Chapter 8: Roslyn meets with the concubines

Roslyn sat frozen in the tub, Isolde’s words echoing in her mind like a cruel, unshakable refrain. Pregnant or divorced. At first, the shock paralyzed her—she couldn’t believe the queen had spoken to her so harshly. How dare they demand this of her? She was no broodmare to be used for their royal purposes. Dorian was a beast, and the thought of him touching her again filled her with disgust. Her hands gripped the edge of the tub as she fought to keep herself from crying out.

As the heat of her anger subsided, fear began to creep in. What if someone found out the truth? What if they discovered how she had secretly been preventing conception all along by washing out her cunt after their monthly session together? The thought chilled her to the bone—she had taken such care to keep the secret, but now, the pressure was mounting, and with it came the risk of exposure. She could already feel the cold shadow of divorce looming over her, and with it, the loss of everything she had fought so hard to gain.

Her disgust toward Dorian warred with her fear of losing her place in the royal family. Could she really do this? Could she truly bear to be with him, to submit to the fate she had been avoiding all this time? A flicker of doubt crossed her mind—perhaps if she could just open her heart to him, they could have the life that had been promised to her. But no. That was foolish. The idea of loving him was as far away as the stars.

Still, the desperation clung to her like a second skin, and she knew she couldn’t wait much longer. She had to face it. There was no way out. Slowly, Roslyn came to a grim realization: she would have to do it. She would have to give the royal family what they wanted, or risk losing everything.

And if she was going to survive this, she would need to understand how. With her resolve hardening, she decided to seek out the concubines. They had been with Dorian willingly—surely they could show her how to endure him. She would find out why they did it, and maybe, just maybe, she could learn to do the same.

She rose from the tub, went to dry off and be dressed by her maids.

With her tiara on her head, a sparkling dress on, her bust pushed up showing off its size and shape, she walked the halls toward the concubine’s living quarters. The hallway was lined with tables, lamps, carpet on the floor and at the door, a welcome mat letting all know they were welcome to knock the door.

“Princess Roslyn.” a very surprised Matron Agnes said when she saw who was at the door. “Come in your highness. Come in.”

Roslyn came in and with an air of superiority about her, she asked Matron Agnes, “I would like to talk to my husband’s concubines.”

“Of course your highness. I will gather them all at once.”

Roslyn looked around at the entry area and found a chair nice enough for her to sit upon. She fluffed her dress out as she waited. One by one, the concubines all came in, bowed to the princess and lined up.

Roslyn looked them over, one by one, evaluating their appearance. They each had their concubine dresses on, allowing Roslyn to see their bare breasts, stomachs as they stood there.

She stood up, smoothed out her dress and then questioned them

Roslyn stood before the group of concubines, her eyes scanning their faces. She didn’t understand how they could bear it—being with him, enduring his touch. She needed answers, and she wasn’t leaving without them.

She took a breath and asked, “Why would you do it with him? Don’t you find him horrid?”

Valeria, the eldest and most motherly of the group, gave Roslyn a calm, measured look. “At first, yes. I was frightened by his appearance, but once you see beyond the fur and the claws, there’s more to Dorian than his curse. He’s a man, with desires, emotions, and pain just like the rest of us. If you take the time to look past what you fear, you’ll see it, too.”

Roslyn’s gaze shifted to Liliana. “But doesn’t it disgust you? To have him touch you?”

Liliana shook her head gently. “Disgust? No. Dorian’s touch is gentle when he wants it to be. His body may be large and muscled, but he’s careful with us. He knows what he is and how people see him, but he’s not the monster you think. He’s lonely, and when you’re with him, you feel the weight of that loneliness.”

Roslyn swallowed hard, not quite convinced. “How can you be with someone so ... different? Doesn’t it terrify you?”

Celeste, always the thoughtful one, spoke up next. “Fear is natural, but fear fades. He may look like a beast, but he’s more human than most men I’ve known. He listens, he pays attention to what we need. And in his presence, you don’t feel like prey—you feel seen. His curse may have made him a beast, but his heart is very much that of a man.”

Roslyn, still struggling with the idea, pressed on. “What do you feel when you’re with him? Is it just duty, or...?”

Liliana tilted her head thoughtfully. “It’s more than duty. There’s a connection, an understanding. Dorian is ... lost in a way, and when I’m with him, it feels like I’m helping him find a part of himself again. It’s hard to explain, but he’s not just the prince or the beast to me. There’s something deeper. He needs more than just a body—he needs to feel wanted, understood.”

Roslyn’s brow furrowed. “Do you ever feel like you have a choice in this? Couldn’t you refuse?”

Valeria sighed softly. “We all have choices, Princess Roslyn. But sometimes the choice is between two paths that seem difficult. I chose to stay, to serve him, because I see the man beneath the curse. You might think we’re trapped here, but some of us choose to stay because we care for him. Not because we’re forced.”