Sold to My Killer Husband: His Concubine's Dilemma
Chapter 57: Desired

Chapter 57: Desired

Mornings in the palace were always filled with bustling activity, and Duskholm’s palace was no exception.

The king would spend his nights with one of his women, and for Alden, that meant choosing between his wife and four concubines. The night before, he was supposed to be with his current favorite—Gwen.

It was a tradition for men of status to have women other than their wives. A few exceptions existed—men who chose to dedicate their lives to a single woman—but as a king, Alden was expected to take concubines, despite having a wife who had once relinquished her crown for him.

Ellora was the pride and beauty of Valeria, much like her sister Layla. When the proposal to marry Alden arrived, she had accepted eagerly, having admired him from afar. Back in her homeland, her father had only ever loved one woman—their mother. He had never sought others. Ellora had assumed Alden would be the same.

But within a year of their marriage, Alden had taken his first concubine—Olivia, a woman from the East. As was customary, kings often formed alliances by accepting daughters from other nations into their courts.

Alden had been immediately taken with Olivia. Unlike Ellora, she was raised in a different culture, and her soft-spoken, seemingly naïve nature had drawn him in. One by one, other women followed, each sent to solidify political ties, and each earning Alden’s favor. In time, his harem grew. Those he did not take as concubines were given the title of ladies-in-waiting.

Now, Gwen held his attention. It had been a long time since Alden had last stepped into Ellora’s chambers. Their interactions were limited to moments when duty demanded they appear together as king and queen.

In a court where a queen was expected to produce an heir before any concubine could claim higher status, perhaps that was why Lilian had been pressing Ellora to bear a child as soon as possible. If a concubine birthed a royal heir first, it would bring shame upon her.

Today, Ellora was to meet with Alden’s concubines—Joanna, Olivia, and Katherine. The gathering was arranged by Lilian and set to take place in the gazebo, which stood at the heart of the palace gardens. Surprisingly, Lilian herself was absent. As Edgar had informed them earlier, she would be arriving late, and they were not to wait for her.

All of Alden’s concubines were present—except for Gwen.

As Ellora arrived at the gazebo, her lady-in-waiting, Kora, accompanied her. Her gaze swept over the women seated below her. As queen, her chair was placed on a platform, seven inches higher than the rest, beside the seat reserved for Lilian.

The concubines greeted Ellora before taking their seats, and soon, breakfast was served. Kora helped Ellora settle into her chair, then carefully placed food onto her plate. Following her lead, the ladies-in-waiting of the concubines began serving their mistresses. Once each woman had been served, their respective food tasters stepped forward to sample the meal, ensuring its safety.

The breakfast commenced.

"Mmm... this bread pudding is absolutely delicious," Joanna murmured, licking her lips with a satisfied hum. She came from the desert regions, where women were encouraged to express themselves freely. However, adapting to palace etiquette had been a struggle for her. Perhaps that was why Alden had avoided her for some time now. The other concubines didn’t particularly like her either—after all, there was a long list of rules governing a concubine’s behavior, and Joanna had a habit of bending them.

Meanwhile, as their mistresses dined, the ladies-in-waiting engaged in a silent battle of glares and smirks—a wordless competition of who could outmatch the other. Through these exchanged looks, they critiqued one another’s mistresses without uttering a single word.

Kora’s gaze landed on Heena, Olivia’s lady-in-waiting, who had been smirking at her all morning. Her amusement seemed directed at Ellora’s attire. Unlike the other concubines, who were dressed in bright, elaborate colors symbolizing joy and vibrance, Ellora wore soft pastels. As queen, she was expected to exude regality through her clothing, yet she had chosen something simple for breakfast. For her, it was just fabric—something to be worn, not a statement to be made.

As the silent tension simmered between the servants, Olivia decided to turn her attention to Joanna. A smirk played on her lips as she remarked, "My, my... someone is certainly enjoying themselves. Is the pudding that delicious, or have you simply not been fed, Lady Joanna?"

Joanna paused, spoon hovering over her bowl. Her amber eyes flicked toward Olivia, but before she could reply, Ellora’s mood soured. She despised these petty exchanges. Though these women were all in the same position, they constantly sought to outdo one another with their cutting remarks.

"Oh yes, it is wonderful!" Joanna beamed, completely unbothered. "You should try some—it’s so smooth and sweet, I couldn’t help but slurp a little."

Olivia scrunched her nose in distaste, as if the mere thought was offensive. "Such enthusiasm," she said with a feigned chuckle. "You truly have the appetite of a village girl. But tell me, Joanna, do you not worry about appearances? The way you eat... some might say it lacks refinement."

Joanna blinked, spoon pausing midair. "Oh? I didn’t realize. But surely, if something is delicious, it would be a shame not to enjoy it fully!" She grinned, entirely missing Olivia’s insult—or choosing to ignore it.

Across the table, Lady Katherine, who had been stirring her tea idly, decided to fuel the conversation further. "Speaking of appetites," she mused, "has anyone noticed someone is missing? I do believe we are short one guest at Her Majesty’s lovely gathering."

Ellora’s fingers stilled on her teacup. Her dark lashes lowered slightly, concealing whatever emotion flickered through her gaze.

Olivia made a show of looking around before gasping dramatically. She covered her mouth with delicate fingers, eyes widening in mock surprise. "Why, it’s Concubine Gwen. How strange... One would think she would never dare miss a gathering hosted by Her Majesty."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the table.

Just as the tension reached its peak, the doors to the pavilion slid open.

In walked Concubine Gwen, draped in a flowing silk robe that hung slightly askew at the shoulder, her hair only half-pinned. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and there was a languid satisfaction in her movements.

She offered a lazy smile and sank into her seat as if she had all the time in the world.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," she purred, stretching her arms before reaching for a cup of tea.

"I was... detained," Gwen murmured, a slow smile curling on her lips. She delicately lifted her teacup, savoring the attention she had drawn. "His Majesty required my company this morning. And well... he is rather insatiable. I only just managed to rise from bed."

Silence fell over the room.

Ellora’s grip on her spoon tightened ever so slightly.

Across the table, Olivia pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh, while Katherine merely observed, waiting to see how the queen would respond.

Joanna, still holding her spoon midair, whispered to herself, "Oh... so that’s why she’s late."

And just like that, the entire mood shifted.

Ellora had been patient in Lilian’s presence, restraining herself for the sake of appearances. But now, with the queen dowager absent, there was no need to endure such taunts in silence. She calmly chewed the last bite of her food before setting down her spoon.

Gwen, sensing the shift, glanced at Olivia, who simply winked at her. It was clear now—Olivia and Gwen were allies within the harem. And they were both relishing the slow burn of Ellora’s hidden fury.

"I am done here," Ellora finally said, voice even yet firm. She had no intention of giving them the reaction they wanted. Maintaining her image as a good daughter-in-law in Lilian’s eyes was crucial, but that did not mean she would tolerate open disrespect.

Yet Gwen was determined to push further. As she moved to take her seat, she exaggerated her motions, reaching for her lady-in-waiting’s hand with delicate grace, making a show of being carefully guided to her chair. Then, just as she sat down, she gave a subtle nudge to her maid.

The servant immediately caught on.

"Slowly, my lady," she said, her voice just loud enough for the entire table to hear. "You might be expecting soon."

A hushed gasp rippled through the women.

Gwen hid her smirk behind her teacup, but her gaze flickered toward Ellora, eager to witness her reaction.

Ellora, however, masked her emotions well. She exhaled softly, as if unaffected, before turning to Kora.

"Kora," she said smoothly, her lips curving into a warm smile, "remove all the heat-inducing dishes from Lady Gwen’s table. If what her maid has suggested is true, we must be cautious with her diet."

The moment of silence that followed was far heavier than the first.

Gwen’s smirk faltered for just a fraction of a second.

Olivia, still playing along, chuckled as if entertained, but beneath her amusement lay a tinge of something else—perhaps frustration. After all, even she longed for an heir. Yet Alden had been occupied with Gwen, leaving Olivia to feign enjoyment as Gwen openly taunted Ellora.

Joanna, for her part, had no stake in this rivalry. She simply continued eating, uninterested in their power struggles.

Katherine, however, understood Olivia’s silent resentment all too well. After all, she was facing the same predicament.

Gwen had won this round, at least, that’s what she believed. But Ellora was not one to be underestimated.

And the queen had just made her first move.

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