It was the new era for Zeyo Phukan. Finally she was the mistress of the inner palace. The way his maiden clan looked down on her for not being the favourite of the king was history now. Even his father would bow down infront of her. She was not the first choice. She knew that. However she didn't expect the king to disrespect her like that. How dare he conduct another marriage ceremony just a month after her's. She hadn't even taken charge of the inner palace yet. And he got two more wives who may not be the official wives but they were no concubines. She seethed in anger while those two greeted her in bridal attire. That Saikia woman, she knew people loved that one but even her bridal dress was well made than the queen herself. Wasn't glaring, yet she could see the subtle niddle work that was more delicate and skilled than her own. Another was minister's daughter. She was this spoilt princess. Easily manipulated.

        She wasn't expected this. But now that controls the inner palace she was determined to make it a place for her liking. A place designed to make her sucessful. And that starts today. It's time for giving the women their own mannor. Her hand maiden sulina came to infrom that they all waiting for her in the courtyard. She walked out and sat on the seat. They were all kneeling down in respect. She looked at all of them. Her eyes stopped at Viha Sangtam. Daughter of prime minister. Powerful family. This one needed to be kept closer.

"As we are parting ways today, I wish you all the best. Remember all the teachings that you have learned and be the best mistress of your manors. The central manor will always be open for all of you." She wished them all.

"The queen is gracious." They all said.

"To, Noble consort Viha, the garden palace." Sulina read from the list. Viha bowed down.

"Rise, noble consort." Zeyo said. She stood up and beamed with happiness.

"Thank you higness. You know me well. I have a lot of birds that need housing too." Viha said smiling broadly.

"Ofcourse. I'm the mistress of the inner palace. I have to know these." Zeyo said looking at Usri at the end of the line.

"To consort Tamarai, the felicitous palace."

"Thank you for your grace, highness" Tamarai said bowing. The queen motioned for her to rise. She looked at Usri. Tamarai knew the felicitous palace was always Usri's favourite because it was always hosted women from her clan.

"The felicitous palace is near the imperial garden. Royal mother can visit her grandchildren easily if you live there."

        The queen said looking at Tamarai's gaze. Who gave a small smile of appreciation. One by one everyone were granted manors at the end it was Usri's turn. Technically she was supposed to be called in second but the queen wanted her to kneel before her for as long as possible.

"Noble consort Usri, the shadow palace."

"Shadow palace.. but that's old."
"Is it still standing?" Murmure among people present around was heard.

"I know the shadow palace is little older and the winter there will be a challenge but I have heard the women of Saikia are very regiliant. I'm sure noble consort will agree." Zeyo said taking a sip of her tea.

"Thank you for your praises, higness." Usri bowed down. The queen took a minute to sip some tea before asking her to get up.

        Athoy, Usri's handmaiden was more upset than her looking at the manor. It was indeed very old and the internal beurow didn't even cleaned it.

"Shadow mannor indeed. Look the sun isn't even on head yet and this place already need lanterns. They didn't have the decency to even clean this place for a noble consort. Mistress, this isn't fair for you." Athoy said sending other maids and servants to clean and prepare the rooms for living.

"Athoy! The internal beurow knows the queen hatesp me. They will do anything to show her they are faithful to her. I suggest you prepare yourself for these kind of small agression and passive insults in future." Usri said taking a seat on a step where a ray of sunlight was falling. Athoy looked at some maids standing nearby.

"Go and check if this place even have a kitchen. If not then built one and someone go and fetch some tea. Mistress was kneeling for so long." She ordered them. Usri laughed. Even when angry, she was still a caring sweet girl.

"Calm your anger Athoy, you are going to offend someone then there will be more hardship for us. And this place has its own significance. The queen doesn't know it. That's why it's inferior for her. But I do. When our country was under Ahom Kingdom, this place was a resting home for officials. Then the first king of Sonowal came and this became their palace. The first king had one wife. For her the mannor was built. She herself named it Shadow mannor. Because she considered herself as the shadow of her husband." Usri explained. Ahoy looked around. Although old the mannor was undeniably beautiful.

"So we are in very first Sonowal queen's mannor?" She asked. Usri nodded. "This place isn't that bad. Once cleaned and restored a little it will be a peaceful place. Right mistress?"

"You take care of that. And send a word to Kayi that we are here. Although she must have heard already. But still. I'm going to get some rest. They are done with my sleeping chamber I think." Usri said.

        This was just the beginning of Usri's misery in the inner palace. Noble consort Viha jealous of king's affection towards Usri, made her life goal to make as much trouble as possible for her. The fact she got queen's support didn't help. For bumping into her once, she asked for severe punishment for Usri but the queen understanding that may land her in trouble asked Usri to write 20pages prayer book for the upcoming festival, for each of the consorts and concubines. That day evening the king summoned Zeyo for evening tea. Delighted she reached the king's mannor, and bowed to him.

"Ah.. queen. Rise. Take a seat." The king said. She followed but her eyes landed on a prayer book.

"I heard Noble consort Usri handwritten them all for the festival." The king asked looking at the queen's gaze.

"She did. She accidentally broke Noble consort Viha's favorite bangle that you gifted her. Noble consort Viha was very angry. It was the only way to calm her down." The queen said sipping her tea nervously.

"And you think the punishment fit for Noble consort Usri?" The king asked sharply.

"Your maje..."

"Queen, you are the mistress of the inner palace. You should be fair for everyone. Not just one's you like. This is how you will maintain peace among all the concubines? Then there is no time left before a rebellion will start against you. May I remind you that your maternal clan is still finding it's way. There are lot with stronger family to fall back than you."

"It was my fault. Noble consort Viha was so distrot because of the broken jwellery I didn't think this through. I'll take care next time."

       The queen said. She then passed the king a sweet she brought but the king ignored her and took the tea cup instead. After the queen left, king Kalden asked for his advisor.

"Mahangi! What do you think about queen's behaviour?"

"I may speak no ill of mistress but I will say this won't be the end of it. There are several other smaller incidents as well."

"You may speak Mahangi. I want to hear what has been happening in the inner palace in detail." The king said. "And I respect and trust your point of view."

"I'm the luckiest servant in the country, your majesty. I assume you already know about Noble consort Usri getting the shadow palace. Which was out of commission for two of your previous generations. Only in the time of your great grandmother, that mannor was given to a noble lady for some years." Rehon said filling up the tea cup of the king. "The central palace mistress (the queen) made her kneel for the whole ceremony where she should have been called first or second. She is the same rank as Noble consort Viha."

"I was disappointed in the queen for that but Usri seemed content in the shadow palace. She  understood its historical value. And insisted on staying there to not ruffle the queen's feathers even more." The king said while sipping his tea.

"Saikia mistress indeed is thoughtful. I can see why his majesty is fond of her." Rehon take a sip of his own tea as the king motioned him to do. "But she wasn't speared when they were roaming in the imperial garden and she ran into concubine Naitra. Although she herself didn't do anything she made it seem like Noble consort said ill mannered things about the queen. if it wasn't for Consort Tamarai she would have punished again."

"Consort Tamarai came to her rescue?"

"She did. Because it involved a concubine. But if it involves Noble consort Viha and the queen. She usually stays away. We can't actually blame her. The central palace mistress is the mistress of the inner palace. who would want to go against her?"

"Anything else."

"Lots of petty things. Like not sending good quality material for shadow palace. Purposefully making her wait several hours in sun. Just disrespectful things." The king slammed his hand on the table.

"I don't know what else I'm supposed to do. If I don't see her then the internal beurow thinks she doesn't matter and starts lacking. If I do see her it only angers the queen and Noble consort Viha. I can't use harsh language on Sangtam woman because then her father will hear about it and there will be disturbance in court."

"If only someone was constantly around to vouch for Noble consort Usri."

"What?"

"If this continues I don't know if she would survive much longer, if she is made up of sterner stuff than she looks. If only a concubine or consort is willing to stand beside her as witnesses to these wrong doings."

"There is one." The king muttered.

An
The addressing like Saikia mistress, central palace mistress.. maybe confusing for you. But that was norm back then. So if you read and notice carefully it won't be confusing.

Happy playing.

Love
Pragya