Born to be Empress

Chapter 3 - Music Lessons

Phaedra's pov:

The next day was full of obligations for me. First, I had a pleasant bath in the one of the luxurious bathrooms that the palace had. Unlike my house where when we wanted to wash ourselves we had to go to the river in the summers or washed in a barrel in the winters, here there was a big room that had many bathtubs where one could bathe. The soaps here smelled pleasantly!

I was taken by some slave girls to this beautiful wooden room. They stripped me and told me to get in the tub. When I did they started pouring hot water and essentials. The pleasant scent of lavender filled my nostrils and I let myself relax while the girls began to bathe me. I have never been bathed by anyone else before and at first I was very uncomfortable with others touching my naked body. But eventually I let myself enjoy the comfort.

When we finished bathing, they dried my body with a towel and put on a linen petticoat. Then they dried my hair, cut them and applied some essential oils and braided it into two braids. When they finished, they dressed me in a long yellow dress that was decorated with gold ornaments. The fabric of the dress was very expensive but very uncomfortable. Moving freely was not an option when wearing it.

The slave girls took me back to the room. The room was filled with well dressed women, talks and giggling were heard everywhere. Some women were just relaxing; others were playing cards while some of them arranged their clothes and hair.

The same tall woman came inside clapping her hands to hold our attention. Everyone stopped what they were doing and focused at her. Quiet prevailed in the room. She took some steps towards the center of the room while all the girls sat on their beds.

-"Girls it's practice time and I want you all to come to the ballroom. Today we will start with dancing, we will continue with the music lessons and we will finish with the good manners' lessons" she said and scanned the crowd. Her eyes met mine and she waved me to come forward. "You, come forward" she said pointing at me.

I looked at my left and right and when I confirmed that it was me that she signaled I took two steps forward.

-"What's your name?" she asked.

-"Phaedra" I said timidly. I had my head lowered and I kept staring the floor.

-"Well Phaedra, do you know how to play any musical instrument?"

-"I.......I....do not" I said embarrassed.

-"I see......Do you have any ability?" she asked frustrated.

My mind immediately went to my healing abilities but I quickly abandoned the idea. Healing for me was not some kind of skill, but a serious occupation that was done only when needed and not for bragging reasons.

-"I know how to do the housework" I finally answered proudly.

-"This ability won't be useful here......" she scolded. "Well! We have a lot of work to do with you! Follow me!" she said and left the room while I followed behind. We passed through the corridor which was filled with several guards standing outside the doors and many slaves going up and down anxiously, and entered a room where all the musical instruments were kept: flutes, harps, lyres, castanets and drums. I was looking like an idiot at the instruments when the woman told me:

-"You will learn the harp. Your hands are too small and thin. And if you are doing well maybe you'll learn the flute too!"

She took some small steps toward the harp and took it. Then she started playing a sweet rhythm. I was so mesmerized by her playing that I didn't realize there was another person in the room.

-"Elektra, your playing is magical as always. I should call you in my chambers soon" came a male voice that made us both turn around in surprise. In front of the door, the Emperor stood imposingly with his arms folded across his chest, staring at us. His look gave me the chills: It was so intense that it made me feel uncomfortable. This man's aura was too strong to ignore. We both bowed before him.

-"My king I will be honored" Elektra said respectfully.

-"This is the new one I brought?" the Emperor asked her looking at me.

-"Yes my lord" Elektra confirmed. The Emperor came to me and after making a circle around me said:

-"You did a great job as always! Well done!"

-"Thank you, Your Majesty," Electra said and bowed to him again. The Emperor gave her a smile and left without a word leaving me frozen in my place. My heart was beating like crazy. I was filled with many emotions: anxiety, fear, worry. The presence of this man caused me a cascade of emotions.

We took the harp and headed to another room where there were several couches. The girls have already sat on them playing the instrument each one had. I spotted Alina playing the lyre. Her playing was so harmonious. I was staring at her when Elektra clapped her hands in front of me.

-"Stop fooling around and start playing!" she yelled at me.

-"I....I don't know how" I confessed embarrassed.

-"Alina will show you how. Alina come here" she said and Alina came happily and sat beside me. She started showing me how to move my fingers and telling me all about the music notes, the rhythm, and the melodies. The lesson ended with me having a terrible headache. All this information that Alina gave me confused me. I gave her a frustrating look when she put her hand on my back and whispered to my ear:

-"Don't be discouraged. You are doing very well. A piece of advice: try to play with your heart, not your mind".

-"Thank you" I whispered back and we both smiled at each other and returned to our instruments. By the end of the day I had learned to play a few tunes feeling really proud of myself.

When the lesson was finished Elektra ordered us to go to the hammam. I haven't heard of this word before but I was relieved when I saw the other girls' faces. They were eager to go, so I figured that it would be something very pleasant and I wasn't wrong.

We went to a room and undressed ourselves while the slaves gave us a towel to cover our bodies. Then we entered another room which was filled with water vapors.

It consisted of a large high-ceilinged room with an area of 31.00 sq.m. The large dome was based on spherical triangles and the characteristic hexagonal lighting crystals around the perimeter, the natural lighting of the space was particularly impressive and mysterious. It had marble terraces, cooling troughs and floors made of marble and original colorful tiles. It had three terraces for sofa use, and a bathroom with a shower. The room had a hammam for exclusive use, for up to 5 people with marble cladding, marble terraces and troughs. This was usually used by the Emperor and his generals.

Even though we were all only covered by a towel, the girls didn't seem to mind. They were used to seeing each other naked. On the contrary, I was not familiar with this and tried very hard to cover up myself. Otherwise, the time was spent very happily and relaxed. It was a nice experience that I know I would easily get used to.

I was the last that remained to the dressing room as I didn't want the other girls to see me naked. I was putting on my dress when I heard male voices from outside. I panicked fearing that probably were guards patrolling the area. I looked around for a hiding place but found nothing I could use. I took my dress and headed to the hammam room and stayed there for several minutes. When I made sure that no one was outside I decided to return to my room. I was about to leave when the door opened and I fell upon a broad bare chest.