Ezra returned to the palace and a few hours later many eunuchs entered while carrying rolls of cloth. They were the paintings promised by the king.

"Greetings to Madame Azzar, these are gifts from the king. Several eunuchs will stay behind to help him locate the paintings—the chief eunuch says goodbye and turns around to leave. However, it is quickly returned. Madame, congratulations, the king has summoned you again tonight.

The eunuch rushed out and some time later so did the other servants without even Ezra feeling them. The eunuchs were very efficient, but at the same time intriguing creatures.

Ezra advanced through the huge corridor that separated his rooms from the main chamber and reached one of the paintings given by the king. The drawing faithfully depicted the motherhood of a palace woman, a mother dedicated to caring for her children. Ezra smiled slightly at the concept represented.

"Madame, congratulations, the king has summoned you again," Di-di spoke.

"I think there is a change of plans, what do you say?"

The eunuch let out a faint smile, for he understood the meaning of his lady's words. If Madame Azzar was going to enter the fight, she had to position herself strongly, immovable.

Ezra followed the same preparation routine as the night before. Preparations had to be made for an entire day, and the beauty in question received rose baths, massages with fragrant oils all over the body. Her hair was washed, perfumed, and styled, all this ended with the making of makeup with henna on her hands and feet.

In this process, skilled women decorated it with elegant and complex patterns.

Finally, Ezra was ready. She was dressed in a yellow robe and on her head the jeihab¹ with coin edges. A woman should never show her face unless she was married, as she already had a husband, she could leave her face exposed.

"Madame, she's really beautiful," Tafur flattered her with bright eyes.

"Thank you, Tafur. You helped this flower to be a beauty.

Ezra's day of arrangements was over, and finally the eunuchs took her at dusk with the king.

Ezra was wrapped in bedspreads, and like the night before she was waiting for the king's arrival. That day the girl noticed that, instead of table candlesticks, there were lamps hanging throughout the room, lamps with blue, red, and yellow flashes.

The king finally entered the room, took off his shoes, and accompanied Ezra.

That night was decisive for the woman, because if the king were satisfied with her service, he could win her favor and climb the pyramid.

At first Ezra thought to go unnoticed, that would have been a safe way if the emperor never noticed his existence. But now, Ezra had caught the emperor's attention for consecutive days. Wives would not leave her alone. Ezra knew that difficult days would come upon her, but if she were cunning enough and protected herself in the king, she could emerge unscathed.

Ezra's long wait was over. Now, consummation was a fact.

For the rest of the night, Ezra tried to fall asleep, however, all he got was to spin around in bed. When the first light of the sun finally appeared through the window, she tried to get up stealthily, but the king stopped her.

The man was still asleep.

"Where are you going?"

Ezra wanted to somehow get rid of the king at that moment and run to his palace without fearing the consequences. Ezra was uncomfortable.

"Has your majesty heard the birds singing?" Listening to these creatures will heal his heart—he tried to improvise and ran to the doors of the room.

"Are you avoiding me?" The surprised king asked.

"Your Majesty, no one would dare to help it. I do not.

Ezra found this whole situation very embarrassing. She just wanted to run out of the room, climb onto the palanquin back and take an extensive bath, as she felt her skin burning and her hair itching on her head.

Ezra did not even wait for an order from the king and hurried out of the room. Outside she met the eunuchs who looked at her in confusion. Then they diligently returned her to her palace.

⟦··· ⟧

Rumors had spread throughout the inner complex and already most wives and concubines knew that Madame Azzar had spent two nights with the king.

Consort Akil listened to the rumors while eating her breakfast. He was so enraged by the news that he threw all the pots that were in the dining room on the floor, causing them to break into many pieces. How was it possible that a new concubine had already captivated the king? Akil had to know the woman and see what caliber the woman's beauty and bearing was.

"Your Highness, wife Cadi waits in the hall," his maid came in to notify him.

The Consort accepted with a grimace of weariness, immediately Ms. Cadi entered the main chamber. Akil was second in command of the harem and had a lot of power. Although not as much as the empress, nor did she possess the profile of tyrant of the queen.

"Greetings Your Highness," said Cadi.

"Mrs. Cadi, I see you energetic today, should I be prepared for your attack?" When will it be? —said the Scathing Consort.

"Consort Akil, I won't attack you anymore. I come to offer you a deal.

"Why should I make agreements with you?" You are an ally of the queen. Truly your falsehood has no limits.

"Naovar... I had a long time without using your name, do you remember when I first entered the palace? She was so young and inexperienced, but now that is just a blurry memory.

"Where do you want to get with this?" —he said, losing patience.

"Do you remember when you fell into the king's pond seven years ago?" I helped you out, I almost lost my life trying to save you.

The Consort remembered the incident and could only smile slightly at the memory. The winds of the past made her feel guilty for treating Cadi abruptly, who had saved her.

"The Empress was not even a shadow of what she is now. She was so kind, virtuous, and fresh. But that essence was lost without realizing it. He felt fear, and then that fear turned into aggressiveness.

"Those were beautiful times," the Consort acknowledged.

Naovar bint al-Husayni closed his eyes and recalled his younger years. Now 27 years old, she felt like an old woman, she knew that little had lived. However, the energy demanded by life in the palace was too much.

The consort recalled the day she arrived at the palace, entered together with the empress, although at that time the only one who occupied an official rank was Raita bint as-Saffah, current queen, the daughter of the third Abbasid caliph, as-Saffah, who when she died childless left the empire in the hands of her brother Al-Mansur, the father of Al-Mahdi. 

"Now times have become really bad. I am not willing to lose my daughter. The Empress has left me no choice, I do not mind turning against her—Ms. Cadi took her out of her reverie.

"How will you deceive her?" It is not easy with it; it can smell any danger.

"Leave it to me, you don't have to worry about that.

Consort Akil chuckled.

Asma bint Atta al-Cadi, was a woman with high aspirations and would not hesitate to use the weaknesses of others to her advantage. She had already convinced Naovar, who had never left his emotional and innocent nature.

"Naovar, the only ones in the palace who have a title of honor given by the king himself are the queen and you. They are the only ones whose title is not their last name, use that to your advantage. Get the favor of the king!

"But the king is delighted with this new assistant Azzar, now she is already a jawari².

"Dealing with her is easy for us, she barely entered the palace and does not know how to defend herself. I will help you get the favor of the king, and you will see how that commoner falls into oblivion.

Consort Akil was moved by Ms. Cadi's words. If she managed to regain the favor of the king, she would increase her power and consequently that of her clan and family.

On the other hand, Ms. Cadi was more than happy to have a new ally, she needed to get a distractor between Consort Akil and Queen Khatri. If both were concentrated on a single goal, she would take a back seat. Asma felt a little sorry for Assistant Azzar, as she was about to join a prolonged battle. Cadi thought about everything and of course that the pregnant concubine was a stone in the shoe and a headache. If that woman gave birth to a son for the king, she would become the princess mother, first lady in the harem. Even above the queen who had not had any son.

All wives would look for ways to maintain their position at any cost, they might even be able to set aside all their values.

The beauties were more than beautiful women adorning the caliph's harem. They represented the powerful families and clans that supported the dynasty. It was no secret that they were a huge army inside the palace, for they were war flowers.

[¹]. Jihad: is a veil that covers the head and chest, but leaves the face exposed.

[²]. Jawari: concubine the favorite wife.