Fifteen |

If You Give A Girl Cosmetics

Anippe had a slight pout on her face as she sat with both arms crossed. She gently swung her legs back and forward from the tall stool she sat on.

Today she and her father were supposed to go horseback riding along the Nile river.

She didn't count on other "urgent matters" to come across.

How was the new two percent tax inflation meeting more critical than horseback riding?

She sighed before studying how the team of servants and stylists helped her father get ready for the day. Some of the servants placed jewelry while others tended to his hair.

She remembered when she was ranting to Ammon a few days ago about how she was spending less time with her father. Someone always interrupted their moments together.

"What did you expect? He is the Pharaoh, after all." Ammon replied.

Feeling testy, Anippe straightened herself. She would spend time with her father, whether they liked it or not.

Eyeing the ivory sticks, she perked.

"Papa, can I do your eyeliner today?"

The Pharaoh raised his hand, and his servants stopped what they were doing. He faced his daughter, who now sat tall and proud on the stool.

Yet he still caught that hesitant look on her face.

"You wish to do my eyeliner?" the Pharaoh asked.

His daughter nodded.

He looked at her, clearly surprised by the offer, before relaxing into a smile.

"Very well then."

With a wave of a hand, he dismissed the team of servants, who slowly left the room, some eyeing her confused.

Anippe got up and approached the table lined up with cosmetics. She rubbed her hands together, eager to partake in the task. Just as she was about to carry the cosmetics where her father sat, her father stepped.

"Allow me."

He then helped her carry the various pots of oils, kohl, and paints to the small table near his chair before they both took a seat.

Anippe smiled devilishly. She looked over the cosmetic selection.

Ever since she was little, she adored looking at her father's collection of eye paints. He always had a wide variety of colors, like the blue to leaf green color that he said reminded him of her eyes or the bright yellow that looked like Ra's sun.

Her father also had many scented oils to choose from lavender, thyme, peppermint, almond, and cedar.

Looking at the small pot of rouge in the mix, Anippe frowned. She hadn't seen her father wear this recently, and perhaps it was time for a change.

Cautiously, she picked up one of the non-scented oil pots and poured some onto her palm.

She gasped, fascinated at how the oil was surprisingly cold in her skin. She rubbed her fingers together and then softly rubbed them on her father's face.

Atem stayed quiet, letting his daughter complete her task.

As Anippe gently rubbed the oil on his face, Atem couldn't help but feel guilty. It had been a while since he and Anippe spent any time together. She moved to a more advanced level magic class, and he had been receiving so much work to do. He hardly ever got time to even say more than a few sentences with her before being torn away from their responsibilities.

Atem furrowed his eyebrows. He was disappointed in himself as a father. When he was young, his father always made time for him when he was younger. So what was preventing him from doing the same with Anippe?

"I better be looking dashing at the meeting." Atem jokes.

Anippe giggled.

As she worked, they talked.

They talked about random things that happened throughout the time they didn't see each other.

Soon Atem moved the conversation to her studies, where she talked about the spells she was currently working on with Mahad.

Atem was silent as she chattered, his face relaxed, a small smile on his lips.

"And then Ammon told me that my hair looked like it saw a sandstorm!"

He chuckled.

She picked up the kohl and told him to close his eyes before dipping the stick into the pot and scraping off the excess kohl. She then gently began to outline his upper lids.

Anippe smiled.

"I missed this, Papa. Only us spending time with each other." Anippe thought.

Sometimes she wished that it stayed like that.

Having enough, she spoke.

"I miss seeing you."

He opened his eyes, and looking back at him was his whole world.

Anippe looked a bit nervous, making Atem frown. Something was bothering her.

With a small voice, she said, "I know it's silly, but I don't want to bother you from your work and-"

Atem gently grabbed her hand.

"Anippe," he began, "No, I'm sorry if you thought I forgot about you. I may be Pharaoh of Egypt, but I'm also your father. You're the most important person to me, and I never want you to think that you're a bother to me."

"Okay." she nodded, relieved.

"I apologize for today's event. It won't take more than just the afternoon. When it ends, we will go horseback riding." Atem promised before giving her a small smile.

Anippe gave him a thumbs up.

"Great with me."

She stood up and nodded.

"If I say so myself, I think I did well."

Atem stood up, a smile on his face.

"Dashing as always, I presumed?"

Anippe rolled her eyes.

The guards could only stare at their Pharaoh as they slowly opened the doors.

As soon as he stepped inside the room, Shimon spat his drink out.

Seto could only stare at Atem.

Karim and Shada refused even to meet him in the eye.

Isis held her hand over her mouth.

"Uh, my Pharaoh," Mahad whispered as the rest of the royal court gawked at him.

Pharaoh Atem paid no attention as he began to skim over the scrolls opened on the table.

"What are we focusing on? Trading import taxes as well?"

"My Pharaoh," Mahad spoke again.

Pharaoh Atem turned to look at him.

"Yes, Mahad?" he asked.

"Are you aware of your-uh-makeup?"

Atem had a blank expression before it broke into a smirk.

"Do you like my eyeliner?" he asked.

Before giving Mahad the chance to answer, Pharaoh Atem turned and spoke proudly, "Anippe did it herself. Isn't it great?"

Everyone was silent, scared to make any sudden moves, before Mahad began to laugh.

Soon Shimon followed, and so did the rest.

"Am I missing something?" Pharaoh Atem questioned.

Mahad shook his head.

"Anippe did a wonderful job, my Pharaoh."

It wasn't till later in the afternoon, when the servant delivered a water pitcher did the Pharaoh see his reflection.

"Ra, so this was payback for today," he muttered, embarrassed as the rest of his court laughed at him.

Note(s):

Oils played a very significant role in ancient Egyptian society. Some of the most common scents used among Egyptians in these ancient times were thyme, lavender, peppermint, cedar, rose, and almond oil. So, they were used in both death and in life. When a body was prepared for burial, all the internal organs were removed, and the body was then embalmed." - UTAMA SPICE

Back in Ancient Egypt, both men and women wore makeup. Egyptians mostly used galena (more commonly known as kohl) and malachite powder (a green mineral) for eye makeup. Galena was a black paint that shielded eyes from the sun, while malachite powder made the eyes appear larger and protected those who wore it. Both were applied using ivory, wood, or sticks made of metal. - History of Makeup in Egypt

Author's Note:

Hello everyone! Hope you're all doing great. Don't mind me, just updating again hehe.

Some reader messaged me the other day asking why I erased my bio section on my profile page.

I apologize! I accidentally deleted them and I've been too lazy to put them back.

Another reader asked why I never talk about what occurs in my life to you guys.

Well I do love to keep my life private.

However, I have decided that I'll add one fun fact about me every time I update a chapter. Take care and see you all later.