NB: Not a harem prompt, primarily. Details follow.

There are certain rules one must abide by, as a concubine. While every member of the tangled web that is the king’s inner circle at court - including the king himself - is bound by immutable, unspoken strictures that make life difficult - but functional - those of the king’s consorts are the harshest of all.

As a supplementary presence to the Queen Consort, their job is simple: provide heirs in case she cannot, and chess pieces in case she can. Children of lesser nobles; gifts from distant empires; princesses in their own right, offered for diplomatic gain. Traditionally, these are women reduced to little more than possessions, wrapped in the frippery of borrowed wealth and brought out for entertainment or showboating.

The rules for the women of the inner sanctum are strict, but not cruel. As long as they are abided by, they promise a life that is comfortable, even if not particularly free. They have good food, pleasant accommodations, and good company in each other - even if there is an undercurrent of competition at times. The current king is young and well-liked, and most importantly, still has no heir. Having ascended the throne recently, King Ezra is something of a mystery, but as he begins to assemble the harem of additional wives that he is entitled to as King of the Eternal House of Shantar, Lord Under The Sun, etc etc, developments are set in motion that cannot be undone.

Many of the rules are simple. Stay in the the quarter of the palace reserved for the harem. Do not interfere with the work of the eunuchs and maids. Come when called, do not forget your place, and do not fall in love with the king.

That last one’s going to be a problem.

Ezra shifted almost imperceptibly on the balls of his feet, a natural warrior’s stance. He was a large, although not quite hulking young man of almost thirty, with broad shoulders that would be more comfortable bearing steel pauldrons than the silken finery he wore today. As was tradition for a Scion of the House receiving such an important guest, his cloak was adorned with fine gold brocade that shimmered against the pure white cloth. Fixed to his equally-blinding doublet with a golden pin set with rubies, the garment draped artfully over his shoulder, half-hiding the ceremonial sword at his hip - a trifling toy by Ezra’s standards, but he supposed it would suffice in a pinch. His hair fell to his shoulders, thick and brown, although combed elegantly back in the style of the day. He chafed at the ridiculous formality, itching to let it fall around his face like normal, but settled for squeezing his fist at his side, reminding himself of the duty his father had so coldly charged him with before his passing. Gritting his teeth, he realised he was almost glaring down the walkway.

Hold on… why was he spoiling for a fight? He was supposed to be welcoming a concubine, the mysterious woman waiting within the carriage that had now pulled to a final stop at his gate. Glancing side to side, his soldier’s eye ensured nothing was out of position. A small gaggle of ministers and advisors at his back, his father’s dreary second-in-command - soon to be replaced if he kept harping on such traditions - at his side, and a dozen of his best knights lining the path, their armour gleaming spotlessly in the noonday sun.

He thought it best that Victoria was not here today.

His queen, even younger than he at just twenty-five years of age, had not been adjusting well to her new role or the expectations that come along with it. Just a year ago, she was the daughter of a powerful marquess, a mostly appropriate match for the third son of a king. One rapid, bloody succession crisis later, she had suddenly been elevated to the position of Queen Consort at his side. In truth, she was struggling with the sudden notion that sharing him with at least three or four other wives would be not only normal, but compulsory. Things were already frosty in the palatial complex, where she often crossed paths with Lumina, the hot-headed young Ranian woman who had been selected as his second wife.

Now here he was, waiting to greet the third woman that he was supposed to keep happy. Not to mention the… other duties that were expected of him.

When the door to the young lady’s carriage swung open, his breath caught in his throat.

Hi! I’m Alex, and recently I found myself craving something in this particular vein. It’s cheating, but not quite cheating. Sweet and a little romantic, though it probably shouldn’t be. In a nutshell, I’d like you to play the young king’s third wife, someone who rapidly develops a quite concerning affection for him - an attraction that is worryingly mutual. In a world of harsh expectations, strict social mores and royal burdens, the king cannot afford to put a foot wrong as he navigates his burgeoning reign, so the last thing he needs is to offend his wife and his people by falling hopelessly in love with a concubine.

Some technical details: I’ve thrown a few worldbuilding hooks in there, but it’s up to you if you want to pick them up or not. I sort of visualised this as a D&D/fantasy mediaeval world, so if you move in those circles, we could have a bit of fun there. The queen and other members of the harem will be side characters at best, though I’m not opposed to involving them in scenes occasionally. You won’t have to play 5 characters, is the important bit.

I visualise this scene as being a strange mix of sex-heavy but slow-burn, if that makes sense. It’s natural and expected that a king will spend time with his concubines, but it might take a little while before it becomes apparent that he is favouring you more than he should. It might start small and entirely appropriate: lavish gifts that raise no eyebrows other than the queen’s; changing the ‘roster’ on a whim to visit you out of turn; staying in your room a little longer than he should; inviting you to feasts and events. Over time, this could grow to a concerning degree and turn into sneaking around in his own palace to spend time with you.

So then, who is able to capture the king’s heart so thoroughly? To leave a loyal husband smitten with an interloper that his wife has no choice but to seethe in quiet envy of? I’ve left a few hints/suggestions sprinkled through (fallen princess? Ascended slave girl? Ambitious social climber?), but the long story short is that it’s up to you! A little contrast is nice (Victoria is the stereotypical slender, blonde, regal type) but I’m open to all sorts. You don’t even have to be human! Elves, tieflings, etc are more than welcome.

There’s a kinklist on my profile. Throw me any ideas you have and let me know what you’re into and what sort of character you’re thinking about, and let’s see if anything clicks!