– Arius –

Overall I suppose the party went quite well. The food was excellent, the entertainment was excellent... and I guess it was nice to see Chione. Though she was still clearly upset with me.

At this point, I had decided to give up. I wouldn't pursue her anymore. Instead, I would give her whatever time she needed and hopefully eventually she'd get over it.

Once she was over it, maybe, if the gods willed it, she would come and talk to me again.

I decided this when I realized that now, more than ever, I had more important things to worry about.

Despite the banquet going late into the evening the day before, I was still expected to wake up bright and early in order to tend to my daily affairs as Pharaoh. So I woke up early, attended the morning prayers and then headed off to the throne room.

In the throne room, I talked to nobles about taxes and decisions. I helped to judge the crimes of criminals as well as innocents who were deemed criminals. I praised the efforts of some of the higher ups while criticizing the laziness of others.

In other words... the same thing I did yesterday.

It was close to the end of the daily meetings, right before the noon prayers, that I was surprised by a group of three peasants stepping forward. One of them was a woman, and the other two were men. All of them more simple, white clothes that were dirtied from what I imagine was a long trip to get here. It was quite obvious that they were peasants... they had little to no meat on their bones and a kind of look in their eyes that made my heart ache.

I had noticed that they were waiting at the back of the throne room all morning, but I didn't realize they had the intentions of talking to me.

When the reached the base of the dais, they got down on their knees and bowed.

"You may rise," I said, smiling warmly since I could just feel their nervousness and fear. "What is it that I can do for you?"

After standing up, they looked nervously at me before the older looking man in the middle spoke. "My Pharaoh... son of Amunkare. It is an honor to be in your presence."

I smiled, undeniably pleased to be called the son of Amunkare.

"We have come here seeking help... we hope that you will hear us out."

"Of course," I said. "Please, speak."

There was a hesitation. "My Pharaoh... for years now, since Pharaoh Khamen had taken control of the southern regions, our village has been suffering. Ours, as well as many other southern villages."

My eyebrows rose.

"Rebels have been attacking us in an attempt to get Pharaoh Khamen's attention for years. They have stolen from us, attacked us and burned our villages over and over again. We came asking for help before but were ignored... so we have tried to bare the blows. We would rebuild and try to move on but now they have began to kidnap our women and our children... and they have began to kill."

My lips parted in shock.

The other man, who was younger and looked angrier spoke next. "We cannot take this much longer, my Pharaoh! Pharaoh Khamen has taken the southern regions and given them to the nobles to flourish and be happy with soldiers protecting them so we are the ones who struggle with the consequences," he said with a loud voice. "We have gotten nothing from Pharaoh Khamen's successes yet we are the ones who suffer–"

A guard who was standing next to him grabbed him aggressively. "Watch your tone when you speak–"

I held my hand up. "Stand down," I ordered. "I wish to hear them out."

The guard hesitated before letting go and stepping back.

"My Pharaoh," the woman suddenly spoke. "We feared coming to ask Pharaoh Khamen for help... but when we found out that you were taking his place temporarily, we travelled far to see you. We hope that you will be kinder to as and help us," her eyes watered. "They have my sister."

As soon as she said it, she began to cry. The older man in the middle held her in his arms while the younger man looked away angrily.

I swallowed back the lump in my throat.

I had heard about the southern rebels and their attacks. Egypt was a lucky nation in the sense that we were protected by natural barriers. In the North we had the delta and the sea... any invaders coming by boat would be seen well in advance and could be dealt with appropriately. In the East and West we had deadly deserts that only our people had mastered in terms of navigation. People have tried many times to get to us through those means but often die trying.

The gods had gifted us with natural protections.

However... the south was the only place where we were lacking. Thanks to the cataracts of the Nile, no war ships could get through without a struggle. So massive attacks were avoidable. However, small attacks to villages were a high possibility.

And like these people said... they were suffering from these attacks.

I let out a breath. The throne room had silenced, except for the soft cries of the woman who stood before me. It was as if everyone was waiting eagerly to hear my response.

My uncle would have sent them home. Maybe he wouldn't have even bothered to hear them out. To him, the peasants were not important. They played no role in his successful hold on the throne.

But I could not be like him.

I would never be like him.

"Take a hundred soldiers with you."

Gasps filled the throne room as everyone looked at each other in surprise. Even the three peasants looked unbelievably shocked.

Lord Khafirin, who was the one who recorded everything that happened during the meetings, looked up at me, brush in his hand. "One hundred?"

I nodded.

"My Pharaoh," General Boman started, sounding shocked. "Might I remind you that Pharaoh Khamen is off at war. All of the soldiers are with him and the ones that are here are needed. Where do you think we will get a hundred soldiers from?"

I looked at General Boman, realizing the truth in his words. "Seventy-five then."

People were gawking.

General Boman shook his head. "My Pharaoh–"

"My Pharaoh, the maximum we could safely send with them is ten," Lady Akila said.

"Ten?" I asked in disbelief. "And what exactly are ten soldiers going to do for them?"

"Lady Akila is right," General Boman said. "The Pharaoh left me here to protect our home from any insurgencies and we need all of our soldiers."

"It is not just their village that's suffering, General Boman," I argued. "Many southern villages are struggling and–"

"Seventy-five is unreasonable," General Boman said firmly.

"If we send nearly a battalion to deal with this then we could stop this from happening in the future," I said. "These rebels are continuing their attack because the King has not responded. We must respond."

"You don't seem to understand what I am saying, my Pharaoh," General Boman said.

"We are well up north, General Boman," I said. "We don't need these soldiers as much as these people do!"

"We cannot dispatch seventy-five soldiers from here. It is out of the question. If it were discovered that all those soldiers are marching away from the capital then our enemies would take advantage of this. Then if we are attacked then what do we do? We need our soldiers... we cannot risk it."

I let out a breath. "Fine... ten soldiers from the palace." I saw the disappointment on the faces of the peasants but the relief on the faces of everyone else. Unfortunately, I wasn't done yet. "But we will take five soldiers from the households of all the nobles until we reach a total of seventy-five soldiers to march south."

Gasps, gasps and more gasps.

"My Pharaoh!" I heard some of the noble onlookers cry.

"Each noble household has between fifteen to twenty soldiers on their grounds for protection. I am sure that sparing five for some time would not harm them."

"Oh, c'mon Air-y," Tabia started.

"I'm the Pharaoh right now so what I say goes," I said, firmly. "Please, Lord Khafirin, record this for the records. General Boman, please pass on this message to the soldiers. Getting some volunteers would be ideal. And Lady Akila, I ask that you help get the cooperation of the nobles–"

The three peasants fell down onto their knees. "Oh, thank you!" The woman explained.

"Thank you, my Pharaoh! Thank you!" The older man added.

"May you live long, my King," the other man said.

I smiled at them. "We will have it all prepared for you by this evening. Please take some time to rest. My guard will show you to a room where you can recover from your long trip here while you wait for the day to end."

The peasants thanked me again, all of them in tears before they were led out by the guards.

General Boman did not look pleased. "Clear out the throne room," he ordered to the nobles. "We must speak with the King alone."

The nobles, who were in a state of shock, did exactly what they were told. Everyone always listened to General Boman.

Everyone but me, I suppose.

Once the throne room cleared, General Boman turned to me. "Please forgive me for being harsh, my Pharaoh, but are you insane?"

"Arius, the nobles already don't like you," Tabia continued for him. "You aren't helping the situation by acting like this."

"You were meant to spend this time as temporary Pharaoh trying to make them grow to favor you, my Pharaoh," Lord Khamuza added. "You can already tell that they are not happy."

"Are you all serious?" I asked in shock. "Would you have preferred that I sent the peasants off as my Uncle would have?"

My court members hesitated.

"Our nation is not just filled with nobles," I argued. "We can't continue to ignore the peasants simply because the nobles want to act like children."

Tabia sighed, "Arius–"

"Did you not hear what they said?" I asked, interrupting her. "Their families are being killed. Their homes are being destroyed. That woman's sister was kidnapped!"

Tabia let out a breath.

"I don't care what Khamen says," I continued. "I am the true Pharaoh of Egypt. I am the firstborn son of Amunkare, the previous true Pharaoh. If the gods are just and they want maat to be maintained then I am, no matter what, destined to take this throne. I don't care if the nobles don't like me. I will fight to take this throne if I have to."

My words had surely silenced them. They were lost for words.

"And as the true Pharaoh, it is my duty to protect my people... rich and poor. Poor more then rich because they are the ones who need the help. I cannot sit by and allow for more people to die while I am King, albeit temporarily. These people are my people and they are all the same in the eyes of the gods. Thus, I will protect them the same as I would protect the nobles."

More silence.

"My decision is final," I said. "You can send five of my personal guards as well. I don't need that kind of protection."

After another short silence I saw Lord Asim begin to smile. He was silent this entire time but now he smiled before letting out a short laugh.

Then he got down on his knees and bowed.

To my surprise, Lady Akila followed. Then Khafirin and then Boman and then Lord Khamuza. Finally, Tabia rolled her eyes before bowing too.

"What..." I hesitated. "What are you all doing? You don't need to bow–"

Lord Asim smiled as he stood back up. "I always knew you were like your father," he said calmly. "But I have never seen him resonate so clearly within you until this very moment."

The other court members got up too, smiles on their faces. "I don't understand," I said.

"Though we still do not believe that this is a wise idea to get the favor of the nobles... we are pleased with your decision." General Boman sighed. "Our disagreement was simply to see how far you were going to go."

"So you were testing me?" Now I was annoyed.

Tabia chuckled. "Well actually, I was really annoyed. But still, we're proud of you, Arius."

I rolled my eyes as I stood up and began to leave. "I cannot believe you all," I sighed. "Let's hurry up and get it all prepared.

Tabia laughed as all the other court members bowed their agreement.

And though I was annoyed, I couldn't help but be a little pleased that they were happy with they way I acted.

– Chione –

Nearly everyone was talking about what Arius had done for the peasants from the south as the days continued with him as Pharaoh. A lot of the maids had family there, so it was a relief for them to hear this news.

Both Saia and I were also from Upper Egypt, but thankfully we were not that far down south to need to worry for our families safety.

Aside from this news, our work as maids continued on as normal. I kept on working with both Ram and Doctor Tumini and though I kept myself busy, I couldn't help but wonder here and there about what was going on with Arius.

To us maids, things were looking great. However, it wasn't a secret that apparently the other nobles did not approve of his actions. There were also rumors that once the real Pharaoh returned, Arius was going to get into a lot of trouble.

Despite being angry with him, I couldn't help myself from worrying... especially after he explained the scars on his back to me. Pharaoh Khamen did not seem very easy to get along with.

But nonetheless, I continued on with my work.

The days went by rather uneventfully and whenever I saw Arius I would usually bow low. However, before I bowed I would always catch his nod. We didn't speak to each other anymore, and thankfully he never tried to approach me.

This was a relief... since I had no reason to worry about loosing my head to Aziza.

However... I never imagined how easy it would be for me to drop the formalities when I felt like I needed to.

After waking up a couple weeks after the banquet and getting ready to start my day off with Ram, I was surprised by one of the maids meeting me at the entrance of the Servants Quarters. "Hey, Chione."

I smiled at her. "Good morning."

"The messenger dropped off a letter for you," she handed me a small piece of papyrus.

I hesitated. "Did he say from who?"

"From your village. I believe he said it's from a woman named Mita."

Mita? Saia's adoptive mother. "I can't read," I hesitated as I unfolded the papyrus, speaking more to myself than to her.

She chuckled. "I wish I could help but neither can I."

I smiled at her and after thanking her, I sat down for a second and tried to decipher the short note on the page. Of course, I failed.

There were certain characters I could recognize but overall, I could not put them together. So I sighed, carrying it with me to the stable.

I carried on with my usual work after placing the note in a safe spot away from the horses, though worry filled me the entire time I worked. What did Mita have to say? Was it bad news? Or good news?

Could I go home soon?

I mean, if she was sending me this note it must have been urgent. So maybe it was bad news. Maybe my father's condition was getting worse.

Maybe he was worse then ever.

Or maybe–

"Chione," Ram's deep voice startled me out of my worried thoughts.

When I looked at him, I saw him standing at the entrance of the stable with his arms crossed.

"Hi, Ram."

"Not this again... what is with you and your worries?" He asked. "What is it this time? Do you want me to find you even more work to do?"

I chuckled before dropping the broom I was using the clean the stable and walking over to him. "I received a not from someone back at home... but I can't read."

"Ah," he nodded. "Where is the note?"

I rushed over to the stool that I had kept it on and picked it up before rushing back to him. "Here it is," I said. "Can you read?" To be honest, I wouldn't be too surprised if he could. Ram was an amazing person.

He smiled. "Of course I can." He took the note from me and opened it up. "Chione," he started, but then he hesitated. He looked at me for a moment before looking back at the note.

"What?" I asked. "What's wrong?"

"Chione," he repeated. "I am writing to you to ask that you hurry home. My dear girl, your father's condition is worsening and he asks that you hurry home. He wants you by his side."

I placed a hand over my mouth, shocked.

"Please come home as soon as you can. Your father asks for nothing more right now," he continued. "Your loving aunty Mita."

I didn't realize I was crying until Ram reached out and touched my shoulder. "Chione... let's get you home soon."

I nodded, wiping my tears away.

He grabbed a tight hold of my hand before he guided me back to the Servants Quarters. "Get your stuff ready," he said. "I will talk to Aziza."

I nodded, running into the Servants' Quarters and into my room. I opened up my chest and packed all my things into my bag before running back out. I had to hurry home... I had to get home and help my father.

When I returned to the courtyard, I was surprised by Ram talking rather angrily to Aziza.

"I don't care, Ram," she said. "Just because she works under you doesn't mean she is your maid. She will not be going anywhere."

"Her father is ill–"

"That is not my problem. Maids cannot just come and go whenever they want... what kind of mess would be caused if I allowed that."

My eyes widened.

"Aziza, do you not have a heart?" Ram asked. "She came here to help her father to begin with, at least let her go see him."

"Absolutely not," she said, firmly. "These are my maids. I will not allow them to leave."

Ram continued to argue with Aziza while I stared.

I knew for a fact that though Ram was trying to defend me, Aziza was not going to let me go.

But why did it matter if I got her permission or not? Could I not just leave? I didn't need to come back after. What point would there be of me coming back if my father...

I took a deep breath.

Was I going to give up on him?

Without thinking much about it, I turned around and began to run. I heard Ram calling but despite respecting him so much, I chose to ignore him.

I ran all the way down to Doctor Tumini's office, and when I reached it, I barged in without knocking.

Doctor Tumini was with a patient and was rather surprised by my entrance. "Chione, you're early."

"Doctor Tumini, I need your help!" I held back my tears.

He walked around the annoyed looking man he was treating and came to me. "What is it, dear?"

"My father... he's getting worse!" I tried not to cry. "I got a note and I've been asked to go home because he is so ill! Please, is there any way at all for me to get the medicine? I promise I will work it all off... for the rest of my life if I have to!"

"Chione..." Doctor Tumini hesitated. He had told me some time ago that he would save up what was needed to get the medicine while I worked. Then he would give it to me as early as possible and I could take my time working it off.

Which meant that there was no way that he would have enough right now. But I guess it was worth trying.

"I'm so sorry, Chione... there is no way I can work up that kind of payment so quickly. If you give me some time I could try asking my father–"

"No, it's fine..." I didn't have that kind of time. "I'm sorry Doctor Tumini, I'll figure something out."

With that, I ran off, despite Doctor Tumini calling me and telling me to come back.

I tried not to think... because I knew that if I started to think then I wouldn't do what I decided to do next.

I went straight towards the throne room.

– Arius –

I was rather surprised when Chione came running into the throne room. Guards were reaching out, trying to grab a hold of her though she managed to squirm out of the surprised grasps until she reached the base of the dais.

She had interrupted a tax collected who did not seem the least bit pleased with what she was doing and I noticed his angry glare at the guards, urging them to get rid of her.

But I held up my hand, stopping them. "Chione?"

She collapsed onto her knees, bowing low and covering her face.

I wanted to roll my eyes but before I could I noticed her quick breathing and realized that she was crying.

I stood up, surprising my court members. "Chione... what is it?"

"Please..." she cried. "I beg you... I need your help."

I walked down the steps of the dais, ignoring the gawks of everyone in the throne room. "What is it?" I asked. "Get up, Chione, and tell me what's wrong."

When she didn't get up on her own, I found myself reaching down and helping her up.

"What's wrong?" I repeated when I managed to get her to look at me.

"My father–" she hiccupped in between her words. "He's sick... I don't have... enough–"

I cut her off by turning to the court members. "Finish off here," I ordered. "I have to leave early."

"My Pharaoh?" Lord Asim called.

"Doctor Khamuza, please, come with me."

Doctor Khamuza hesitated before bowing and beginning to follow me as I led Chione out of the throne room. When we were outside, I asked her again to explain to me what happened.

"My father is ill... I need a special medicine... it is too much for me to afford and I got a note saying that he's getting worse!"

I hesitated. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

She looked at me, eyes filled with tears. "I..."

"Does this have anything to do with the medicine that my son asked me about?" Doctor Khamuza asked her. He didn't look too pleased. In fact, he looked angry.

She nodded. "Yes, Doctor Tumini knows about it."

Doctor Khamuza let out a breath.

"Get the medicine ready," I said to him. "I will pay for it."

Doctor Khamuza looked at me in shock. "Dear boy, it is not a small sum... even for you. If your uncle finds out–"

"Chione, go stay with Doctor Tumini for now. I will find Ramose and send him to you. Once the medicine is ready you can go with him back to your home village and give it to your father."

Her eyes widened, though they continued to cry. "T-thank you," she whispered. "Thank you."

"Consider this payment for saving my life," I simply said.

She hesitated before she nodded. "Thank you," she repeated. "I will... forever be indebted to you Ar–" She let out a breath. "My Pharaoh."

I nodded my head before she turned around and rushed to Doctor Tumini's home.

When I looked at Doctor Khamuza, he was still looking at me with shock. "Arius, this is foolish, your uncle–"

"She saved my life, Doctor Khamuza. She treated me day and night for some time and nursed me back to health. For what she has done for me, a couple pieces of gold is no hair off–"

"A couple pieces of gold?" He asked. "You think that is how much this medicine will cost? This medicine is something that is only provided for royalty. How she even knows about it baffles me! It costs every pieces of jewelry you are wearing and maybe even more."

Without hesitation, I started to take it all off.

"My Pharaoh–"

"No hair off my back." I repeated.

When Doctor Khamuza saw how serious I was, he let out a sigh. "I can have it ready for tonight."

"Good," I said as I handed him my collar, my earrings, my rings, my armbands and also my ankle bands. "Let me know if you need more gold."

"Arius..."

"Don't worry about me," I said. "I have more from where that came from."

He sighed once more and turned around, leaving me behind.

As he had promised, the medicine was ready by the evening. Apparently he had to send a servant to a special sorceress for ingredients and all of my gold was given right to her.

Chione was given a tiny flask and instructed that her father was supposed to drink its contents as soon as possible. Once he did, he would fall into a deep sleep for approximately three days while his body healed itself.

Then when he would awake, he'd be back to normal.

Ramose did not want to go at all, however he went for my sake. He departed with Chione that night on a horse and I guess after that, the rest was in the hands of the gods.

Now... what I needed to worry about now was explaining to the court members why I had given a fortune worth of gold away for the sake of a maid.

Even if she saved my life... there was still going to have to be a lot of explaining.

– Chione –

We had arrived at my village exactly three days after departing. It was quite obvious to me that Ramose did not want to come with me. If fact, it kind of almost felt like he didn't like me. Though I wasn't surprised after our last interaction.

But nonetheless, his rushing meant that we got there faster.

And I really didn't care what Ramose thought of me at that moment.

Biba must have known we were coming since he had ran over to us well before we reached the village. But when we arrived, I wasted not a single moment. I ran into my home, surprising Aunty Mita. But I didn't care about that.

I rushed to my father's side and tried to hold back my crying. He looked exhausted and ill. His face was unbelievably pale and he looked nearly lifeless.

For all I knew, I may have already been too late.

"Father?" I called as I pulled out the flask. "Father, it's me, Kiya... I have the medicine, you need to drink it!"

Aunty Mita looked at me in shock. "You got it?"

"Kiya..." My father's voice was weak.

"Please, drink this, father." I held the flask at his lips, lifting his head just enough so that he could drink the medicine. He managed to down it down with some weakness.

Once the entire flask was emptied, my father shut his eyes and fell fast asleep.

I didn't feel any better... despite being told that the medicine was working if he fell asleep, I didn't feel any better. I mean, maybe he just fell asleep... how would I know?

In the end I realized that all I really could do at this point was wait.

I stayed with my father day and night, watching him carefully and making sure he was alright. I would constantly watch his chest, trying to make sure he was breathing. When I deemed him fine though, I would still sit there.

Though my father left me behind often, I knew very well that he loved me and cared for me. A maid had mentioned once that she thought it was mean of him to do that... but I didn't think so.

Yes, I missed him... but I knew he was doing this because he had to. He was a doctor. It is a doctor's job to help people. That was why he left, after all. He had saved countless lives on his trips and it was that fact that made me hope the gods would go easy on him.

My father was my role model. I wanted to help people the way he helped others.

It was two days in that Aunty Mita came and told me to go and rest. When she asked me how I was able to get the medicine, I told her that a kind young man offered to pay for it. I also mentioned that I'd have to go back and work it off.

I didn't want to say that Arius, the Prince of Egypt, paid for it... I felt that that would worry her. The fact that I was even interacting with a prince would worry her. Of course I couldn't blame her though, I was worried about it myself and Arius was my friend.

Or at least, I think he was.

After Aunty Mita sent me out, I left my home and sat outside, leaning against the wall while Biba snuggled up against me.

I ran my fingers through his fur and was a little surprised by Ramose making his way towards my home. Arius had told him to stay with me but I didn't think he actually would.

It was quite obvious that Ramose did not like me. Now more than ever.

"How is your father?" He asked.

"The same as before."

He nodded. "When you get back to the palace are you going to start ignoring Arius again?"

I looked at him.

"To be honest, what you did is not surprising," he crossed his arms. "Ignoring him when you don't need him but when you do, making the best use of your relationship with him."

I wanted to argue, but I didn't. Instead, I hugged my legs and bit my lip.

Because I knew he was right.

I had used Arius.

All these weeks were spent ignoring him because I was mad at him for lying to me. Suddenly, I need his help and I push all of that aside and take advantage of his position.

That's exactly what I had done.

And I did feel bad about it.

"I'm going to work it off," I said, more to myself than to him.

Ramose let out a short laugh. "For the rest of your life?"

"If that's what it takes."

"You're quite foolish," he said. "Arius doesn't want that. You don't realize how lucky you are to have been given a chance to be friends with a man like Arius. Not because he's the Prince of Egypt, but because he's a good man."

I hesitated.

"At the banquet, you asked me if I thought you were a toy when I told you it was your duty to do exactly what Arius tells you to do."

I remembered that, getting angry again.

"I didn't say that simply because he's the Prince of Egypt. I said it mostly because he is Arius, the Prince of Egypt. Arius is the kind of man who deserves that sort of treatment... whether he's the Prince or not."

My eyebrows rose in surprise.

"My tolerance of you comes simply from the fact that you saved my best friends life," he added. "Aside from that I think you're an entitled, selfish peasant girl who has no idea how lucky she is." With that, he walked off, probably to tend to his horse or something like that.

When he was gone I sat there and sighed.

I didn't like him.

But it was more than a little clear that he loved his friend a lot. More than I thought he actually did.

So I sighed and spent the rest of the evening really thinking about what he had to say.

~ ☥ ~

Though three days had passed, my father hadn't immediately woken up. I wasn't, however, as worried as before since he was starting to look a lot better.

So before he even woke up I had come to the conclusion that the medicine had worked.

I tried not to cry, though this time my crying was because I was happy.

My father had been saved, by Arius, of course. All these months of worrying and trying to find a way to save up enough for the medicine... and in the end Arius helped me with ease.

He told me to consider it as payment for saving his life... but for some reason, I couldn't. I knew that when I returned to the palace, I would have to find a way to pay him back. There had to be something that I could do to pay him back.

Though I was trying to hold back my tears, I ended up crying anyways. I was crying because I was happy that my father was alive and I was also crying because Arius had helped to save him.

I felt so relieved.

As I cried, however, I suddenly felt a warm hand touch my face. When I opened my eyes I smiled widely. "Father," I let out a relieved sigh.

My father smiled at me, but his smile faded very quickly. "How... how did you get the medicine? How did you get it so quickly?"

I held his hand in mine. "There's a man at the palace who helped me."

"A man?"

I nodded.

"Kiya..."

"You have nothing to worry about, father. He's very kind. I'm going to be returning back to the palace tomorrow morning and when I do I'll work off the payment."

"Kiya, I did not want–"

"Please, father... you've got nothing to worry about. I promise that he is kind. He won't do anything–"

"Who is he?"

I hesitated. "A... um... soldier."

"A soldier... who can afford such a medicine?"

I could tell that my father could see right through my lie. So I sighed. "Don't worry, father. I will work it off and return home as soon as I can."

My father watched my face for what felt like a long moment, knowing I was lying.

So I just smiled before bending over and kissing his forehead. "I'm so glad you're okay, papa."

– Arius –

Over the span of the week that Chione and Ramose were gone, I ran into Saia once. She had told me that Aziza was infuriated with Chione for leaving without her permission and Saia was worried that something bad would happen to her once she got back.

Of course, I had to assure Saia that everything would be fine. I also had to meet with Aziza to remind her that I was the one who gave Chione permission to go home. Though Aziza seemed to understand the fact while she was talking to me... I knew that she was going to find a way to be harsh with Chione.

On my end... well... my court members were not at all pleased with what I had done.

This time, they did not forgive me for doing something that my father may have done. This time I was being irrational.

According to the angry General Boman, I couldn't be throwing pounds of gold at simply maids.

They settled down only a little when I reminded them that she was the one who saved my life. But it didn't help the situation as much as I would have liked.

Of course, I did not feel bad about helping Chione at all. I mean, she may have been mad at me and she may have been ignoring me, but that didn't change the fact that she still saved my life.

And it also did not change the fact that I, for whatever reason, wished she would accept me as at least a friend.

Tabia was the only one who wasn't actually upset with me. Despite her usual annoying self, she was actually proud of me for doing what I did.

"You owe her your life," she said, sprawled out on my bed as I stood at my balcony. "A little bit of gold is nothing compared to your life."

I let out a short laugh.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, you're an idiot, but you are the one who's gotta save all of Egypt from Khamen," she said. "Who knows what would have happened if you ended up dying."

I rolled my eyes and returned to my room. "Why don't you ever have anything just nice to say?"

She grinned.

"I have a feeling she's going to make a big deal about paying me back."

"Well of course she is," Tabia responded. "She's a maid and you just handed a fortune worth of medicine to her. The poor know the value of riches much better than we rich folk do."

I crossed my arms. "I don't want her to have to worry about that though. I think it's silly."

She shrugged. "Here's an idea. Make her your personal maid."

My eyebrows rose.

"You'll hit two birds with one stone. She'll feel like she's actually paying you back directly, and you get to spend time with her since you're clearly so madly in love with her."

I rolled my eyes again. But just as I opened my mouth to utter some sort of comeback, there was a knock at my door. "Hey, Pharaoh, it's me, open up," I heard Ramose say.

My eyebrows rose, realizing that if Ramose was here that meant Chione was back too.

I rushed over to the door, opening it quickly. "Ramose, what happened with–" I cut myself off when I noticed that Chione was with him.

"She wants to talk to you," Ramose said. He then peeked into my room. "I'll keep Lady Tabia here company while you're gone."

Tabia snorted from inside my room. "Please," she started. "Even if I weren't already engaged, I wouldn't even waste a second with you, Ramose."

Though Tabia had turned Ramose down over a thousand times, the look on his face was always priceless. So I chuckled before stepping out of my room and closing the door.

"How is your father?" I asked as Ramose marched off, probably annoyed with Tabia.

"He's fine... thanks to you."

I started to guide her away from my room. The guards standing at my door seemed to be a little too nosy for my liking. "You could have stayed a little longer," I said. "You didn't have to come back so soon."

"I have to start working it off... as soon as possible," she said as we walked. "The sooner I start, the better. Is there anything specific–"

I knew it. "I already told you that you don't need to worry about it."

"You said I don't need to but that does not mean I'm not going to."

I rolled my eyes. "You are the most difficult girl I've ever dealt with in my entire life."

Surprisingly she chuckled to that.

We walked silently for a short while, making our way out of the palace, before she spoke up again. "Ari–" She cut herself off, probably reminding herself not to call me by my name. But after a moment, I was surprised when she continued. "Arius," she said.

I looked at her, eyebrows high on my forehead. Well, that was a step forward.

"Thank you," she continued. "Thank you so much... you didn't need to do this for me yet you still did. I'll never be able to thank you enough."

"You can start by forgiving me for lying to you," I suggested.

She smiled at me. "I've already forgiven you."

"Great," I said. "Because I think I would actually get mad if you didn't."

She chuckled.

"If Aziza is harsh make sure you remind her you got my permission."

"I'll try," she sighed. "Though I think she's going to wring my neck."

The image was not a pleasant one, and for some strange reason, I didn't doubt what she said. Well, actually maybe it wasn't so strange. Aziza was a monstrous woman.

When we reached the exit that led towards the servants quarters, Chione bowed. "Thank you again, Arius, for helping me so much."

I was going to tell her that she didn't need to bow, but I think I've said similar things so many times that I should have realized by now that it wasn't going to help. So I just smiled. "If you thank me one more time I'll buy you an expensive dress and force you to wear it."

She was taken aback by that but laughed. "Alright, no more thank you's."

"Good."

With that, she turned around and headed off.

I didn't wait or anything. I decided to head back up to my room but right when I turned around I heard Aziza's screeching voice.

"Chione!"

It was loud and shrill and startled even me.

I stood there for a moment, waiting to hear what Aziza was going to say to Chione.

All I heard was screaming.

I couldn't even understand what she was saying.

So without thinking much about it, I rolled my eyes and turned around and started walking towards the servants quarters. Tabia's annoying voice played in my mind as I smiled at the shocked Aziza who was surprised to see me.

She stopped yelling at Chione the instant her eyes fell on me and she bowed. "My Pharaoh."

"Lady Aziza, great to see you," I said. "I have a request that I wanted to discuss very briefly with you."

She hesitated.

"Chione will no longer be serving under you," I said, still smiling. "I've decided to make her my personal maid."

------

Hey everyone!!

I hope you enjoyed the update!

Now I know you all are probably like, "where's the romance!!!!" LOLLL! But I can promise you today that with the next update, there will officially be some romance xD I just needed to get this whole personal maid thing out of the way ;)

Thanks as always for reading! And don't forget to vote and comment and follow if you enjoyed the update =D

Love,

Luckycharms <3