Ezra's visit to the red palace was not so uncomfortable, for in the end the king had passed by her and eventually by the Consort. Rather than reassuring her, it alarmed her. The king had alternated the company so as not to make his Consort look bad. The woman had held grudges against his heart. Ezra was just a simple assistant, a slave of the king, how would she defend herself from the second most powerful woman in the harem? She did not have the slightest idea.

"Madame Azzar, I heard that she saw the spectacle of Consort Akil," Didi took her out of his thoughts.

"That's right," he replied, "Didi, the king accompanied me the entire time I was in the red palace, do you think the Consort is angry with me?"

"Madame, that show was made by the Consort with the intention of capturing the attention of the king. You only damaged the plan. Draw your own conclusions.

"I've gotten into trouble! she admitted frightened Didi, "tell me what I should do".

"I don't know how Consort Akil could attack; I think we should wait a bit. But be sure that for now unscathed she will not be able to leave, although we can mitigate the blow," she said forcefully.

She listened in terror to Didi's words. At that moment Madame Azzar was afraid, she feared for her life. However, Didi assured him that this fight between concubines ended when one of the beauties gave birth to the king's firstborn son. Even if she provided the king with a son, Ezra was sure that the fight would not end and would instead increase. Why? A baby was vulnerable to attacks. Concubines would not surrender to the expectation of becoming the imperial princess mother. It was too risky to have a baby and then must live with the jealousy of other wives.

"Madame, the imperial concubine Alid is here," the eunuch informed her.

"Hurry up, don't make her wait.

Badar quickly entered the main chamber of Ezra's palace, and with a stifled expression sat in one of the armchairs.

"What happened?" Ezra asked curiously.

"Consort Akil was summoned to appear at the queen's court and according to rumors, she reprimanded her for wasting money on such a great spectacle.

"Really?" "Ezra was surprised.

"Yes, the Consort left the queen's palace really angry and with a dog-like mood.

"He deserves it," she said maliciously.

"How?" Do not say that. If someone listens to, you will be in trouble," Badar said worriedly.

"You're right, I must not be reckless."

"Are you jealous?" questioned playfully 

"Jealous?" Not at all, only I cannot help but feel joy in my heart knowing that the Consort has been admonished.

"Don't trust yourself too much, we don't really know who our real executioner is, what if the Empress turns out to be worse than the Consort?"

"I don't know, we'll have to see what happens," he said with a laugh.

"Don't joke about it, just because you're the new favorite don't think you can disrespect your elders," Badar reprimanded.

Ezra shut up and immediately saw her friend's barely swollen belly. Her heart melted at the thought that a cute baby was growing inside.

"How is the pregnancy going?"

"I'm barely three months pregnant and it feels really strange. But at the same time beautiful and tender.

Ezra looked at the small belly and subconsciously began to speak to her.

"Hey baby, do you know you have a rich aunt?" When you are here you can eat so many sweets that your stomach bursts.

"You will spoil my son," Badar complained.

"Yes, I'll be a pimp aunt.

⟦··· ⟧

Ms. Cadi that day was in the Empress's palace. Since she had been summoned to the court of the same urgently. Cadi wondered why the urgency. However, Asma could be sure that the matter was about the assistant Azzar and Consort Akil. Upon arriving at the venue, the gold-plated doors opened welcoming him. When the woman entered the royal chamber, she could see the empress sitting on her lavish throne. The queen was as imposing and cold as a proud prairie flower. 

Ms. Cadi recalled the times spent with the empress and was surprised to see how much the woman had changed. There was no innocence, no warmth in his gaze, let alone the goodness that used to live in his heart. Before Cadi was a woman cold, bitter, and hard as diamond. But scared. Their ruthless and conspiratorial actions were driven by their insecurities and fears.

"Greetings to your majesty, the Empress," greeted Cadi.

"Get up" 

"Thank you, majesty.

"I heard that the Consort put on a butterfly show in her palace, and you helped her. Do you intend to deceive me?

"Your Majesty, you asked me to eliminate Consort Akil, that's what I'm doing." 

"Do you think I'm stupid?" said the empress in a low and threatening tone.

"Your Majesty, I found a way to get rid of it. If we force her to commit a serious crime, the king will execute her himself, do you understand?

The queen looked suspiciously at Ms. Cadi and little by little her genius calmed down as she understood the woman's plan.

"How are you sure he will commit a crime?"

"You know the Consort, you are impulsive, and if something bothers you you will do everything possible to get him out of his way.

"What's bothering you?"

"The royal assistant Azzar"

"Cadi, you have thought it through," he said, showing his teeth in a crooked smile, "you are not only going to eliminate the Consort, but also the intolerable Azzar.

Ms. Cadi only nervously accepted the empress's words. Later, he walked out of the empress's palace with nerves on end, his hands trembling slightly because of the fear he felt. Cadi was afraid that the empress would find out about his real plans. Asma was convinced that if that happened, the empress herself would kill her. That day would surely come his death. And precisely for that reason he had to act with more caution so as not to provoke the ire of the queen.

"My lady, will you go with Consort Akil?"

"No, take me to my palace."

The caravan moved through the royal corridor in a waterspout of elegance and power. A luxury that only the most powerful allowed.

Wife Asma could be more intriguing and double-faced than the Consort and Empress combined. The woman acknowledged having changed during the years she had been in the palace serving the king. It was impossible to remain the same person as ten years ago. Life in the palace is terrifying for an 18-year-old girl, but now Asma at 25 considered herself a cunning and self-sufficient person.

Ms. Cadi did not possess those qualities seven years ago, when she asked for the help of the empress. The cost he paid was extremely high, Her daughter's best years. She could not just sit idly by and do nothing. She constantly lamented the fact that she had given up her daughter for momentary glory. The immaturity of those years along with the pressure of her family to be the favorite, led her to commit that atrocity. Now, she was paying for the results of that wrong decision.

⟦··· ⟧

Badar retired early to his palace. The cold winds hurt her body during those days, therefore, all she wanted was to warm herself under the warm blankets because of the warmth heater given by the king.

When Badar's wishes were finally fulfilled, he set out to sleep. However, severe pains in her lower belly made her writhe in pain, and between her legs she felt very wet, alarmed checked the bed. His spirits fell apart when he saw blood stained on the blanket as well as his legs.

"Assa!" he cried out in search of his maid.

The girl quickly appeared in the room and when she ran the awning she was horrified. The maiden saw her mistress dying of grief and immediately ran to warn the other servants.

The palace lit the lanterns quickly while a part of the servants ran to bring a doctor for Alid consciousness. Soon not only the palace of Badar woke up in the middle of the night, but also those of the empress and concubines interested in the status of Alid. The king did not wait and at the call of the servants he appeared quickly at the palace of the concubine. 

The doctor was sitting several meters from Badar's bed while analyzing the symptoms that the concubine had. The man could not cross the boundary drawn between the bed and the adjoining room, which would be a foul against the king.

"Your Majesty, your concubine is having an abortion," said the doctor sadly.

The king dropped his shoulders dejectedly and with slow steps crossed the curtain that separated him from Badar.

"How is she?" The king asked.

"Okay. You should just get some rest," your doctor recommended.

The king looked at Badar for a few brief moments with sorrow. That baby was the hope that the king had and now he was gone.

"My baby," Badar woke up and hugged her belly. When he noticed that the king was there, he gave him a smile.

"Your Majesty is the baby, okay?" she asked excitedly.

"No... I'm sorry," he said sadly.

Badar collapsed, burst into tears inconsolably. In her womb there was nothing, there was no life, she did not have her child... nothing. Crying was heard throughout the palace, causing many concubines to wake up.

"Your Majesty why did my baby die?" he said between shouts.

The king looked to the doctor looking for answers.

"Imperial concubine, you must have ingested some abortion medicine, what did you eat today?"

"It's impossible, I didn't eat anything strange, my food is always tasted by a servant. In the afternoon I ate at the house of Concubine Azzar. But she would never hurt me," she said desperately. 

"Call Madame Azzar!" the king demanded, losing patience and noticeably irritated.