His new lover

Palace life

Lev, admittedly, had a hard time adjusting to living in the palace. He was technically still a servant, but the prince already had so many that Lev wasn't quite sure what to do with himself. After the coming-of-age celebration, Ahkmenrah personally led Lev to the harem, where he would be living alongside the prince's other servants, guards, tutors, and concubines. The harem was at least twice as big as the estate of Lev's previous master, and there were also at least twice as many people.

Lev gazed in awe at the luxury of his new home as he followed the prince, enraptured by the music that filled the air and the wine that flowed like water, even at such a late hour; it was the prince's coming-of-age night after all. His smile faltered slightly, however, when he saw a group of women walking towards them.

These are the prince's concubines, he thought, the women to whom the prince would likely be married someday.

He tried to ignore the tug at his heart that felt oddly like jealousy. The women all stepped aside and bowed when Ahmenrah approached, except for one. A slender woman with skin like rich coffee and dark hair swinging past her shoulders ran forward and hugged Ahkmenrah excitedly.

"Ahkmenrah! It's great to see you!"
"And it's wonderful to see you as well!"
Lev clenched his jaw to suppress what was undeniable jealousy at the clear joy on Ahkmenrah's face and forced a tight smile as the two separated and Ahkmenrah spoke. "Lev, I would like you to meet Zahara." Zahara turned to Lev for the first time and smiled when Lev instinctively bowed.

"Now now, no need for that. We are all equals here in the prince's harem."
Lev straightened and found that, despite his jealousy, he couldn't help but love her sweet face and almost motherly disposition. Ahkmenrah wound an arm around her shoulders as he spoke. "Zahara has been here for her shoulders as he spoke. "Zahara has been here for almost three years now, and she is like the sister 1 never had. She will help you with adjusting to life here, right, Za?"

Zahara nudged Ahmenrah playfully in the ribs and smiled once more at Lev. "Of course I will, akh-sen." With that, Ahkmenrah took his leave, and Zahara showed Lev to his room and assured him that, if he needed anything at all, all he had to do was ask her.
About a week after he had started living at the palace, Lev found himself outside in what Zahara called "Ahk's Kitty Playpen". It was a very large, open space with palm trees, grass, and small ponds, all enclosed by the walls of the harem. It was also where Ahkmenrah's pet cats stayed when they weren't following him around the palace. Zahara had told him not to worry if he saw the cats wandering around the harem, for the doors to the
'playpen' were often left open to let them do just that; she had assured him that they were perfectly tame. Lev had been a bit confused when she had said this. How wild could house cats possibly be? Then he had jumped, startled when he had felt something warm brush against his leg. Lev would forever deny that he had squealed like a girl when he had seen that it was, in fact, a full-grown cheetah that had decided to walk past him.

Lev chuckled softly at the memory as he petted the head of said cheetah, who had decided to curl up next to him while he relaxed next to one of the small ponds. He reflected on his life as he watched the surface of the water shimmer brightly. Lev had been born into servitude. His master had always been kind to all of her servants; she even let them learn from the tutors who taught her children. Despite being educated, however, most servants just didn't have the means to leave the estate and start their own life. But Lev had hoped that someday he would no longer have to be at someone's beck and call, would no longer have to be little more than property.

He never imagined he'd find himself here, however, in the youngest prince's harem. The prince...he was just as wonderful as he'd heard the nobles say, even though he'd only been in his presence for a few minutes. He hoped to spend more time with the prince, but he was under no illusion. There were many others in the harem, and the prince didn't have much time to spend with them anyway, what with all his lessons and general royal duties. Lev sighed as he gently curled his fingers in the cheetah's soft fur. Even if the prince did have time to spend with those in his harem, I was still just a servant. Nothing will ever change that, and the prince would never be interested in m-