“Let me go, Vile Worm! Release me!” I was certain my words could be heard throughout the entire palace. No doubt that was why Pharaoh Yami suddenly appeared. I dropped to my knees and faced the floor.

             “What is going on here?” I heard the mighty pharaoh demand.

“Begging your pardon, great pharaoh,” I heard one of my captors explain. “This woman is meant to be a gift to you from a city to the south to be added to your royal harem. She claims to have much respect for you, but will not cease her struggle.”

“She seems to be quiet enough now,” the pharaoh noted in amusement. I couldn’t stop a smile. Soon, I felt a soft, gentle hand under my chin, lifting up my face. I was instantly captured by the crimson eyes of Pharaoh Yami.

“Those eyes,” I whispered, and reached out to touch him. Then I swiftly remembered my place in this situation and retracted my hand. “Please forgive me.”

The pharaoh laughed. It was a nice laugh, full of heart, like a child’s. “Tell me, why do you struggle? From what I hear, there are many maidens who wish for your fate.”

I looked back at the floor, still kneeling. I noticed he stayed on one knee to keep level with me. “I know it is not my will but yours that will be followed, but I wish not to be taken until I am in love.”

“Ah. I see.” He stood.

“A silly ideal,” a captor sneered.

“Some would say so,” the pharaoh replied. “Take her to my chambers.”

“Yes, mighty pharaoh.”

I allowed myself to be dragged onward. There was nothing more I could do. It didn’t matter how much I struggled. If the pharaoh willed it to be, it was. I was brought to a huge, beautifully decorated room, no doubt the pharaoh’s. I was thrown to the floor and left there, hands still bound behind me. I looked up to a young woman’s smiling face.

“Hello,” she greeted me. I could feel the rope that tied my hands cut. “I am Hikari. What is your name?”

I lowered my head and let it hang. My name no longer mattered.

“Take her to the bathing room,” she told whomever was behind me. I felt a hand on my back, lightly pushing me forward. I looked up to see the face attached to the hand.

“Hello. I am known as Amara,” the face said. I continued my gaze upon the floor with still no desire to introduce myself.

Awhile later, I was clean and dressed as beautifully as the other two women were. I wondered if they were concubines, and if so, how they managed to retain such cheery demeanors.

Hikari and Amara left me alone in the room. Awhile later, the pharaoh entered. I greeted him accordingly, with a bow.

“Good evening,” he said to me.

I kept my head bowed, fighting the tears. Decorum did not require me to respond.

“A thousand thoughts must be flying through your head right now,” Pharaoh Yami said to me. Again, I gave no reply, and he continued. “You must think I’m a very cruel man to have put you here when you asked me whole-heartedly no to. But, my lovely, you should know I am accustomed to getting what I want when I want it.” He was right next to me. “I and I want you. Very, very much.” He again pushed my chin upwards. My eyes remained closed, fighting the tears.

I felt his lips against my own. Soft at first, trying to get me to kiss back. But I did not.  The pharaoh opened his eyes and looked at me, narrowing them. He pushed me back on the bed. I fell to my back. He straddled himself over me.

“Fine. If you want to be that way, so can I. I’ve had to hold down girls much rougher than you.” He bent himself over me.

I took the opportunity to look deep into his eyes, figure out what was in his heart. I looked directly into them. He stopped in his tracks, staring back at me. I saw longing. Wanting. Being ashamed locked within the very depths of his being. But no cruelty. So why was he behaving this way if the emotion for the action was not in his soul?

My spell over him broke. It never lasts long. “You witch,” he accused. “What did you do to me? Answer now!!”

“I am no witch,” I replied. “The gods blessed me to be able to see into the hearts of people. I was trying to see what emotion was driving you to do this to me, and apparently others.”

“Oh, pray tell then,” he asked coyly, still hovering over me. “What is driving me? What is causing me to act this way?”

“I saw no cruelty in your heart. You genuinely believe doing this is alright. The answer to why is still hidden from me.”

“And so it shall remain.”

I had to keep him talking. “If that is what you choose to believe.”

“Are you hiding more secrets from me, my lovely?”

“Perhaps, but you have none from me.”

“And how is that?”

“I do not know the reason, but the Gods have allowed me the ability to see into other’s hearts. I know what you desire. It is not me.”

“I could have your head for such arrogance.”

“You could. But you won’t.”

“Why?”

“Because you love a challenge.”

The pharaoh took long looks into both my eyes. Without any regard for me, tore off my clothing and thrust himself inside me. I cried out in pain.

“I don’t want you?” he challenged. “I’ll show you how much I want you. How much I want that pretty face distorted in pain and complete anguish!”

He thrust inside me again and again harder and more painfully. I cried and screamed. It hurt so much. Finally, I felt him come and he ceased the torment. He pulled himself out, reorganized himself, and left the room without a word. Not exactly how I pictured my first time. I guess that’s life.

After I recovered from the initial shock of what had just happened, I got up and walked down to the pharaoh’s harem, where I had received a bath before. I wanted another, quite badly. It felt as if I had gotten sunburned inside me. It hurt. Afterward, Hikari came looking for me.

“Um… Miss?” she said. I remembered I had not told anyone my name.

“It’s Setsuna,” I informed her.

“Setsuna, your services are being asked for by the high priest.”

“High priest? I thought...”

“We go to whomever we are ordered.”

“I see.” Great, he’s telling his friends. “I suppose you know the way to his chambers?”

“Yes. I’m to bring you now.”

“Lead the way.”

The high priest’s chambers were smaller and less lavish than the pharaoh’s, but not by much. He wasn’t there either. Geez, these guys like making an entrance or something? I asked myself. I stood and awaited the next assault on my body, as High Priest Seth was known for his ruthlessness.

After a while, he entered the room, paying no mind to me at first. I briefly wondered if he even noticed me. I stood quietly, not drawing attention to myself. He went through a few of the pieces of parchment strewn out on his bed, and nearly crashed into me on the way out. Even then, he did not lose his composure.

“Oh, greetings,” he said to me. “You are the new girl in the palace, are you not?”

“That would accurately describe me,” I replied stagnantly.

“Stay here, I shall return shortly.”

I bowed respectfully. Something not easily accomplished, as I was still in pain. He left, and did return quite soon.

“So,” he stated. “You are the one Yami’s so intrigued with.”

Intrigued? I thought the phrase was ‘free fuck.’

“But that ability of yours has him rather worried.”

“Begging your pardon, but that hardly surprises me.”

“Why is that?”

“He seems to think he has a lot to hide.”

“Yes, he told your analysis. Tell me, what is it you think he is hiding?”

“I feel it is not my duty to tell.”

“Perhaps you are unaware of this, but Yami and I are quite close. There isn’t anything you could say that could surprise me.”

I paused, but spoke. “He is full of longing. There is something he wishes to have, but not the strength or perhaps ability to get.”

“He is pharaoh. He can have anything he desires.”

“I can only say what I saw.”

“Would you do me a service?”

“You wish me to look into your heart as well?”

“Yes.” He let his eyes meet mine for a longer while than I had ever had someone. Perhaps that was because he was doing it willingly and was not fighting me to break free of it. But he did break free. “What did you see?” he asked. “And be honest.”

“I would not be anything but,” I replied. “I saw much stress, a desire to be something you believe you cannot be, also a belief something is missing in your life.”

“Interesting,” he said. “You may go now.”

“I may?” I asked, surprised, before I could stop myself.

“Yes. I imagine you still hurting after what Yami did to you.”

“But if not…”

“Yes, I would likely have my way with you.”

“Ah. Farewell sir,” I said, and exited.

Hmm, I thought on my way back to the harem. So the one who is kind to his people is the seemingly heartless one in bed, and the one who is thought to be is not quite so much so. Interesting. I couldn’t think about much more. Yami’s rape was still affecting me. I decided I had to ask one of the other girls if they’d ever needed such assistance. What were their names again?

“Miss… ah, Hikari?” I asked.

“Just ‘Hikari’ will do,” she replied cheerily.

“Yes, um, could I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“After the pharaoh, um, had his way…”

She interrupted me. “Take a rag and wet it. You know those two folds of skin at your entrance? Push it in there for awhile. The pain will be gone soon enough.”

“A thousand thank you’s,” I replied.

It was nearly a week before I was ‘needed’ again. I hadn’t had the heart to write my family. What would I say? That I was a plaything for the pharaoh and his friends? I could already see Mother’s tears.

But my experience was about to change. Mildly, but change nonetheless. Amara came into my the room I slept in with a couple other girls and told me I was requested at the high priest’s chambers once more. I was actually glad. It seemed almost anything he could do wouldn’t be worse then listening to the others giggle about their experiences with the nobles.

Once again, I made my way down to High Priest Seth’s chambers. He would definitely know me to be better by now, but hopefully this wouldn’t be like my first experience with the pharaoh. Good king, lousy lover.

This time, Seth was waiting for me, sort of. He was looking at some more pieces of parchment, but in his room, on his bed, and was dressed far more casually than a week before, like he hadn’t left his room all day. Lucky bastard.

“Good day, Priest Seth,” I greeted him, pulling his attention from the parchment.

“Greetings once more,” he welcomed me.

“I was told you were in need of my services,” I began. “I’m afraid I’m not very skilled, but—“

He cut me off and walked toward me. “Let us change that then.” His lips met mine, so softly, and he held me in his arms. “I’ll show you a man should attend a woman and a woman a man.”

“O… kay.” I replied, already dizzy and breathless.

“Just follow my lead for now.”

I could only nod. He kissed me again, a little harder this time. I felt his tongue at my lips and opened them. His tongue gently massaged mine and I did the same for him. This lasted for quite awhile before he broke this kiss.

“You definitely have kissing down,” he said. I giggled. How girly of me. “Come with me,” she said, and took me by the hand, leading me back toward his bed. Suddenly, his expression turned to concern. “You look frightened,” he stated, and obviously wanted an explanation as to why.

“Yes,” I admitted. “The only encounter I’ve had with a man lead to immeasurable pain for three days.”

“Setsuna,” he whispered. “Relax. There will be no pain here tonight. You know my record, and my time alone with a woman reminds me I’m human. Have no more fear in those beautiful eyes.”

Hmm, must be the opposite with the pharaoh, I thought, and that was the last I thought of him for the rest of the night.

For the next three days, I barely left Priest Seth’s chambers. He left early in the mornings, but told me not to go. He was usually back by mid-afternoon to continue our activities. He even usually remembered to have lunch sent to me.

The last morning, he forgot. I was starving. But Priest Seth had given me specific instructions not to leave until he returned. So I peaked outside the door to see if anyone I knew was around. No one was around. Perfect. All I could do was wait.

Seth came back around his usual time. I had fallen back asleep, unable to satisfy my stomach. I felt someone gently pushing against my side, trying to wake me. I opened my eyes to Priest Seth’s face. He looked as if he were smiling.

“Good day, Sunshine,” he greeted me.

“Good day,” I replied.

“I feel I must apologize. I forgot to tell the cook to send up some lunch for you, so I brought some up myself.”

I was immediately wide awake and scanning the area. Priest Seth pulled out a tray that was sitting on the other side of him. “Thank you!” I said, and dug in as politely as I could. He sat and watched me. “Did you want some too?” I asked.

“No,” he replied. “I already ate. In fact, it was when I was eating that I remembered you. I don’t know how you could forgive me.”

“Cause I have food now!” I informed him. “Had you come without food, that would be a different story.”

He smiled, went to his desk, and began rifling through papers. “Feel free to stay as long as you like,” he told me.

I looked up from my maniacal munching. “Priest Seth, I love being here. It would be hard to make me leave willingly.”

“Is that because I show you kindness and Yami did not?”

“I do thrive in kindness. Who would not? What the pharaoh does is cruel. And he truly believes it is right!”

“Is that what you saw in his heart?”

“Yes. I worry for him, and his heart.”

“Perhaps you are the one who can change it.”

“Perhaps, but it is unlikely he will want to see me again.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Priest Seth, you know of our first encounter.”

“There have been worse.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Setsuna, have these past few days been happy for you?”

“Immensely. I had no idea such happiness existed.”

“Then I am very sad to tell you this.”

“The pharaoh wishes for me?”

“After dinner. But he has had time to think and gather himself. I am hoping this time he will not be quite so violent. Please, stay here until dinner.”

“With pleasure.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Good evening, Pharaoh Yami.”

“Let the pleasantries slide.”

“As you wish.”

“Your demeanor has changed.”

“It has.”

The pharaoh looked at me closely while scowling. “Get on the damn bed.”

Obediently, I went to the bed, sat down, and looked up at the man who now stood in front of me. He bent down and kissed me harshly, forcing his tongue into my mouth. I could feel his hands kneading my breasts roughly as his kiss got more intense. He then used the force in his hands to push me unto my back. He pulled my gown off and began sucking on my nipples. He’s pleasuring me as well? Why? What has changed? I did not dare question him aloud.

He still had his way with me rather harshly, but it was not nearly as bad as our first encounter. He still left as soon as he was finished, but not before instructing me to get dressed and leave. Now alone in the room, I gathered my clothes. As I dressed, I couldn’t help but look around. The last time I was here, I hadn’t had the chance. I saw various games lying on every hard surface, not surprising since our pharaoh is also known as ‘The King of Games.’ Also on a desk, I saw a rough, seemingly childish drawing of… something. It looked like a man, but in very different clothing. His robes were purple, and he wielded a strange-looking staff. I didn’t dare touch it, but instead made my way for the door. I almost crashed into Pharaoh Yami on the way.

“I would have thought you’d be gone by now,” he stated.

“Please forgive my procrastination,” I replied politely. “I’ve just never seen a room as magnificent as this.”

“And you never will again,” he replied absent-mindedly, rifling through some papers. He did so a little less intensely than I had often seen Priest Seth. Thinking I had outlived my stay, I turned to leave.

“You will return tomorrow night.” I heard him say at the door. I was more of a statement than a request, but I replied anyway.

“As you wish.” With that, I left.

The next night was similar to the one before, except he did not order me to leave immediately. But he did get up as soon as he was finished; deciding that rifling through papers was more interesting than me. I noticed there were more drawings on the desk, all of the man in purple. Pharaoh Yami caught me looking at them.

“It is the Dark Magician,” he stated, startling me.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to stare.”

He didn’t seem to hear me. “One of the children in the court keeps drawing him and giving the pictures to me. I have no idea why.”

Is he seeking counsel? “The Dark Magician is the monster you most often use in the Shadow Games, isn’t it?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied, still looking vacant.

“He is noble in character,” I dared to continue. “Perhaps this child sees you in the same light.”

The pharaoh turned as if I had said nothing; back to his papers. “You are free to leave,” he stated. He was telling me to leave. It was not when Priest Seth told me I was free of my duties for the night. It was not me he wished to fall asleep with in his arms. I gathered my clothing. Before I could leave, there was a knock and Priest Seth entered in full professional mode.

“Yami,” he said. “I need to speak with you.”

The pharaoh remained unfazed. “So speak.”

“I’ll have to ask you to leave, Setsuna,” Priest Seth said.

“Of course,” I replied. “I was just on my way.” I hurried out and back down to the harem quarters, which were actually quite close to the pharaoh’s. I would have been tempted to listen in if not for the guards at the door.

The next day, the nobles held a series of Shadow Games to amuse themselves during the Festival of Amun-Ra. Priest Seth invited me and some of the others up to the throne room to watch. I was delighted. I had never seen a Shadow Game before. Maybe I was finally getting something I could write home about.

I had yet to be in the throne room. It was truly magnificent. Glorious carvings adorned the walls, as well as beautifully-colored curtains and draperies. There were nobles and servants all around. And in the middle of it all, high on his golden throne, Priest Seth at his side, sat Pharaoh Yami.

He stood to mark the beginning of the competition. “Friends, nobles, guests, welcome to the Shadow Games!” Clapping and cheering followed. “The first competition will be between Priestess Isis and visiting noble, Governor Nobinaro! Take your places and begin!”

The floor cleared, except two people. A very graceful-looking woman and a very, well, you could tell the man had never had a worry in his fat, gold-covered life. Even the priestess was looking at him as if he were a parasite.

Immediately, she summoned an angelic-looking creature called a ‘Wingweaver.’ She was dressed in golden robes and had three pairs of wings- truly a magnificent sight. The governor summoned a beast called a ‘Berserker Gorilla.’ It looked quite fearsome, snarling at the priestess’ Wingweaver. But the woman held her ground well. Together, they called out, “Attack!”

Priestess Isis won the battle, but not the competition. The final round was Priest Seth verses Pharaoh Yami. The priest summoned his sacred Blue Eyes White Dragon, and the Pharaoh his Dark Magician.

“My dragon can beat that magician, Yami! You know it!” Priest Seth exclaimed.

Pharaoh Yami paid him no heed. He was chanting, summoning two more monsters and adding their power to his magician. “Now he is, Seth! Attack, Dark Magician!”

But now the high priest was chanting. The pharaoh’s attack bounced right off the fearsome dragon and headed back to the magician. Four quickly said words, and the attack was absorbed, causing no damage.

The entire battle held everyone’s full attention until the end, Pharaoh Yami as the winner. He and Priest Seth shook hands and the crowd cheered for them both.

The pharaoh looked the crowd over. “Now,” he announced. “If my honored guests will please come to the dining hall, dinner will be served shortly.”

My cue to exit. I began to leave, but someone grabbed my wrist. Turned to see Pharaoh Yami’s face. “You will come to my chambers at nightfall,” he hissed, then released me and walked away.

“Geez, someone gets a little feisty after dueling, doesn’t he?” I murmured.

“Yes, he does.” I turned again, but this time to face Priest Seth. “His energy level goes into overdrive. Hope you’re ready for a long night.”

“Aw,” I replied. “And I was hoping dueling had that effect on you.”

His eyes glistened. “Did you?”

I nodded.

“Well, off with you now,” he said, as if I were a child again. I obeyed. Might as well rest up for my ‘long night.’

There were two men waiting for me in the pharaoh’s chambers. The man himself, but also Priest Seth. Not that I wasn’t glad to see him, but why was he here?

“Undress,” Pharaoh Yami ordered me, as he did every time.

“Whoa, Yami,” Priest Seth interjected. “No wonder this girl doesn’t like coming in here. You’re too rough. Let me show you how it’s done.” The man walked to me and kissed me, gently, while his hands unfastened the clasps of my dress. I returned the kiss and ran my fingers up his neck and through his hair, something I knew he liked. Are they playing some kind of game? I briefly wondered. No matter. I could play along.

“I think I’m beginning to see,” the pharaoh stated. “But I also still like it better my way. You know the drill.”

Our lips parted. I /did/ know the drill. I released my hold on the high priest, then, walked over to the railing between two of the bed posts where Pharaoh Yami was standing. Taking out his ‘special’ wrist cuffs (two cuffs bound together by a chain), he attached on cuff to me, raised my arm over the railing, then cuffed my other wrist so I could go nowhere.

“Now this is better,” Pharaoh Yami said. “Completely at my mercy.”

“I don’t know what it is with you and bondage,” Priest Seth sighed. “Just don’t take out the whip.”

“Alright, fine.”

May the gods bless you infinitely, I prayed for the priest. I still had scars healing from last time he used that damn thing. The priest walked up to me and kissed me. I lost myself in the sweet taste of wine still on his lips. Suddenly, his lips left mine. “Yami!” he scolded.

“What?” I heard the pharaoh ask innocently from behind me. Uh-oh.

“You know what. At /least/ prepare the poor creature first.” Yup, that’s what I thought. I dared to look behind me. Pharaoh Yami had stripped himself naked and was getting ready to enter me from behind. Now, he took hold of a bottle of oil. I turned my head back around. It was bad enough I was gonna have to feel this. I didn’t want to watch as well. Priest Seth kissed me again. I cold feel his hands running up my body. His mouth left mine again. He began leaving kisses around my neck and chest. Then I felt an oiled finger push its way into my rear end. I cried out. I was already tearing. Last time I hadn’t gotten the honor of oil and I was still sore.

“Shh, Setsuna,” Priest Seth said to me. “Just breathe, sweet.”

I looked at him through blurred vision. Then I felt the pharaoh replaced his finger with his penis. “Nyaaaa!” I yelled.

“Geez,” Pharaoh Yami groaned. “I would have thought you’d be used to this by now.”

“Well, I’m not!” I snapped back, as well as I was able in the situation.

“Shh, shh,” Priest Seth said to me. While my attention had been on the other, his garments had also fallen to the floor. I cold feel him rubbing against my front. “There, Setsuna. Focus on me.”

I gave in to a kiss, and soon felt him inside me as well. A low moan resonated in my throat. That made him push into me harder, as the pharaoh was doing as well. It was the first time I had ever experienced anything like this. It was quite painful, but also wonderful. Emotions I didn’t know I had were bubbling over the brim. I cried out loudly as I felt them both come inside me. Pharaoh Yami pulled himself out. I was so close, and prayed Priest Seth didn’t stop. But he did.

“Seth! No! Don’t!” I yelled. The other returned to my front and thrust himself inside. He slammed himself harder and harder until I came so hard the flow pushed him out of me.

I had gone limp. The only thing holding me up was the cuffs. Gaining back my breath, I opened my eyes. My legs were still twitching from the force, and between them was a puddle of my own cum, which had splashed up on my feet. I looked up. The pharaoh looked smug.

Priest Seth approached me and, holding on to me, undid the cuffs. He sat me down on the bed. I looked up at the pharaoh. “Why do you look so smug?” I asked him. “Do you think you did this to me?”

“Well, yes,” he replied indignity.

“You fool,” I stated.

“Fool?”

“Yes. You think that brief time at the end was what made me come so hard? Please. It was /everything/ leading up to it, not just you.”

“Seth?”

“Yes?”

“Would you return her to her chambers?”

“Certainly.”

The pharaoh pulled on his clothes and left the room.

“I don’t want to go to my room,” I stated.

“I know,” Priest Seth replied.

“I want to go to your room.”

“I know.”

“And make love to you until the sun comes up.”

“I- What?”

“I think you heard me.”

“You know, Yami /is/ quite fond of you.”

“He has an awkward way of showing it.”

“Yes, I know. I’ll help you with your clothes. Can you stand?”

“I think so.”

The high priest helped me get back into my clothing, and he into his own, and escorted me back to the concubine’s chambers.

“Tonight was… interesting,” I admitted. “I had no idea you two were so close.”

“We grew up together.”

“Oh, I see.”

We continued in silence, even when we arrived at our destination, Priest Seth merely nodded at me politely and continued on his way.

            Throughout the next few days, the plains grew drier and sun refused to shine, as did the moon. Soon, one could no longer tell the difference between night and day. The same black clouds hung over us in the sky, threatening something awful. I didn’t realize how awful until I took the liberty of walking down to the throne room.

            I hadn’t seen Priest Seth or Pharaoh Yami in a couple weeks, and this worried me. The high priest usually saw me at least every couple days, not just for my services. He was friendly with all of us, and would visit our chambers just to say hello. But I hadn’t seen any sign of him in two weeks.

When I entered the throne room, I did find both men, but not in the fashion I had hoped. They were facing each other, as if about to engage in a Shadow Game. Both had summoned monsters, the Blue Eyes White Dragon and the Dark Magician, ad were looking as if one of them wasn’t going to leave this match alive.  I prayed it wasn’t so.

“Seth… why…?” the pharaoh asked.

Seth looked quite ashamed, but then something came over him. I heard the sound of the Millennium Rod being activated. “No,” he said, seemingly possessed. “I must be pharaoh.”

“Yes,” a strange voice said. “And what must you do to do so?”

“Must duel Yami,” Seth replied. Yami tried to go toward the voice, but there seemed to be a barrier of magic up. He could not leave the throne room. “No, Pharaoh,” Seth said. “/I/ am your opponent.”

“No, Seth,” Yami replied. “I’m not. That man is controlling you with your own Millennium Item!!!”

“You’ve fallen so far. You kingdom is but a crypt,” Seth said. “Now face my Blue Eyes White Dragon /and/ your defeat!!!”

Yami had no choice.

“Attack!” the two men yelled together. As the monsters clashed, a brilliant light filled the room. I had to look away. Once it had dissipated, I looked back at the two men. Seth stood, but hung his head, looking at the pharaoh, who had fallen to the ground. He ran to him. I followed suit.

“Yami, Yami, speak to me please!” the high priest begged.

“Seth,” he weakly replied. “Anubis is coming for me.”

“No, don’t say that.”

Then Pharaoh Yami saw me. “Setsuna, you saw that?”

I nodded. Priest Seth looked even more ashamed.

“Hold him in no blame,” the mighty pharaoh told him. “It was not his will that was acted upon. It will be him who will take my place after I am gone.”

“Yami-“ Seth was in a new disbelief.

“Seth, bury the Items with me and hide my tomb well,” Yami stated hurriedly.

“Of course,” he replied.

He looked back at me. “I… I am sorry… I could not… make you a queen,” he said. “You deserve no less.”

“What?” I asked, tears burning my eyes.

“I suppose you… really didn’t realize… how much I care… for you. But then again… I didn’t make it… easy, did I?”

"I am so sorry, Pharaoh Yami. I wish I had seen it sooner."

He looked back at the high priest. “Seth, watch over her, will you? And do what I could not. I know you care fo rher as well.”

“Of course, Y- Yami.”

Pharaoh Yami smiled at the high priest, but then lost his life force. The Puzzle around his neck glowed for a bit, then returned to normal.

I embraced Priest Seth and looked up out a window. The land was returned to its former glory, the Nile rushing, the plants about it growing… I wiped the tears flowing from my own eyes.

“Oh, Yami,” I whispered. Such immeasurable kindness from one I thought to be so cruel. He had been a strict king, but had always gotten the job done, and today was no different.

“There’s so much I could have said to him,” I told Priest Seth after Pharaoh Yami’s funeral.

“You shouldn’t waste time with regret,” was his reply.

“I had no idea… how much he cared for me.”

“Yes, his funny way of showing affection.”

“By the way… I think I’m pregnant.”

His eyes opened wide. “What?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“So his bloodline hasn’t died. That is good, I think.”

“Yes.” I paused. “After the child is born, do you think, we could have one of our own as well?”

“We could.”

We shared a smile.