Chapter 27
Edna
"You guys are tributes to the King of this place too?" I questioned.
I knew my question probably sounded idiotic. I couldn't help myself from asking for clarification even when the truth was as clear as day before me.
One of the girls rolled her eyes, "Obviously, that's why we are here."
I took steps into the room before settling near the girls.
"Are you guys here voluntarily? My name is Edna, pleased to meet you all." I asked again.
Why will anyone want to be with a person that would have an harem voluntarily? My jealousy won't allow me to attempt that. I would be setting myself up for problems.
My partner has to be mine and mine alone. There is no second option.
"My name is Jena. These two are Zakiya and Asma. Pleased to meet you too." The girl that rolled her eyes at me introduced, "I thought the answer to your question is extremely obvious as well. We are forced to be here. After years of trying to get into the King's bed with no results, the people that came to be the King's tribute voluntarily decreased drastically."
My eyebrow rose at her words, "Are you a slave too?"
"You are a slave?" Jena asked as she scanned me again.
She paid more attention this time.
I nodded.
There was no use hiding it.
If I could use my status to get more information from these girls, I would gladly do so.
I want to know more about the man I am going to be given to. I might be able to prepare for the future that way.
Jena sighed, "We are not slaves but our treatment is not that different from yours. Our fathers landed us here."
Her sigh hid unknown emotions.
"How so?" I could not understand why their fathers would do this to their daughters, "You girls are your respective parents' blood. Why will they bring you here to be a tribute?"
It must not be because of the hate between a parent and their offspring.
If it involved hatred, their fathers wouldn't bring them to the capital.l at all. They might have bad results if this was the case. Then, it dawned on me.
The reasons their fathers had for bringing their daughters here must be similar to the reasons Maol brought me here for.
It was all benefits and more benefits.
"The possibility of being related to the King even if it is a bond forged by a daughter that is a concubine is too tempting for many. Besides that, there are many benefits associated with being connected to the King of Blue Star." Jena explained. Jena confirmed my guess.
"Wow. This is a new level of wickedness." I rubbed the area between my brows as I leaned all my weight on the wall, "I thought parents are supposed to protect their children like no other."
Jena's words brought my attention to my parents.
They had ordered my brother to protect me. That was love.
I don't even know why I am feeling surprised. Penelope, my brother's wicked ex-girlfriend, was abandoned by her mother in favor of her brother.
The limited quotas revealed some of the ugliet parts of the human race.
Although Penelope's case have some bias or dislike involved, it was still similar to these girls' situations.
I don't even know how Penelope was doing now.
Thankfully, she didn't polute my brain and eyes with her presence when I was on humanity's spaceship.
I can't guarantee that I would be able to control myself from beating her up or ending her life once and for all.
She took something extremely important from me all because of her hypocritical existence.
I shook my head to clear the dark mood gathering in the depths of my mind.
This wasn't the time to think about Penelope. She would get the consequences for all her actions soon.
"True. There is nothing we can do to fight our fate. My father monitored me carefully after he told me the news. He didn't want any funny business. Who knows? I might catch the King's eye." Asma folded her arms as she leaned on the wall too. No words of comfort came to mind.
In Asma's voice, I heard the heavy resignation she didn't try to hide. She had already accepted her fate.
I can't blame her.
I had accepted mine too.
The difference is that, I don't plan to stay under lock and key forever. I will make my way out of all these with all my might. It was a promise.
I didn't say anything..
"Anyways, enough of this discussion about our fate. Nothing's going to change." Zakiya interrupted.
I wanted to respect Zakiya's wishes but the burning question within me stopped me from remaining silent.
'I am sorry.' I apologized to her mentally.
"Jena, you mentioned that some people had tried to get into the King's bed with no results. What happened to the ladies that didn't get accepted by the King?" I questioned.
I don't know if I would catch the King's eye. I don't even want to get his favor in the first place.
I must know what might happen to me if the King rejected me as a tribute.
"The women that failed to get the King's favor would be punished. For some of them, their families had invested a lot of resource on them because of the vague hope that they would become affiliated with the King. The pain of losing this dream is taken out on the female tributes." Jena explained, "Our fates are similar. We would not be able to return to our normal lives if the King rejects us. There is nothing we can do about it." What?
My mouth dropped open, "What?!"
I didn't know when I vocalized the heated word in my mind.
"Don't be too surprised. Since the first investment failed, our fathers or guardians would look for ways to recoup their resources and investments." Jena continued, "It is not a new thing."
The acceptance of her fate was very clear in her tone too.
Her words cut into my skin like blades.
Still, there was nothing I could do to help. I was barely keeping myself afloat, I don't have the power to save anybody.
Finally, we all fell into a collective silence. Everyone was facing their own thoughts.
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My mind was blank and chaotic at the same time. I don't know how I achieved this.
My mind couldn't concentrate on one thought. It was a mess.
Maol would surely follow in the footsteps of these girls' guardians. He would use me to recoup the losses caused by his broken dreams.
I was at a crossroad. I don't know if I should pray for the King's favor or hope against it.
The door to the room opened.
Jon didn't walk in.
"Zakiya, come out. You are the first to see the King." Jon said with a stern voice.
Zakiya stood up shakily.
She exchanged glances with me, Jena and Asma.
The slight fear in her eyes was traumatic.
Her lips lifted into a small smile before she walked out of the tributes hall.
Jon shut the door gently.
Oppressive silence hung in the tribute room.
The door was soundproofed.
I couldn't hear any footsteps going away or coming towards this direction.
I don't know how much time slipped away.
Soon, Jon opened the door again.
His voice came again, "Jena, come out."
We were all on pins and needles.
Jena stood up.
She didn't shake like Zakiya.
She smiled at me and Asma.
Right now, I don't know if Zakiya failed.
My heart constricted painfully.
My teeth dug into my bottom lip.
With the stories Jena told me, it was highly likely that she failed.
I haven't known these girls for a long time. Still, my heart sent bursts of pain and numbness whenever I think about any failure to get the King's favor on their part. Jena left.
Some minutes flew by.
Jon opened the door and Asma was called away too.
Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you're not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on the complete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it's all free! Asma didn't bother to smile.
I could see that she had no strength to do so.
I gave her an encouraging smile of my own.
Another stroke of dislike was added to the King's tab.
I stared at the gifts and items in the room.
Finally, the door opened again.
"Edna, it's your turn to see the King. Come out." Jon said with an expressionless face.
I nodded and rose to my feet.
I left the room.
Jon shut the door behind me.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
"Follow me." He instructed.
He didn't wait for my reply.
He moved the moment his last word dropped.
He must have taken those girls to the place the King was residing.
Jon weaved through hallways, halls, rooms and gardens with practiced ease.
Time ebbed away slowly.
Beads of sweat gathered on my forehead.
Jon was fast and he didn't try to wait for me. I had to keep up with him in any way I can.
Jon brought me to a set of double doors.
The doors was closed tightly.
Jon pressed something on the smart device on his wrist.
He stayed on it for a few minutes.
When he was done, he straightened up.
Nervousness made my palm sweaty.
Sweat beads mapped everywhere on my palms.
Jon pushed the door open and gestured for me to go in.
The moment I walked in, my eyes collided with familiar golden eyes.
I recognized who it was right away.
It was Kieran.
Kieran was the King of aliens?!