Ancient Imperial Calendar Year 1815
A few weeks had passed since the wedding raid of the spirits.
Orsman and the leading administrators were investigating Ricardo's curse.
At the same time, they were searching for a Western House that did not carry the Kislavein Bloodline.
"Haaaaaa," Orsman let out a deep sigh.
"There isn't a single House,not even one, that isn't descended from the Kislavein line."
The administrators were as tired and weary as Orsman.
"Lord of the House, it's impossible for us to get out of this situation," said Eduardo.
Eduardo had been appointed to the position of Head Commander of the Palace Guards after Henryk's death.
Rodwel Karluk found Eduardo's words justified.
"I agree with the Head Guard.Finding a House in the Western Territories without Kislavein blood is worse than looking for a needle in a haystack."
The hope of everyone in the meeting room was dwindling.
The door knocked.
"Enter," said Orsman in a weary manner.
"I salute the Lord of the House."
This person was Verolyk Herlveyn.
"I have brought you very good news, Lord of the House."
Orsman fixed his eyes on Verolyk.
"We are in great need of good news lately,Verolyk. Let's hear it."
Verolyk handed the files in his hand to Orsman.
"These are historical records of the Great War of Liberation that took place in the Central Territories a hundred years ago,Lord of the House."
Orsman threw the files on the table angrily.
"What does this have to do with our topic?What's the point of remembering how a single man disgraced four Ancient Houses?"
Verolyk panicked but continued his explanation, knowing that a single mistake could cost him his head.
"During the War of Liberation,there was a House named Constantinos that sided with us. After the War of Liberation, Mustafa Costin began destroying all the traitorous Houses that had sided with the Ancient Houses. A hundred years ago, the 57th Lord, III Cornan, brought the Constantinos House to the Western Territories before they were destroyed."
Those at the meeting were quite pleased with this news.
Orsman asked,
"Where is this House,and do they truly not carry Kislavein blood?"
Verolyk answered,
"The Constantinos House rules a small region surrounded by mountains on all sides.Even among the Minor Houses of the Western Territories, they are the weakest and poorest. Because of this, no House gave them daughters nor took any from them. They have been isolated for a hundred years."
"Their money or power is not important; what matters is that they don't carry Kislavein blood. Who is their current Lord of the House?" asked Orsman.
Verolyk answered,
"The current Lord of the House is the 51st Lord,XIII Boran Constantinos. He has two children: the heir, Erdinch Constantinos, and a daughter, Dilara Constantinos."
Orsman's mood improved, and he stood up.
"Very well.Prepare a large embassy delegation. Send a gift of ten thousand chests of valuable jewels to Constantinos. Tell them we are taking their daughter as a Concubine for my son, Ricardo."
Everyone in the room stood up, bowed their heads, and said in unison,
"As you command,Lord of the House."
Orsman headed towards the door. The guards opened the doors. Just as he was about to leave the room, he turned back.
"If they are foolish enough to refuse,send the Legion of Blood Bastards to deliver their punishment."
What Orsman meant by 'punishment' was pillage, massacre, and rape.
Two months later, the embassy delegation reached the hidden village of the Constantinos House, located among the mountains.
The Constantinos people, who had been isolated from the outside world for a hundred years, watched the Kislavein Banners and Warriors, which they had only seen in books, with great admiration.
Everyone had a single question in their minds: Why had they come?
Verolyk, the head of the embassy delegation, stepped forward and spoke in a booming voice.
"WE HAVE COME IN THE NAME OF THE 65TH LORD OF THE KISLAVEIN HOUSE,IV ORSMAN KISLAVEIN, TO DELIVER HIS COMMANDS. LET THE LORD OF THE CONSTANTINOS HOUSE STEP FORWARD."
The Constantinos House Lord, XIII Boran, was feeling many emotions at once: fear, excitement, panic.
Hiding his emotions, Boran saluted the envoys.
"I am the 51st Lord of the Constantinos House,XIII Boran Constantinos. I will faithfully obey the commands of our master, the Kislavein House Lord, IV Orsman Kislavein."
Verolyk handed the letter to Boran.
Boran took the letter, broke the seal, opened it, and couldn't believe what he was reading. His eyes widened like saucers.
"This...this is real?"
Verolyk had been expecting this reaction.
"It is real.Now, Lord of the Constantinos House, will you obey the command?"
Boran, filled with excitement and joy, replied,
"I accept this command with great loyalty and gratitude."
Verolyk smiled and signaled to the others in the delegation.
"These are a small gift from our House Lord,IV Orsman Kislavein, to you."
Boran couldn't believe his eyes. He examined the gifts, consisting of ten thousand chests of valuable jewels, with admiration.
"Are these the gifts the Kislaveins send to the Houses from whom they take brides or concubines,that I've only heard about from books and travelers?" Boran thought.
He put his hand into one of the chests; jewels he could never have even dreamed of seeing were in the palm of his hand.
"These are more than ten times the treasure we've accumulated over the last hundred years."
Boran walked over to Verolyk, looked him straight in the eye, and asked with great seriousness,
"Even our neighboring Minor Houses won't take us,let alone give us brides or concubines. Why does the Kislavein House, ruler of the Western and Eastern Territories, want a daughter from us?"
Verolyk answered the question.
"It seems you are unaware.Let me briefly summarize it for you."
Verolyk summarized all the events, from the Raid of the Spirits to Ricardo's curse.
Boran digested what he heard.
"I understand.You have come a long way. Please allow me to host you. Come, my daughter Dilara will serve the House Heir as his Concubine with all her loyalty and bear him his Heirs."
Verolyk and the other envoys were pleased with this answer.
Two months later, Boran's daughter, Dilara, arrived at the Kislavein capital, Kislathor, under the protection of Kislavein soldiers.
Dilara watched the city from the carriage window with great admiration, unable to tear her eyes away.
"It's more magnificent than what I read about in books."
Leila, Dilara's maid, was as excited as her Lady.
"You are right,My Lady. So, we will be living here now?"
Dilara exclaimed with excitement,
"Look at that!The Kislavein Palace is even bigger than the mountains in our village!"
As they approached the palace, Dilara's excitement gave way to anxiety.
"Leila,what will I do? I'm really going to be the Concubine of the House Heir. What should I do? I'm so nervous."
Leila took Dilara's hands.
"Do not be afraid,My Lady. Under the shadow of your Ancestors' Spirits, you will be the first woman in the harem of the Heir of a House that rules two territories. Perhaps you will be the mother of the future Lord."
Although these words calmed Dilara a little, her body was still trembling.
"For years,I thought I would marry a relative in my village, but now I will be the Concubine of such a powerful person."
Just as Dilara was about to cry, Leila hugged her tightly.
After a while, Dilara calmed down. When the carriage stopped, Leila quickly pulled back.
"We have arrived,My Lady. Be calm. There is no room for error here."
Dilara nodded. She accepted her fate with confidence.
A steward opened the carriage door and extended his hand to help Dilara out.
Dilara, taking support from the offered hand, stepped out of the carriage.
She kept her back straight and proceeded slowly with a grace befitting a noble Lady.
After a while, she reached the door of the throne room.
"Are you ready,My Lady?" asked the guard by the door.
Dilara took a deep breath.
"I am ready."
The guards opened the doors. The throne room was filled with sharp eyes that pierced through Dilara like a sword.
With every step Dilara took, she read people's thoughts like a book.
"Is this her?The Heir's wife?"
"Hah,while my rose-like daughter is available, this peasant girl became the Heir's first woman."
"She's not even beautiful.She doesn't even carry Kislavein blood."
Dilara closed her ears to these words and proceeded gracefully towards her target without paying heed.
She stopped, leaving a distance of ten steps from Ricardo.
"Who is the Concubine who will serve me?" said Ricardo in a cold voice.
Dilara knelt.
"My name is Dilara Constantinos.I will serve the House Heir with all my loyalty."
Ricardo approached Dilara and extended his hand.
"Do you swear to serve me loyally?"
Dilara took Ricardo's hand.
"I swear upon the Spirits of all my Ancestors that I will serve you faithfully,bear your children, and continue your lineage."
Dilara kissed Ricardo's hand.
"Dilara Constantinos, from this moment until the day you die, I accept you as my Concubine. Rise and stand by my side always."
Dilara stood up and moved to Ricardo's side.
Those in the throne room saluted the Heir's Concubine.
The rest of the day passed at the feast given for Concubine Dilara. After the feast, Ricardo and Dilara went to their chambers.
Dilara examined the room with admiration.
"Do you like our room that much?" Ricardo said in a joking manner.
Dilara was embarrassed.
"Yes,this room alone is as big as our mansion."
Ricardo slowly approached Dilara, held her chin, and lifted her head.
"Are you ready?"
The moment Dilara had been eagerly waiting for all day had finally come.
"Yes," she said excitedly.
Ricardo slowly leaned toward Dilara's lips and placed a gentle kiss, marking the beginning of a long night.