Roanna Luna: Yeah, you're probably right. Too bad she didn't get the chance to correct that.
Chapter 12
In the Harem Quarters of the Palace
"Uro ...!"
Atem and Meti heard the yelling of the Queen once they stepped into the harem.
"Priest Meti ... you better cover your ears ..." Atem used his hands to cover his.
"What?" Meti hadn't understood his meaning when the Queen angrily entered the room.
"URO! Where did you run off to these past few days?! I've looked for you everywhere! I've even thought you were kidnapped by an enemy nation! These past few days I couldn't eat or sleep because I was worried about your safety! Do you even know what trouble you may have caused?!" The Queen continued to shout.
"Just look ... now you see why I told you to cover your ears ..." Atem commented to Meti.
"Uh ... right ..." Meti found himself doing the same thing as Atem. 'I never thought that the usually gentle and elegant Queen would scold someone like this ...' Meti thought, surprised. It looks like the image of the Queen in his mind would have to be changed ...
"Oh? Meti? Are you here?" After venting her anger, the Queen noticed him.
"Yes. I found the Crown Prince yesterday." Meti answered.
'You ... you know that Uro is ...' The Queen was shocked.
"Mother ... I was the one who told him ..." Atem explained to his mother. "Priest Meti is someone who deserves our trust. I think you know this yourself ..."
'... Deserving of our trust?!' The Queen most certainly didn't think so. If it wasn't for Meti's mistake sixteen years ago during that ceremony, her pitiful daughter wouldn't have been killed!
'The Queen must still be unforgiving about the mistake I made sixteen years ago ...' Meti thought guiltily. Because of Panab having some problems, they had no choice but to stop the execution of their plan. It was also because of the failure of their plan, the Queen had no other option but to sacrifice the Princess. As a result, Meti still felt responsible for what had occurred.
(AN: But both of them didn't know that someone had actually saved the Princess ...)
" ... Uro ... leave us ... I have something to say to Priest Meti." She told him.
"Yes, mother." He thought to himself, 'Fortunately, mother didn't ask me why I secretly left the palace ...'
After Atem had left, the Queen faced Meti. "Let us speak in here, Priest Meti ..."
The Queen's Chambers
The Queen had Meti seated in one of the chairs. She asked him, "Meti ... have you told anyone about Uro being a male?"
"I haven't." Meti answered. '... Is the Queen planning on keeping my mouth shut?'
As he thought, the Queen asked one of her servants to bring a chest of gems and jewelry.
"Take these with you. If you think that isn't enough, just tell me."
"Your Highness? What is the meaning of this?" Meti asked.
"You should be very clear on what this means." The Queen replied.
"I won't accept these items." Meti didn't bother to glance at the gems.
"Then what do you need? A salary raise? A higher government position? As long as you ask, I can give it to you."
"Your Highness!" Meti finally couldn't help himself and shouted out. 'Does she think of me as a greedy man?!' "My integrity hasn't sunk down to that level! You don't have to resort to such measures to silence me!"
Resolutely, Meti turned to leave, taking nothing with him.
"Priest Meti, please wait a moment." The Queen called out to him. "I'm very sorry. Although I know that what I just did was useless, I still want to protect Uro." She looked at Meti, her expression was one of distinct imploring. "Please, don't reveal this. I only have this son left ..."
"But you can't keep on hiding it like this forever. Sooner or later, someone will find out." Meti spoke.
"I know ... but right now, I don't have any other way ..." The Queen sat back in her chair sadly.
"This is the reason why I came here today, Your Highness." Meti stepped forward. "But I have failed before in the past. Even so, are you willing to believe in me and entrust this to me?" Meti asked.
"Are you saying you have a plan?" The Queen did quite believe him.
"That's right. Right now, we're all waiting for your decision." Meti respectfully waited for her response, standing at her side.
The Queen considered it for a while. After debating with herself, she made a choice.
"It's all in your hands now, Priest Meti."
Author's Corner:
Youlan: Hehehe ... It seems in the end, I'm still dragging out the story ...
Yami Youlan: ... How long are you going to drag this out?
Youlan: Hehe ... in the next chapter, the riddle will be disclosed.
Yami Youlan: Damn ... before that happens, let me show you how hell looks like!
Youlan: (In the End: Had to stay in the hospital for a whole month before being released ...)
Yami Youlan: You deserved it ... since you dragged it out for so long ...
Posted on September 30, 2004.