Whew ... I finally finished translating this. I think it is the longest chapter I had to tranlate for in this story. I hope you all will enjoy reading it! Finally, Tameri and her mother see each other for the first time in 16 years ...
Proxima Centauri - I think they sound childish in this story, with all that chasing around and arguing. I just don't see Priest Seto acting like that. He seems more mature and distant in the anime and manga.
Heh, I think Youlan only wrote in Shebi as a character that's simply there to give Tameri a reason to go to the palace. Once that objective is achieved, there's no need for that character. Call it a 'disposable character' if you will. Personally, I don't like using characters such as those since it seems a waste to introduce a person and then simply have them disappear into the storyline once they've done what they're supposed to do.
Would Tameri just 'give up' in the next test because her friend isn't with her? Maybe she would, but if she were to find out who the Pharaoh is ... I don't think that would be happening anytime soon.
WaterGoddessMizu - Heh heh, I think the normal response for most people would be to run away if they were faced with a bunch of lions. But I guess the fact that Tameri didn't run away shows that she has quite a bit of courage, doesn't it?
Be careful with that dragon. I hope he doesn't spit out fire.
Chapter 31
The official slowly led the fifteen girls into the palace hall. None of them knew that a pair of bright eyes were watching them quietly from a faraway place.
In the Harem
"Hmm ... the number of people there is a bit more than I thought would pass the test." The old Queen was standing by the window as she watched the group.
"But that is a good thing, Your Highness." Sala answered politely.
"That's true ... Oh?" Abruptly, the old Queen moved closer to the window.
"Your Highness?" Sala felt confused at her Queen's actions. "What is the matter?"
The old Queen was gazing at a plainly dressed girl, who wasn't looking around at her surroundings like the other girls were doing. She was just calmly following the group ahead of her as she was walking in the end of the crowd of girls. Suddenly ... as if she felt someone staring at her, she looked up at the tower aloft of the palace and met the gaze of the old Queen.
"What ..." The old Queen's heart began to beat faster. "Impossible ..." Her body moved even closer out to get a better look. 'That girl's eyes ... it is like amethyst crystal, so bright and penetrating!'
"Your Highness, that's dangerous! Please come back in!" Sala called out hurriedly.
"Eh?" Only now did the old Queen realize that she had unconsciously moved herself to a very precarious position on the window. By the time she had placated Sala's concern and looked out the window once more, there was no trace of the girl she had seen.
'Eyes like amethyst crystal ... that is the proof of being a member of the Egyptian royal family ... that girl ...' The old Queen stood still by the window as she watched the group enter another area of the palace. 'Who is she ...?'
'... Who was that I just saw?' Tameri thought as she walked. Eariler she had felt like someone had been staring at her and subconsciously looked up at a tower aloft ... where she discovered a pair of shining eyes looking right at her. The woman's gaze had made Tameri feel very uneasy so she quickly looked away and moved quickly ahead to catch up with the others. The unease went away when she looked at the window again and didn't see the pelicular gaze directed at her.
"Everyone, listen up!" The official's voice suddenly broke through her thoughts. "In a few moments, the Pharaoh will be meeting with all of you. Please make yourselves presentable." The official waved his hand to call in a group of maids. "They will be leading you to the meeting place, so please don't worry."
After the official had left, the maids began to help the girls with their appearance. Afterwards, they led them to the waiting hall before excusing themselves.
Among the group, a few that were dressed more magnificently began to look at the others with disdain in their eyes. These girls were the daughters of foreign royalty and nobles. One of them, who seemed to be the leader, spoke:
"Humph! I never thought that such commoners like yourselves would even have the courage to compete with me." Her voice clearly displayed her haughty character.
"What did you just say? Who are you?" The girl that the comment was directed at asked, not at all pleased.
"I am the princess of Libya, Benghazi." 1 She purposedly raised her head up high in a conceited gesture.
"The ... Libyan princess?!" Some of the girls' eyes opened wide in surprise.
"I am also from the same homeland as Princess Benghazi. My name is Kamama." 2
"And I am a aristcrat of Mitanni, Tadukipa." 3
"I am also from Mitanni. I'm Mutemwiya." 4
"I'm a aristocrat from the Hittite Empire -- Maathomeferoure." 5 6
The girls surrounding Benghazi all introduced themselves unhurriedly while their voices sounded like they were trying to scare the others with their names and titles. It seemed to work as the 'commoner' girls were scared to their wits at their competition. Some of them knew that their chances were slim against such people and left. Now there were only eight girls left.
"Oh? Are there still someone who doesn't fear losing?" Benghazi looked at Tameri from the corner of her eye.
"... Princess, I don't think you have the authority to 'screen' out who can come in or out." Tameri answered.
"You!" Benghazi never thought that Tameri would answer her in such a manner. "You're so unbridled, commoner!" She tried to use her status to cover up her actions.
"It's the truth, isn't it?" Tameri wasn't the least bit afraid of the other girl.
"She's right." A girl who was standing off to the side suddenly spoke in defense of Tameri. "You definitely don't have the authority to be choosing who stays and who goes. It's your actions that are unbridled!"
"The two of you ...!" Benghazi couldn't find anything to retort back but she didn't want to lose face. "Who do you think you are?! How dare you preach to me like this!"
"I am Semiramide. 7 I should add that I'm from Assyria."
"A ... Assyria?!" Benghazi realized that she had gone too far, since Assyria was a far larger and stronger country than her native Libya.
"Just ignore them." Semiramide led Tameri over to the other side of the room. "What a bunch of women. They only have their status but no substance to their credit." She looked at the other princesses with disdain.
Tameri wanted to thank the other girl for helping her but a shout stopped her from speaking.
"Everyone. Please get in line now before we enter the main hall. You will be meeting the Pharaoh now."
The girls immediately quieted down and filed into a line, with Benghazi in the lead. They entered the hall slowly until they reached their assigned places and bowed in respect to the Pharaoh.
"We pay our respects to you, Your Majesty." They all said in unison.
"... You may stand. You've all worked hard today." The Pharaoh ... who was Atem spoke. "From now on, you all can move about in the palace freely. In a moment, you will be told where your rooms are." Once he finished speaking, Atem stood up and left without giving the girls a single glance.
The girls, seeing Atem treat them this way, had expressions of surprise and embarrassment.
"Princess Benghazi, you will be taken to first room in the eastern wing of the palace. Miss Kamama, you will be in the second room in the eastern wing ..."
An official began to read aloud the room assignments. "Princess Semiramide, your room is the third one in the western wing of the palace. Miss Tameri, yours is the fourth room in the western wing." Once he finished reading the paper, he added, "Later this afternoon there will be a banquet in your honor. When the time comes, please arrive on time."
Temple of Light
After leaving the main hall, Atem came here to find Seto to pass his time.
"Oh ... it finally came ... by the gods ..." He spoke, annoyed.
"Live with it. You still have to personally entertain those women this evening." Seto answered as he continued to write.
"If I have to go entertain that group of women ... you should simply just kill me. At least I'd be happier." Atem closed his eyes as he leaned against a wall.
"But you have to go do it." Seto looked at the other for a moment as he straightened the documents on his desk.
"Ah ... so you two are here? You've caused me to go searching for so long ..." An uninvited guest suddenly entered. The pair turned around cautiously to find the source of the voice. It was ---
"Benghazi?!" Their eyes opened wide as they stared at the enchantingly dressed woman in front of them.
"How vexing ... you two look like you've seen a monster." She smiled lightly as she asked, "Is this how you treat an good friend?"
"... Benghazi, how did you get in here?" Seto looked a bit suspicious. Only the Pharaoh and his six priests could enter this temple.
"About that ..." Benghazi moved closer to them but the pair took a few steps back at the same time. "Heh heh. I have my ways." She smiled again, a very dubious smile.
"... I'll go change the guards right now." Seto knew what that smile meant. The guards probably weren't able to resist Benghazi's charms so they let her in.
"You're so evil, Seto. They only helped me."
Seto moved to the doorway and turned around towards her. "It's a matter of principle. And you -- get out of here right now! You shouldn't be in this place!"
"It looks like your personality has become even more indifferent after you became a priest." Benghazi shook her head.
"That's enough!" Atem seemed to become tired of watching the exchange between the two. "Get out, Benghazi!"
"Eh? I thought Seto could be unreasonable at times, but how can you be that way too?" She asked resentfully.
"Get out of here now!" The two men said at the same time.
"Humph ... I'm going already ..." She left the temple, very unwillingly.
"With this woman here ... don't even think of having any peaceful days ahead of you ..." Seto watched the departing figure with disgust.
"Hmm ... I think so too ..." Atem answered. 'Only the gods know what disturbances that woman will bring with her ...'
Author's Corner:
Some brief info on a new character --
Benghazi (16 years old) -- Chief Priestess of the Temple to Lamia
"The daughter of the king of Libya. In the eyes of the people, she is a girl with both talent and beauty as well as being wise and resourceful. But in truth, she is a sinister woman who is capable of unscrupulous actions in order to get what she wants. She is a schemer and very cruel to people who block her way. Yet she is very generous to those who can aid her.
When she was young, she frequently went with envoys as they did their business so she became an acquaintance of Atem and Seto. But the two did not have a favorable impression of her. (Maybe it is better to say that they detest her?)
She is fond of wearing Egyptian clothing and accessories and has an interest in Atem."
Translator's Notes:
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 : These are all changed names since none of them sounded right, at least to me. The names I replaced them with are names of princesses from their respective countries.
5 : There was a sentence before this one that I didn't translate because I couldn't figure out where that girl who said it was from. I never heard of the country either ...
Posted on October 27, 2004.