SMITTEN

Aisha wanted the ground to open up and eat her right now. 

The Royal Consorts continued to talk about their experiences with the King, naughtily slapping one another as they had fun exchanging their intimate moments. 

She has no right to object or anything, since they were there before her, fulfilling the role that she has just done now. Because of her genuine affection for the King, she forgot the main reason why the King picked her up from the forest. She was there to give him a son.

Aisha heaved out a sigh as she glanced around the Cenatio with a long look on her face. 'Please stop their nonsense,' she thought, wishing someone would stand up and encourage the rest to go back to each of their Chambers.

She didn't want to take the initiative since it would be too obvious that she was hurt by what they were talking about. Though in reality, she felt like her heart was really down the gutter. 

"It's all right, my lady. Maybe you need to put a little more to your skin, so the King would be interested during your schedule. Don't worry, I know a lot of tricks for that," a lady consort winked at her. 

She seemed genuinely concerned that she could catch the King's attention. But Aisha narrowed her eyes on her.

She was one of those whom she has talked to before, who told her that the King has visited them only once. And when it is their scheduled time, he would just sleep beside them. 

She wondered why she was acting differently now. Which one was the truth? 

But she decided to pretend and act nicely with them. 

"Thank you, my lady. That would be nice," she pressed on her hands before glancing at the rest. "I thought the King only visits you once. I'm glad that you all seem to be in the King's favor."

As she said that, they glanced at each other with knowing looks.

But Aisha added, "However, I'd rather choose to stay this way, unlike the King. I really don't want to bear a child right now."

'It is true,' Aisha told herself. 'I am not lying because I really don't want to have a kid yet,' she continued to reassure herself.

It seemed like the faces of the royal consorts turned to curiosity as they all responded in unison. "Why not?"

Aisha glanced at each one of them, wondering whether she would open up her heart to them. But she chose not. They have already proven that they cannot be trusted when they change statements in front of her alone and in front of each other.

"I just feel like I'm still too young to be a mother. I want to enjoy life as it is. Gaea is very beautiful. And I haven't been really out and enjoying the sun since I stepped foot in here, you know," she said, which was partly true. But not entirely the reason.

"Oh, I feel you!" one of them also said. "Actually, I was just forced by my mother, since royal wives families have advantages in society. That's why I'm really glad that the King just went into my room once. And that was ages ago," she grinned at them.

But one of them debated the two of them as she said, "Bearing a child for the King is a very noble job. If only my womb would open up to him, I would gladly bear him five all at the same time at once."

"You mean quintuplets?" Aisha couldn't help but chuckle, making the others say in unison again, "Quintuplets?"

Aisha immediately responded, feeling light somehow as if she was just chatting up with her girlfriends even though her heart was breaking and she was talking to her husband's other wives. 

"Yes! That happens in our country. I heard the most numbers of a woman giving birth are eight all at the same time," she told them, making their jaws drop.

"I didn't know female humans are that strong," one of them commented, which made the others nod their heads.

As they continued to chat, the curfew bell rang, signaling that everyone should be back in their Chambers before the final bell rang. 

"I want to know more about your world, my lady," one of them said as if she hadn't heard the curfew bell.

"Yes, my lady. Why don't you join us again at the next quarter moon? We usually gather around like this during that time," one of them said, with her face beaming in excitement. 

"That would be great," Aisha responded genuinely. Even though her heart was broken by her stories, it seemed like she somehow made them think positively about her race, which is one of the reasons why she stayed at Gaea.

They all stood up and went to each of their Chambers in obedience to the set curfew. 

She was already on her way back when she crossed paths with the King. 

It seemed like he had just gotten back to the Castle after a day's work as a King. 

"Good evening, my lady," his face brightened up as soon as he saw her. His broad shoulders squared up as his chin tilted up.

He was previously hunched down, but still, his authoritative presence would make anyone who would meet him cower down in case they get on his bad side. But now it seemed like he was changed because of his encounter with her. 

However, Aisha would not be swayed. The stories of the Royal Consorts were still fresh in her brain. In fact, she didn't want to see him for a month. Or until she has accepted the fact that she now lives in a harem world!

"Good evening, your Majesty. I hope all is well. May you have a restful sleep," she said in a cold and formal tone before resuming her walk, leaving a stunned King.

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"The destruction of something beautiful can appear so entertaining."

― Thomas Sweeney, The Harem