A renegade Prince has grown dissatisfied with the women throwing themselves at his feet for their chance to join the royal Harem. He scours the dark corners of his city for a new girl, and he finds a poor pauper with an angel's blessing of beauty. The girls in the royal palace twitter on about what might become of the new girl when Prince Kadar has her behind closed doors...
Prince Kadar opens the door, and is followed in by a fruit and vinegar cloud of opium. The girl is seated on a chair before him. Jana has black hair pulled back into a plain ponytail. Streaks of makeup color her face and hands, and she is looking down at a dried flower in her hands.
The Prince steps towards the girl, and she looks up at him. She raises a foot and threatens him with the edge of her heel.
"What is this?" the Prince demands. He reaches down and snatches the flower, and its petals crumble between his fingers.
The girl's voice cracks dry. "You're him, aren't you?"
"Who?"
"The Prince."
Prince Kadar looks down into the girl's glowering eyes. "Yes." He brushes his hands clean of the flower. "What happened to your face?"
Jana flares in a challenge."What's wrong with my face?"
"Your makeup is smeared everywhere."
"I've never worn it before. It doesn't feel good."
"You have a sink to wash in your room."
"That's not my room." Something appears to hit Jana from within, and she lowers her foot and sits straight upright as if coming to attention. She lowers her eyes from the Prince. "It doesn't feel like my room, yet."
This story is a Holly Love novel, at 33,418 words.
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