Princess Azeezat saw the Sultan staring at Roksna, who refused to acknowledge him or his presence. Lady Miriam walked to Roksna and tried to make her get up, but the Sultan stopped her by saying it was okay. Roksna stood up, took the chest of ornaments, and took it to the Sultan. Without a word, she dropped it at his feet and turned back toy In the bed.


    “You rude maid. Do not forget that it was the Sultan that made you a Lady.” Lady Miriam said to Roksna, who didn’t even respond.


    Jamal cleared his throat and everywhere became silent. He stared at the chest which Aabdeen now carries in his hands and wondered if he hadn’t made a mistake by ordering the beating. Roksna never wears ornaments. It was even because he forced her that made her start wearingdies’ clothing. But still, he wasn’t going to apologize to her. He was the Sultan and he would do however he pleases.


    “The royal dance for the concubine is in three days. Everydy in the kafes is expected to participate.” The Sultan said.


    “Yes, Sultan.” Everyone chorused.


    “I’m not dancing,” Roksna spoke up.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    “How dare you?” Lady Miriam shouted at her.


    “Didn’t you hear me? I said everydy in the harem and that includes you,” Jamal responded to her.


    “And I just told you I’m not dancing,” Roksna retorted, standing up.


    “Then expect the death of people from your sultanate.” The Sultan said.


    Roksna gasped, her eyes wild and round. Had the sultan just threatened her? Perhaps, she made a mistake in defending him before Asleem.


    “You dare not.” She said, pointing to the sultan.


    “Dare me,” Jamal answered, staring at Roksna in the face.


    Before Roksna could think about a reply, Jamal walked out of the room. He couldn’t believe that he had lost his patience with her so easily when he hade here in the first ce to see how she was faring. He had even thought that telling her about the dancingpetition would make her feel better and happy since she loved dancing. Besides, he had wanted her to participate in thepetition and win so that she could be the harem leader. That way, no one would be able to bully her anymore. When he arrived at his house, he saw the general standing in front of the house and wondered why.


    “Why are you outside?” Jamal asked the general.


    “Just thought I should wait here for you, Sultan,” Sodeeq replied.


    Jamal felt like something was bothering his friend. He gestured towards the door and they both got in. Sodeeq asked the Sultan for a few days off work, so he could attend to some personal matters which Jamal granted his friend. After the other man had left, Jamal turned to Aabdeen and ordered that he should make sure Roksna was present at the royal dancepetition. After that, he rxed on his bed and fell asleep, his thoughts still filled with the stubborn woman.


    Three dayster, Roksna watched as the women in the kafes began to run helter-skelter trying to get ready for the dancing event. She had learned from some of thedies that anyone who ced first would be the harem’s leader and got a separate house to live in. She had also learned that that was how Lady Miriam got her private residence, not because she was the Sultan’s favorite as everyone often said. Roksna was still contemting whether the Sultan meant the threat he had issued or not when Azeezat rushed into her room.


    “Is this okay?” The princess asked, feeling shy.


    Roksna looked at what the princess was talking about and saw that she had some bangles on her wrist. They were of different colors but theyplemented each other nicely. The bangles also went well with the woman’s choice of clothing. But, apart from the bangles, the princess didn’t put on any other jewelry, yet she looked really beautiful. Roksna acknowledged that the princess could be putting on rags and she would still be very beautiful to look at. Roksna nodded her head and saw the princess exhaled deeply.


    “But, why aren’t you dressed up yet? There are only thirty minutes left before thepetition starts.” The princess said as she plopped down on the bed.


    As Roksna opened her mouth to respond that she wasn’t going regardless of the Sultan’s threat, Aabdeen walked in the door holding Asleem who had ropes around his upper body binding him. Aabdeen bowed down slightly to her before speaking.


    “The Sultan said that this man I’m holding would be the first one to die if you arete even for a minute.” He said.


    Roksna moved towards Aabdeen to get Asleem freed, but the words she heard next stopped her.


    “The Sultan also said that he doesn’t see this man or Ie back in fifteen minutes to now, he’s going to kill a man from your sultanate for each minute we arete,” Aabdeen warned her.


    Roksna sat down next to Azeezat when she heard the words. She watched as Aabdeen walked away from the room, dragging Asleem with him. Asleem gave her a look of contempt she would not forget in a hurry. Azeezat patted her shoulder and quietly disappeared when she heard the others saying that it was almost time. Roksna began to regret her decision of bing a concubine. What was the essence of being one when she couldn’t even protect her people with the position? Why be a concubine when it only puts the people she wanted to protect in more danger? She stood up from her sitting position with anger. If the Sultan wanted her to participate in thepetition by force, then she would.