Falling for the Pharaoh

Anat - [The Cruellest Man]

After returning Nathifa to her room, I ran down the halls to try and find Whati. He was so cruel. I wished so much that I could hurt him, but I knew that doing so would only cause more trouble.

When I had finally caught up to him, my hands started to shake, just like they always did when he was nearby. “Supreme Commander.” I called with a hint of sarcasm.

He turned around and the second he saw me, and amused smile graced his face.

He was handsome, very handsome. No matter how much I hated him, I couldn’t not acknowledge that. He was tall and always stood in a way that made him look confident. And though his hair was tied back the first time I saw him, it was never like that anymore. He left it out. His hair wasn’t long, but it was long enough to fall a little bit over his eyes, and every time he ran his fingers through his hair, my heart always skipped a beat.

Since he was the Pharaoh’s best friend, he was probably the same age, so he was young, probably a little younger than he looked since he looked to be in his early twenties.

I wondered if that was the reason for why my hands were always shaking. And maybe it was also the reason for why I was always nervous around him. I have never been so close to such a beautiful man in my life. I’ve never really even had a full conversation with someone this beautiful before in my life.

And then I remembered the kissing.

Of course, I’ve never kissed someone so beautiful in my life.

“What do you want?” He asked, knocking me out of my trance.

When I noticed him staring at me with his green eyes, I could feel my cheeks heat up but I tried to push it all away, all those embarrassed feelings. “You can’t do this.”

He sighed and placed his hand on his face. “Is that all?”

I swallowed hard.

He turned around to start walking again but I ran in front of him, blocking his way.

“Please!” I begged. “Her father will be furious!”

“And he has a right to be.”

“She’s already hurt and—”

“Do you know what she wants to do right now?” He asked.

I raised my eyebrows, confused.

“She wants, more than anything, to get out of here. To leave the palace and go anywhere else.” He said.

“Well of course she does! She feels so unwelcome, especially with you being so harsh.”

“I’m not being harsh, girl.” He said. “I’m trying to make this easier for her.”

I scoffed. “Are you a fool—”

“Mind your language with people of higher class.” The sudden rudeness in his voice made me jump.

“Well, forgive me then.” I said, more embarrassed then before. “But if you think that this is making anything easier for her you are mistaken.”

“There is no one in this world who can talk more sense into her than her parents.”

“I’ve lived with Lady Nathifa since I was born. She has treated me like her sister and her parents treated me like a daughter. I know how her parents will react to this and I know how much this will hurt Lady Nathifa more than you ever will.”

That made him think, but he shook it off. “Trust me, girl. I know what I am doing.” He stepped aside and continued to walk towards the throne room.

“Supreme Commander!” I yelled as I chased after him. “You are making a big mistake! You’re putting Lady Nathifa’s happiness at risk!”

He suddenly turned around, causing me to bump into his hard chest. I pushed myself away from him but he stepped closer to me, so close that I could feel the warmth radiating off of his body.

“Listen to me. There is more at risk here than your Lady’s happiness.” He said.

“And what exactly do you mean?”

“I mean that if those two don’t make up, people will start talking. And you should know that there are people in this country who would do anything to ruin the name of our King. People will try to make both of our friends insane and destroy the respect they have for themselves.”

I hesitated.

“Do you understand?” He asked.

I didn’t respond.

He stepped back and started to walk away.

“But you’re still going to hurt her.” I said.

“Her father should know. He has a right to know.”

“You are the cruellest man I have ever met.”

“A maid?” I heard a woman say.

I turned my head and saw a tall woman with a pointed nose walk towards me. When she stepped closer, I realized who it was. It was Lady Akana, the past Pharaohs second wife.

I bowed. “My Lady.”

“You were speaking to Lord Whati with such disrespect.” She said.

I turned my head and looked at Whati, who was looking at her, calmly.

“You shouldn’t even be here. You should be in the slave quarters with the other maids.”

“Pardon me, My Lady, but I am Queen Nathifa’s personal maid.”

She scoffed. “You?” She asked. “A personal maid to the queen must be someone with experience. You clearly do not have any such thing.”

“Leave her be.” I heard Whati say.

I looked at him.

“The Queen chose her to be her maid, so leave her be.”

Lady Akana smirked. “Lord Whati, why are you letting her off? Are you too kind? She was speaking to you with such disrespect. We should put her in her place.” She grabbed my arm and began to pull me.

I started to panic. This was exactly why I didn’t want to come to the palace. Why was this happening to me?

Whati stepped in front of Lady Akana. “I said, leave her be.” There was a strange coldness in his expression. “She is the Queens maid. You have no right to be commanding her.”

Lady Akana narrowed her eyes.

“If you do anything to anger the Queen, she has all the right to execute you.”

“Why are you defending her?” Lady Akana asked, suspiciously.

“I’m only trying to protect you, my Lady.” Whati said with so much sarcasm that I started to worry.

She let go of my arm and looked angrily at Whati.

He then took my hand and dragged me away from her. When we arrived in front of the Pharaohs dining room, he stopped.

“Stay away from that woman, understood?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why—”

“Just listen to me.” He sighed, annoyed. “She probably wants you dead now.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

“Do as I say and stay away from her. She’s a witch.”

I pulled my hand away from his when I noticed he was still holding on. “Fine.”

“Okay, now leave.” He said before he walked into the dining room.

I turned around to leave, but then realized something.

Rushing back to the dining room, I peaked inside and saw Whati standing with the Pharaoh.

I wondered how long I’d be able to listen to their conversation.