Chapter 240: Visiting The Royal Harem

"Your Majesty, though we plan for you to take charge of the Royal Harem officially after the wedding according to the Megaris' customs, would you like to visit the Royal Harem now? Lady Tyra asked. 

"Should I?" Seren asked as she was not sure what she should do.

"It would be better if your Majesty visited the Royal Harem. It's been a few days since Your Majesty has arrived here and the Royal Harem is curious to see their Queen," Lady Tyra replied. 

"Fine then," Seren agreed unwillingly.

Lady Tyra looked at the ladies in waiting, "Inform Royal Harem that Her Majesty would be arriving there."

Lady Xena nodded and instructed the other two Ladies in waiting what to do. In a while Seren left to visit the Royal Harem along with Lady Tyra as her royal servants followed her. The Queen's carriage was ready for Seren at the exit of the residence. Seren and Lady Tyra sat inside the same carriage while other servants followed them in other carriages as the Royal Palace was spread across a vast land, no residence was closer to each other. Especially the residence of the King and the Queen were isolated from any kind of crowd around. 

Soon the Queen's carriage reached the Royal Harem, where as instructed by Lady Tyra, all were informed about the arrival of their Queen and were ready to welcome her. No man was around the Royal Harem as it had female royal guards wearing a uniform meant for the female guards, similar to the male guards - red and black uniform with a goldcrest on it. 

The carriage entered a huge double-side wooden gate and rode along the road wound towards the widespread Royal Harem building. Seren and Lady Tyra stepped out of the carriage as the other royal servants helped them get down. 

Getting down, Seren looked around and saw so many women wearing royal clothes and having smiles on their faces, standing at the main entrance of the building as everyone was curiously looking at her. Not just those ladies but even the servants were looking at their new Queen whose face was covered with a veil. All they could see was the young woman wearing Queen's clothes, having long golden-red hair and a pair of purple eyes which looked pretty to a few while few felt wary of that different eye color. 

Seen looked around. 

Inside that huge double side wooden gate and behind those tall walls was this huge front garden with the fountain and behind that, there was a structure of Royal Harem.

Lady Yavia and Lady Saira immediately came to greet their Queen while others bowed to her from where they were standing. 

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Lady Saira spoke, "It's good to see you here, Your Majesty. We all welcome you to the Royal Harem."

Seren accepted her greeting with a slight nod and Lady Tyra asked the other two in a strict voice, "Where is Lady Clarisa? Isn't she aware that Her Majesty is visiting and she should be present here?"

"Lady Tyra, Lady Clarisa is dealing with the servant who has caused some trouble," Lady Yavia replied while Lady Tyra looked at Lady Saira as she didn't get a good feeling about it. Lady Tyra was sure, the first concubine must be busy showing her authority to the poor servant and punishing her severely

Lady Tyra could only sigh and looked at Seren, "Your Majesty, this way please," she signaled her to walk towards the main building of the Royal Harem. 

Seren followed Lady Tyra's instructions and continued to walk towards the set of horizontally long staircases that led their way to the front corridor of the building and then the inside of it. Reaching the corridor after climbing those five steps, Seren looked around on her either side where that long corridor was well decorated with curtains floating along with the light breeze, and many vases were placed along the path carrying a bunch of fresh flowers. She walked inside and crossed one more wooden double door, before entering the central hall of the Royal Harem. 

The central hall had a big throne kept exactly opposite to the entrance, at the opposite wall. Seren understood it was meant for the one who was in charge of this Royal Harem. The hall had long inside corridors attached to each wall which were open and showed the doors to the various bedchambers. The paintings hung on the wall, the antiques, vases and flowers, beautiful curtains all added to the femininity of the Royal Harem and looked pleasant to the eyes. Seren was yet to be aware that even if the Royal Harem looked pleasant, she couldn't say the same thing about the women receding there.

"Your Majesty, this Royal Harem is the residence of all the women married to the men of the royal family and to all the princesses born to them. Few of the royal ladies are from the Megaris while few are married from the neighboring kingdoms," Lady Tyra informed. 

Just then they heard the noise that disturbed the Queen's peaceful visit.

"Whip that servant nicely so she won't dare to be this clumsy even after her death," came the loud and authoritative voice of a woman.

Everyone looked at the source of the voice and saw Lady Clarisa walking towards the central hall by crossing the corridor. A young servant was being dragged by two female guards while another guard was holding a whip in her hand.

They stopped in front of the throne in the central hall and Lady Clarisa was about to walk towards the throne. An older woman kneeled in front of Lady Clarisa blocking her path and pleaded in her crying voice, "Please forgive her, Lady Clarisa. I beg you. She is still young. I will teach her a good lesson later."

Lady Clarisa looked fearful and replied coldly, "You should have taught your daughter before bringing her to the Royal Harem as a servant."

"I beg you, Lady Clarisa. If her body gets bruised deeply with the whips, no one will marry her," the older lady continued to beg, but there was not a tinge of sympathy in Lady Clarisa's eyes. 

"Why does a lowly creature like you need to get married, huh? Only to give birth to more disgusting lowly creatures like you? Get out of my way. Today I will set a good example for everyone to see what will happen if you can't do your work properly."

"Please…" 

"Get out of my way or I will increase a hundred more lashes of whips in her punishment," Lady Clarisa warned.