“As I was saying, the new bride-to-be and her friend had discovered that the man had three wives. They feared that this would mean a rough time ahead for them, as they had seen actors perform dramas where women fought each other to earn the love of their husbands. However, these women had no such intentions and welcomed the new wife and her friend with open arms.

The two friends soon learned that the first wife, who was the Princess of a neighboring country, had married the Prince as part of a treaty between the two countries. His younger brother was sent to her homeland to live there as an ambassador and she married the Prince. She was a smart woman who excelled in politics and strategy. It was rumored that even the greatest minds in the kingdom had yet to beat her in a game of chess. Not only was her mind brilliant but she was a striking beauty and walked with a natural born grace that had eyes turning to follow her every move. She was a natural leader and led the other wives whenever necessary for public events or meetings.

The second wife had been a noble from one of the borders of the kingdom who had been warriors and generals for generations. When the family did not produce a male heir right away, she as the oldest had been taught the ways of the warrior and had been practicing her famous sword dance when the traveling Prince had been captivated by her performance.

The Prince had used political pressure and some degree of blackmail, but had succeeded in forcing the family to let her marry as his second wife. The second wife was displeased but marrying him had allowed her family better access to the capital and allowed them to better their territory so she remained as a wife and the Prince allowed her to continue her practice of martial arts provided she performed her dance for him as requested. 

The third wife would be the quietest- she was also a commoner like the two friends, but she had been brought here with little understanding of court life and with no friends to support her. She had been very relieved that the other wives treated her kindly, but she often was seen looking out towards the mountains in the horizon, where her family and hometown had come from. She had also been gifted from birth but instead of with weather, she held a connection to animals, and often was seen chatting with birds that had flown from her village. She also would talk to insects like spiders when avoiding people, and would save them from other noble ladies if they tried to stomp on them out of fear.

The three wives welcomed the two and after a grand wedding, they began living together in the Princess’s Palace. The bride-to-be became the fourth wife and her friend became the Head Lady-in-Waiting, serving the Princesses and ensuring that their staff were trained and diligent in their care of the women. Time passed and the seasons changed, and soon the women were mothers.  The third wife was the first to have a child, followed by the second wife, and then the first wife. The small toddlers ran about the Palace watched over by the warm staff and loving mothers. The Prince was a distant husband, visiting only when he needed his desires met or when he wanted one of the women to entertain him with their powers.