Chapter 17 - The Harem Manager

“You…come this way,” the senior eunuch said suddenly.

“You mean…me?” I asked in slight confusion as I pointed to myself. Did he mean me?

“Yes, you. Come here with me,” the eunuch replied in a desperate voice as he beckoned me to follow him with his hand.

Hesitantly, I started to follow him. I didn’t know where he was leading me, but he was leading me away from the group of women. I looked back over my shoulder as the group of women walked further away in the other direction. Where is he taking me?

“The Emperor has graciously decided to let you stay in the White Lotus palace. You should consider yourself extremely lucky to have earned yourself such a reward on your first day at the Grand Palace,” the eunuch explained as if to answer my unasked question.

Not that I knew what the White Lotus palace is. As far as I was aware, the fact that Ren seemed to show some interest in me by simply talking to me during the session has earned me a palace. In other words, I get a slightly bigger room to myself than the rest of the other woman because I saved his life. Well…that’s great.

After a short walk, I began to figure out that the White Lotus palace is also located in the harem part of the Crown Prince’s palace. A palace inside of another palace. Why do they call every building a palace? It is so confusing.

Finally, we arrived at what was called the White Lotus palace. This place is to be my home from now on. One look and I immediately understood where the palace got its name from. Unlike the other buildings, this palace was mainly white in color with a few shades of pink and green here and there. The pillars and walls were carved in lotus shapes making it look like the palace was made from a bunch of white lotuses. The pond in the garden also had blooming white lotuses.

I hate to admit it but, compared to the small cottage that I lived in, this place and its beauty and size seemed unreal. However, I would trade all this beauty and luxury just to return to my home. I was lost in thought as I continued to follow the eunuch into the palace.

“Umm…who else lives here?” I asked hesitantly about my roommates. If I’m going to be stuck here for a while I might as well try to make some friends.

“No one. However, there will be maids, guards and kitchen staff and the like to serve you,” the eunuch answered briefly as if this was something I should be able to figure out on my own.

True to his words, the moment we stepped into the main hall we were greeted with ten staff with their head bowed low. Men, middle-aged women, and teenage girls all dressed in uniform of the court staff bowed deeply to show their respect and intent to serve. The sight was unusual to me, and I felt shy and very out of place standing there.

“This is Miss Rin Kamiya. From now on she is your mistress and you all will serve her. Under the Emperor’s orders, Miss Rin Kamiya will now be the mistress of this White Lotus palace and you all will serve her as such. Now…please show her around and dress her up as befitting of the Lady of this palace,” the eunuch announced promptly before turning on his heels and leaving me there with all the staffs.

…

A young woman who was probably my age or slightly younger led me on a tour of the palace. She has a decently clean and beautiful face with very round eyes. Although she seemed nervous to be alone with me, she tried to carry herself politely and professionally.

“What is your name?” I asked during our tour.

“I apologize for the late introduction Miss. My name is Ming,” the young woman replied a little shyly.

“Nice to meet you, Ming. Thank you for showing me around,” I said, trying to sound as friendly as I could.

“Please come this way My Lady. We will help to shower and dress you,” Ming replied without much emotion in her voice. However, she did smile back kindly.

Wait! They’re going to shower me?

“Umm…I can do that by myself. There’s no need to trouble you to help me shower…” I protested all the way to the bath which resembled a large hot spring rather than a bathtub.

With five women yanking and pulling at my clothes and shoving me into the hot bath, I found myself completely naked and at their mercy in no time. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in the large hot bath with many hands scrubbing my naked skin. It hurst a little…

“Lady Rin, please stay still. We don’t have much time to prepare you…” a middle-aged woman said to me as she focused on scrubbing my left arm.

“Prepare me for…?” I asked her curiously; however, I was not offered a reply.

After what seemed like two or three hours, the skillful ladies were done bathing and dressing me. I looked at my self at the floor length mirror and couldn’t help letting out a small cry of surprise. I hardly recognized the reflection staring back at me from the mirror.

Dressed in a light pink silk outer robe decorated with white lotus patterns and inner white silk robe with silver thread decorations, I looked like a nobleman’s daughter. My face was painted in what I assumed was what was considered beautiful and fashionable in this empire. I guess I’m supposed to look beautiful, but I just felt silly and weirdly out of place.

Suddenly, an old and seemingly senior woman stepped into the dressing room. Everyone seemed to know well who she was and bowed respectfully. The woman’s hair was all grey and held up into a conservative bun with minimal decoration. Her dress was more luxurious than the general maids showing her rank and authority in this palace.

“Lady Rin, my name is Wusin Chen. You can simply call me Chen and I am the senior manager of the Crown Prince’s inner court,” the old woman, who I now knew was called Miss Chen, introduced herself professionally as she smiled warmly at me.

--To be continued....