She gets undress and steps into the warm water. As she begins to relax and closes her eyes. Elsie walks out and cleans up then leaves the room.

Meanwhile, back in the garden, a statue of an angel starts to move and a figure enters from beneath. It was hooded and cloaked and as it moved it stayed in the shadows. Its movement was like that of a specter, though it had the shape of a human. It made its way through the garden until it got to the palace. It made sure that it did not get seen by the guards as it made its way to the harem. As it got closer, it paused as it got closer to Vera's room. It saw Elsie exit with the dishes before moving inside. It finally enters but sticks to the shadows.

"Vera.......Vera....Vera......" Vera quickly sits up in the bathtub and looks around. "I think I am hearing things again." She shakes her head as she gets out of the tub. "Elsie are you still here?" There was no answer. She heard noise coming from the bedroom. "Elsie, is everything okay out there?" She puts on a robe her hair still damp and slowly makes her way to the bedroom. She could still hear noise as if things were being broken. "Elsie? Is that you in there?" Still no answer. This was starting to scare Vera just a bit. All the other girls were either in bed or spending the night with Cyprian so it would only be her, Elsie and a handful of guards who were up. She grabbed a vase that was at the entrance of the bathroom and made her way to the bedroom. The sight that awaited her made her drop the vase which shattered.