I seem to be forgetting about doing this lately. (referring to updating this story more often.) Hopefully I'll get more time to do so ...
Is it me or Youlan is suddenly interested in packing three chapters into one page? Oh well, that just makes me have to divide them into individual chapters.
NeferNeferi: Unfortunately, that won't happen for a few chapters. I hope you can live through the wait until I reach that moment. BTW, have you read the side story for this one? It's rather funny read if you haven't seen it.
And now I present to you, Chapter 20 of Past Memory! We finally get to see Seto's frustration at having to do extra duties as the 'temporary Pharaoh'. And what's this? An announcement about the Pharaoh choosing a bride?!
Chapter 20
{In a Temple, Three Days Later}
"Argh!!!" Someone angrily yelled out. "Damned Atem! Where did he run off to?! How could he have slipped out of the palace for so long!"
Seto continued to shout, his current mood not the slightest bit well.
"Priest ..." A young child servant whose job was to bring the papers concerning the kingdom's affairs entered the room. "These ..." He hesitated for a moment, aware of Seto's bad mood. The servant wanted nothing more than to turn around and leave but Seto's hand pointed towards a desk.
"Put them there."
"Understood."
After the servant had left, Seto reluctantly sat in a chair by the desk to read the papers. He had hoped to use this as an excuse to vent some of his jittery feelings but as he read through the various papers, his mood became even more vile.
"What kind of things are these?! They're a complete mess!"
Holding a report on the repairing of a temple, he roared, "Someone! Tell the foreman to write this report again!"
"Yes ..."
It was like this that the pitiful Seto had spent his morning, shouting the whole time.
'A-T-E-M ... it's all your fault! How hateful! You better not think of leaving the palace again when you come back!'
"Priest ..." A female servant entered the room. Seto heard her voice and unhappily looked at her for a moment. What he hated the most was for someone to disturb him while he was busy performing his duties.
"What is it?" He asked as he continued to read another report.
"The Pharaoh's mother summons you to see her." The servant answered respectfully.
'The Pharaoh's ... mother?' Seto's look abruptly darkened slightly. 'What is it this time? Ooh ... I hope she doesn't find out about Atem sneaking out of the palace ...'
"... I understand ..." He stood up and after arranging the various papers, he followed the servant to the harem quarters of the palace.
{Harem Quarters}
"I am here as you asked." Seto knelt on the ground.
"You can stand now, Seto." The old Queen spoke. "Seto ... I don't seem to see Uro at all recently. Where did he go off to?" She asked uncertainly.
"Eh ... about that ..." Inwardly, he felt that events were taking a turn for the worse. 'She's becoming suspicious, as I feared!' "Um ... maybe the Pharaoh is busy with running the country so he couldn't come to pay his respects to you."
"What? But Your Highness ..." A female servant spoke up.
'Argh! She's ... the same servant who had asked me to come here. She must have seen me reading the state papers. I can't let her reveal this!'
Quickly, Seto tapped into his powers and in a moment, he had control over the woman.
"What did you want to say?" The old Queen asked her.
"What? Did ... did I say something? I don't think so." At this moment, the servant's eyes appeared misty. It was a sign that the person was being controlled by another but apparently, no one took notice of it.
"If that's so, then forget about it." The old Queen decided not to ask further and instead spoke to Seto. "Seto, the reason I asked to see you today isn't something of major importance. I merely want you to make several thousand copies of this announcement and then post them in every city and town in Egypt before tomorrow is over."
She handed over to him a sheet of paper. Seto's eyes grew wide as he read the contents of the paper. 'It's all over ... I almost forgot about this ... the announcement of the Pharaoh choosing a Queen!'
"I will do as you ask." With that, Seto left. All the way back to the temple, he sighed as he held the announcement in his hand.
'Atem ... you don't come back when I tell you to return ... now look at what happened ... If this announcement is made in the territories of Egypt ... it's all over for you ...'
Although he was not willing, but since this was a personal order from the Pharaoh's mother, Seto had no other choice but to obey. He gathered all of the clerks in the palace and told them all to start copying the announcement. Because there were well over a hundred men working on this project, they completed the transcribing of the number of copies Seto had asked by that afternoon.
After thanking them for their work, Seto stared at the pile of announcements in worry.
"Oh great ... Atem ... I hope you'll get back here after seeing this announcement ..." He sighed for a moment. "Someone! Use the fastest horse here to distribute this announcement throughout Egypt immediately!" It seemed that all of the horses in the palace all flew out of there at his command.
This scene also seemed to attract the attention of the people, who crowded near the palace to see what was going on. As the last horse charged out, the knight riding the horse reined it in and spoke to the people surrounding him.
"Everyone, please listen! One week from now, our great Pharaoh of Egypt is choosing a bride! So if your family has a young and beautiful girl who is proficient in dancing, please report to your local official so she can be sent to the palace!"
His words aroused the attention of the masses as he started passing the announcement out from its place on the horse's side. This caused a momentary frenzy as people started grabbing for the annoucement. The men in the crowd showed no interest in the whole affair but the women were extremely interested. They excitedly ran to their homes, publicizing this piece of good news.
All of a sudden the city of Cairo, which was already a very lively place, became permeated with the voices of disputes and discussions.
Author's Corner:
Seto: Heh Heh ... What do you say? Should I go have this announcement distributed out? (While holding the paper in his hand, he asks the Pharaoh this question.)
Pharaoh: How dare you?! Give that paper to me! (Holds out his hand to take the paper away.)
Seto: Ah ... once a short person, always a short person. Why don't you grow a bit taller?
Pharaoh: Damn you! Are you trying to make me kill you?!
(The two continue to quarrel.)
Posted on August 6, 2004.