Find his own way around

Stewart considers Diego’s offer, and declines it. “I believe I can find my way around on my own, Diego. I don’t want to give the impression to the ladies that I’m being shown a new shipment of livestock for inspection.”

Diego nods. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”

The king steps through the hidden doorway, and it feels as if he has been transported into another world. Behind him is the dark, dusty, cluttered room of the Records Repository. In its place, Stewart finds himself in a spacious lounge, adorned with drapes, candles, and with the evocative scent of some kind of expensive incense.

The room itself is circular. Evenly spaced along the wall are doors. As the door behind him closes, that leaves one door directly opposite him that is open, leading into a corridor. All other doors are closed, except for one, which is partially what. He cannot see into that room, but he is able to hear the soft strum of a harp coming from within.

Whatever Stewart expected this place to be, it wasn’t this. It still seems incredible that after 20 year of living in the palace, this is the first time he has set foot in this room.

Or is it? The scent of the incense and the bright colors of this lounge evoke an unsettling sense of déjà vu. He dismisses the thought, however. He’s quite confident if he had ever been in a harem, he’d have lots of vivid memories — and they wouldn’t be centered on the decor.