The news spread like wildfire.
From the bustling market squares to the quiet countryside, whispers of King Darius's latest acquisition, a former thief, a mere slave, now claimed as his concubine, rippled through the kingdom. The villagers, always hungry for gossip, spoke in hushed voices and gasps of disbelief. Some shook their heads in disapproval, while others speculated about the girl's allure that had ensnared the mighty king.
"She must be a beauty beyond compare," an old woman muttered as she sold figs in the village square.
"Or perhaps a sorceress, she is a witch, enchanted out king! She needs to be investigated" another added, casting wary glances towards the castle looming over the city.
Merchants debated in their shops, farmers spoke of it while tending their fields, and nobles whispered of scandal over lavish feasts. It was a story that defied expectations, a slave girl, a thief, and the king's new possession.
At the palace, reality struck harder.
