The grand harem that Zarki had built over the years was a sprawling, luxurious compound, located at the heart of his estate. Its beauty had always been a sanctuary, but today, its atmosphere was far from peaceful.
The golden silk curtains that draped the windows, the intricately woven rugs, and the serene fountains were all present, but none of them could mask the rising tension in the air. The five women, once content to live in their gilded cage, now found themselves caught in an unspoken rivalry that was set to define their futures.
Julia paced in front of the large mirror that stretched across one of the walls of her private quarters. Her long, dark hair fell in thick waves around her shoulders as she examined herself, her lips curling into a sly smile. She had always known that Zarki had been testing them all, but the announcement had given her something more, an edge.
"I'll be the one," she muttered to herself, her fingers tracing the delicate gold chain around her neck. "It's my turn. No one can beat me."
Julia's eyes gleamed with self-assurance. She had always been Zarki's favorite. Her beauty was undeniable, and her fiery, confident nature had always been what drew him to her. She had kept her place at his side through every challenge, and now, it seemed, her time had finally come to claim everything.
Julia had no intention of letting the other women stand in her way. The others were weak, too hesitant, too shy, too naïve. But Julia? She was different. She had always been the one who commanded attention, and now, that would pay off.
"Let them fight it out. I will be the one to bear his heir," she thought, looking at herself once more. "I'm the strongest. Zarki will see that."
Meanwhile, Anna, who is the quieter concubine, sat on her bed, staring out the window with a distant expression. The once golden world around her now seemed a prison, a gilded cage that could no longer protect her from the harsh reality of competition.
Anna had never wanted to be in this contest. She had come to Zarki's house as a young girl, her family desperate for the wealth and protection that his influence could provide. She had never seen herself as a player in a game of power, never imagined that she would one day be pitted against women she had once considered her sisters.
Her heart was heavy with the weight of uncertainty. What did it mean to be the one who bore Zarki's heir? What kind of future would she be securing for herself and her child, assuming she succeeded? Zarki's mansion was full of riches, but it was also full of heartbreak, betrayal, and loneliness. The thought of competing against the others made Anna feel like she was being forced into a role she had never wanted to play.
"I never asked for this," she whispered to herself, feeling the familiar sting of vulnerability that had always followed her. Her position had always been precarious, her innocence both a shield and a curse. Now, she felt that shield cracking under the pressure.
On the other side of the harem, Tora sat cross-legged on a plush cushion, her eyes downcast. Tora had always been the obedient one, the one who smiled through every hardship and never questioned Zarki's authority. But today, that same obedience felt like a shackle.
Tora had never imagined that she would find herself in a battle for power. She had spent years serving Zarki without complaint, content in the belief that she was safe in his care. Now, however, everything had changed.
What had once been a place of comfort and security now felt like a battlefield. The thought of competing with the others made her stomach twist with unease. She had never wanted to challenge anyone, least of all the other women she had once called friends.
"I'm not like them," Tora thought to herself, eyes flickering to the door, as if expecting someone to enter and command her to fight. "I can't fight like they will. I never wanted this. I just wanted to be by his side."
Tora's heart beat fast at the thought of the coming days. The battle for Zarki's heir was no longer just about love, it was about survival. She knew that if she didn't participate, she would be cast aside. She had seen it happen before to those who had been replaced, discarded when they were no longer useful.
In the quieter section of the harem, where the softest music often played and the incense burned gently in the air, Mariam and Ashally sat together, draped in light shawls, sipping on warm spiced tea. The two women had always been close. Unlike the others who often kept to themselves or sparred silently for Zarki's attention, Mariam and Ashally shared laughter, secrets, and subtle observations. They had bonded over dance lessons, late-night chats, and long afternoons spent under the shade of the garden trees.
Now, with the new tension spreading like wildfire in the harem, the two friends found comfort in each other's company. But even their laughter had changed. It was no longer just playful. It was thoughtful, careful, like they were laughing to keep from falling into something much deeper.
"So," Mariam said, nudging Ashally with her elbow as she poured another cup of tea, "our dear Zarki now dreams of an heir. Just like that."
Ashally snorted, covering her mouth with a bejeweled hand. "It's sudden, isn't it? After all these years of picking and playing, now he wants a child? What changed?"
Mariam lowered her voice, glancing around though no one else was nearby. "Do you remember the morning he locked himself in the study and didn't come out for hours? When he cried? The servants said he had received news about someone."
"Combo," Ashally replied quietly, nodding. "His old friend. I heard it too. Died unexpectedly, didn't he?"
Mariam nodded. "Yes. I think that shook him more than he let on. They were close. Combo had 10 children who were learning how to run his estate. Maybe Zarki saw that and realized… he has no one."
There was a short silence between them. The fountain nearby continued its gentle bubbling, and somewhere beyond the windows, a bird sang. But inside, the air thickened with unspoken thoughts.
"Still," Ashally said, swirling her tea slowly, "it's a bit funny, isn't it? Now he suddenly wants a legacy."
Mariam chuckled softly, but there was no real humor in it. "Well, we're the ones he's turning to. Like we're seed beds. Can you imagine? After all these years, now we are expected to compete like farm girls chasing a husband."
Ashally tilted her head, watching the steam rise from her cup. "Julia is already acting like she's pregnant. You saw how she walks around these days? Head high, hand on her belly, like she's already the queen."
"She always thought she was," Mariam said with a smirk. "But maybe she has a reason this time."
Ashally leaned in a little. "And what about Anna? Poor thing. She looks like a ghost lately. Doesn't even eat properly."
"She's too soft for this place," Mariam replied. "Always has been. I used to think Zarki liked her for her quiet ways, but now? That may be her downfall."
Ashally sighed. "And Tora?"
"She'll fold. You'll see. She was never made for war. Even a silent one like this."
Ashally leaned closer, lowering her voice with a mischievous grin. "You know, I even heard that Zarki has some kind of… medical issue. Like, something that makes it hard, maybe even impossible, for him to father a child."
Mariam blinked, the amusement on her face fading just a little. "Hmm... I don't know where you heard that from," she said slowly.
The two women sipped their tea again. Their words floated lightly between them, but under the surface, both were thinking the same thing.
Mariam glanced at Ashally from the corner of her eye. "So," she said casually, "you're not interested in giving him a child?"
Ashally laughed softly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Me? I'm a dancer, Mariam. What do I know about being a mother? Zarki likes to watch me dance, not nurse babies."
Mariam smiled. "But a child would change everything. You know that. It would make one of us untouchable."
Ashally didn't answer right away. Her fingers tapped lightly on the side of her teacup. "Maybe. Or maybe it would ruin everything. This place is not built for peace. A child won't fix it."
Mariam nodded slowly, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She looked down at her flat stomach, hidden beneath layers of silk, and imagined it round and full. She imagined the looks the others would give her, the way Zarki might touch her differently, carefully, reverently. The idea both thrilled and terrified her.
Ashally was thinking too. She imagined holding a baby with Zarki's eyes. She imagined being more than just the girl who danced. She imagined being chosen.
Neither of them said these things out loud. They laughed again, brushing off the idea like it was a joke, but the laughter didn't reach their eyes.
"You know," Mariam said, her voice quieter now, "I always thought I'd leave this place someday. Maybe go back to the south and open a little shop. Sell oils, maybe perfume. But now…"
Ashally raised an eyebrow. "Now?"
"Now I think… maybe this is my chance to matter. Not just to Zarki, but to everyone. If I give him a son, I'll never be forgotten."
Ashally set down her cup and looked at her friend seriously for the first time. "You've thought about this a lot."
Mariam nodded. "More than I should."
Ashally leaned back, folding her arms across her chest. "Then maybe I should too."
The two women sat in silence for a moment, each lost in their thoughts. They had always stood together, laughed together, and kept out of the deeper