10. Esther had not made known her nationality or her kindred, for Mordecai had charged her not to do so.
11. And Mordecai [who was an attendant in the king's court] walked every day before the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what would become of her.
12. Now when the turn of each maiden came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the regulations for the women had been carried out for twelve months–since this was the regular period for their beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet spices and perfumes and the things for the purifying of the women–
13. Then in this way the maiden came to the king: whatever she desired was given her to take with her from the harem into the king's palace.