“The Emperor and the Crown Prince of the Flame Dragon Empire has arrived!” a eunuch announced before bowing low. That man must be one of the senior eunuchs of this palace.

I hated the horrendous fact that the people of my village had chosen me as their sacrifice and offered me as part of the spoils of war to this empire after our small country was conquered. The villagers resented my existence so it came as no surprise that if a woman had to be sent to serve as a slave to the Empire, it would be me, the one they hated the most and needed the least.

Two men entered the grand hall where around a hundred women were standing in rows like trophies on display, I was one of them. We were all dressed to please and entice men. We all wore the same dress, common for the concubine of this palace, in the bright red auspicious color of this empire. Simultaneously, we bowed low to greet the Emperor and his favorite son, the Crown Prince of the Flame Dragon Empire. I kept my head low and my eyes casted down to avoid catching anyone’s attention or inviting trouble.

Needless to say, a lowly commoner like me has never been in the presence of royalty, not one from my homeland and definitely not one from a foreign country. My homeland was nothing more than a small town, we didn’t actually have royalty, but we do have a governing family that served as the Elder of the village. I didn’t know how to react, so I copied what the other women in the room were doing; I bowed low and kept my eyes down on the floor. Perhaps, if they didn’t take interest in me, I could return home.

“Your Majesty and Your Highness, we have gathered beautiful and talented women far and wide to present for your choosing. These fine women have been specially nominated from their hometown to pay tribute to your greatness. Please do let us know if any of them pleases you,” the old Eunuch proudly announced as he gestured to the rows of women standing in the grand hall.

“Before that, I have a very important announcement to make. The woman who manages to become pregnant with the Crown Prince’s child will be immediately promoted to the Empress of the Flame Dragon Empire along with the Crown Prince ascension to the throne as the new Emperor. As per the traditions and customs of our Empire, the Crown Prince is only able to become the Emperor once his woman is pregnant with an heir to secure the royal bloodline. I sincerely hope that the future Empress of this Empire is one of you lovely ladies standing in this hall,” the Emperor announced in an authoritative booming voice that echoed throughout the hall.

“Father! … Your Majesty!” the Crowned Prince exclaimed in apparent shock at this father’s announcement. It was clear that he had not been informed of such an arrangement beforehand. In other circumstances, I may have pitied the poor guy. However, my current mood and situation does not leave enough room for me to sympathize with other people.

“I am an old man already. I want you to take over the throne as soon as possible, and more importantly, I want to see the face of my grandchild. You will do your duty and pick some women to bed in order to produce an heir!” the Emperor replied sternly. His words were final.

The Crown Prince bit his lower lip in annoyance and frustration as he eyed the endless rows of women in the vast hall. They all look the same, he thought, how will I be able to choose. I don’t even want a woman in my life. Why isn’t it enough to just go to war and expand this Empire’s territory as I’ve always done? It’s not like I even want to be the next Emperor…

“If I may humbly suggest, in order to assist with the Crown Prince’s selection, would it be an acceptable idea to get each woman to introduce herself and showcase her special talent? I am sure all of them have been chosen to represent their homeland based on their exquisite beauty and outstanding talent,” the senior eunuch recommended before bowing low.

“That sounds like a great idea! Let’s start at once. I would like to find my future daughter-in-law as soon as possible!” the Emperor exclaimed, clearly pleased. While the Crown Prince had a tight frown on his face.

What?! I’m supposed to display some type of talent! I was never told of this before. Obviously, I had nothing prepared and I didn’t have any special talent for that matter. Well, perhaps this was working in my favor, if I don’t attract the Crowned Prince attention then I can just go back to my poor village and return to my peaceful life once again. Since I was standing almost to the very back of the hall, I had time to observe the other women go first and prepare myself mentally.

“My name is Fan Misuki from the Kingdom of Azure Pearls. I will now demonstrate my nation’s traditional dance to Your Majesty and Your Highness,” a beautiful woman with wavy long hair and a curvy figure said sweetly.

I was astounded by the amount of beauty and talent gathered here within the hall. One after the other each woman introduced her name, showcased her beauty and then her talent. All the other women were clearly on a different beauty scale than me. It was clear that their nation had selected them based on their extraordinary beauty and talent. Dancing, singing, composing poetry, arranging flowers, and painting were just a few of the talents that the other women had chosen to put on display in order to please the two men of royalty standing before them.

“Bravo…amazing!” the Emperor complimented all of them as he clapped with joy. He was clearly enjoying himself.

From what I could tell from so far away where I was standing, the Crowned Prince had remained silent throughout the entire ordeal thus far. Perhaps he was hard to please. Even as a woman, I was very impressed by the beauty and talent of the other women who had already introduced themselves.

“You! You there! … What are you spacing out for? It’s your turn…quick!” I heard a man’s voice hissing at me as I turned to the side to face him. He quickly waved me to step forward.

It’s my turn already?!?! What should I do?! I’m going to embarrass myself in front of all these people.

--To be continued...

I hesitated a little before slowly walking forward towards the front of the hall where the other women stood when it was their turn. I felt my legs shaking and I kept my head and gaze down towards the floor.

“Umm…My name is Rin Kamiya. I’m…from the Town of Amber Leaves…” I said in a soft and shaky voice before bowing low to keep my face hidden. Please, just let me go home already!

“Speak louder, I couldn’t hear you,” to my surprise, the Crown Prince spoke for the first time since the introductions began.

The atmosphere in the entire hall changed at the sound of his voice as everyone paid attention to the fact that the Crown Prince seemed to be finally showing his interest in what was going on. The Emperor couldn’t contain a slight chuckle as he watched his son asking this young women to repeat herself. Afterall, it was true that she wasn’t loud and clear, but it was enough to be heard at this distance.

Oh, no...will I get executed for making a stupid blunder like this? I can’t even introduce myself properly. I need to do better or else…I might not be able to make it home…

Slowly but firmly, I lifted my face up to look at the two men who held my fate in their hands. I need to be brave; I need to survive this, and I am going to make it home!

“My deepest and sincerest apologies. My name is Rin Kamiya from the Town of Amber Leaves…as for my special talent…” I introduced myself in a firm and clear voice full of resolve before trailing off.

My eyes widened in shock and recognition when I looked up at the Crown Prince’s face. Why was this man here?! Furthermore, this man is the Crown Prince of the Flame Dragon Empire?! The Empire that attacked and destroyed my village in a matter of days.

It can’t be! He used me?! This man tricked and used me to conquer my town! He’s a…monster!

“Dear girl…please start your performance…girl!” I heard a man hissing at me but my mind was too preoccupied with other more important thoughts to pay him any attention.

Oblivious to the countless stares piecing through me, I couldn’t respond or focus on what was going on as my body shook with rage. This man…how dare we use me…

…Two months before…

“Thank you for purchasing my herbs and medicine as always, Auntie and Uncle,” I said while feeling truly thankful.

“No worries. Your herbs and medicine are the best. You should feel proud regardless of what the other town folks say…” Uncle Gobei replied as he smiled warmly at me. Uncle Gobei is like a father figure to me ever since my father passed away.

I bowed a little to them before quietly leaving their shop. It was starting to get dark as the sun had already set, I should hurry home. I only came into town once a week to sell some herbs and medicine to the local clinic and pharmacy. Every time I visited the center of town, I had to come when it was dark so that few people were still out and they had less chance to recognize my face beneath my shawl. Apart from a few kind people like Auntie and Uncle, all other town folks detested me believing that I brought bad luck to the village when I was born.

When I was born my mother passed away from childbirth and on the same day the town was infected by a mysterious disease that killed many people including the only daughter of the Village Head. She was still a young child at that time. Not knowing who to blame for the cause of this tragedy, the Village Head and the town people started to put their blame on me, the child that was born on the same day as the epidemic. Shunned by the whole village, my father raised me alone far away in the outskirt of town far away from the main town. We were poor but we had a happy life. My father taught me about herbs and medicine until he passed away a few years ago.

I really miss my father, I thought to myself as I wrapped my clothes around myself a little tighter. Winter was here and it started to get very cold and windy after sunset. I need to quickly make my way home before it gets any colder than this. Walking through one of the secret passages that I use to get to and from the heart of the village to the outskirts where my house was located, I quickened my pace as I thought about which herbs I could collect during winter time like now.

What is that? Something is piled on the ground. Was this here before when I walked this path on the way to the village earlier? I don’t think so…

Walking closer to the mysterious pile on the ground, I could roughly make out that it was actually a person. Wait…a person! Laying out here in the middle of the snow?!

No way! I need to help this person as soon as possible. It will get freezing cold at night, no one should be sleeping in the middle of the snowy road. I crouched down next to the seemingly unconscious body as I peered into the person’s face. I could make out the pale and exhausted face to be that of a man, a beautiful one at that. How long had he been laying here like this in the middle of the snowy path? I scanned his body quickly with my eyes and my hands as I slowly patted him to check for injuries.

Unfortunately, this man had some injuries on his arm. Although, they didn’t seem serious, it needed to be treated. He must have been in the cold for quite some time judging form how pale and cold his body is. What should I do? It’s getting darker and colder. What choice do I have? The reason why this is one of my secret paths is because no one ever comes here. I have no other choice, saving this man’s life comes first. The medical ethic in me could never leave a sick man here to die from the cold.

--To be continued...

“Mister! Mister! Please wake up!” I started to shake his upper body as I called out to him in a loud voice.

No good. He’s completely unconscious. I can’t carry him alone; I need to wake him up somehow. The best I could do with my much smaller body was to support him as he walked.

Sorry about this, Mister! I shook his body with more force and slapped his face a little. Soon, to my relief, he started to stir and after blinking confusedly a couple of times, he seemed to have come to his senses.

“Thank god! You’re awake…I think you’re injured. Can you get up? I’ll help support you…” I said with clear relief in my voice.

“…I’ll try…” the man replied in a soft and slightly confused tone after a short while as he struggled a little to sit up.

“Here, I’ll help support you,” I said as I used my hands and arms to support his upper body by pushing it up so that he was finally in a sitting position.

“Where are we?” the man asked still clearly confused as he looked around.

Well, looking around isn’t going to help him much. There were no landmarks here. There was nothing around us except for the white snow and the thick tall trees of the forest.

“Put your arm around my shoulder, I’ll support you up,” I instructed as I knelt down next to him.

The man hesitated a little before draping his arm around my shoulder. Together we supported each other as we got up on our feet. I noticed our height difference immediately when he got to his feet. He was much taller than I was, and I barely reached his shoulders. Thank god, he could get up. I wouldn’t know how to support him to my place otherwise. Wait! Now that the thought had formed in my head, I was shocked. I guess, I have to take this stranger to my house…huh?

“Umm…can you walk? Please hang in there a little bit…my house…isn’t too far from here,” I told him reassuringly as I continued to support his body. From my observations earlier, his injuries aren’t that bad, but he must be tired from the cold. He leaned on my body as I struggled to support his larger frame.

I really have to take him home, I guess. I sighed to myself inwardly. People would have many things to say about a young and single woman taking a stranger man home with her. Thankfully, no one was around…plus he’s injured so that makes him a patient. My patient.

“Yes, I can…thank you,” the man replied after a while. Perhaps, he was too tired to speak.

“You don’t need to speak anymore. Save your energy. Let’s try to make it to my house. I’ll treat your wound for you…” I continued to reassure him in as calm a voice as I could muster. He’s a patient so I should make him feel as safe as possible.

We struggled along the narrow snow-covered path until we finally arrived at my house. This is the first time that I’ve had a guest over at my house. I’ve been living here alone ever since my father passed away. My house was more like a small cottage with nothing much to offer to a guest but at least it was clean. I hoped he didn’t mind.

I quickly unlocked the door as I continued to support some of his weight with my smaller body. The walk here was tiring for both of us, and we struggled most of the way. I was amazed that he didn’t fall over even once, he must be quite strong. After unlocking the door, I quickly led him inside the house.

The house was small and since I was living alone, I only had one small bed. Without hesitation, I led him to the bed and gestured for him to lay down. He sat down on the bed as he panted a little and tried to catch his breath. I was panting too from the exertion of our walk here.

“You should lie down…I’ll make some warm tea to warm you up. Then I’ll treat your wound. Please wait here,” I quickly explained before turning around to head to the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen, I rushed to set the water to boil adding some herbs that would help warm him up and counter exhaustion. After that, I quickly grabbed the first aid kit and returned swiftly back to the bed. To my surprise, the man was still sitting on the bed as I had left him. He had not lain down on the bed at all.

“Mister! Please lay down and rest. Your body must be very cold and tired. Let me wrap some blanket around you,” I said as I gently pushed him down onto the bed.

“Who are you?” the man asked curtly as he grabbed my hand.

I was slightly shocked at his fast reflex and his reaction. Well, perhaps he just wanted a proper introduction. I’m not used to giving my name to strangers though…

“My name is Lin. I live here in this small town and I specialize in herbs and medicine. So…if you’ll allow me, may I tend to your wounds? Your arm…is wounded,” I answered cautiously.

“I see…” the man replied flatly as he held out his arm for me to inspect.

“Sorry, I need you to remove the top part of your clothes so that I can see your arm,” I told him a little shyly.

“Sure…” The man answered without any emotions as he shrugged off his shirt to reveal his very muscular arms.

Let’s focus on the wound…and not how well built he is! The wound didn’t seem too deep which was a relief. However, the wound was long like his arm had been slashed by a sharp knife or sword of some sort.

--To be continued…