They sent the man back home to his family in Raqote expenses free. No one dared to question the Pharaoh on his acts. The man was looking at him with complete resentment and hate, what if he took the dagger and stabbed him and from that distance there was no way he would miss and no way anyone could stop it.
Bloody hell, no one knew what was in this man's head.
"Allow me to tell you Pharaoh, that this was one of the worst actions you have done in your life." Jaffar said in the same cool tone looking at the door as it was closing, hiding the young man from their view.
Jaffar didn't bother himself to ask for permission first to talk his mind freely, knowing the answer that he was going to get. 'You are my friend Jaffar' that was what Akhenaton was going to say.
Akhenaton was now back in his chair as if nothing happened with a wide smile on his face. Azar thought that Jaffar was the only one in this palace with no sense of danger, turns out there is more.
Just how long will it take him to know everything about those two?
"Says the one who jumps in front of swords with a grin on his face." Akhenaton mumbled loud enough for them to hear not sparing them a glance.
"How did you know that he won't use the dagger against you, Your Holiness?" Azar said still standing in the same place since he came in, he was honestly getting tired of standing there like an audience.
"The look." Akhenaton said sitting back in chair with a sigh, "The look that he had in his eyes, it wasn't anger at me or anyone to be exact. It was anger at the situation he has gone through."
Azar can't say that he quiet understood what's the difference between the two but, he was going to leave it here and nodded as a response instead.
"Now," Akhenaton said dropping the smile, "Shall we punish those responsible for such madness?"
"I'll see to it at once Your Holiness." That was all Jaffar needed to hear to know what he wanted and left the room to do whatever that was the Pharaoh asked of him.
Can they read each other's mind? Azar though still not knowing why he was called here but he can't just walk out the door.
"You must wonder to why I called you here?" Akhenaton said tilting his head with a grin on his lips making Azar shrug.
Was he reading people's mind!?
"Yes, till now there is no reason for me to be here, Pharaoh." Azar said.
"As you see I've a lot of enemies. Even here in my home, in my own palace." Akhenaton sighed trying to release some of his stress. He indeed had many enemies, with everything he had and everything he is, it's only to be expected that he has enemies lying in every corner.
"And some would fall too low to the extent that they may even hurt children in the attempt to take me down."
No more words were needed for Azar to take the hint. He was talking about the attempt to murder his daughter that happened when they were in Korea.
He only came to know that fact when he came here. The reason why he almost lost his life and yet, he was back to serving the hand that bit him.
"So, I've decided to appoint a personal knight to Nefertari." He tangled his fingers together under his chin supporting his head, exhibiting a smile on his lips that Azar didn't know what he meant by it.
Azar stood quiet for a moment thinking of what to say. "Shouldn't you talk about this with Jaf…" Azar said looking at the ground, pausing midway when he finally caught up with what Akhenaton was saying, he raised his stunned face to look at the Pharaoh who was still looking at him with that amused finally-got-it? look.
"P-Pharaoh, you can't possibly be thinking…"
"Of you exactly!" Akhenaton finished for him when he thought that this was taking too long and he had other business to take care of after all… much more important.
"B-but Your Holiness," Azar said.
"No buts." Akhenaton raised a hand in protest. "Starting now you are Nefertari's personal knight. You will be by her side everywhere she goes."
"If that is your command, I'll do it without question Your Holiness!" Azar said bowing his head knowing that there is no way to change this man's head once it's fixed on something.
"Such a shame you aren't a female knight," Akhenaton said almost pouted, "I would've allowed you to accompany her to her baths as well."
"W-what?!..." Azar stuttered.
He was saved from further frustration by the knock on the door.
"Come in." Akhenaton turned his attention from Azar to the door that slid open revealing Jaffar once again.
"Lord Seth of Raqote is waiting outside your Holiness." Jaffar said.
So that what this was about, Azar thought. He felt pity towards that man. God only knows what is going to happen to that man now.
"Let him in. Azar, you can take your leave now." He said looking back and forth between Jaffar and Azar.
He bowed and backed away to the door catching a glimpse of the someone who was dressed up like royalty so he guessed that this the so-called Lord of Raqote.
He entered and the door fell shut after him, the look on his face was as if he was going to prison, or even worse than prison, it was pure horror.
"Oh, welcome my dear Lord Seth!" Akhenaton said with a grin that didn't reach his eyes, like a grim reaper. It was scary and Lord Seth felt too as well.
"I-it's an honor to be in your presence, Pharaoh." Lord Seth stuttered.
"You must know the reason why I called you here when I'm very busy fixing after other people's mess." Akhenaton said raising from his seat taking the few steps between him and Lord Seth.
"Don't you think so too, Lord Seth?" He smirked placing his hand over Lord Seth's shoulder a little too harsh causing the man to flinch.
"I-I am sorry. I don't think I get what you mean Your Holiness." Seth smiled weakly at the man that was staring holes into him.
"Oh," Akhenaton pulled back crossing his arms over his chest, "you don't know? You don't know that you've went against my words not to raise the taxes? I remember quiet well I rejected your proposal a few months ago."
"H-How…"
"I've my ways." He smirked, "Now, how are you going to pay?" The sarcastic tone he had was now gone, replaced with a dark cold one. He slowly moved his hand to the hilt of his sword that hung on his belt.
"M-mercy Pharaoh!" Seth fell to his knees pleading for his life.
"Where did all the confidence you had when you went against my order? You couldn't have possibly thought that I'll let it slide?" He said slowly drawing his sword, raising it to his eye level.
Lord Seth was looking up in horror not knowing what to say to save his life.
"You don't even know how to beg for your life?" Akhenaton spat out with a frown raising the corner of his mouth as he talked.
"Pathetic."
Jaffar was standing in the side expressionless, already getting used to how the Pharaoh rules over the Royalties in his court. This was the only way to keep their greed in chains.
What else other than the fear for their lives can keep their greed under control?
"Looks like you've nothing else to say then." Akhenaton tightened his grip over the hilt making his knuckles turn white.
"My sword was getting all rusty in its sheath. Shall we make an example out of you for others?" He smirked devilishly, steading his legs on the floor and raising the sword with both his hands.
Blood thirsty Monarch, these are the only words that can describe him at this moment. His honey colored eyes turning dark and empty with an almost amused grin spread over his face.
He smirked.
The only sound that was heard next was the hissing of the air around the sword as it cut through the air like a thunder roaring in the sky, bringing it down to meet with the flesh on Seth's neck.
"God's have mercy!" Seth said his final words.
A moment passed and no pain was felt. He opened his eyes and looked up causing the sword that stopped an inch away from his neck to cut the strands of hair on the nap of his neck.
"Remember this feeling." Akhenaton said holding the sword in place, "This is the feeling you are going to get next time when you disobey me. But I'll let you imagine what happens after that."
Akhenaton straightened his pose putting his sword back in its sheath. "Just because you've power over the people doesn't give you the right to take away their lives." He spat out at Seth, his face was a mess with fear and tears.
The first phase of the punishment was complete.
"I'll take your words to heart Pharaoh! This will not happen again!" Seth pitifully looked up at his king with a wide smile of joy across his tear stained face.
"Oh, it will not I'm sure." Akhenaton said turning around to walk to his chair. "Because you won't be here anymore."
Seth looked at his back figure in horror.
"Strip him of all his lands and titles."
And now the final phase is complete.