Later on, in the day Rehema retreated to her study to finish up, assigning who was going to have what house for each concubine in the harem hall.

A knock came at her door as she was writing with her cane pen on parchment.

"Who is it?" She called out.

A servant came out, "Your Majesty, his highness Ekon would like to see you." The servant said with a bow.

Rehema nodded not lifting her head up and focusing on writing. "Bring him in."

Ekon came inside and greeted her with a bow, "Peace and grace to her majesty."

Rehema out her pen down and smiled, "I told you, your exempt from having to bow to great me, your Emperor Dowager for crying out loud."

Ekon stood back up, "It's still my duty to properly great you, I will always show respect t-o the splitting image of your mother." Rehema couldn't argue with him on that he was always strict on respect and formality. Especially to people he looked up too.

Rehema motioned at him with her arm to sit at the seat in front of her.

"Have you finished assigning the houses for your harem," Ekon asked taking a seat.

"Yep," Rehema said. "Just finished right now." Amena then handed him five sheets of paper she had been writing on. "These are the concubines with the official houses they will have for now. They can start moving out of the guest building today or tomorrow."

Ekon took the papers from her hand and skimmed through the papers, reading it quickly. "Well, I see you gave the houses based on rank, this is good enough so far and fair."

"Yeah, I guess If they want a better house in the future, they will have to work for it," Rehema said leaning back in her chair. "Oh, supper should be ready soon, and it has been quite a day. Is there anything else you came for?" Rehema asked.

Ekon shook his head, "No, that is all. I will deliver this news to the rest of the men today, so they can start moving in."

Ekon stood up and was about to leave but then he stopped in turned. "Will you be having one serve you tonight?" He asked before he put his hand on the doorknob.

Rehema took a breath, "I'm not sure. I think its to early for me to pick one of the new ones since it their first day. I don't want to intimidate them so early on. I think I will just sleep with Omari today."

"Rehema..." Ekon said unsurely.

Rehema rolled her eyes, "Relax, I'm not going to be pregnant yet. And certainly not from Omari."

Ekon nodded doing so and left the room, closing the door behind her.

The rest of the day after the eight new concubines got to look around the palace complex. It was too huge to explore everything in one day, so whoever was tired retreated to the guest building in the harem hall. It was in the late afternoon that they got the news that their houses have been assigned to them.

Sang-chul was hanging with Ivan in his guest bedroom. Sang-chul was teaching him a different style of chess that they played in the East-Asian Lands before Addo came and interrupted them.

"The style pieces are guards, horses, elephants, and more, you have to be a little more strategic when it comes to your moves," Sang-chul mentioned.

"Hmm this looks like a longer way to play," Ivan mentioned, studying the pieces Sang-chul placed in front of him.

"This is a really good move to make when you're stuck," Sang-chul said showing him. Then a knock came at the door.

"Come in," Sang-chul announced, getting up to look at who was entering. Addo came in and did a slight bow, "Sorry to interrupt you Sir, but his highness Ekon is holding a meeting that requires all the concubines to come. I already prepared the sedan."

Sang-chul turned to Ivan who already stood up. "I think my servant is downstairs. I will leave with them. Thank you for showing me around this afternoon noon, Sang-chul." Ivan said and he walked out the room first. Sang-chul then left with Addo and got in the sedan chair to get to Emperor Dowager's meeting room.

When he got their and Addo helped him down inside the meeting room, new members of the harem started to take their seats and Sang-chul went to sit in the back with other new low rank concubines. Ivan than came in, he sat one seat in front of Sang-chul, with his servant standing beside him.

The only seat missing was the Emperor Dowager, who was running a few minutes late. His golden seat was on a high platform, in the middle of the room.

Chike the emperor sitting in the first row the closest to the Emperor dowager seat, sighed, "I hope this is important. I really could be doing something else." He said under his breath.

That was in Ekon finally came in, and everyone in the room stood up in unison, and kneeled down to bow, "Greetings and blessings to his highness, Ekon."

"You may rise," Ekon said with a tired expression and he walk through the center of the room and sat on his seat. Two guards one female, and the other male stood beside him. One male servant stood by his side as well. All the men rose doing so and returned to their seats.

Sang-chul noticed that Ekon had came in with a few papers in his hand. Ekon walked quickly down the middle of the room and took his seat on his platform.

"You are all probably wondering why the sudden meeting for this late afternoon. As you can see, we now have some new faces this afternoon."

The men started to glance at each other around the room. All expect Chike and Omari. They had their eyes straight forward at Ekon.

"But for the reason why I called you all down here, is because her majesty has officially assigned you all your houses," Ekon added.

Everyone's face lit up in amusement and whispers started to fill the room. Ivan turned his head to Sang-chul with a confused expression on his face. "What are houses?" he asked in a low whisper.

"That's where the concubines live in in the harem hall. The harem hall consists of houses for each concubine's official residence. We have been staying in the guest building this whole time because we haven't had a official house assigned to us yet. Usually if you gain her majesty's favoritism and love she gifts you with a luxury house that's closer to her main palace or in some rare occasions build a house named after you. Lots of the houses have their own history."

"Hmm," Ivan noted, leaning back in his seat.

"Don't get your hopes up too early we still low ranked, but you have a higher reputation that me, so you might have more luck," Sang-Chul concluded.

Sang-chu couldn't help but remember his house back in Empress Fan Du's house. There were so many men that at times you had to share a house. He shared his with five other unused concubines, which wasn't much big or fancy either. None of them ever had the chance to serve her.

Ekon cleared his throat, and then the room went to a sudden quiet. Ekon started to read of the paper, "Emperor Chike was the only one in the harem that already had a house assigned to him. We all know he has Graceview house. Now for the rest of you."

"His highness, Omari of the Dalli Family, House RedEnd!" Ekon announced.

Omari couldn't help but smirk and glanced over at Chike. He had a house just as good as Graceview. Only difference was Graceview was closer to her majesty's main residence. Chike paid him no mind and continued to listen to all the others being called out.

Ekon now moved on to the two Noble consorts.

"Mister, Jafari of the Agu Family, House Lavender."

"Mister, Emad of the Sidding Family, House Jasmine."

Ekon then went on to the so far two noble man, that held the title.

"Sir, Darbir of the Ekwensi Family, House Pearl!"

"Sir, Jahi of the Igbinedion Family, House Dashing Ray!"

Sang-chul was catching on to something. Empress Rehema was placing them in houses that fit their personality. The personality at least that they show to her. The two noble men looked happy with their choices, Sang-chul noticed them exchange whispers and smiles.

Ekon finally moved to the last two low ranking categories. The first-class male attendant and second-class male attendant. Which was where Sang-chul and any other concubine that wasn't new currently ranked.

"Sir, Apophis of the Uba Family, House Gardling!"

"Sir, Sang-chul of the Min Family, House Pearbow!"

Sang-chul turned in his seat to look at Addo standing behind him.

"We got something good and decent for a start, Sir," Addo assured him. Sang-chul noticed Apophis sitting across from him held a neutral face, which was impossible to tell is he was satisfied with his choice or not.

Now Ekon went on the eight new concubine's who were all still low ranked in the same category as Sang-chul and Apophis.

"Sir, Ivan of the Omach Family, House Haze!"

"Sir, Wade of the Sauda Family, House Tranquility!"

"Sir, Taavi of the Bamgboshe Family, House Themba Hope!"

"Sir, Cedric of the Janssen Family, House Sizzling Dominion!"

"Sir, Kanye of the Effiony Family House Flourish Vile!"

"Sir, Sagara of the Mathor Family, House Magnolia!"

"Sir, Bongo of the Odili Family, House Spring river!"

"Sir, Fernanado of the Moreiera Family, House Orchard Brilliance!"

Sang-chul had walked past some of those houses before. Rehema had given some of them good ones, not bad for someone that just moved in. Sang-chul wondered how Rehema managed to figure out what house to give the new concubines so quickly.

Ekon put the final paper down, "You are all dismissed to go with your servants and see your house."

Everyone then stood up in unison and said together at the same time, "We bid farewell to his highness." One by one the men started to leave the room.

Sang-chul walked outside with Ivan standing beside him, and Addo behind him.

"Looks like my house won't be too far from yours," Ivan said. "At least that is what my servant told me."

Sang-chul smiled, good the last thing he wanted was a house near Omari.

"Yes, House Haze, and House Pearbow are across from each other," Addo spoke up. Sang-chul and Addo, walked to House Pearbow with Ivan. When they arrived at the gate of the house, Sang-chul was pleased with it.

Addo was correct, across from the gate of his home was Ivan's house Pearbow and Sang-chul could see two other concubines entering their houses in the same block area as them.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning," Ivan said turning to Sang-chul. "Good night Sang-chul." He brought out his hand to shake it with Sang-chul.

Sang-chul was hesitant at first but he shook it. Ivan then turned to head into his home. Sang-chul did so as well at the same time with Addo. Walking past the gate, House Pearbow had a nice cobble stone pathway. Following the pathway, it was nice small but decent sized home.

Sang-chul was cautious stepping inside at first, but Addo grabbed him by the hooking his arm with his and led the way. It was a one-story home, made out of ceremonial wood and brick, and was suburban styled.

The small front yard had a grey, stone mermaid shaped fountain, and rose flower planted on the edges of the stone pathway. When they stepped inside there was an open area, walk to the left is the sitting room, walk to the right is the bedroom, and walk ahead a blank spacious area with a back door for the garden. The wallpaper was white and rolling hills design.

Sang-chul couldn't help but be in awe when he stepped in. A whole place to himself and his servants. How lucky he was. Addo noticed him smiling and was pleased that he liked it.

There was someone inside already dusting the table in the sitting room.

"Ah!" Addo called out. The servant looked up. This time she was female, short, and maybe in her early forty's. Her hair was braided in corn rows, she had a plain white shirt on and an African patterned knee skirt, with yellow scandals on. She approached Sang-chul and did a slight kneel of a bow.

"This is your second servant, Sir. She will be managing the house," Addo said.

She smiled at Sang-chul, "My name is Kukua, Sir. I worked as a servant for many years for concubines in the harem. You're the first foreigner I ever have had to serve." She had a light, calm voice.

Sang-chul thanked her, "I'm Sang-chul. I'm grateful to have you be a part of my service."

Kukua's smile brightened, and she pinched Sang-chul cheek softly, "How sweet of a young man you are, her majesty was wise to pick you."

Sang-chul couldn't help but turn pink in the face, and Kukua turned around to go back to cleaning up the house.

"You can rest for now; I will come back with dinner. You can just get comfortable, Sir." Addo said, he kneeled once more and left the house walking out and down the stone pathway.

Sang-chul walked around and noticed African decorations everywhere. Small little artifacts and paintings.

Sang-chul went to his bedroom area which was separated by beads hanging from the ceiling. Pushing the beads past him he went and sat on the edge of his four-post bed. Red curtains hanged from above him, and he couldn't help but feel his stomach do a flip in excitement. It wasn't the biggest house in the harem or the best but it was a much better change than what he was used too.

Hey's guys. I just want to say please don't be intimidated by the amount of characters and names. This story is going to have a lot of characters and names, but I will always repeat them so you don't have to memorize anything if you feel like your being overloaded, with information. Everything will be summed up as the story goes. Thanks.