~Concession~

Seline attacked the soil at the root of one of the small decorative trees that lined the courtyard of the laundry hall. Watching her scoop up the wet dirt with her bare hands, Oris knew that her maid's fingers would be bloody and bruised by the time she managed to dig up whatever she was looking for.

She strangled the urge to go help her and held Mayree and Keziah back. Despite not knowing what was down there, she had confidence in her people.

Seline was a smart person. If what she had hidden was what she was going to be beaten to death for, then the best course of action was letting it stay buried forever and never be discovered. Her digging it out now, under the eyes of everyone, could only mean one thing...

Seline pulled a small tin box out of the hole. It and her fingers were smearsd brown with clay but she didn't seem bothered in the slightest. If anything, she seemed calmer.

By now, the others had noticed what was happening and turned around. There was no running from it anymore.

Seline was right there, covered in dirt and holding something she obviously dug from the ground. There was no lie that would wash the accusation off her.

The matron shoved her way to the front of the group and pointed at Seline. "You thief!"

Seline stared at her wordlessly then staggered to her feet, using the tree as as a support.

"Block her," Oris whispered and Mayree and Keziah moved to shield Seline.

Seline pushed herself off the tree and staggered back to Oris' side, managing to shove the box into her mistress' hands before falling to her knees again with a quiet apology on her lips.

Oris wasted no time and pried open the lid of the little metal container, staining her hands with the damp soil. Inside, she found nothing other than a few scraps of washed out cloth. Most of them look like rags but one piece of blue cloth stood out from the rest. It was soft to the touch and nearly reflected sunlight, just like a pearl. It was high quality silk, but it was not big enough to make a pouch. It was only a thin strip of fabric, impossible to sell.

For Seline to hide it here meant that it was important. She couldn't afford to not have it, so she had dug it up now hoping that Oris would be able to retrieve it without getting caught.

Now that such an important task had fallen to her, there was no way Oris would fail to deliver.

She laughed coldly and stared at the matron. Hiding the silk in her clenched fist, she emptied the tin without fear, knowing that there would be nothing else that could implicate Seline contained within it. "This is why you wanted to beat my maid to death. For some rags? I didn't know the imperial palace was so impoverished."

"This..." The matron stared at scraps in disbelief.

"Mistress," Seline looked up at Oris with her big blue eyes, "I... This servant is innocent."

"I know." Using the distraction to slip the silk deep into her sleeve, Oris nodded and reached out towards the maid. "I know."

When Seline was back in her arms, she turned to the matron. "This is evidence. Do you still think you can escape unscathed?"

The woman stared into the distance blankly but before she could say a thing, Anastasia's lady-in-waiting grabbed her by the arm and pointed a finger at Seline. "If she can hide one tin, she can hide hundreds. Even if they are rags, fabric of the imperial palace isn't something someone can just take."

"I asked for permission before taking anything. There are others who don't even use rags and choose fine cloth. Why didn't they get punished?" Seline asked, her tone sullen. "Why didn't they get beaten to death?"

"Seline, don't waste your energy on the likes of them," Andrea glared at the matron, "they think black can turn to white just because they wish it."

"Enough," Oris interrupted the argument before it escalated to a point beyond control "talking here won't solve anything. Shall we get going?"

Hitting someone a handful of times was not enough to vent her anger. Today, she had to see Wei Wei make way for her with her own eyes.

~

The Empress Dowager's palace was vast, opulent and immersed in the fragrance of herbs and burning incense.

Through the open front doors, you could see maids scuttling about with censers in their grasps, the ornamental balls golden and dangling off a chain to pour streams of scented smoke into the room.

The outer courtyard flourished with greenery and had strategically placed canopies situated at each corner to keep visitors out of the sun's glare.

It was below one of these that Oris waited with her maids while the Empress Dowager was summoned.

Summoned, because she didn't live in this place that reeked of wealth and instead lived by Hermes' side.

Oris had no problem waiting and placed Seline in the cushioned chair that had been brought to her. After making sure that her cape covered the girl snugly and left no gap for wind to touch her.

The time it took for the Empress Dowager to arrive wasn't long or short, but when she entered the courtyard there was barely a pause in her stride-she only turned briefly when she saw Oris and continued walking.

Oris curtsied with her head bowed then followed after the woman, trailing behind the entourage that walked with her after instructing Mayree and Keziah to stay with Seline.

The people from the Laundry Hall also scurried after Wei Wei but she didn't increase her leisurely pace and overtaking her was out of the question so they had no choice but to queue behind Oris.

By the time Oris crossed the threshold of the building, Wei Wei had already settled down on her throne. She continued walking forward until she was halfway through the room before bowing and paying her respects.

"Boorish," she heard someone in the Empress Dowager's party say.

She propped a smile on her lips and rose. "Your Majesty," she greeted, affectionately, with the shyness of a bride the morning after her wedding night.

Then she averted her gaze and stared at the floor.

Wei Wei's reply was only a sound, but it was still acknowledgement.

"Your Majesty," Oris repeated, "it is impertinent of this one to bother you. I simply wanted to obey your edict but I was obstructed. I had no choice but to bring this matter to you because apparently my station is too lowly to command a simple matron of the Laundry Hall."

Unused to strong fragrance that tainted the air around her, her eyes became irritated. She sucked in a deep breath, stifled a cough and fell to her knees again.

"Your Majesty, give me justice," she cried out, her voice made hoarse by the smoke.

From beginning to end, the others that had sought an audience with the Empress Dowager hadn't been able to say a word before they were forced to kneel along with Oris.

She had taken the initiative too fast and had taken control of the course of the conversation.

"Your Majesty, she slanders us," Anastasia's maid shouted. "That maid broke the law and was punished. That is not a crime."

"Oh," Empress Dowager Wei Wei seemed to pay attention now, "which law did she break?"

"Stealing and selling of palace property."

"And what was the punishment?"

"Caning to death." The maid raised her chin, her expression proud. "My young miss was offended by her."

The Empress Dowager nodded, seemingly satisfied, and let her gaze drift to Oris. "And you?"

"My maid's life is but a common one, but the Emperor's decree arrived and was ignored. That is a slight on the Emperor's authority," was all she said.

Wei Wei's expression changed, annoyance flashing across her face before settling into nonchalance. "Since the maid has already been punished, there is no need to drag this matter any further. Is there? No. The decree arrived late. It could not save a dead person."

At first, Anastasia's maid looked victorious but by the time the Empress Dowager was done speaking she seemed to have lost her soul.

"My maid is not dead," Oris said, having omitted that fact on purpose. "I have already called for a physician to treat her wounds."

What she really meant to say was, "There are already witnesses, Wei Wei. Unless you kill Seline, along with everyone that saw the eunuch arrive and not deliver the decree, you cannot cover this up even if your hand can cover the skies."

The Empress Dowager's lazy glance sharpened to a glare. "Useless thing," she pointed at Anastasia's maid and her rage made the digit tremble, "you dare delay an Imperial Edict for your own purposes."

"Y-Your Majesty." The girl's eyes widened. Fear spilled out of her with her voice. "Your Majesty, save me. Your Majesty! My young miss is your beloved disciple. Your Majesty!"

Wei Wei waved her hand and two strong-handed eunuchs rushed in tk drag her away.

"My mistress! My mistress, she-"

"Your mistress is benevolent. She wouldn't beat someone to death for such little crime." Oris beat Wei Wei to the punch to seal the little maid's mouth, preventing Anastasia's name from being besmirched. It showed that she was taking a step back and chosing not to pursue this matter to the very end, a sentiment the Empress Dowager would greatly appreciate. "You carried this out all on your own yet you want to pour the dirty water on her. You truly deserve this ending."

That shut the maid up. She realized that her life was already forfeit. If she didn't behave herself and ended up dragging Anastasia into it her entire family would likely suffer her fate.

Sobbing softly and mewling for the Empress Dowager to save her, she was eventually carried out of the palace to a place where no one would be bothered by her screams.

Wei Wei permitted Oris to stand. "It has not been easy on you, child."

"This servant has awareness of my status. That maids, servants and eunuchs find it beneath themselves to honor me is only natural."

"Nonsense. You are clearly someone the Emperor cherishes."

Oris didn't even need to force herself to look bashful. She curled her thumbs around each other and nodded, not able to curb the pleasure she felt. "My life is a lowly one, using it in exchange for the Emperor's is an honor."

As though remembering something, Wei Wei turned to the matron and wash girls that had accompanied her.

Upon meeting that gaze, they trembled and prostrated fully against the floor.

"Twenty strikes for the girls. Thirty for the matron. That should help them learn their lessons," Wei Wei said to one of the servants beside her throne and the mentioned parties were escorted out to receive their punishment elsewhere. "What do you think?"

When Oris realized that the woman was speaking to her now, she looked up again. "This servant thanks Your Majesty for serving justice."

"Since I served justice, why do you still sound wanting?"

"This one was only thinking about the Emperor's decree. The eunuch who didn't deliver it..." She stopped there as though she couldn't bring herself to say it, touching the corner of her eyes with the tips of her fingers. "It really terrifies me, Your Majesty."

Then as though the thought had just come to her, she clasped her hands together and thanked the Empress Dowager for the maids that she had gifted her. "This servant should leave Your Majesty to rest now."

"If those girls are useful, it would be a good thing, they can share in your prosperity. If they are not, you can simply reassign them."

"How can I give away something given to me by Your Majesty?" Oris smiled.

"The weather is getting hotter. You may leave." The moment Wei Wei got to her feet, her hand was taken by her lady-in-waiting.

"Thanking Your Majesty." Oris curtsied again.

"Where are your maids?"

"Outside. Beneath the canopies, Your Majesty."

Wei Wei hummed and walked down the steps to the floor of the hall. "Well behaved," she said as she passed Oris. "I will have to teach Anastasia some things about managing the people under her."

As she watched the woman leave the courtyard, Oris' facade of reverence faded. Even the look in her eyes dulled.

She sighed and lowered her hands. In the end she still had to punish one of her favorite candidates.

The harem really functions based on Hermes' mood.

If he hadn't decided to pay attention to her, Seline could have very well died today.

Oris shook her head and headed back to the canopy. What she should be thinking about now was the hunt and how to survive now that it was confirmed that she would be the prey.

~

Ahhh. I've finally written something.

I'm seriously lacking motivation. Meh. School is going to resume. I haven't been studying. Missed NaNo by 9k words. Anywaaay. If you want to share the story and drag your friends over to spam me with love, votes and comments, please do.

*Sobs*

Sorry, as usual, for any and all typos.