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beautiful the fountain is! Isn’t it lovely?” About to answer, Esther saw another with them in the garden. His attention both frightened and excited her.
    “Armanthia, would you come here please?” Looking up, Armanthia noticed Haman at once. He was both feared and respected both outside and within the palace walls. After all, he was the King’s right hand man. “Coming, Your Highness.” Esther knew it to be a dangerous thing, being alone with a man in the gardens. She would not have her reputation ruined. When Haman approached her however, her heart silently beat faster. He bowed to her, and Esther in return acknowledged his presence. Her eyes met his, and then looked away. “It’s lovely to see you, Your Highness. Your presence is much missed; perhaps we will see you more often?”
    Wanting to give a diplomatic but also decent answer, Esther was limited to few words. “Perhaps. Now if you’ll excuse us, we really must be on our way.” Haman nodded, and then looked toward the palace. “Certainly, Your Highness.” Not wanting to stay a moment longer, Esther hurried off with Armanthia closely behind her. The girl seemed disappointed about the walk in the garden being cut short, but also happy to have met Haman personally. “Your Highness, do you know who that was?” Before she could answer, the girl continued. “Why that was Haman the Agagite, only one is more powerful than he. Do you find him attractive as well?”
    The very words scared Esther more than she could ever show. “Did you say he was an Agagite?” Armanthia looked at Esther, and then smiled to herself. “Yes, does that mean something to you?” Nodding, Esther could only look back towards the garden. “It means he comes from a line of kings longed defeated.” The shock showed on Armanthia’s face, and she too looked back towards the gardens. “How then did he end up the servant of King Xerxes?” Smiling, Esther was careful with her words. “Come, we must not discuss such things. The past cannot undo the present. I have something you can help me with however.”
    Armanthia halted at the last step, hesitating to enter before her queen. Esther however, was still staring toward the palace gardens. When Armanthia simply sat, Esther was soon resting beside her. “Your Highness, I will not tell another if you fancy him. It is only natural to find a man as attractive as he pleasant.” Looking at her, Esther’s smile faded slightly. “Armanthia, I’m the wife of the King of Persia. Such a thing could mean death, I could never betray my husband.” Armanthia smiled again, and then patted Esther’s knee slightly. “It’s for the best I suppose. He is married after all, with good sons to his name. No doubt he is a happy man.”
    Standing up, Esther smiled slightly for Armanthia’s benefit. “Perhaps one day they’ll make a fine husband for that daughter of yours.” The woman’s eyes seemed to light up, and the biggest smile came across her face. “Do you really think so?” Laughing, Esther nodded. “Now go on, I have something to attend to.” Watching Armanthia go on ahead of her, Esther looked back out into the garden. Could it be true that Haman was a happy man, she suspected not. His heart burned with jealousy, though of what she couldn’t tell. A part of her was fascinated by Armanthia’s boldness. In the end though, Esther couldn’t see herself in Haman’s arms. Not when she had a husband to attend to.
    Still, Esther couldn’t help but be attracted to him. She didn’t care if she was actually supposed to hate him. Her people had been the ones to destroy the royal name of his family. That hadn’t been in her lifetime however, and now it seemed his heart burned with rage. Esther knew that Haman planned to kill off her people, but did he know she was one of them? How could he know, even her husband did not know it. The question bothered her more than any before it, could she be the Queen of Persia simply because of a man