Aria was so incredibly bored. There was only so much nail painting and hair braiding one could do before one got sick of it. So, when she heard a commotion in the hall outside, she sent Roza to check. Roza came back, looking perplexed.
"The King has summoned all his Council members, as well as every official currently in the Palace, and the foremost magical experts for some kind of emergency meeting," she said. "We are to stay where we are. And it sounds like guards have been sent to retrieve any of your sisters currently outside the Palace, such as Liira."
"How many of the guards were sent?" Aria asked curiously.
"All of them except for the King's Guard and the Harem Guards. The King wishes to protect his currently pregnant concubines," Roza said. Aria sighed and rubbed her stomach dreamily. Oh, how she wished to bear children. But that was a long way off. Unless...
"Roza, Myla, stay here and pretend that I am here as well," she instructed. Roza and Myla frowned, confused.
"But you are here," Myla said. Aria rolled her eyes. Her attendants could be so dim! It was good they were beautiful, otherwise they would never get anywhere in life.
"Soon I will not be. I am going to find a man to bed me."
"Outside of marriage?" Roza gasped. Aria nodded. "But what if you become with child?"
"All the better," Aria purred. "I must leave now. With Daddy so distracted, this is my only chance! So, will you cover for me?" Her attendants nodded dutifully. "Good. I will be back once I have found myself a man," Aria sang. Her attendants sighed happily at Aria's voice. Aria was no witch girl, but her voice was so lovely, particularly when she sang, that she might as well have magic.
Aria waved goodbye to her attendants, then climbed out the window. She landed in the garden and brushed dirt off her dress. Time to find a man. But where should she look first?