While Abby was crying herself to sleep in the throne room of the palace a discussion about her had been taking place. After the usual discourses and arguments of state the King had summoned the Ambassador from Ming to question him about the unusual creature that had appeared in the palace grounds earlier today.
"Ambassador, I have a very unusual foreign girl who was found in a secure area she should not have been. She claims to be part of your party, that she was separated from it and became lost. Is this true?"
The Ming Ambassador was startled and completely baffled as to what the Korean King was referring to but was careful not to show it and chose see how he use this situation and possibly turn it to his advantage, " My humblest apologies Your Majesty. She is indeed part of our party. I hope she did displease you in anyway?"
The King was not amused with his answer. Although he had found her utterly fascinating, striking eyes and that flame colored hair! She gave him an odd unsettled feeling as well, almost electric familiarity. He felt pulled to her is some odd way. He cocked an eyebrow at the Ambassador for answering his question with a question and replied, "We found her in no way displeasing. We do however wonder why she was not with your party and wandering the palace?"
The Ambassador decided to jump at this opportunity and said, " My sincerest apologies again, Your Majesty. Unfortunately her being a captured tribute I am afraid she may have tried to escape. Do you wish to return her to us and have us punish her?"
Something didn't sit right with the
Ambassador's explanation. " She says she is a Princess. How did she come to be a party of your party if she is royalty?"
The Ambassador decided to keep up the charade and said, "she was captured on a raid of shipping vessel sailing through our waters without permission. We understand her claim of nobility but could not formally confirm it as we do not have diplomatic ties at the moment with her country. It was thought due to her position and unique looks that we would bring her here and see how Your Majesty favored her as to curry the goodwill between our two nations."
The King was shocked. They wanted him to take on a foreign Princess as his concubine? He paused to give himself a moment to reflect. He had no taste for further Concubines. The few he had under the guidance of his Queen were trouble enough constant bickering and feuding for power. But neither could he afford to offend the Ming Ambassador or his Emperor. He had enough trouble with the Witches constantly sniping at his borders even with the aid of local werewolf communities. The Elves had refused to render aid as they had for centuries, preferring to hide in their Mountains away from all humanoid contact. Unless you were a beast of the field or a plant it was rare to meet an Elf nowadays. Sadly his dragon ancestry was no longer of any help. Former kings were said to have been able to shift into dragon form but to many years of mating with human beings had led to power dying out. Now his eyes would glow a golden aura when he was pushed to far but that was the only remnant of his dragon ancestry.
The King looked back at the Ambassador and sighed. " We shall keep her for now. I shall not formally make her a Concubine until all the proper papers have been signed between myself and Ming. Three weeks should suffice to put everything in proper order." The King hoped this would give them time for the girl some time to acclimatize to her surroundings before the ceremony.
"I am sorry Your Majesty but we must leave as scheduled in 2 days. I am sure that the marriage contract can be drawn up immediately and uh the marital act consumated since you do not object to the girl. That way we can be sure that there is no cause for us to take her back with us and that she remains safely in your custody as one of your wives."
The King's head snapped up. It sounded like the Ambassador wanted to make sure he wed and bedded the girl before leaving or they would take her back with them. The thought disgusted him but he also felt he needed to keep her by his side and protect her. "Are you saying you want to witness the ACT?!"
"No of course not your Majesty; but I would need to be assured by a female physician of her ah condition so that her position here is secure before I leave. She is too valuable a prisoner to be left unused."
This whole conversation was making the King ill. Prearranged marriages were nothing new, especially for political stability but this felt more base and crass. That girl should never be battered and sold like a slave.
"Arrange it then with my head Eunuch's help. There is no way it can be done by tomorrow. We will set it for the following day. You can delay your journey by at least one day." He gave the Ambassador a hard look that said this was not up for debate.
The Ambassador bowed low, "Of course Your Majesty. Everything will be prepared by then."