Months past of Queen Zeyo's coronation which means months past of Usri being targetted every once in a while. And months being king Kalden secretly solving matters by help of Mahangi Rehon. By the time spring festival was near Rehon has become one of the most important person in the palace. Yet he hasn't been promoted. So he also had to work in the dark. Not to be noticed. Except for infront of the king he usually stays silent and not instigate any trouble for himself. Admist the preparation for the spring festival, another good news had arrived King and Queen when they were having breakfast together.

"Your Majesty! Concubine Tamarai is with child." Her handmaiden said kneeling down.

"Is she?" The king asked delighted. The Queen's face was dark.

"We.... We shall go to see her." Queen Zeyo said with a smile to hid her true reaction.

"You are right. She is mother of a prince. Now another. She must be a blessed woman for sure. Come." The king said walking out of the room.

"Huhhh..." Zeyo sighed. The handmaiden Sulina came to her. "It's been months to our wedding. The king has been spending time with me too. Still I don't get any good news."

"It will happen to you mistress. Don't stress yourself. Concubine Tamarai is from lower clan she can have many children it won't matter that much. The king isn't much fond of her. Your child will be different." Sulina comforted her.

        When they reached Concubine Tamarai's mannor. Usri was already there.

"Are you sure Jiji, the majesty won't be mad with me?" Tamarai asked.

"You are full of strange old thoughts, Rai. Calm yourself." Usri was saying when both king and queen entered.

"What thoughts have been bothering concubine Tamarai?" The king asked. Both ladies bowed to both of them.

"Rise, take seats." The queen said graciously.

"Thank you Mistress. I called Noble consort Usri. Today is last newmoon before the spring festival, I got to know about the pregnancy today. I got scared if it was a bad omen for the baby. So I called jiji to ask her. She is always the knowledgeable one." Tamarai explained.

"All though it's the last newmoon. It is also end of cold hard days and beginning of spring. This child is a blessed one. This may bring the new spring in the family as well as your and his Majesty 's life." Usri said calmly to her.

"Your words are so soothing Noble consort. No wonder everyone's so fond of you. Including his majesty." The queen said smiling. The king chucked.

"Ah, Concubine Tamarai, Noble consort Usri is right. Children are always the blessing to a family. I'm sure this child will be your stability in the palace and family. To honour this, let's promote you to a consort." He said. Usri beamed and looked at Tamarai who was shocked. She got up and bowed down. "Rise and take a seat. Now you women continue your chat. I am taking the leave."

"Please go carefully." They all three said.

         Tamarai being very unproblematic gained some care from the queen as well. Although it could be because she got to know it's a girl from the physician. Usri came back to her mannor with such cheerful mind that it made the whole mannor rejoice.

"Has Kayi came to visit yet?" She asked Athoy.

"She did. Said she will be back after lunch." Athoy answered.

"Send her a word to bring some fabric and sweing kit. Rai, is pregnant with a girl. I want to make some adorable dresses for her."

"Jiji..." Yankayi said walking in with a bamboo basket. "I knew you will want to make some things for Consort Tamarai's new baby. I brought fabrics, beads and threads."

"Kayyii...! I'm so happy. Tamarai, you and me are old friends. And between three of us only she has children. I naturally feel jealous but I want to spoil the kids." Usri said asking Kayi to sit down as they started their work.

"Jiji... There are so many royal physicians. Experienced and best in their job. Why don't you ask them? It's been years since you have been with His majesty. No one spends more time with him than you. You should have gotten a child by now." Kayi said.

"Everyone says that. I believe it's just luck Kayi." Usri said as they continue.

         It was just weeks to that event suddenly Usri was summoned to the Central palace(queen's mannor). She was asked to have no handmaidens to accompany her. Which was strange but she complied. Advisor Rehon was there to take her.

"Mistress! Its about some rumours. But I have a sickly feeling inside. Please venture carefully!"

        He advised her the moment she was about to enter the mannor. She nodded respectfully. Upon entering she saw King, Queen and Consort Tamarai was already there sitting. She bowed to King and Queen, simultaneously Consort Tamarai gave a small bow to her. After taking a seat she looked at everyone carefully. Tamarai seemed scared and worried. The queen seem kind of neutral so does the king.

"Noble consort Usri! Do you remember the strange notion Consort Tamarai had when she gets to know about her pregnancy? Someone leaked it to the servant now there is a gossip that the upcoming royal heir is a bad omen." The queen explained.

"That's obserd, Mistress!" Usri said giving Tamarai a sympathetic look.

"What's more obserd is the maids and guards who started the rumour said they heard it around your Shadow mannor." The queen said. The king gave Usri a raised eyebrow.

"I didn't said anything to anyone. Infact I didn't talked about it at all. Your Majesty! Please ask those maids and guards infront of me." Usri said immediately.

"Your Majesty! Please do that. Because I know Noble consort Usri can't do this to anyone. Specially me. I trust jiji to be virtuous." Tamarai said made Usri to gave her a smile.

"Mahangi!" The king called.

"I'm here." The advisor said stepping in to the room.

"Bring those servants in."

       He went away and came back with 2 maids and 3 guards. They all looked extremely terrified and asked for forgiveness to spread such rumours immediately. The did confirmed that they heard it around Shadow mannor.

"Who in the shadow mannor you heard it from?" Usri asked.

"It was dark Mistress. We just heard someone talking very loudly when we pass the Shadow mannor, the night of last new moon." A maid said.

"New moon nights are indeed dark and scary. I believe you were in a hurry. Then how can you know it was someone from Shadow mannor not just someone in general?" The king asked.

"I deserve death for this but I don't implying Saikia mistress have anything to do with it, your majesty. We did heard so much close to shadow mannor." A guard replied bowing deep.

"I don't think Noble consort Usri have anything to do with it. But she is dragged in this matter so we can't just not do anything." The queen suggested.

"I think I should confined myself in my mannor until this resolves." Usri said immediately understanding Queen's motive.

"You don't have to do that?" The king said.

"I want to your majesty. Until you are done with investigation let me close the doors of my mannor and lay low." Usri said.

"Noble consort is reasonable. My lord, she should stay out of public eyes." The queen said supporting Usri.

"Noble consort, you can take the leave. Consort Tamarai you too. Take care of yourself. Don't move much. I'll come to see you if needed." The king said making her smile. Usri although very disturbed herself smiled for her friend. They both bow down to king and queen. "Hmm.. Mahangi, accompany Noble consort to her mannor."

"Yes, your majesty!" Rehon said escorting two ladies.

"Jiji! You didn't have to take the punishment." Tamarai said. Usri smiled.

"It was the only way I could be safe in central palace mistress's eye. Even if she doesn't mention it. She believes the rumours." Usri said. "You don't think about this now Rai. Focus on your own health. And prepare for His majesty's visit in the evening!"

"Jiji...!" She blushed before stepping into the sadan.

"Mistress! I'll talk to his majesty. Try to evaluate his stance, once I get the chance." Rehon assured her.

"I know Advisor Rehon, you are good willed. But this is a muddy water. You are still a junior advisor. Do not jeprodise your own career for me." She advised him.

"I'll remember you advise, mistress." He said silently walking with her to her mannor. He witnessed the closing of mannor gates and came back to see Yankayi pleading with a senior advisor.

"I'll come back later." She said bowing down. The senior advisor must have not agreed to what she was saying.

"Yankayi!" He said behind a piller. She looked around to find him calling her. She walked to him.

"Advisor Rehon? What are you doing here hiding?" She asked.

"My shift is over. But..."

"Did you also heard about jiji?" Yankayi asked.

"News travel fast."

"Some sewing girls came to drop off some clothes for mistress at the central palace and heard about it. They told me. I asked Advisor Tutuk to let me see his majesty but he refused."

"Ei.. it will be lunch time in some time and senior advisor will leave and I'll come to accompany his majesty. You come back then." He said looking around.

"Really?" Yankayi asked surprised.

"Saikia mistress has been compromised unnecessarily. Go now. And come back with some work." Rehon said.

"Thank you. At least one reasonable person around." Yankayi said before turning to walk away.

"Brother Rehon?" A junior advisor came around to find him staring at the way Yankayi left to make sure no one saw her. "Was that Miss Yankayi? From sewing department?"

"Ahhhh... You scared me.. no. She was a maid. What would Miss yankayi do here?" Rehon said.

          During lunch Rehon was present and was evaluating the king's mood.

"Mahangi! apuni ki ka'va visar counc. apuni kia iman udwigno?" The king said eating.
(Mahangi! Say what you wanna say. Why are you so anxious?")

"My lord, I ran into Miss Yankayi earlier, she was returning from here."

"Kayi came?"

"Maybe his majesty was resting so she wasn't allowed inside."

"Hm"

"From her words it seemed like she knew something about the rumours." Rehon said.

"Are you sure?"

"She said she will be back after lunch because she have to take measurements for your outfit."

"Send her in as soon as she arrives."

"Yes!"

AN
The guards and advisors calling Yankayi as Miss is for her being a senior member. Not because her rank is higher.

Happy playing

Love
Pragyna