Harem: Resonance
Prologue
Nightfall.
Candles were lit, filling the cold, dark room with light, bringing with it warmth she could not feel. The servants smoothed down the bed sheets a final time, careful not to disturb the seeds scattered beneath it lest their magic be broken. The serving girl carefully removed the delicate hairpiece from its place and long waves of silvery hair tumbled down to the stone floor. A comb was run painstakingly through the silky locks - once, twice, three times - as a blessing.
When this was done, the girl led her new mistress to the large bed, removing the red silk slippers from the small feet as she lowered herself onto the bed. She carefully rearranged the thin robe, smoothing out the creases on the sleeve and hem. After this, she bowed low and withdrew.
As the door eased shut, Shizuma let out a soft sigh, running her hands over the embroidered sheets, vaguely aware of the intricate patterns of interlocking dragons and phoenixes. She looked up from the bed and took in her surroundings for what seemed to be the first time.
The door was hung with red drapes and the table covered with cloth of a matching colour. Upon the table were a pair of red candles, flickering gently and casting shadows around the room. Two small golden cups had been placed beside a wine jug carved out of pale jade. Seeing these made her realise, with a sudden tremble, what she had been avoiding all day.
This was her wedding night. Tonight, she was the bride of the Emperor, whose face she had not even seen until now. Only a week ago, she had been a mere servant at her worktable, producing jewellery and ornaments for the ladies of the household. Her work won her the praise of her mistresses and the envy of her seniors and she had been promised a bright future. But that future was now dust and ashes.
After tonight, she was a concubine. Within a week, she had outstripped the thousands of beautiful young women, born and bred far better than she, to the bed of the most powerful man in the empire. She would join the ranks of the precious few who had the privilege of sharing the emperor’s bed and her battles for the praise of her mistresses would be replaced with the battle to the throne.
If he liked her, she would be the most favoured. If she bore him a son, she would be the most honoured. If her son became the heir, she would be empress. And if she became empress, there will be no more suffering the whims of anyone but the emperor - and men were easy to handle. She allowed a confident smile to grace her lips and raised a hand to her cheek.
She would win this.
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