"Thank you, my lady," Sorayah uttered as she collected the list with practiced ease. She offered a slight bow, then turned to take her leave but Arata's voice halted her.
"How about this?" Arata continued smoothly, her tone laced with sothing Sorayah couldn't quite place. "You should co to my quarters more often. I'll have new lists prepared daily, and you will be the one to handle them. It gives a sense of security, knowing that my lord's personal maid is attending to my needs. No one would dare harm or my unborn child then."
Sorayah resisted the urge to scoff aloud. Safe? From what? Mira? So she won't harm your baby? Or perhaps you simply want to keep a closer eye on ? But why?
Maintaining her composed facade, Sorayah bowed slightly. "I'm afraid His Highness, the Beta Lord, may not approve, my lady. As his personal maid, I am required to remain by his side until bedti."
Arata's smile never wavered. "I'll speak to my lord tonight after the palace function," she said breezily, as though it were already decided. "He wouldn't want or his child in any danger. He assigned his personal maid for a reason, soone to look after . I'm certain he will agree."
Sorayah's fingers curled subtly at her sides. Is she planning to have killed if she loses the child? She had seen how these gas played out in the harem quarters. Why are Dimitri's won so eager for my death? Simply because I serve him personally? I always knew that being his personal servant was a death sentence, but I won't let them be the ones to execute .
Forcing her expression into one of gratitude, she bowed again. "Thank you, my lady," she said before swiftly turning on her heel. The less ti spent in Arata's presence, the better.
_______
The mont Sorayah was gone, a shadow stirred near the doorway. Arata's personal maid stepped forward, curiosity flashing in her eyes.
"I don't understand, my lady," the maid murmured hesitantly. "Why do you want her to visit your chambers everyday?"
Arata's lips curled into a satisfied, cunning smirk. She traced slow circles over the fabric of her robes, savoring her next words.
"I'm setting the stage for the perfect drama," she said, her voice rich with amusent. "Think about it, how would it feel for a re human slave to rise in status, to take my place in this mansion after I'm gone?"
The maid's brow furrowed, tension stiffening her shoulders. "You want Sorayah to beco the Lord's woman?" she asked in disbelief. "But why? She wouldn't even last and there's no way she'll beco one if she can't get pregnant with his lord child."
Arata let out a low chuckle, shaking her head. "Oh, I know that. And I have a way so just listen." she said as she turned away, pacing the length of her chambers with slow, deliberate steps.
"Mira acts poised, graceful even kind when she's out in public. But I know the truth. She's a wicked woman beneath that practiced smile." Arata's voice dropped, bitterness lacing every syllable. "After all, we entered this household at the sa ti. We were raised together, trained in etiquette together, learned the rules of the harem as friends." She exhaled sharply. "But the mont she was nad His Highness's official wife, she severed all ties with . She made my life a living hell, forcing to stay away from him entirely out of fear of her punishnts. She loves him, but she refuses to let any woman near him. She wants to reign alone, uncontested."
The maid remained silent, her expression wary as Arata's pacing quickened.
"Our friendship was never real," Arata continued, her voice rising slightly. "She befriended only to keep under her thumb, to remind of my place. She relished in making feel beneath her." A dark chuckle slipped from her lips. "But that's fine. Let her enjoy her throne now. I'm simply setting the stage so the drama continues after I'm gone."
Arata turned to her maid, her eyes gleaming with twisted amusent. "You see, Mira despises competition especially from those she deems beneath her. Now imagine this: what if His Highness's personal servant, his lowly human maid ends up carrying his child? What if she is elevated to concubine? Wouldn't that be... entertaining?"
Arata's personal maid shifted uneasily, her face etched with worry. "But my lady, that servant looks weak. She wouldn't last a day in this mansion as a concubine even if she was to get pregnant with his lord child. Her ladyship Mira would tear her apart before she even had the chance."
Arata let out a low chuckle, a cunning smirk curling her lips. "Why do you think I asked Ramsey to kidnap that maid's sister?" She folded her arms, her eyes gleaming with dark amusent. "And don't call her weak. To , she's strong."
The maid frowned, confusion flickering in her gaze. "Strong? How?"
Arata's smirk deepened. "Once her sister dies, she'll want revenge. It's human nature. And when the ti is right, I'll make sure the stage is perfectly set, she and His Highness will share a bed. If she becos pregnant, she'll have no choice but to rise in status. That's when the real battle begins." She let out a sharp laugh. "If she fails, it will an she wasn't strong enough to defeat Mira. But if she gains power, she'll use it. She isn't as naïve as she looks."
The maid hesitated, biting her lip before shaking her head. "But my lady... are you forgetting one crucial detail? His Highness can't impregnate a woman. How is she supposed to carry his child actually? I'm confused."
Arata waved a hand dismissively, a glint of amusent in her eyes. "Oh about, that?" She tilted her head, her expression turning almost playful. "There's a plan. It's going to be a fake pregnancy, of course."
The maid's eyes widened in shock. "A fake pregnancy?"
Arata nodded, her voice brimming with confidence. "I'm not leaving this mansion until the drama is in full motion. Once that maid and His Highness are intimate, I'll ensure she exhibits all the symptoms of pregnancy. The mont the physician confirms it, His Highness will demand she abort the child." She chuckled, her fingers lazily tracing the embroidered patterns on her robe. "But here's the thing, he won't have a choice but to acknowledge her as she already carried his child even though he later aborts it. He'll still have to take responsibility, whether he wants to or not."
The maid still looked skeptical. "But what if he already gives her an herb to prevent pregnancy after their... encounter? Then there's no way the maid will get pregnant talkless of becoming his concubine."
Arata let out a delighted laugh, shaking her head. "I already thought about all these hence I have a perfect plan. I'll have drugged the maid with sothing special, a rare aphrodisiac from my pack. Not only will it heighten her desire and ensure the night happens, but it also mimics pregnancy symptoms."
"Even if His Highness forces her to take a contraceptive afterward, she'll still experience nausea, cravings, and fatigue." She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And the best part? This drug is unique to my pack. No one outside my bloodline knows about it, let alone how to counter its effects. Not even the palace physicians."
The maid stared at her for a long mont before a slow smile of admiration spread across her lips. "You're truly brilliant, my lady."
Arata gave a satisfied hum, reclining against her cushioned chair. "I know."
The maid's expression turned serious once more. "Your lover Ramsey will carry out the plan tonight then. Since everyone will be attending the palace function, it'll be the perfect ti. When the human girl returns, she'll find her sister's lifeless body waiting for her."
Arata humd thoughtfully, tapping a single finger against her chin. "Of course, we'll make sure there's evidence pointing directly to Mira."
The maid smirked. "His Highness will likely dismiss it, seeing as it's just a common maid. But Sorayah? She won't let it go. That hatred will fester inside her. And once she rises in rank, her ladyship Mira will have a formidable enemy and with you her ladyship helping the maid, I'm very sure the maid will last longer and be able to deafeat her ladyship Mira." She let out a soft chuckle.
Arata exhaled in amusent before her expression turned sharp again. "I will be here to shake the table a little longer. Watching a re human maid bring down the mighty Lady Mira... there's no greater humiliation than that."
She let out a final outburst of laughter, the sound echoing through the room like a promise of chaos.
"Now, fetch my herb. I need to keep my child's scent hidden for as long as I remain in this household."
The maid bowed swiftly before hurrying out, leaving Arata alone with her thoughts.
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