"My prince, your father wishes to see you." Said the kind voice of Mahado. The young prince looked at Mahado with pleading eyes. Mahado wasn't surprised to find him on his balcony, looking at the people with envy in his eyes.
"Please, tell me not another lesson. Isis gave me one just a little while ago, and father's are much worse." Complained the prince. He was about sixteen, with blond bangs, red and black hair that spiked up, and his greatest feature, his crimson eyes.
"I understand but orders are orders, Atemu." Said Mahado.
"Just watch them with me for a second." He said.
"Oh for the love of Rah, why not?" said Mahado giving in. The prince scanned the crowd, watching people talk, children play, also something else.
"She is a pretty one." Said a dirty looking male. One had blonde hair, and the man he was speaking with had white hair that went to his shoulders.
"Your aren't lying, how much is she worth, Marik?" asked the white haired man. The prince noticed a girl, Marik was holding. She had brown hair that went past her waist, and aquamarine eyes. She looked fragile, but she had defiance in her eyes.
"I'm not for sale!" she snapped.
"Silence, slave!" snapped the white haired man, while he slapped her across the face.
"Well Bakura, she'll be worth-" said Marik, but he stopped at the sound of yelling and looked in horror to see who it was coming from.
"Leave that girl alone!" boomed the voice of the prince. His voice was far lower than one would think for his age, but when he was angry his voice rivaled that of almost every priest in the palace. Mahado looked shocked at his prince. "Guards seize those men!"
The men struggled against them but eventually they were apprehended, Atemu saw the girl looking him in shock. Like she thought she was in trouble too. "My prince, what shall we do with the girl?"
"Bring her to me." He commanded. "I will speak with those men later."
"Yes my prince." They said, the girl simply walked with them knowing she couldn't fight her way out. When they reached Atemu's room, Mana looked shocked at the extraordinary chambers with were covered in different works of art and beautiful tapestries. Atemu took notice to her likeness of his roo,.
"May I ask you what your name is?" asked Atemu. Mana looked at him in shock, 1) he wanted to know her name 2) He asked her 'May I?'.
"It's Mana." She said quietly. Atemu smiled softly, lifted her chin with his hand.
"That's a pretty name." he said. Mana couldn't believe the interest he was showing in her, not only was somebody giving herthe attention she longed for. But the prince of Egypt was giving it. She nodded her head, wishing she could say something but she was afraid thatif she did the prince would lash out at her for speaking out of order. Atemu frowned at her silent reply, but then he remembered she was a slave. Her whole life has been full of abuse and work. But something about this slave girl clicked with him, and he knew what to do. "Mana, how would you like to stay here in the palace?"
"As a slave?" asked Mahado. He was shocked that Atemu wanted a slave, he had many of times ranted about how slaves were people too to his father.
"Mahado, you know me better than that. As a resident." He said softly. Mana's eyes widen in shock, was he seriously offering her this. Just minutes ago, she was about to be given to a new master, now she was offered to live in the palace? Not as a slave? "What about it Mana, and please speak to me."
"Uh.." she said, knowing what she should say, but what she wanted to say came out. "I would love that.." she said, barely above a whisper.
"Fantastic Mana, Mahado take her to the seamstress." Said Atemu happily. "She may have anything she desires." Mana's face looked even more shocked than before. Anything she desires? Who is this prince?
"Yes, my prince." Said Mahado smiling. "Come my dear." Mana pulled herself back into reality, and walked with Mahado, smiling.
"Oh no..the meeting." complained Atem, as he walked off groaning.
"Mai! Are you here?" yelled Mahado.
"Yes, come in." replied the voice of a woman. Mahado opened the door, and Mana's jaw dropped as she marveled at the work of the seamstress. "Who is this lovely flower?"
"This is Mana, the prince has ordered she is to have any clothing she desires." Said Mahado.
"Well, we can do that!" said Mai, cheerfully. Mana took time to take in Mai's appearance. She was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and violet eyes. She donned a strapless white dress, that went past her ankles. She also added to her clothing, a golden belt, necklace, and earrings. Mana wished she could be that beautiful. "So dear, do you know your measurements?"
"Uh.." she said with her mouth hanging open.
"Mai..can I speak with you?" said Mahado.
"Sure thing, hold on deary." She said, as the blonde walked with Mahado. Mana stood in the middle of the room, blushing and holding he rhands behind her back. For the first time she actually looked at herself in a actually mirror. She was disappointed at what she saw. Sure, she had seen her reflection in the water a few times but never so clear. 'I'm horrible, dirty, skinny, and my clothes are so tattered. Why would the prince be so kind?' she thought to herself. Mana wore different colored rag that made up her dress that went to her knees, with a rope acting as a belt. Her slave trader Marik, liked her a lot. So, he gave her special perks. Meaning she actually got to wear something.
"She is a slave?" asked Mai, in a whisper. Mahado nodded.
"Be sensitive to her." He said.
"I thought she was a peasant that appealed to the king, not a slave that the prince saved!" she exclaimed. "I never thought the prince would take a slave."
"Well, he has given her what every slave dreams of." Said Mahado, Mai turned to him saw the question in the look so he gave a reply."Hope…of a better life." Mai nodded in approval and turned back to Mana.
"Let's get your measurements deary!" she exclaimed. Mana jumped at her voice and felt herself being dragged to another room.