The Crimson Conqueror’s Concubine

A Naming Day Celebration

In the fifth month of the year 1832, the kingdom of Cordovia rejoiced. For it was the Crown Princess’ coming of age ceremony and the royal family spared no expense in making the celebration a grand affair.

In the Palace of Hearts, barrels of wine lined the city walls, so much so that another bounty stood on standby should it be exhausted. Food of every kingdom, both neighboring and faraway were rolled in by the crate. All noble houses and dignitaries attended the ceremony and drank to their hearts’ content, for the King of Cordovia’s favored daughter marked her 18th Naming day.

The common people took part in the festivities as they feasted on the streets of Cordovia to the borders. Having their own fill of food and wine, courtesy of the magnanimous King Basil and his wife, Queen Solyn, who also distributed silk for all the young ladies to don.

It was told that only one person in the entire kingdom was exempted from the party. The Princess Khloris. Somewhere far from the Great hall, Princess Khloris tended to her flower beds with hands covered in dirt from weeding and planting dandelion seeds. She had given herself an ultimatum to plant dandelions in her garden but had underestimated the dedication taken for them to sprout.

“My lady, are you certain you won’t attend the celebration?” She heard Miori ask from somewhere behind her. But she could care less about a celebration when not one flower bud has yet to be seen.

“There’s still time to exchange pleasantries and make an exit if need be,” Miori pushed, concern laced in her voice.

Khloris ignored her again, certain that they’ll get punished either way. She was aware that not being present at her younger sister’s naming day will attract whispers and an earful from her grandmother—the dowager Queen, who was one to always keep appearance.

Yet she would rather spend her time in the sun tending to the flowers than force her way into places she has never been welcomed.

After inspecting the garden and finding nothing amiss, she took a swig of the dusk air, stood from the ground all covered in filth and proceeded to her room located in a secluded wing of the Palace of Hearts. With Miori always a few feet behind, she knew her maid worried for her more than anyone in her family. Having been a companion to her for years, Khloris felt immense guilt towards her only friend.

By choosing to be on her side, Miori had in turn isolated herself from the rest of the palace servants and all the benefits she could have enjoyed—now more so on a grand celebration like this. Khloris stopped in her tracks, a wave of guilt washing over her as she turned to ask.

“Do you perhaps want to join in on the fun, Mi? You know I’ll be fine here.”

“Of course not, my lady. I’d rather be by your side than see that witch happy and enjoying what you should have—”

“Shhh!” Khloris silenced her, instinctively searching the hallways for any listening ear. But there was no one, so she continued to speak in a hushed tone as precaution.

“You know we’ve had this conversation time and time again. The Crown Princess is no witch and she deserves to be happy.”

“Not at the expense of you! My lady, you’re the eldest princess, you should have had a coming of age ceremony even if not as grand as hers.” She shook her head at Miori.

“You forget I’m my father’s illegitimate child.”

That response had her friend silent, though she could see the conflict in her brown eyes and the deep crease of her eyebrows.

Every living thing in the kingdom was made aware of King Basil’s daughter out of wedlock. They saw her as a taint in the royal lineage, an unwanted competition to their beloved Crown Princess. Not Miori, who refused to let her lady forget she was of royal blood, illegitimate or not.

Upon reaching her wing, Khloris resigned herself to the washroom, and soaked in a warm bath to scrub the dirt from her hands and skin. When she felt thoroughly clean enough to return in the chamber with a robe on, she found Miori standing next to a violet dress sprawled on the bed—nothing she had ever seen before.

It looked nothing of Cordovia’s fashion. Where the ladies favored jewels in their dresses, this had shimmery beads which complemented the silk that was too soft and light.

“What’s this?” She asked, water still dripping from her damp hair as she picked it up and perceived a faint scent of resins and a flower she doubt bloomed in Cordovia.

“A maid brought it in from the Queen Dowager as a gift. Apparently she gave an order that you must be in attendance as swiftly as possible.”

Khloris shook her head, knowing her night was about to take a turn for the disastrous. Not only will her father disapprove of her presence, but it would give Soraia—her younger half-sister, more reasons to despise her.

She looked at the dress again for another moment, trying to decide why the pattern of the dress looked so familiar but nothing seemed to click.

“What would you have me do?” Miori asked, arms folded behind her back as she stood awaiting a decision.

“Since we can’t refuse a royal order, it appears we’ll be attending the coming of age ceremony.”

“Perfect,” her friend practically cheered as she rushed over to deposit Khloris into a chair and started fixing her long wavy raven hair into a nice updo with the few ornaments she possessed.

Miori worked her magic, tying her lady’s hair into a classic bun with few strands falling out and a matching violet hair pin to go with it.

She powdered her face lightly since the Eldest Princess was the very picture of a fair beauty, with freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks, striking green eyes the color of her perfect garden, and a full rosy lips accentuated by her heart shaped face. The violet dress fitted Khloris perfectly, as if her grandmother had it tailored for her. But despite her good intentions, she couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling she had about how strikingly familiar it looked.

Especially when she saw her reflection in the mirror, looking every inch of the woman she never met. Which according to court whispers is the main reason why her father set her aside and couldn’t bear to look her in the face.

Miori had enough of the Eldest Princess moping around and wasting time enough to anger the Queen Dowager. So with determination in her guts, she accompanied her lady to the Great hall, helping her so lightly as they made their way. She had hoped for times like this when her lady would stop taking a backseat and finally claim her place in the royal family. Coincidentally, her wish came true at an auspicious time for the entirety of Cordovia.

They walked the length of the main wing in the Palace of Hearts, and the more they approached, the louder the music and noise was. It felt like since forever she had walked this path because her lady barely attended any of the King’s banquets.

The father daughter relationship was the worst she had ever seen even for royal blood, and although she didn’t know the full story of her lady’s mother and the king, Miori hoped he acknowledged the Eldest Princess. When they finally got to the large double doors, she noticed something amiss with the armored knights stationed on every side of the passageway.

Their build was not like the men she had come to know as a maid working in the Palace of Hearts. But she dismissed her suspicions and focused on her lady who was at present fidgeting with the bodice of her gown.

If only Miori had paid more attention, the night wouldn’t have taken such a disastrous turn.