Ariel appeared fearful before the emperor, which made it obvious that she didn't even have a close relationship with him, because if she did, she would be crying in his arms and not kneeling before him.
"So you have come to make a complaint without knowing the complete truth, is that not unfair, Majesty?" Martina looked at the emperor with concern.
"I-I don't... I just wanted to know the concubine Martina's version, Majesty," Ariel responds quickly.
"Clearly, you said a moment ago that you came to me to ask that I not harm the maids without reason, now you change everything, do you dare to lie to the emperor, concubine Ariel?"
Ariel raises her head and her body trembles as she sees the emperor watching her.
"I-I... Majesty, I..."
"I have never given the order to feed the concubines with rotten vegetables, everyone eats what they want, but since concubine Ariel judges without knowing, she will be fed those vegetables for a week, and the maid who lied in my name, let her tongue be cut out."
Caleb orders his secretary, who immediately leaves to comply with the order and also has the guards take Ariel away, who is crying because of everything, but for now she has saved her life. Martina bows.
"I appreciate that you have done justice, Majesty."
"I think I would have solved everything anyway."
"Perhaps, but not peacefully, remember that I come from being a warrior."
"I know, let's see what she has to offer."
The emperor turns to continue his path, while Martina only smiles, while in Ariel's palace, she was furious, as she was humiliated by the emperor because of Martina. Days later, after the incident, the other concubines already knew that Martina, the newcomer, has been defended by the emperor, that was undoubtedly something unusual, the emperor does not pay attention to any of them and if he visits them, he only eats with them and retires, even when one of them tried to spend the night with him, the emperor locked her in the dungeons for a month and returned her to her family with the excuse of trying to poison the emperor, as it was said that the drug she used caused the emperor to become ill.
"It's absurd, a newcomer cannot capture His Majesty's attention," mentions a young blonde.
Her name was Aurora Nicols, princess of the Hil kingdom, she was 18 years old and has been in the emperor's harem since she was 15 years old, but since that moment, the emperor has never been with them, clarifying that he only accepts them for political reasons, but he is not interested in putting any woman in his bed, much less plans to have a child with any of them.
Martina knows that with what happened to Ariel, the other concubines will not be quiet and will want to confront her believing that she has the emperor's favor, so it is evident that more problems await her. In the following days, the servants try to serve Martina well, as they do not want to end up like the other maid who went to Ariel and now even she is being punished.
"My lady, Lady Aurora, the third concubine, has sent you an invitation."
"Thank her, but I will not go, surely she seeks to humiliate me, if she wants to try, let her come to me."
The maid leaves to give Martina's message, while she thinks a little about who Aurora was, the girl is similar to Ariel, they look innocent, but they are treacherous vipers. For her part, Martina took an area of her palace to train, she needs to practice the magic that Evelyn gave her, she lights small flames in the palms of her hands, but they grow until they almost cover her body, but without burning her, Martina lets the fire cover her whole body, but she sees that the tips of her hair have remained yellow, she stops the fire and holds her hair.
"This is strange..."
Martina assumes that it may be a transformation process due to her new power, that is unimportant to her, as now the only thing she is interested in is how to survive. Faced with the rejection of the invitation, Aurora herself goes in search of Martina the next day, the maid who receives her guides her to Martina in that hall that began to serve as her training area, to train.
"How improper of a lady," Aurora complains.
The maid who goes with her, nods at her comment, but as soon as Martina approaches her, she shows a big smile.
"Greetings, Lady Bennett, I took the liberty of seeking you out, as I have not welcomed you to the palace. I am the third Concubine, Aurora Nicols."
"How kind of you, Lady Nicols, but as you can see I have nothing prepared and I was training magic."
At the back of that hall, several burnt mannequins could be seen.
"I didn't know you were a mage, no one said anything about it..." Aurora frowns a little.
Perhaps having magic is what caught the emperor's attention, since no concubine can use magic. Which means that the emperor's taste will not last long, perhaps the woman will not even get any benefit.
"Perhaps whoever told you about me, didn't say that I was once part of a squad of mages."
"How interesting... if you don't mind ordering tea, I brought some snacks."
Aurora's maid shows a tray she has in her hands.
"That seems good to me, go ahead, go to the table, I'll take a bath first."
A maid from the mansion guides Aurora to a table in the garden, there they leave her advising that they will prepare tea, while Aurora's maid leaves the tray of desserts on the table, but separates two portions of cake, one of strawberries and another of only vanilla, while for Aurora it was only a portion of flan. Minutes later Martina returned, taking a seat, immediately she can see the portions served on her side, the maids serve the tea and retire.
"I hope you like it, I made them myself, I really like practicing baking."
"Something has to occupy the time, after all, there is not much to do and they can't even visit the emperor," mentions Martina with a smile.
"It's true, for my part, I usually visit the emperor from time to time, of all, I am the only one with whom the emperor spends the nights."
Martina has to avoid laughing at the girl's comment.
"Oh! Then perhaps in the future you will be the empress." Martina shows a kind smile.
"T-that... that would be asking too much, but I would be very honored to be so," she puts on an expression of shyness.
But she is always attentive to Martina starting to eat and so she does, when tasting the dessert, Martina can feel something strange, probably that woman is trying to kill her or just make her sick, the girl avoids saying anything and continues eating.
"The dessert is delicious, you should eat one," she points to the other plate.
"Oh no, I don't like the cake at all, I prefer flan."
"Oh, that's okay."
Aurora tells her about the time she has been in that place and about the strict life they must follow, nobody can go to the emperor's palace without permission, only he visits them when he wants, he usually has lunch with them and then leaves, but she says that with her it is different, because there are nights that he sends for her in secret to see each other in his palace, everything seemed to be with the intention of telling Martina not to feel special and that Aurora has fewer benefits unlike the others, something that Martina already knows is not true.
"Maybe I was forced to come, but the truth is, I sincerely love the emperor, he is such a kind and loving man with me..."
"Then you are special to His Majesty."
"Do you think so? I don't want to get my hopes up..."
"If His Majesty is attentive to you and not to the others, then there is no doubt that you are special and have won his heart..."
"W-well... it's true... but..."
"I will be giving you my support, Lady Nicols."
Quite the opposite of what Aurora wanted to achieve, Martina shows a big smile, while Aurora only sought to make her angry. After a while she says goodbye, but her maid begins to collect the plates, although Martina holds her hand when she tries to grab hers.
"I'm not done yet, if it's about the plates, don't worry, I'll send you others to replace them."
The maid didn't know what to say, but Aurora looks nervous.
"They are valuable plates, they are specially made in my kingdom and I cannot leave them."
"Then I'll return them to you, or is it that they have poison and you want to take the evidence?" suggests Martina.
"How dare you..."
Martina begins to laugh. "I'm kidding, but don't worry about your plates."
Faced with this, Aurora cannot insist or she will seem suspicious, so she orders her maid to withdraw and she follows her, although she must find a way to get those plates out. Since Aurora was far away, Martina smiles.
"But what a stupid woman... Wanting to poison someone and bringing something that is evidence..."
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