Empresses of Pangaea: The Clash of Queens [ BOOK 1 ]

23

Location: Haze House, The Royal Harem Hall at the Royal Palace of Sekhe, West African State, African Lands

It was hard for Apophis Uba to believe he was sitting here at a round table having afternoon tea in Ivan Omach's house, with Sang-chul and Ivan Omach sitting with him.

It was strange to Apophis that he was actually talking to others in the harem that was beside his servant. The day that Ivan and Sang-chul came over to help him when Omari Dalli was punishing him for something so little, Apophis didn't expect it.

He honestly thought the two of me could be setting him up. Concubines looking out for each other for the sake of kindness? Pig's flying was more believable.

But when his servant Angus came over to him to tell him that Ivan had invited him to spend some time at his house for afternoon tea, Apophis could hardly believe it at first. Two actual brothers in the harem. Since he became a concubine, he hardly talked to anyone.

When Apophis first came here, he managed to get the role from his mother being a low-ranked guard for the palace, and she recommended him to try mange to get a lot in the harem.

"You never know. If you get picked, we can finally make enough to provide for ourselves, since it comes with many rewards and being a father to one of the empress's children could bring out family status to great honor," She told him the day that rumors were spreading around that since the late empress Tamela Eze had died, and a new harem was being replaced.

When he auditioned, he never thought he would get a pick, especially coming from a low-ranked family. But it was his looks and sense of style that won him over. His smooth olive skin and brown freckled face was what Rehema called cute when she first met him. He styled his long curly brown hair usually in a ponytail or one solid long braid. His sense of style when I came to cloaks, robes, and agbada's was paid off due to him always looking at the trends of fashion from when he was a teenager to now.

It was the best way to impress an empress when you didn't have a high valued family background. He didn't have a general as a sister, or a rich family. So, he was going to have to focus on his appearance and hope for the best. He still had yet to be selected to serve her one night and he had been in the harem longer than Ivan and Sang-chul.

Ivan sitting across from him cleared his throat, "So, have you too made any moves yet? Come on don't tell me I'm the only one getting some action here?" Ivan said.

"It seems like you're her favorite out all the news ones," Sang-chul said after he sipped his tea. "How about you give us some advice."

Ivan crossed his arms, "Well you too are both too quiet and boring at times. She isn't going to let you serve her when you guys hardly even speak."

Sang-chul cocked his head, "It hard even getting the chance to bump into her. She has been so busy lately with planning the coronation."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Ivan stroking his goatee. "I haven't heard a set date on that yet."

Apophis looked down at his lap, "The emperor and emperor dowager are part of the planning committee for it. Word is going around they haven't been getting along."

"Really?" Ivan asked with an eyebrow arched. "One must be brave to challenge the emperor dowager."

"He is going to struggle holding power I think," Apophis added.

"What makes you say that?" Ivan asked.

"He is her adoptive father, not father by blood. Plus, when the late empress Tamela was empress, he was ranked as a noble consort, so I think Emperor Chike is trying to tread on his toes."