"No…"

"Come on Nefertiti!"

"Mana I said no!"

Mana sighed "I know the prince is being a little possible at the moment… but honestly this has got to work!"

"How is putting a spell on me, making me fly and float into his window going to get him to like me?" Nefertiti shrieked. It had now been two months since Nefertiti and her brothers moved into the main palace, and still she had no luck with the Prince… and because of that her father's patience was wearing thin. He would come by late at night, verbally abuse her and even spit on her… as if she was a rat in a slum.

Mana smiled "he'll think you're an angel sent down from the heavens!"

Nefertiti gave her a stern look "now you're just making fun of me!"

"What? No! Nefertiti I'm being dead serious…" she spluttered. Nefertiti stood up and walked over to the balcony, resting her arms on the edge she let out a deep sigh and watched the quiet streets below. There wasn't a soul in sight, it made her wish that she could just disappear. She had been living in fear for all her life, and now she was being pushed over the edge…

"I… I wasn't trying to upset you" she heard Mana say from her right.

Nefertiti didn't look at her, instead she rested her head in her hand "I know Mana…"

Mana gave her a worried glance, Osiris wasn't joking when he said that Nefertiti didn't look healthy, she looked deathly pale and very weak… she wasn't eating properly and it was obvious that she wasn't getting enough sleep.

"Nefertiti… you've been living here for about two months, and I consider you a friend…" Mana said quietly "if something is troubling you… you can tell me…"

'I feel trapped, I'm unloved and I'm losing the will to live… what do you think?'

"I guess this whole marriage arrangement is getting me down" she replied, and she wasn't exactly lying either. What didn't help matters was her feels towards the Pharaoh….

"You don't want this marriage?"

The question made Nefertiti smile sadly "not at first…"

"So… what changed your mind?" Mana asked.

"Why with all the questions?"

Mana sighed and went to stand next to her "every girl before you had only agreed to the marriage for power, money… to be known as a trophy…. A queen. I'm not saying you're like that Nefertiti, in fact you haven't shown any interest in any of those things but…" she paused for a second "he's my closest friend… I just want to look out for him".

"Wait…" Nefertiti cut in "I'm not the first to be chosen?"

"Of course not" Mana answered "people approach the Pharaoh and request for his son to meet their daughters for a potential union in marriage… but the Pharaoh, well he claims he wants to find a just Queen… but I feel he just wants a good, pure wife for his son…"

"I see… but what happened to the other girls?"

"They were sent home of course…" Mana reassured "at first the Prince would look forward to meeting them, but after the fourth girl I guess he lost his faith in finding a decent wife… and I honestly I don't blame him"

"Neither do I…" Nefertiti mumbled.

Mana gave her a surprised look, she wasn't expecting that to come out of her mouth.

"It's funny…" spoke Nefertiti as she stared at the clear night sky "before all this I was going to study to be a Politian…"

Mana blinked "Really?" which in response Nefertiti nodded.

"I guess I loved the ideal of running a land and helping it's people… but not anymore…."

'Not since I met him…'

"Who's him?"

Nefertiti gave her a shocked look, did she just say that out loud? "I.. er… never mind!"

"No tell me" Mana ordered "who are you talking about… Seto?"

"What? No!" Nefertiti hastily answered "Seto is just a friend… nothing more…"

"Then…" Mana said slowly "who?"

Nefertiti turned away from her, she didn't want Mana to see her brake down… she couldn't allow herself to get to that level.

"It's…. It's the Prince isn't it?" Mana whispered "You…. You're in love with the Prince?"

"NO!" Nefertiti cried shakily "I… don't know… I'm just confused!"

Mana smiled "Nefertiti… it's okay…"

"It's not okay!" she cut in making Mana jump, by now Nefertiti had tears streaming down her face "I can't fall in love with him…"

"Why not?"

"I… I just can't" she choked "it would… tear me apart…"

"Nefertiti… you can't help who you love…."

Nefertiti wiped some of the tears from her cheeks, as much as it pained her… Mana was right. She had fallen for the Prince, ever since she first saw him… and it pained her greatly knowing that she'd have to kill him.

Suddenly the sound of doors opening echoed through the walls shooting fear through Nefertiti's whole body "Oh no... He's earlier than usual!"

Mana through her a puzzled look and was about to ask her what she was talking about, but Nefertiti cut her off... whispering she had to leave.

"What? Why?"

"Mana please!" Nefertiti pleaded "my father isn't a reasonable man... if he sees you hear he'll have you punished!"

Mana hesitated, the petrified expression made her want to stay, but at the same time she knew that she could make matters worse if she stayed. Just as Nefertiti's bedroom doors opened, Mana jumped off the ledge, out of sight.

"Nefertiti..."

She didn't like the way he said her name, he was happy about something... which meant something was going his way. Slowly turning to face him she couldn't help but find it slightly harder to breathe, he approached her with a sinister smile and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"My daughter, are you ready to bring honour to our family?"

Nefertiti didn't like him being so close, it made her stomach churn and want her to be violently sick… she didn't want to be here anymore, she didn't want kill the man she loved!

"Father… I… I can't do this…."

The Father threw a glare at her, but didn't say anything so she continued "I'm not comfortable with this… it's just insane… you can't do this…" But she was finally cut off with she felt something cold, and sharp on her neck.

"I understand what's going on" he said in a sickly sweet voice "I would've have thought with that rotten attitude of his you'd be rearing to get rid of him… but it's done quite the opposite effect" He then pressed the knife harder making her gasped heavily for air "So you actually fell in love with that little bastard!"

"DON'T CALL HIM THAT!"

But she soon regretted it when she noticed that in his other hand was a piece of hair in his other hand… and not just anyone's hair…

"H-How did you get that?"

"Osiris really does sleep like a new born" he commented in a disturbing tone "think what I can do when I aim for his throat?"

"Okay!" she cried out whilst sobbing "I'll… do whatever you… you say. Just don't hurt them please!"

"That's better" he mused evilly and released her "the Pharaoh and his son always have a meal as soon as the sun sets, with their meal they both have one glass of the city's most finest wine, you will walk in with four glasses, one for you, me and the other two for the Prince and the Pharaoh, you, must give it to the Prince… do you understand?"

Nefertiti didn't speak, instead she nodded her head as tears continued to stream down her face.

"I'll see you tomorrow" and with that he left, but little did he and Nefertiti know… that someone heard every single word.

'Oh my god' Mana thought 'Master Mahad was right!'

"Are you certain?"

Mana nodded "you know how good my hearing is master"

Mahad sighed as he massaged his temple "you know a part of me wished that I was wrong, and that the Prince really had a chance to find happiness… but I guess he's pushed her over the edge".

Mana gave him a puzzled look "what are you talking about? Nefertiti is the victim here!"

Mahad gave her a sad expression "did you see him threaten her?"

"Well… no because I was hiding…"

"Then there is a slight chance that they were aware of your presence and it was all an act…"

"NO!" Mana cut in "if you saw the prettified look on her face before Imhotep came in you wouldn't easily accuse her!"

"But that's just it Mana" he said "I didn't see it, as a council member and protector of the Prince, I have to consider every possibility, she could be completely fooling us and wanting to get revenge, or you could be right she might be put against her will… but I'll need proof" He then stood up "we need Nefertiti to confess…"

"And… how are we going to do that?" Mana questioned.

Mahad pondered for a while "I guess the best method is to ask her privately…"

"Should… should we tell the others?" Mana asked slowly.

"For now…" Mahad began "we should keep this to ourselves"

Mana nodded "Well it's been a long day, I best be heading off!"

"Mana… you do realise that even if Nefertiti is being forced to attempt murder, she will be charged… and you know the plenty…"

Mana froze, of course she knew the plenty… if Nefertiti was convicted with attempted murder she would have to get her very soul, examined for darkness… and then sucked out and sealed away… which meant she would have to die.

Both bodies intertwined with each other on the large soft bed, both of them in an aura of complete bliss as they became one.

"I love you…." She whispered.

The Prince smiled down at her, but at the same time felt more adoration for the woman beneath him… the soft panting coming from her mouth was like music to his ears and the touch of her skin felt like hot and smooth.

"I love you too Nefertiti…"

Shooting up from his bed, the Prince panted as if he had been running for miles and his bare chest heaved up and down relentlessly. Looking around his bedroom, he finally came to realise that he was alone… and what he experienced was just a dream.

"But it felt so real…" he mumbled and noticed a very obvious problem under his sheets, this wasn't the first time that he had a sexual dream involving the new maiden in his home. The dream would always start off with her staring at the night sky, he would then embrace her from behind, nip and kiss at her neck and she would let his arms roam freely over her perfect body.

She would say "I'm scared…"

And he would reply "I promise I'll never hurt you…"

The Prince couldn't help but get hot and bothered when he replayed the scene over and over again in his mind. Feeling the need of a cool down, he climbed out of bed and walked outside to his balcony. Looking up at the bright moonlight he took a deep breath…

"I don't want a wife…" he reminded himself "I do not! Want a wife…" closing his eyes and clenching his fists he continued to chant the same sentence… as if he was attempting to beat the dream from his head… but it wasn't working since every time he finished the sentence… Nefertiti's smile would flash across.

"I do not want a wife, I do not want a wife! I do not…"

The sound of sobbing silenced him, reopening his eyes he looked across his baloney to where Nefertiti's was… where he saw her with her face buried in her hands, kneeling down… and crying.

The Prince blinked a couple of times to make sure what he was seeing was real, but she still remained there in a vulnerable state… like she was in the dream…

Shaking his head he cursed under his breathe and rushed back inside… but then curiosity plagued him. What was she crying about? Was it him? Did she miss home? Or was she upset about the union? Many questions rang in the Prince's head…

"URGH! STOP IT!" he ordered himself "I don't want to get married… there's no such thing as love…. Not for me anyway!"