"Come in." Akhenaton said while he was taking a break from the usual loads of work and sat down on the couch that was in front of the terrace, viewing the peaceful city of Thebes.
The heavy gold-painted door opens revealing none other than charismatic Captain Jaffar. He bowed and moved closer to stand beside the Pharaoh.
"I see you are finally giving yourself some rest Pharaoh." Jaffar said following the gaze of king to the outside city.
"The trade with India went quite well." He smiled holding out his hand to take the cup of tea on the low table in front of him. "I've just read the letter of acceptance from their king."
He held up the cup to let the enchanting aroma of the tea wash him clean from all his responsibilities, followed by a deep exhale that released all the pinned-up stress that was accumulating on him.
"I see that it's something to be happy and reward yourself with Pharaoh." Jaffar couldn't help the grin that was spreading on his face as he spoke, which Akhenaton never failed to notice.
"Any news of Persia?" Akhenaton said taking a sip of his tea, his expression of relaxation is now long gone and is replaced with his usual poker face that he displays during business.
"King Farzad hasn't made any kind response to the message you sent with Bijan." Jaffar unconsciously did the same, "There wasn't any moves from their side. I think your warning has made them think again."
"It's making them take a step back and rethink their idiotic attempt." He scoffed holding the cup to his bow-shaped lips before taking another sip.
"Either way is a loss for them," Bijan said, "If they made another foolish move, I am positive that they won't withstand the first wave of our attack." He smirked remembering the thrill of the battlefield, the sound of metal swords clattering against each other in a fight of dominance. The loud confident yells of his men around him as they fight for their Pharaoh.
To be honest, the seemingly peaceful life of the palace was no place for him. He wasn't good with this cold invisible war between kings.
This invisible dance behind the curtains always sent shivers down his spine.
He preferred the dance in the middle of the battle grounds, where nothing is hidden, where you can spot your enemies with just a glimpse from the corner of your eye.
To him, that was way better than the birds lurking in the shadows, working quietly to achieve their goals.
"While we are at it…" Akhenaton paused and turned to look at Jaffar for the first time since he came in, "how is our Persian boy?"
"I think that you were right Pharaoh, about him that is." Jaffar said smirking at his own ego that was to high for him to accept that boy.
"Huh?!" Akhenaton said frowning his eyebrows and smirking, "What a sudden change in mind! Just a day ago you were whining about why I shouldn't trust him."
"Ahm…" Jaffar cleared his throat recalling the princess's words of not mentioning anything to her father and if he began to explain why he started to trust Azar a little bit, he would end up explaining the whole thing which clearly wasn't the best option.
"What is it? Come on tell me!" Akhenaton said pointing at his old friend.
"It's nothing Aton." He said. His eyes gone wide as he realized what he just said and hurriedly raised his pupils to meet with Akhenaton's to find him chuckling which belt up into a loud laugh.
A sincere laugh that he couldn't help but laugh along with him.
~~~~
The hallways were empty and quiet which was a torture to Joon Wo as he walked around them with no destination in mind, he just let his legs lead the way.
The quietness of the palace made it the perfect environment for him to dwell on the memories that he created with Nefertari and his brothers.
They were never the same after she left, they would meet occasionally every now and then but they never met like when Tari was here.
Thinking a back, they were never that close.
Tari was like the invisible thread tying them all together and after she has gone, they scattered again across the place with nothing more holding them together.
Was this the starting point of the change that his mother always told him of?
Was this how they would have nothing between them other than the blood in their veins?
He shrugged the thought off thinking that he must be imagining things and his brothers must be busy with their studies or something.
After all, they are still to young to have bad blood between them.
He sighed tired from all the thinking that his mind is doing, deciding that he would go to his favorite place. The lake, and he would lay down till sun sets and return in time for bed and hoping deeply that on the morrow he would've something to do to keep him from thinking.
And just as he turned around finally having a destination in mind, he was greeted by his older sister Jae I.
"I've been looking for you Joon Wo-ah (ah, friendly way to call someone in Korean)" She said her mouth smiling but her eyes weren't which was something unusual for her as she was always smiling genuinely at everyone.
"W-what is it Noona?" he looked up at her. She was older than him but she wasn't much taller than him.
"Mother is looking for you." She said the smile disappearing from her face replaced with an expression he can't really identify, it was a mix of fear, anger and…pity.
"Is everything okay?" he tilted his head taking another look at his sister but that look that was on her face was now gone replaced by one of her smiles which made him all the more doubt that something is wrong.
She nodded. "Everything is fine. Now go, our mother is waiting." And she was gone not giving him time to question her any further.
He sighed knowing that he is going to find out what's wrong sooner or later.
~~~~
"Come in." Said the Second Queen Eun Ae.
"Greetings Mother." Joon Wo said with his head held low.
"Oh, Joon Wo-ah!" She exclaimed happily.
Something is wrong… this isn't how she usually greets him; she doesn't even greet him in the first place!
Frustration and anxiety start to kick in.
"I heard you called for me Mother." He said holding his hands together in front of him as he stood in front of his mother who was sitting on a cushion on the floor with a table set with different kinds of snacks in front of her.
"Yes, take a seat." She said gesturing for him to sit down which he did. He sat across from her on a similar cushion.
"I'll get straight to the point." She said holding up the cup of tea to her lips before taking a sip. "Your sister is getting married."
He nearly chocked on his tea as his brain processed the words. She didn't even look bothered which was more shocking than what he just heard.
"B-but she is still 15 Mother!" he exclaimed setting the cup down looking at his mother who was peacefully sipping on hers.
"I'm aware of that." She said closing her eyes for a moment, "But it's something that has to be done to keep the peace in the country."
Wait a minute?!
Why was she even telling him this?
The more he thinks the more he sees that this whole situation is wrong and that his mother usually wouldn't bother to tell him.
That is if he wasn't involved.
"Who is she going to marry?" he exhaled trying to keep himself from saying anything foolish.
"One of the Wang Clan." She said, "It's not yet been decided who it will be."
The composure that she is keeping while they are talking about selling off her favorite daughter to some family was starting to get on his nerves.
"W-Why?"
"The Wang's are wavering with their loyalty to the King. So, to solve this problem is to marry one of theirs with one of ours." She said with a blank face.
"Mother," he sighed, "Why are you telling me this?"
He was growing sick of his mother's plots. Not only was she greedy for one of her sons to be king but also selling off her only daughter.
Joon Wo might be young but he was not foolish. He has been by his mother's side since birth and he has already learned a lot of her tricks and ploys.
Like mother like son…
"Well of course because you are my eldest son." She scoffed making him sound as if what he said was complete none sense.
"Mother…"
She smirked.
"Well, looks like you have grown up Joon Wo-ah." She said keeping that smirk on her wicked lips.
"You are going to stop this marriage my dear son."