Chapter 13 Be mine
Under the walls built with endless sand, time is just a paused clock. Ancient Egypt divided a year into three seasons. I have spent two seasons here. Every day, Aten would come to find me.
He would obediently stay by the bed when I was not awake. When I woke up, I would see him lying on one side of the bed, his little hand holding mine. I advised him many times as he grew older, he would have to marry, and it was not suitable for two people to have close contact. His small eyes showed a touch of stubbornness:
"Sister, you cannot casually abandon me since you have chosen me. Sister must always be with me."
The strength in the child's small hands was surprisingly muscular, causing me pain. He said:
"If I become pharaoh, Sister will belong to me."
I thought it was just a child's innocent talk, not noticing the conviction in his eyes.
I needed to understand that according to the age of the original host, Ankhesen Carmen, she should have been married long ago. But Akhenaten refused to let me marry; to ensure the purity of the royal bloodline, the royal princess had to marry within the royal lineage.
In the end, Akhenaten made a strange decision. It was a twist. He wanted to marry Ankhesen Carmen to him. Akhenaten. And the first one to know the news was the angry young boy before me, Aten. Of course, I also learned about this news. I cannot imagine how foolish this decision is in this bloodline-dominated feudal society. It's mind-boggling and highly disgusting. I can't bear it any longer. So, I decided to confront Akhenaten.
"Father, why did you make such arrangements?"
"Why did I make such arrangements? Ankhesen Carmen, as a princess, you should know this is the best choice to continue our royal bloodline.
"It's the royal duty to bear the purest seed for the empire's birth."
The pharaoh's authority is unquestionable, and his cold, snake-like eyes make me tremble. Although they are incredibly similar eyes, the pair I've seen in modern times has never truly made me quiver inside. I looked back at the queen, filled with sorrow. I asked her:
"Mother, do you also approve?"
"Ankhesen Carmen, listen to me..."
The queen didn't continue her words, and I understood her meaning. She approved. The powerlessness of destiny surrounds me. At that moment, an overwhelming rage rose. My thoughts and beliefs differ from theirs; the principles I believe in are just jokes to them.
I looked back at the queen, filled with sorrow.
I asked her:
"Mother, do you also approve?"
"Ankhesen Carmen, listen to me..."
The queen didn't continue her words, and I understood her meaning.
She approved.
The powerlessness of destiny surrounds me.
In that moment, an overwhelming hatred rage arisesrose up.
My thoughts and beliefs are different from theirs,
the principles I believe in are just jokes to them.