The Peasant Princess

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on The Chosen People In the heart of the world's greatest empire, power was not whispered. It was shouted from palace rooftops and poured into ornate goblets. And King Xerxes was not a man of half measures. 00:00:20 Speaker 2: Have you seen such a kingdom? Such splendor? Such a king. No, no, not a king. 00:00:37 Speaker 3: A god. 00:00:41 Speaker 2: Bring me Queen Bashiti. Tell her to wear her royal crown. Let my guests behold the jewel of Persia. 00:00:52 Speaker 4: My husband asks that I parade the symbol of my status before the court. 00:00:59 Speaker 1: Tell the king no. Haman leaned over to Mamucan in the chaos and whispered in his ear so only Mamucan could hear. 00:01:08 Speaker 4: Remind him who rules his house or soon. 00:01:16 Speaker 5: A decree must be made, one that ensures this defiance is never repeated. 00:01:22 Speaker 6: Let Vashti be vanished, or banished, that is to say. Let her name be struck from the annals of history. 00:01:31 Speaker 2: So it shall be. Queen Vashti shall be banished. 00:01:36 Speaker 1: And somewhere, far from marble halls and golden thrones, an orphan girl, would soon step into a story no one could imagine. The feasts had ended. The banners had been folded. The echoes of laughter and indulgence faded, leaving behind silence and regret. King Xerxes returned from his campaign to find an empty throne room. The queen was gone, the court uneasy, and the nobles restless. Mamucan, the king's advisor, came to the king's side. He was eager for Xerxes to find an impressionable wife whom he and the other advisors could easily influence to their designs. 00:02:33 Speaker 6: My king, you were wise to banish that rebellious woman from the throne room. Truly, you have evaded dishonor and dissension in this great nation. 00:02:43 Speaker 1: Mamucan's eyes darted to Haman, who hung back in the corner against a pillar. Haman nodded for Mamucan to continue. 00:02:53 Speaker 6: We will find you a new queen, one who will honor your commands as you rule this empire. 00:03:00 Speaker 2: Is it that easy, Mamucan? 00:03:04 Speaker 6: Leave it to us, great one. Let beautiful young women be sought for the king and added to your harem. Let them be gathered from every province, and let the one who pleases you most be crowned queen in Vashti's place. 00:03:22 Speaker 1: This notion pleased King Xerxes, who gave Mamucan's order out across his 127 provinces. The royal messengers galloped, carrying scrolls and reading the king's decrees. The search had begun. In the heart of Susa, the capital of the Persian Empire, lived a man named Mordecai. He was a Jew, the descendant of exiles, whose inheritance was land in the possession of foreigners. Stories of Israel captivated the longing hearts of his fellow refugee Israelites living in Susa. Mordecai longed for the homeland he had never seen, but he was a man of practicality first, sentimentality second. Mordecai labored to assimilate into Persian culture until he eventually secured an official position in the empire's judicial system, hearing the people's disputes and interpreting and applying the king's laws at the city gates. Mordecai did all this while keeping his Hebrew heritage discreet. It was at the city gate one day that he overheard the plans of the king. One of the other judges, a renowned gossip and busybody, sauntered over, eager to spill the secrets he had learned. 00:04:50 Speaker 4: Judge Mordecai, good morning. Have you heard the latest news from the palace? 00:04:56 Speaker 7: Good morning, Judge Arzog. 00:04:59 Speaker 4: No, I have not. Well, let me be the first to tell you, I imagine it will affect you more than the rest of us. 00:05:08 Speaker 1: Mordecai frowned in confusion, but knew our Zhang would not leave him wondering for long. 00:05:15 Speaker 4: Well, the puppet master himself, Lord Mimucan, has been whispering in the king's ear about finding a new queen for King Xerxes. 00:05:26 Speaker 7: Is that so? 00:05:27 Speaker 4: Yes, well, apparently Memucan has been eager to remind everyone who will listen that he suggested they oust Queen Vashti. But now they need to fill the vacancy. Rumor has it they're sending beautiful young women from every province here to Susa for the king. 00:05:49 Speaker 7: And I get the sense you think there's something nefarious to this search for a new queen? 00:05:57 Speaker 4: Well, this sounds like a Memucan scheme to me. Vashti was royal born. She's highbrow with education and standards. Memucan hated that he couldn't control her. 00:06:11 Speaker 7: So he's sending for women in every province, noble. 00:06:16 Speaker 4: Born or not. 00:06:18 Speaker 8: Yes, precisely. 00:06:20 Speaker 7: I think he's hoping. 00:06:21 Speaker 4: The king will... Select a young commoner who will be too naive to interfere in politics like Vashti did. Someone who will be so enraptured by being in a palace for the first time that she wouldn't second-guess anyone. 00:06:36 Speaker 7: Interesting. And I wouldn't put it past Mamyakin or the other eunuchs close to the king. But you mentioned this would affect me more than most. What did you mean by that? I'm certainly no beautiful young candidate for the king's harem. 00:06:56 Speaker 4: But your ward, Esther, is your uncle's daughter. Is that right? 00:07:03 Speaker 1: Mordecai's stomach dropped out. 00:07:05 Speaker 5: Yes, she's my cousin. 00:07:08 Speaker 7: But surely you don't think they would take her for the king's harem? 00:07:13 Speaker 4: I don't know, but the scale of the search sounded unprecedented. Just think, though. What if she were chosen to be the queen? 00:07:24 Speaker 7: Out of thousands of women? And the queen of King Xerxes? In the clutches of his scheming, dangerous advisors? I can't think of a more perilous position in the whole kingdom. But even if she were just taken as a concubine, she would see the king what? Once, if that? Denied her husband and family of her own? Then live out her life in isolation from her people? 00:07:54 Speaker 4: Her people? I had no idea you were so patriotic. Yes, it would be a different path than you envisioned for her, but it would be a great honor to be a wife of the king of Persia. 00:08:09 Speaker 1: Mordecai bit the inside of his cheek, masking frustration at his near slip. He had taken pains to make sure all the men he associated with At the city gate, thought Esther was Persian, not Jewish. When he took her in as a child when his uncle died, he forced her to adopt a Persian name in an attempt to conceal their heritage. Even though Mordecai wanted to protect her, he had always imagined she would marry a Jewish man, one of their community. The thought of their people intermarrying with their oppressors made him uneasy. and the customs of their people forbade it. Esther wound her way through the crowded narrow streets, the scent of freshly baked bread and ripe figs mingling with dust and sweat in the warm afternoon air. Her basket, heavy with fresh fruit and fragrant spices, tugged at her arm. The marketplace was too busy for Esther's liking. She longed for the quiet of the modest home she shared with her cousin Mordecai. She loved the stillness of their shaded courtyard, the rustle of olive branches, the comfort of familiarity. But for now, she would endure the noise and bustle of the marketplace for just a little longer. As she stepped away from her last store, a commotion caught her ear. the sharp cry of a royal messenger rising above the din of the crowd. He stood on a raised platform in the wide square that opened before the palace gates, flanked by guards in gleaming bronze armor. Despite herself, Esther drifted closer. The messenger's voice rang out again, clear and commanding, echoing off the stone walls. The people pressed forward in anticipation. 00:10:10 Speaker 8: By order of King Xerxes, let every young woman of beauty be presented at the palace in Susa. Fathers, uncles, and brothers. Bring forth your daughters, nieces, and sisters. Come willingly, or be compelled. For from among these women, the king will choose his new queen to reign over Persia. 00:10:31 Speaker 1: Esther raised her eyebrows in surprise, and then she noticed that the soldiers had been scanning the crowd. When the palace servants ceased speaking, they dispersed through the crowd, surely speaking with the fathers about their eligible daughters, enforcing the order. of the king. Hester chuckled softly in disbelief to herself at the notion of this mandatory beauty contest of sorts, but she nonetheless pulled the scarf covering her hair down onto her forehead. She readjusted the basket in the crook of her arm and turned away from the square, already creating a mental list of what she would do when she got home, the first of which was to steep a before preparing the evening meal. 00:11:22 Speaker 9: Just think, if I were queen, someone else could make my tea and prepare my meals. 00:11:28 Speaker 1: Esther mused about living in a palace as she skirted around the crowds pressing in the opposite direction, many mothers and fathers pulling their daughters along to go before the palace representatives. If women were being submitted to the crown willingly... then perhaps the search would need not continue. She wondered what Mordecai thought of all this. As if her thoughts summoned him, his voice suddenly cut through the noise of the crowd. 00:11:58 Speaker 7: Esther! 00:11:59 Speaker 3: Esther! 00:12:00 Speaker 1: Esther turned and looked, and was surprised yet again to see the familiar face of her cousin Mordecai rushing toward her through the throng of people. 00:12:10 Speaker 9: What is it, Mordecai? 00:12:12 Speaker 2: It's all right. 00:12:13 Speaker 9: I'm here. 00:12:14 Speaker 4: Catch your breath. 00:12:16 Speaker 7: Esther, have you heard the king's decree? 00:12:18 Speaker 9: Yes, can you even imagine? 00:12:23 Speaker 1: Mordecai grasped her elbow and made to pull her deeper into the crowded narrow streets of the market when a dark shadow fell over them both. Esther lifted her eyes and saw two men towering above them. A soldier in gleaming armor, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, and beside him, a eunuch dressed in richly embroidered robes, the unmistakable mark of the palace on every fold of his attire. Mordecai tracked her gaze and looked over his shoulder at the pair of men. The color drained from his face, but he steeled himself and addressed him. 00:13:04 Speaker 7: Lord Hegai! 00:13:05 Speaker 1: The eunuch gave Mordecai a solemn nod, but his eyes lingered on Esther. Cold, calculating, appraising her as though she were a piece of livestock at market. His companion followed suit, his gaze bolder, hungrier, roaming over her body beneath the light summer gown and cloak. Esther shifted her weight, her palms damp and cheeks flushed, but there was nowhere to go. nowhere to hide. At last, the eunuch's eyes settled on her face, unreadable. His companion's gaze did not. It remained on her body, making Esther's skin crawl. She felt Mordecai stiffen defensively beside her in response, and then, without so much as acknowledging her presence, the eunuch spoke, addressing Mordecai as if she were invisible. 00:14:03 Speaker 3: Judge Mordecai, you weren't thinking of keeping this young woman from the king, were you? You seem to have lost your way. 00:14:14 Speaker 4: To the palace. 00:14:16 Speaker 1: Mordecai's heart pounded. This was her guy, the keeper of the women. It was this man who hand-selected and prepared all the young women to meet with the king. Some would become concubines, others turned away. and one would be crowned queen, all by his hand. If Esther's fate was already set and she was to go before the king, her guy's influence would steer the outcome. Mordecai sighed and did his best to summon his politician's smile. 00:14:53 Speaker 7: Of course not, Lord Hagari. As you can imagine, as a city official, I am, of course, eager to answer the command of my king. But I did want a moment with my cousin Esther to say goodbye. I have no wife or children of my own, you see, and when Esther's parents died, she was just a child. I raised her as my own, and she's all the family I have. could find no one more obedient or loyal or with a more caring and gentle heart anywhere in Persia. 00:15:32 Speaker 1: Mordecai's heart nearly broke in two as he glanced at Esther. He watched her eyes widen and her face pale as understanding dawned. Esther was so young and naive to the ways of the world. Her world had been the quiet streets of the Jewish quarter and the familiar rhythm of the marketplace, and she was content with that small world. Her guy's gaze softened as he glanced between them. Perhaps it was mercy. Perhaps it was divine favor. He gave a small nod. 00:16:08 Speaker 4: I understand. 00:16:10 Speaker 3: I remember the day I was taken from my own family into the king's service. Say your goodbye and bring her to the palace within the hour. And, Judge Mordecai, do not mistake this kindness for leniency. I will expect her there. 00:16:30 Speaker 5: Of course, Lord Hegai. 00:16:32 Speaker 7: Thank you. 00:16:33 Speaker 1: Esther barely noticed the two men slipping back into the crowd, or Mordecai taking the basket from her hand and wordlessly guiding her through the streets to their home. The familiar streets blurred around her, sounds and colours muted, distant. Only when the door closed behind them with a soft snap, sealing out the hum of the marketplace she had always loved, did the tears break free. Mordecai set the basket aside and pulled her into his arms. She wept into his shoulder, and he held her close, his hands steady, though his breath trembled. But that's... The name was like an embrace in and of itself, for Hadassah was Esther's Jewish name, a name that Mordecai never let her use in public in front of the Persians. No, to the world, she was Esther, Hadassah. Esther feared this may be the last time she heard it on someone else's lips, for when would she ever come back here? When would she return to the people she loved? The word hung heavy in the air, charged with a lifetime of meaning and now anticipated loss. And then Mordecai pulled away to look her in the eyes. 00:17:57 Speaker 5: Batassa, Esther, you must go. 00:18:02 Speaker 9: And leave everything I know? 00:18:04 Speaker 7: My home? 00:18:05 Speaker 9: Our people? 00:18:07 Speaker 5: You? 00:18:09 Speaker 7: Yes, you heard Haggai. 00:18:11 Speaker 10: There's nothing we can do that would not disobey the word of the king. 00:18:15 Speaker 9: The king's word is law. 00:18:19 Speaker 1: Mordecai and Esther both chuckled weakly after all their tears at Esther's familiarity with all of Mordecai's sayings. Mordecai's smile quickly waned, though, as he then urgently sought to arm his adopted cousin with all the knowledge he had before he would have to surrender her over to the palace. 00:18:40 Speaker 5: That man, Hegai... I do not know him well, but you must find favor with him. He is the keeper of the king's women. He will prepare you to appear before the king. 00:18:52 Speaker 3: Prepare? 00:18:54 Speaker 9: Prepare how? 00:18:55 Speaker 10: I do not know exactly, but he will have a say in which women will go before the king and which ones will be sent away. 00:19:04 Speaker 9: If I am sent away, could I come back here? 00:19:07 Speaker 5: I do not think it would be wise to be sent away. Do not know what happens to the women who do not please the king. 00:19:15 Speaker 10: No, Esther, like it or not, this is the path you must walk now. 00:19:20 Speaker 5: You do not know where it leads, but you must have courage. Tell no one of your heritage. Tell no one you are a Jew. Do not give them any reason to cast you out or set you aside. And tell no one that you know me either. Don't give them any clues about your past. It is safer that way. 00:19:45 Speaker 1: Esther nodded dutifully at her cousin's words and tried to summon him. the courage she spoke of, but found that inside, she just felt small and scared. 00:19:56 Speaker 9: Will I ever see you again? 00:19:58 Speaker 1: Mordecai did not want to lie or give false hope. Often, the concubines of kings were not permitted to leave the palace grounds. But admittedly, Mordecai did not know a lot about the inner workings of the king's wives. Why would he ever have needed to? 00:20:16 Speaker 10: I will try and visit you in the palace courtyard if I can, or send messengers if that is permitted. But we must be careful who we place our trust in. There are very few you can trust within the palace walls. Even the servants could be spies, and nobles are almost never trustworthy. You don't rise to high positions in Persia without compromising your morals. Be very careful, my dear Esther. Listen and observe. 00:20:49 Speaker 5: People's words may deceive you, but their actions rarely do. Do not become like them. Hold fast to your integrity. 00:20:59 Speaker 7: Do not place your trust in the greedy hands of another. Be wise.... 00:21:06 Speaker 5: Be cautious. 00:21:09 Speaker 1: Esther dabbed her eyes and tried to put on a brave face, but fear betrayed her. Mordecai took up her hands, steadying her trembling fingers in his own. 00:21:21 Speaker 7: Listen to me, Esther. I know this feels like exile within exile, but you were made for more than a life on the streets. 00:21:32 Speaker 9: I never wanted more. 00:21:34 Speaker 7: Sometimes more finds us, whether we ask for it or not. And when it does, we can only walk forward in faith and courage. Remember, you do not walk alone. The guard of our people goes with you. Though you bear a foreign name and keep your heritage a secret, you will always carry the heart of our people within yours. 00:22:05 Speaker 1: Esther took a shaky breath, understanding that her world was suddenly expanding beyond anything she'd ever imagined, and far beyond anything she'd wished for. 00:22:17 Speaker 7: Remember what I've taught you. Speak little, observe much. 00:22:22 Speaker 5: Kind, but not naive. 00:22:25 Speaker 7: And trust, trust that what you can't see yet may one day make sense. 00:22:34 Speaker 1: Esther nodded, pressing her forehead briefly to his shoulder. 00:22:38 Speaker 9: I will make you proud. 00:22:40 Speaker 1: Mordecai swallowed hard, fighting back a fresh wave of tears. 00:22:46 Speaker 7: You already have. 00:22:52 Speaker 1: Esther walked in silence with the trickle of other young women deposited there by their fathers or guardians toward the palace gates. With each step, The streets of her childhood fell away behind her. The towering stone walls of the royal palace loomed ahead, a world of wealth, ambition, and danger she had never touched. The gates creaked open. Her guy stood waiting, arms folded, face impassive. Esther felt her heart pound, but she kept her head low. She would do as Mordecai had instructed, listen. Observe. Stay true. Weeks turned to months. The palace was its own universe, white stone columns towering overhead and gilded mosaics glinting in the candlelight. The scent of jasmine and myrrh lingered in the air, heavy and sweet. Girls from every province, terrified, hopeful, shuffled through corridors too grand for them, Some tried to charm the attendants. Some wept in corners. Others plotted. Esther kept her eyes lowered. She did not clamor, did not beg. She listened and watched. She did not compromise her integrity. Haggai noticed. You ask for nothing extra. 00:24:23 Speaker 3: No jewels, no silks. 00:24:26 Speaker 9: I trust your experience. Whatever advice you give to us to stand before the king will suffice. 00:24:33 Speaker 1: He gave her a look she could not read, then nodded. 00:24:37 Speaker 3: You are different. 00:24:39 Speaker 1: To Esther's surprise, shortly after that encounter with the enigmatic Haggai, Esther was moved to the finest quarters for the king's concubines and gifted seven attendants to wait on her. She had no idea what she had done to gain the man's favor. but she attributed it to the favor of the god of her people, for who else would be guiding her path here in the palace where she was all alone? And at long last the night came, nearly a year of carefully following the diet Haggai gave her, nearly a year of stringently applying the perfumes and cosmetics as Haggai instructed, and it was finally here, the night Esther would be presented before the king. One by one the girls before her had gone before him, and one by one they returned and retired to the harem of concubines, forgotten names, fading faces. Esther sat alone in her chamber, her heart pounded like a drum, but her face was calm. Esther closed her eyes, no words, just a whisper of hope carried on a breath. When she was called, she rose, smoothing her simple gown as she stepped forward. No excess, no gold, just dignity. At the massive doors, she paused. The guards swung them open with a groan that echoed down the hall. She took one breath, one step, and left behind the girl from the marketplace. She was stepping into the unknown, but she would not step in fear, and she did not tremble. When she entered the room, the king's breath caught. He had seen beauty in thousands of different ways, but this, this was different. She did not dazzle, she calmed. She did not sparkle, she steadied the room. She had a quiet, unassuming confidence that made her rich brown eyes shimmer beneath her veil. Her porcelain skin was radiant and smooth over her high, elegant cheekbones, and her lips curved into an infectious, shy smile. The king could not help but smile in response. 00:27:11 Speaker 7: Tell me your name. 00:27:12 Speaker 1: Esther kept her eyes downcast, awed. Alluring, as Haggai had called it, and answered her king. 00:27:20 Speaker 9: I am called Esther, my king. 00:27:24 Speaker 1: And so, the orphan girl, the peasant princess, became queen of Persia. But beyond the silks and splendor, destiny stirred. A story far bigger than palaces or crowns was beginning to unfold. She had been chosen. But what lay ahead would demand more than beauty. It would demand a courage she had not yet imagined. This Pray.com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Schellebarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradok, Thomas Copeland Jr., Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Lashinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith. written by Aaron Salvato, Brie Rosely, and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey.com productions on the Prey.com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review.