Elaine stared back at her reflection, while she sat in front of the mirror and let her mother stand behind her and do her hair. There was a sinking feeling in her stomach that she hadn't been able to get rid of all day. The previous night, she hadn't gotten much sleep. All of this, of course, was because she was due to enter concubinage today. Her family had fallen on hard times, and their solution to this problem was sending their daughter off to join the harem of a local politician who was more than willing to pay a large amount for her.

It was natural that she received this kind of attention and interest. Even in a country that emphasized modesty for women, her looks were enough to make her stand out above her peers. Her pale skin had a kind of glow to it that was rare for a country where most didn't get proper nutrition. Her figure was slim, but her bust was large, and it was noticeable even when she was wearing the plain grey dresses that were mandated for someone like her. She was tall, which drew looks in a place where the average height for a woman hardly broke five feet.

Those traits hadn't helped her in finding a loving husband, like she'd hoped for. Instead, it just meant that she had the attention of seemingly every older man with power. She'd heard her parents talking for a long time in hushed tones about selling her off to become someone's concubine. But she hadn't thought until now that they'd actually go through with the idea. She had considered running away, but someone like her wouldn't be able to get far. There was nothing but tundra between here and the next city. If she didn't freeze to death while trying to make the walk, she'd probably get abducted by the rural bandits she'd heard whispered rumors about.

"There," her mother said, finishing with her hair and stepping back. Elaine looked herself over once again, the sinking feeling in her stomach growing. "Now you are ready to meet the man that will be your husband."

"I don't want to..." Elaine said, unable to hold back her urge to complain about her present situation. All of it was just too unfair to stay silent about.

"I know. But the family is going through hard times. Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices to help the people around us," her mother reassured, patting her on the head. "Besides, your new husband can offer you more than we can."

"I was going to enter college. I don't need you and Father to provide for me forever, I can handle taking care of myself. Why won't you give me that chance?" Elaine questioned as she stood up.

"Because the offer is too generous to turn down. Do your part, Elaine. We've done enough for you over the years. Now you need to do something to help us."

***

After preparing herself, Elaine had been picked up by a black luxury sedan outside of the family's apartment block. The vehicle was taking her some distance away from the city proper, into the rural outskirts where the large estate of her new husband was located. During the ride, her heart was pounding and her mind was racing. She couldn't stop reflecting on all the possibilities... Things such as how the man would be, and just what kind of experience she was in for.

The ride passed by fast. Soon, she was at the doorstep of the expansive mansion and being ushered inside by the domestic servants that lived there. She could see some of the other women of the harem sitting around, but none of them said anything to her. She was competition to them, after all. Competition for affection, and for the nice things that the powerful man could offer them in exchange for their service.

The maids gestured her up a flight of stairs and down a hallway, and she arrived at her new living quarters for the first time. The room was large, nicer than the one she'd come from, but very plain. It lacked any of the personal things that would make it feel like her own.

"You can wait here," one of the maids said as she entered and sat down on the bed. "The master of the house will be here soon to meet you."

So she waited, clasping her hands in front of her and looking down at her feet idly as her mind continued to race with possibilities, wondering just how life would be with the politician that now owned her.

Eventually, the door opened; Her husband,