Sold to the King

Chapter 3.

The great Enkeli palace in the center of the city was a majestic structure. With several towers and a wall of its own separating it from the rest of the city, it had a facade completely painted in a gleaming white color, with gardens of modest size around it, and large windows with different colors all around.

Looking at that dazzling spectacle, the young woman was silent in awe. Traveling in a small, uncomfortable carriage, having to shrink into a corner to fit completely, her new captors didn't even bother to untie her hands or free her mouth from its gag. So traveling side by side with the various goods that the king's aide had bought in the market, the young woman looked out of one of the carriage windows at that mysterious new city to which she had been taken.

Arriving finally at her new home, that great castle that glittered with the sun reflecting off its white gold walls, the young woman knew it was the end for her. Feeling somewhat cowed, watching as soldiers searched the cargo and the members of the court before opening the castle gates to allow her entry, the frightened young woman realized that it would be impossible to escape from there.

With walls as high as those surrounding the city, and a perimeter that was guarded entirely by those special soldiers of the king, there was no way the young woman could try to escape through those gates or attempt to climb the wall in any case.

Resigning herself to her fate, leaning weakly against one of the walls of the carriage, that sad young woman thought that perhaps it would be best to die rather than become a toy or an object. But feeling too cowardly to do such a thing, the young woman simply preferred not to think about it even for the moment. She preferred to think that she could still go on and that maybe she could escape from that place someday.

Entering the palace along with his servants and the rest of the court that had accompanied him to the market that day, Jessy soon began to give orders, watching as the palace's servants approached the carriages to unload the purchases.

Approaching some special servants of the king, Jessy explained to them about the new concubine he had brought for his brother, and asking them to make a dress for her out of that brand new white cloth they had been given as a gift, he also ordered them to take care of the new slave for the show she would soon have to give.

Those servants, who were also slaves, bowed for the prince and silently obeyed. While Jessy complacently, got lost among the many corridors of the palace to continue with his designated duties for that day.

Becoming alert and defensive again, watching as the doors of the carriage she was in were opened and the things around her began to be brought inside the palace, the young woman watched in fright as one of those strange servants approached her cautiously. Feeling prevented from attacking them as her hands were tied, she could only accept to be taken down from the carriage with the help of those servants, who took her with delicacy and firmness at the same time.

Getting down from the carriage with some weakness, the young woman soon realized who were slaves and who were exterminators in that place. Observing how those who were called "servants" had leather collars around their necks, which distinguished them as slaves; and how the people of the court and the exterminators had nothing around their necks. Being able in this way to finally distinguish everything clearly.

Looking at everything with some fear and interest, she was gently taken by the arms of the servants, who began to lead her into the royal palace. Those young men and maidens who led the young woman into the palace were extremely pleasant, with different appearances and types of beauty, servants who were only in charge of following the orders given by their king and the members of the crown, without damaging the merchandise that had been given to them.

Leading the young woman into the great palace of Enkeli, showing her its interior decorated with many riches, its walls covered with wallpaper of the finest quality and decorated with the most expensive art; the servants hurried to take the young woman to the main stairs of the place, which made of glass that looked like ice, led to the multiple floors of that huge place.

Understanding that the frightened young woman was not just any slave, but an object of the king, the servants led the girl to the top floor of the palace, the king's private area. Taking her directly to the area designated for concubines, the young woman soon encountered other women who also returned her gaze in a confused and even irritated manner.

Entering a room that was tastefully decorated and looked extremely comfortable, the young woman observed a large room that acted as a foyer, which had several doors arranged around it, leading to the private rooms of the king's concubines. The women of the king's harem, beautiful and graceful, had the most beautiful faces and appearance that young girl had ever seen, with foreign beauties and unique oddities, she did not have long to look at them, for she was soon led into one of the rooms in that hall.

—Is it another girl? —asked one of the harem women, looking at the young woman with distaste.

—Full of dirt and grime, nothing to worry about. Just another slave to join the Shah's harem —answered another woman, throwing her venom in the young woman's direction.

Feeling offended, unable to understand the reason why she disliked those concubines, the young woman could only snort in a whisper with her lips still gagged, seeing them all whispering as she was led to a new room.

Passing through one of the larger and more ornate doors, the young woman soon found herself in a large, all-white ceramic bathroom, which had a huge bathtub in the center and several cubicles around it. Stunned by such a spectacle, with the room well lit by the light coming from its windows, and well adorned with hundreds of flowers and paintings on its walls, she didn't even notice when the male servants left the room and left her alone with the female servants.

Coming to herself only when she felt how the hands of those servants left her arms to touch the rest of her body, the young woman struggled again, feeling how they began to remove her clothes.

—Please, my lady, stay calm —one of the maids asked, realizing that the young woman had resisted again.

—We are only going to help you —explained another of the maids, intervening in the conversation.

Feeling extremely embarrassed to be naked in front of strangers, the young woman could not refuse as the maids tore the old robe she wore as her only clothing, leaving her naked.

While one of the servants was preparing that big bathtub for her, another one of them was in charge of untying her hands and removing that uncomfortable gag from her lips. Finally feeling free, the frightened young woman shamefully covered her body with her hands, while the maids soon took her gently by the arms to lead her to the white marble bathtub, where warm water was waiting for her.

—What are you doing? Where am I? —the young woman's asked voice, while her voice was a little hoarse, and she was not at all happy to be treated in that way.

—You are in the city of Enkeli Tikkaat, my lady —explained one of the servants—; and you are being prepared to meet the Shah.

—The Shah? —asked the young woman in confusion.

—You will be part of his harem from now on —explained another of the maids.

Dumbfounded, the young woman could only meekly allow the maids to wash her body and hair, while she reasoned about the incomprehensible words she had just been told.

—May I ask a few questions? —she whispered after a couple of minutes, feeling the water cleaning her dirty skin from the trip on that boat.

—Of course, my lady —answered one of the maids.

—Who is the Shah? And why is everyone now talking about me belonging to his harem?