Concubines

                                    

                                          
The concubines prepared by the empress arrived after 3 days he issued their recruitment and little Aria  made sure there were some vicious women in the list.  He couldn't kill Rose  but these new ambitious wives would deal with the Imperial Concubine with ease, but there was a flaw in his plan. A very dangerous flaw, since the concubines were prepared by him and they were a gift to the emperor, if they attack the other concubines, it will reflect on the empress for choosing such bad characters for his husband. 
"We greet your majesty the empress. " the recruitments said kneeling as Aria made his way towards his throne. He sat down and looked at the 20 new faces and smirked.
"You may rise."he said and said new faces rose from the ground still looking down. It was very disrespectful to look at the leaders of the nation in the eyes. 
"Are all willingly here or were forced. Speak  up or forever be quiet about the matter." Aria stated as he looked at the new wives he'll be sharing with his dear husband. 
"We're here willingly your highness." One female said kneeling down and bowing her head.
"Is it what she saying true?" He asked .
"YES YOUR MAJESTY." They all said unison. 
"OK Then , Eunice, Ress."
"Yes your majesty?" The eunuch and head maid answered.
"Make my new sisters and brothers comfortable in the palace. They should be hidden from the outside world until the day of the banquet. " Aria said as he sipped his tea .
The eunuch and head maid responded and lead the new concubines towards the inner rooms of his palace. The palace itself was very big and spacious. 
Aria stood from his chair and made his way towards his garden, there he saw his four kids doing their own thing. Aaron was chasing Anna and Alex was playing with Ariel . The Imperial heirs were so free and happy, totally oblivious of the storm that resides in the Imperial Palace. The palace was a very dangerous place and as much as Aria didn't want his kids to participate in the throne he didn't have a choice.  If he wanted them to live peacefully, both kids and their relatives they had to get powerful .
But with power came great threat, Aria's reign was stable for now having given birth to the first four heirs of the country ,but no one knew what the future held and that's why Aria was afraid. 
He had to make sure that before they come for his throne , his kids should be unshakable and strong. He should start by training them, even if it meant pain to him and suffering to his heart by letting his angels witness the tragedy of the Imperial palace. Everyone here had a weakness, the Emperor had Rose,  Aria had his 4 kids. His family was more than capable of fending for themselves heck  they all went through military training in his household. His father made sure that everyone even his wife were strong enough to survive if there were to arise a problem.
So now Aria had to strengthen his 4 little cute weaknesses. They needed to be strong if they were to ascend the throne.
"Kids, come here. Mother needs to tell you something." Aria said as he sent to on a bench under the huge orange tree, it had no fruits yet but the small buds were visible. The four kids heard their mother and happily scurried towards Aria and jumped at him individually giving the empress a hug and peck on the cheek. Aria just sat there receiving all the love from his kids and giggled as they placed sloppy kisses on his cheeks.
"What's wrong mother?" Aaron asks as he settles down infront of his mother, the other 3 saw what he did and did the same. Aria does the same and slides off the bench onto the ground with his babies. Eunuch Ress and his followers just shook they heads. More dirty laundry they thought, but smiled nonetheless. 
"Mother wants to tell you something.  It's very important." Aria said looking at all his babies.
"You all know that you're of royal blood and that by itself comes with it's dangers. Mother simply wants you all to be safe, I know you're still young but you can never be cautious enough. Your father will never protect you. Only I, your grandparents and my sister can keep you from danger. But mother won't always be there for you, so my babies be wary of anyone and everyone." He concluded and looked at his our kids.
Aaron, Alex and Anna were attentive. Ariel however was in her own world playing with her mother's fingers. Aria just smiled at the last born princess if the palace and looked at the three who were staring at him with curiosity. 
"Take care of each other , especially of Ariel." It was then that Ariel looked at her mother with confusion as to why she was being called out.
"Yes mother?" She asked. Aria just shook his head and smiled. 
Eunuch Ress then announced the arrival of the emperor. Emperor Lon took majestic strides approaching the family if five as they were still seated. Aria didn't even give acknowledge the emperor.
"Aria didn't you teach my kids manners. Why aren't they greeting me? I'm their father!" The emperor said when he saw that the kids made no effort to greet him and Aria just sneered and glare at the emperor. This man had the nerve to call Aria's babies his after being absent from their lives for almost five years.
"Eunice take my kids to their rooms, I shall attend to the emperor."Aria said making sure to emphasize the words my kids so that the emperor go hear him perfectly. He proceeded to kissthe four kids on their cheeks and sent them off .
"Whatbrings your majesty here ?" Aria asked as he stood up and dusted his clothes.
"Why, can't the emperor visit his empress when he wants to?"  The emperor asked growing impatient. 
"Your Majesty should get glasses, this Empress thinks you confused me for Imperial Concubine Rose." Aria said calmly sitting down leaving the emperor standing like a fool.
"Aren't  you going to serve this sovereign tea. Are your servants also manner less?!" 
The emperor said now angry and Aria's entourage was trembling with fear but made no effort to move.
"Your Majesty, there's no use getting angry at my servants. They are loyal and obedient to me only. If dear husband wants tea, this empress will not serve heartless , ignorant,  arrogant and cheating bastards, rather come with your own tea. Not when I built this palace from the ground up with my own money." Aria said calmly looking into the distance.
"I'm your emperor,  you dare disrespect me." Emperor Lon roared.
"Your majesty.  I respect you as a emperor , you're a great emperor and that's why I fell in love with you." Aria said looking at the emperor. He could see the emperor was twitching , fighting the smile that was trying to creep up his godly features , Aria snickers at the sight.
"But your majesty is a horrible husband, your favouritism towards the one person has left the harem in shambles. " Aria concluded and saw the emperor frown. 
"Mia , get the emperor's favourite tea and snacks. This empress will serve my needy and desperate husband. " Aria said looking at his handmaid. The maid did as told and went to fetch the things. 
"You're disrespectful to this sovereign and growing on this emperor's nerves Aria. You have no filter, that's why this sovereign doesn't like you . " the emperor said with malice.
"Did your majesty come all the way here to insult this empress, I see that you're quite free these days. Empress Aria will like to tell his majesty that I'm not a substitute for Imperial Concubine Rose." Aria asked very carefully.
But before the emperor could retort Mia came with the tea. The other maids that followed behind her were holding a table and snacks for he imperial couple.
"Your majesty your tea is here, please enjoy."Aria said pouring the monarch a cup of tea.
Aria could go from rude to polite very quickly, it just depended on how you treated him. If one was a scum bag like the emperor,  he will not hesitate to treat them like the trash they are and make them angry every second.
"This empress will take his leave." Aria said standing up.