Villiem was seated in front of a small desk with his back facing the open window, allowing beams of sunlight into the room as he worked.
It was morning already. After he returned to the Stone Palace last night, he ate with Felix, and bathed ice cold water before going to bed because hot water had not been 'available' at the time.
Before the sun came up today, he got dressed and began to compose a letter to deliver to the Dark Palace.
The content of the letter consisted of greetings, then a request to meet and discuss the Empire's budget for the year.
Villiem was not just here to live as a concubine in the Stone Palace. He believed he had a responsibility to the people of the Decreste Empire.
Villiem ended the letter and signed it with the words, 'Your faithful servant, Villiem Reinhardt.'
This was the first time he wasn't signing a letter with, 'Faithfully, the Third Prince of Everflow, Villiem Reinhardt.'
As he folded the thick paper into a plain envelope, Villiem heard an impatient knock on his door.
"Come in."
A servant carting a food tray strolled into his room.
"Good morning, Mister. Your breakfast." The servant stopped the tray next to his small bed. There wasn't really much space to move around inside the room.
"Ah, good morning." Villiem stood up from the chair.
"I'm very sorry to inform you but I've already had my breakfast." Villiem said with a regretful tone to the servant.
They looked at him skeptically and said, "When?"
"Moments ago, actually. I'm sorry to trouble you. You can have the food yourself." Villiem said kindly.
The servant did not smile at his generous suggestion, and instead nodded, then silently left the room.
"The people here really don't like me…" Villiem said to himself in the servant's absence.
Then he returned to his desk and planted a fresh piece of paper to write another letter. This one would be addressed to his father, the King of Everflow, who absolutely despised him.
Yet, there was a bright smile on Villiem's face as he wrote about his adjustment to the Stone Palace and how he intended to make the King of Everflow proud of him.
Villiem wrote a few more letters after that, addressed to his friends who would worry for him and so. By the time he rounded up his letter writing, noon was already drawing close.
He decided to leave his room and explore the Stone Palace before lunch. Felix was standing right outside his door when Villiem stepped out.
"Let's go for a stroll. I heard there's an indoor garden at the back of the Stone Palace." Villiem said.
Felix nodded without question, though he looked like he had much to say.
Villiem walked the hallways carefully, smiling and greeting everyone he walked past even when they didn't respond. This was until they got to the famed indoor garden.
A beautiful sight it was.
The garden was housed in a glass dome, and as Villiem walked into it, the pleasant smell of flowers wafted around his nostrils.
All the flowers were blooming and the stalks were perfectly pruned. There was enough sun getting in the garden. The entire atmosphere was just very relaxing.
Villiem walked deeper into the garden, almost skipping in glee until he heard chattering from a distance. He also recognized the clanking of ceramics that made him straighten his back in an instant.
"There seems to be some people having tea here." Villiem said to Felix. "Let's go greet them."
Felix opened his mouth in protest but Villiem was already walking away. He clapped his face with his palm and shook his head before rushing after his master.
It was only a few steps but they arrived at the location of a tea party. Three women with two maids each stationed behind them were seated on a round table having tea and discussing.
As extroverted as Villiem was, he thought nothing wrong in walking over to the ladies and saying, "Good day, fair ladies."
Their discussion came to an end when the ladies looked up and saw Villiem. Villiem didn't know this himself, but he was actually very popular.
So popular that nobles and commoners of the Decreste Empire could boast about having met him at least once or twice in their lifetime.
The ladies were quick to recognize Villiem for who he was and their gazes all turned hostile—a normal phenomenon members of high society tended to exhibit when they came across Villiem.
"It's His Highness the Third Prince of Everflow." One of the ladies took the initiative of rising from her seat and bowing to Villiem.
If Villiem was a person who paid attention to aversive body language, he would have been able to tell that the lady was mocking him.
However, a faint smile drew on his lips and he said, "My lady, there's no need for that. I'm just Villiem now."
As a concubine herself, she was expected to know that much.
The remaining ladies and servants actually followed the footsteps of the first lady, blatantly ignoring Villiem's humble words and making his stomach coil with slight discomfort that he dared not to reveal on his face as they bowed to acknowledge him.
"How about you join us for afternoon tea?" The first lady offered, and Villiem began to take account of her appearance.
Very beautiful was the first word that came to mind in order to describe her. She had thick black hair braided up to an elegant style and light blue eyes that shone bright with evident mischief.
The other two ladies having tea with her were just as beautiful. They shared the same shade of brown hair but their eyes differed by the colors black and blue.
"I can certainly join but I'm afraid I wouldn't be having any tea since it might have an effect on my lunch." Villiem flashed a smile.
The lady didn't insist and only gestured for her maid to set up a chair for Villiem beside her. In a few moments, Villiem was seated, looking disturbingly out of place.
"Pardon me, but what may I refer to the lady as?"
"Have my apologies. It is I who should have introduced myself first. I am Lady Catarina Zachary. This is the Lady Belle and Lady Blair Valary. As you can see, they are twins of the same family."
Villiem noted the names in his head and saluted the twins. Once the introduction was out of the way, Catarina looked at Villiem and said, "It's unfortunate that we the occupants of the Stone Palace were unable to welcome you yesterday.
"You must have been so aggrieved about it that you were driven to tell His Majesty last night, right?"
"Ah?"
Confusion set on Villiem's features.
"It is all my fault. You should have been informed of the Stone Palace's rules before ever setting foot out of it and daring to request an audience with the Emperor."
It seemed like news spread fast in the Royal Palace. How else could it be explained that these people already knew that he had demanded to see the Emperor last night?
"But now, I can teach you all that you need to know about being a concubine."