Seeing that this is a short chapter, I decided to post it up earlier ... heh. I was going to wait until later on this week to translating the original chapter. Enjoy!
BTW, for those who don't know, I'm also translating a side-story to this one that Youlan wrote. You can find it if you click on my bio and scroll down to the stories section.
drumroll And on to the responses:
NeferNeferi: Heh, don't we all feel sorry for Seto now. Unfortunately, this chapter doesn't have much Atem. But at least we see Seto suffer some more ...
Mukyuu Tenshi: It's not over yet for Seto's problems ... hee.
Roanna Luna: Ah, your birthday is on June 1st then? Well, happy really belated birthday then!
Hmm, maybe a priest can take over the Pharaoh's duties if the Pharaoh himself specifically said that he could. I should study more in Ancient Egyptian history ...
Chapter 16
{On a Street}
"Ah ... Ever since I became the Pharaoh, I haven't been able to walk on the streets alone ..."
Atem happily strolled the different streets, not fearing if anyone recognized him. He had already taken care of changing his costume in advance, otherwise if he had worn those clothes for official duties, anyone could tell in a glance who he was. That wouldn't be amusing at all. Yet he didn't know that as he was relaxing and visiting the peddlers in the marketplace, Seto, who he had dragged into this, wasn't feeling quite as happy ... because the old Queen had suddenly asked him to see her ...
{In the Palace}
"I, Priest Seto, am here."
Seto knelt in front of the old Queen, all the while feeling uncertain about something. 'That's odd ... why has she asked me to come here for no apparent reason?'
"Seto ..." The old Queen spoke, "do you know where Uro has gone?"
"He ..." Seto started a cold sweat, thinking, 'It's all over! How am I going to answer this?!'
"It seems you don't know either, right?" The old Queen appeared slightly disappointed.
'Whew ... fortunately the Queen didn't continue asking me ...' Seto thought, relieved.
"But perhaps this is not such a bad thing ... Seto ... it's nothing to worry about ... you may leave."
"Thank you." Seto kept having a feeling that something was wrong, so he took the opportunity to use his magic to control the mind of one of the servants. He ordered her to go to the old Queen and find out what was going on, while he returned to continue what he was doing.
'Hmm ... although Uro is still young, I should still find him a Queen soon ...' the old Queen thought.
"Sala ..." she called. "Issue this information out: 'The Pharaoh of Egypt is choosing a Queen. If there are young women who meet the requirements, then let them enter the palace. When the young ladies pass through the tests I have designed for them ... the Pharaoh will personally choose his wife.' ... Do you remember all this?"
She saw Sala quickly pick up a pen and began writing down her words. "I've wrote it all down. Please review it, Your Highness." Sala then handed over the paper to the old Queen.
"Ah. Tomorrow, make this public in all the regions of Egypt. Let the officials of the various areas be in charge of the initial judging. The prerequisites for the initial judging are: a refined appearance and beautiful dancing ability."
"Understood. I will take my leave now."
After Sala had left, the old Queen smiles to herself. "Heh, if the woman possesses only those two conditions, she will not be able to pass my tests. It's only the most basic of prerequisites."
{In a Temple}
In the evening, Seto was very surprised when he heard the details of what the servant had reported to him.
"By the gods ... she sure is fast with her actions ... I didn't think she would start this so soon ..." He spoke, annoyed. Seto then looked at the direction where Atem had slipped out of the palace in the morning.
"You better get back here soon! Atem ... if you don't come back soon, your troubles are going to get bigger ..."
Author's Corner:
Youlan: Oh ... the Pharaoh's problems are getting worse ...
Pharaoh: Damn ... You clearly know that I don't want to get married! Are you looking for death!
Seto: Ah, what's wrong with it? In any case, it'll happen sooner or later.
Youlan: That's what I'm saying.
Pharaoh: Seto ... just whose side are you on?
Seto: Haha ... I'm neutral.
Posted on June 14, 2004 by Rika.