The Tearless Concubine

Admiration

GLORIA'S POV

I was cleaning the concubine's bedroom when I heard children voices coming in closer. I turned around to see who it was and it's none other than the two princes.

"Where is our mother?" Prince Solomon asked.

"Her highness is having breakfast with the emperor at the gazebo today." I replied the princes while keeping my head low.

"With emperor father again? What is wrong with that old man? Why does he keeps on meeting our mother like this? Let's go Nazareth." The two princes leave the concubine's bedroom together with their nanny.

"Luckily you're here. I wouldn't be able to answer the princes if they suddenly entered the room without anyone else." I smiled at the maid who was assigned to clean the room together with me.

"At first I was nervous as well. But after seeing how the concubine treats everyone in this palace, I now realised that her highness was wrongly accused of being evil." The maid hushed me when we both heard a pair of footstep coming towards us.

We both turned around and bow as the concubine and the emperor entered the bedroom.

"You two are dismissed. I need to speak with her highness alone." We were about to leave when the concubine stopped us.

"Stay. You guys need to clean this room." We both looked at each other.

"Rochelle! I need to speak with you alone." The emperor insisted.

"And I want them to stay. Alfonso, just say what you want to say. Do it now because it's almost time for you to meet your empress. Besides I have a lot of work to do." I beginning to admire concubine Rochelle for her ways of dealing with the emperor.

Unlike others, the concubine treats the emperor as if they're equal and the emperor doesn't seem to mind at all.

"I want you to stop accusing Vesta of taking money from the treasury without permission. I was the one who gave her my seal. She is innocent." We both know that as servants, we aren't allow to hear all of this.

"Oh, so it was your fault that a village on the Far East almost died from starvation? Alfonso, I understand your love for your legal wife but get this into your thick skull; we have a country to rule. If you indulge yourself with your wife, this country your ancestor work hard on building will turn to ruin!" The concubine screamed at the emperor.

"I am sorry that the village has to be sacrifice for the empress. I-," the emperor was interrupted by the concubine.

"Exactly, Alfonso. Exactly! Everything you do is for the empress! When will you do something for your country? WHEN?!" The emperor lost his words when he tried to say something.

"Leave. Before you could even place this country before the empress, don't come to my palace! Don't even think about seeing your children! Because they wouldn't want a father who thinks about himself!" The emperor seems like a defeated man in war when the concubine chase him away.

"But you have to attend the court meeting today. It's compulsory." The concubine didn't say anything as the emperor leave.

"You two may continue to clean my room. Make sure to wipe every dust that you can see. Don't forget to do the same with the princes and princess room as well." We both bow as the concubine went out to the balcony.

"Would you like some tea or coffee, your highness?" I asked while keeping my head low.

"Tea would be nice. I would like Darjeeling and if you can find some desserts, that would be better." I was about to leave when the concubine mentioned about the paperwork she was looking through before and asked if one of us could find the butler so that he could bring it to her.

The other maid volunteer to find the butler while I prepare the refreshment. It must be hard for the concubine to act the way she did in front of the emperor. That man is after all the emperor and he has power over her.

But it seems that the concubine aren't afraid to voice out her opinion to anyone even if that person is the emperor. I wonder if I could be as brave as the concubine when it comes to facing my demon.

By demon I mean my father and stepmother who constantly see me as collateral damage for their luxurious life.

"Gloria? Do you need something?" I smiled at the cook.

"Do you have any desserts for her highness? The mistress is asking for it together with Darjeeling tea." The cook noted and beginning to prepare the desserts while his other staff prepares the tea.

"Anyway, you guys been working here way before I do, right? Is it normal for her highness to quarrel with the emperor?" The cook nodded.

"They had another fight? Let me guess, it's about the empress?" I nodded. The cook and the rest of the kitchen staff sighed.

"Here. I put extra desserts for her highness. After a fight with his majesty, her highness will want to have something sweet." I thanked the kitchen staff and went on my way.

I was about to knock when the butler suddenly opened the door from the outside.

"Ah, Gloria. Just in time." The butler open the door for me and let me in to serve her highness. There was an awkward silence until her highness decided to say something.

"Was I too harsh to the emperor?" I looked up to the concubine before shaking my head no.

"You have the right to get mad. I'm sorry if I sound rude but what he did was selfish. Because of his decision to please his wife, a village has to suffer." I heard the butler suddenly clearing her throat.

"It's just my opinion, your highness." I bow before standing beside the butler and other maid.

"You have a point and I don't think I was harsh. Since Vesta entered court, Alfonso has been neglecting his duty as the emperor. Someone need to remind him that he is the emperor and not a love-sick boy." That tone the concubine use; it is so authoritative.

I really do admire this woman.

***

"You look tired. Was it that bad?" I asked Ester who just came back from the bathroom.

"It was really bad. What about yours? It must've been Hell on earth." I shake my head no.

"It wasn't that bad. The senior servants were nice and the concubine was kind to us all. Her highness even let us eat the same food that she ate." My words made Ester look at me as if I was making fun of her.

"You're joking. Your working under the evil concubine. She must've been worse than the others." I shake my head no.

"Concubine Rochelle is kind to her servants. Even the princes and princess treat us kindly. They even played with the servants as if they're family to them. Concubine Rochelle taught them well." And I'm not just saying this for fear I might lose my job.

They're really kind towards others.

"If what you're saying is true, then we have been deceived by rumours!" I nodded. It's probably the empress who spread those baseless rumours. And since it came from the empress, they never question whether it's true or not.

I'm beginning to feel bad for concubine Rochelle for the way she was treated by the rest of the harem members.

"Gloria, can you put some ointment on my back. I don't think I can reach them." Huh, ointment? When Ester revealed her back, I was lost at words.

"Did your mistress did this?" Ester nodded.

"The concubine wanted a blue satin dress but while I went to get the dress, she changes her mind and wanted to wear a pink floral dress instead. Upon seeing me bringing the blue satin dress, she beat me up using the whip to set an example." Ester flinched when I carefully placed the ointment on her wound.

"Did you try to complaint the attendant?" Ester shake her head no.

"There is no point in complaining about this. It's normal for servants to be treated this way." After I'm done applying the ointment, Ester thanked me before going to her bed and rest for the remaining night.

*The Next Morning*

I woke up by the sound of Ester suffering from having to take a shower with her wound expose. My heart sinks when I imagine how painful it is for her to work with that injury on her back.

Maybe, I can do something? Perhaps... asking for concubine Rochelle for help? That is just impossible. What can concubine Rochelle do? The concubine has a lot on her plate. But Ester has been such a good friend and it pain me to see her be treated this way.

"The bathroom is all yours." Ester smiled when she walked it from the bathroom.

"I'll help you to put on some medicine after I'm done showering." Ester nodded as I walked into the bathroom. After I'm done with my morning routine, I walked out to see Ester sitting on the chair, waiting for me.

"Alright. I'm doing it." Ester nodded. With extra precaution, I apply the ointment on her wound without a fuss. Unlike yesterday, it seems Ester is used to the pain by now.

"Thanks. Now, let's get ourselves ready for the day." Ester tried to smiled but I can just see through her.

"You don't have to force yourself to smile in front of me." Ester sighed.

"I'm glad that we're roommates, Gloria. I truly am." Ester smiled.

"Me too, Ester. Me too."

Ester was the first to excuse herself and walked out from the room since she saw her carriage had arrived. Not long after, I finally walked out from my room and waited for the carriage to come at the lobby.

"Hey! I heard that you're working for the evil concubine. So, is the rumours true? Did the concubine bath herself in blood so that she would look pretty?" Huh? Where did these fools heard such nonsense?

"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked the maid back.

"My mistress said that the evil concubine killed innocent people and drain their blood for a ritual. My mistress also said that to keep our distance from their maids." Then why didn't you guys keep your distance away from me?!

"Concubine Rochelle is not the person you all thought she is! Her highness-," I was interrupted when the servant's attention were disrupt by an incoming carriage made of- hold on! Isn't that concubine Rochelle's carriage!

Butler Elias got out from the carriage and smiled when he saw me standing there with my eyes widen.

"Miss Gloria, don't make her highness waiting. We're going to the emperor's palace today. We're chosen to be her highness's personal escort." The butler announced as he walked up the stairs to take my hands.

"One of the senior maid supposed to escort her highness today but she got sick all of the sudden. It was me who suggested you. I'm sorry." The butler apologised as he opened the door for me.

I bow when I saw concubine Rochelle inside the carriage, looking as beautiful as ever.

"Enter." I thanked the concubine before going into the carriage followed by the butler. There was an awkward silence between us and it's making me nervous for no reason.

"I can't believe that man invited me to his palace after I told him he can't go to mine. When did that man get so smart? He knows that a concubine can't refuse his invitation. What's slick man!" Concubine Rochelle click here tongue in annoyance. Her highness is obviously pissed at the emperor.

"It's inevitable that the emperor only gets smarter after what her highness said to him. Perhaps he's trying to find a way to make her highness happy again." Concubine Rochelle didn't respond to the butler.

"I'm sorry if this servant said something hurtful. Please forgive this servant." The butler lowered his head. Upon seeing the butler doing, I too lowered my head with him.

"Why would you apologised for his mistake?" I looked up to the concubine with confusion.

"Never do that. Never bow your head for others mistake." The concubine's voice was stern but it wasn't that hostile. Even so, I didn't dare to say anything.