Once the news was out that Atem had agreed to meet the princess, his councilmen arranged for her to visit the palace in only a few weeks time. Things were a little hectic around the palace as preparations were made for the princess's arrival, but the weeks seemed to pass quickly. Everyone from the highest lords to the lowliest servants were busy with some kind of business. However, Tahirah doubled her efforts in order to also squeeze in her scribe lessons. She was worn out all the time, but the thought of herself learning something as important as how to read and write kept her happy. She knew it was dangerous if she was tired during her duties, so she fought off her fatigue.

Only a few days before the princess's arrival, one of the lords in charge of the accommodations for her stay pulled Tahirah aside as she was walking down the hall just after her writing lesson. Tahirah bowed.

"Do you wish something of me, Lord Khenti?" she asked.

"The princess that shall be visiting the palace in a few days, you shall be one of her personal servants."

"Me?" Tahirah asked, wide-eyed. "For certain this must be an important job, My Lord."

"It is. However, you are the princess's age, and you seem to be one of the best young servants. We need the princess to be comfortable during her stay. You shall tend to her every wish. Is that understood?"

Tahirah nodded. "Of course. Whatever she asks, she will have, Lord Khenti." She bowed again.

"Good. You are dismissed," he said with a curt nod.

Tahirah left quickly. Her head was practically spinning. She could hardly think of the task given to her. "I shall get to meet the princess…" she thought to herself.

The very next day, Tahirah was helping the palace artists paint a wall as a decoration for the princess's arrival. Tahirah held the bowl of paint in her arms as the artists worked it onto a portion of the wall. She was very still as they worked. Suddenly, Prince Atem himself could be seen walking down the hallway towards them. Tahirah had turned to see him and couldn't help but stare, but he was also getting closer. So he wouldn't notice, she swiftly turned back. At the same time, the painter had turned for more paint. This caused Tahirah to stumble back and fall, dropping the paint; it splattered everywhere. Before she knew it, Tahirah was frantically trying to clean the mess, while the painter was cursing angrily at her.

Atem walked up to them. "An advisor sent me to check-" he stopped, seeing what was going on. "Stop yelling at the girl," he told the painter with a frown.

The painter immediately stopped. "I am sorry, Prince, but this servant girl dropped the paint for this wall for the princess," he said.

"It doesn't matter. I'm telling you to stop," he said in a commanding voice. "Now just help her clean it up and carry on."

"Yes, My Prince," the painter said before he bowed.

Tahirah had been listening silently and unmoving from the ground, for she didn't dare to look up at the prince. Before she could do anything to avoid it any longer, Prince Atem was right beside her.

"It's all right. I'm not going to bite," Atem assured with a laugh.

Tahirah almost jumped as she looked to her side to see the prince kneeling right beside her. "Of-Of course not, Prince…" she said.

"I've seen you before…" he said, looking at her closely. "You always seem different from the others," he mused with a smile. "What--?" but he was cut off.

"Prince Atem!" a voice rang out from behind them.

Atem cringed, "What is it, Khenti?" he asked, standing again.

"You were supposed to be back already to check all the preparations," Khenti replied, "What is taking you so- What is this?" he asked, looking at the scene. "Ah, the girl I've assigned to be one of the princess's personal servants. Making messes, are we?"

"If she has to do so much, then you should leave her alone so that she can do it all with a decent amount of sleep," Atem cut in impatiently. "Now, if you please, let's go and leave them to their work," he said.

"Yes, let us go," Khenti said, already beginning to leave.

Atem gave a last glace at Tahirah and then left after him. This time, Tahirah had watched in complete awe. Did the prince just defend her? Deciding she should think about it some other time, she went back to cleaning up the paint. Atem, however, had now seen the same servant twice, and there was definitely something about her.