Just a note: In this story, the council and the priests are two separate things. Just in case I hadn't clarified that earlier. THe priests are connected to the Royal family on a close and friendly basis while the council is not. They ensure that the Pharaoh knows all that's going on in his kingdom and advises him. THe priests also give advice, but they hvae a little higher rank than the council although the council has interaction with the people where the priests do not. Hope that clarifies that for you.
Chapter 19- The Announcement
Aknankanon sat in a meeting with the council and the priests with Amara sitting beside him. He was listening to what was going on in his kingdom, although everything seemed to be fine for the most part.
"Pharaoh, there is one important issue that we must discuss." the head of the council said.
"Yes. What is that?" Aknankanon asked.
"The kingdom is slightly uneasy at the fact that Prince Yami has no lady with whom he has said he is with. It leaves the kingdom feeling slightly uncertain about the kingdom's future." the councilman said.
'More like the council is uneasy.' Aknankanon thought bitterly. He knew that the council meant well and that they only had the kingdom's best interest at heart. They were loyal to him, and that was something the comforted him. "My son has not made it publicly known yet, but there is a woman with whom is in a relationship with. He gave her the scarab necklace yesterday." Aknankanon said.
"Is this girl of the qualifications?" another councilman asked.
'More than that.' Seth thought, irritated. He knew there were standards, but it still irritated him that the council placed such standards on every single girl that came into contact with the Crown Prince.
"Yes. They want her identity to remain unknown for the time being. However, there is another meeting tonight in which you will meet her, and it will be announced to the kingdom tomorrow morning. She is a noble in rank, and there is nothing in her reputation which clouds any image of her. In fact, there is no reputation." Aknankanon said.
"Very well, Your Majesty. When will this meeting be?" the head councilman asked.
"It will be just before dinner." Aknankanon said. He stood, signaling the end of the meeting.
The council and priests bowed as Aknankanon and Amara walked past them.
The priests followed them out.
"It gets irritating the way they ask questions about Yuugi like that." Seth growled.
"I know that it is frustrating, Seth, but you and I both know that Yuugi has nothing against her. It will be fine. After they meet Yuugi, it will pass." Aknankanon said.
"You could see that they were relieved to hear that Yami has someone now." Eternias remarked.
"Why is it so important that Yami be married so fast? Yami doesn't have to married for several more years." Amara said.
"By law, yes, but the council wants proof that Yami intends to find a wife." Aknankanon said.
"Translation: They want to be certain that Yami isn't one who is going to end up wanting men like Atemu." Seth said.
"Yes." Aknankanon said.
Isis smiled. "There is no chance of that. Yuugi, after all, is a woman. I can attest to that." Isis said.
"Once they meet Yuugi, I know that they'll be satisfied. They have all seen Yuugi, so they know what her status is, and they will also know that Yuugi has no reputation that would darken her image in the eyes of the people." Karim said.
"The only thing about Yuugi's reputation is the fact that Mia made an attempt on her life. Once the council realizes that, I believe that they will have no problem with this pairing." Shada stated.
"Yuugi will make a fine queen should they reach that point." Mahado said.
"Why's that?" Amara asked.
Mahado smiled. "Because Yuugi is the complete opposite of Mia. If a servant burnt Mia's food, ran into her, or made a mistake around her, she'd have them whipped in a second. Yuugi just tells them to be more careful with what they are doing the next time." Mahado said.
"Thank Ra for that." Aknankanon said.
Yuugi was sitting with Anzu and Mana.
"Yuugi, have you heard what the palace has been saying about you and Yami being together?" Anzu asked.
"No. What?" Yuugi asked a little worried.
"They love it! They keep talking about how you'd make a great queen, and that they would like for you two to stay together." Mana said excitedly.
"They do?" Yuugi asked, surprised.
"Yep. I think it has to do with the fact that you don't really punish them if they make a mistake. You offer advice to them about how to avoid these mistakes. You also actually talk to them like they are at your level in society instead of acting superior to them. You make them feel like they are worth something." Anzu explained.
"They are worth something, Anzu. They are people, too, and they deserve to be treated as such. Just because I was born of higher status doesn't mean that I am any better than them. Truthfully, without the people, there is no kingdom, and without the kingdom, there would be no need for a ruler and such." Yuugi said.
"Spoken like a true kind queen." a voice said.
The three girls turned to see Hasina.
"Hello, Mother." Anzu said.
"Good afternoon, Anzu. Man. Lady Yuugi." Hasina said.
"Hasina, please just call me Yuugi. If you heard what I said, then you know I don't like that." Yuugi said.
"Then why did you always throw that in Mia's face?" Mana asked.
Yuugi smiled. "Because Mia was constantly trying to degrade me, and she thought that she was better than me. Besides, in all honesty, I couldn't stand her." Yuugi said.
"No one would could stand that bitch. She always boasted about how she would be the next queen of Egypt first when Atemu married her and second when Yami married her." Hasina huffed.
"Let me guess. She changed who she was going after the second she heard that Yami was the Crown Prince instead of Atemu." Yuugi said.
"Yes. It wasn't an hour after the Pharaoh made the announcement that she started throwing herself at Yami." Anzu said,
"Well, she got exactly what she deserved, and I believe that all the other ladies got the message that the Pharaoh would not tolerate such acts." Hasina said.
"How do you know?" Mana asked.
Hasina smirked. "Because I heard them talking one day about how they didn't want to do anything to Yuugi to make Yami angry because it could end up with them ending up like Mia." Hasina said.
"As you said, Mia got what was coming to her. I think that Mia would have tried to kill any woman who ended up with Yami if it wasn't her. I just happened to be the one that Yami liked." Yuugi said.
"Loved." Anzu corrected.
Yuugi blushed lightly. "Yes. Loved." Yuugi said.
"Anyway, I came here to get you, Yuugi." Hasina said.
"Why?" Yuugi asked.
"Well, the Pharaoh has said that the council will meet you and know that you are the one that Yami is courting, so you will need to dress a little fancier than normal, and Queen Amara asked me to handle that." Hasina said.
"Oh. All right." Yuugi said, standing up.
"Anzu. I would like your help." Hasina said.
"Can I come?" Mana asked.
"I suppose so." Hasina agreed.
The three left the room and headed toward Yuugi's room.
"Hey, Yami. Where's Yuugi at?" Heba asked.
"Well, Father has said that Yuugi will be shown to the council in a meeting before dinner tonight, and Mother had Hasina help Yuugi get dressed." Yami said.
"Hasina? Oh boy." Atemu said.
"Is that bad?" Bakura asked, his protectiveness kicking in.
"It's not exactly bad. Yuugi is just going to be dressed a little more extravagantly than normal. Hasina tends to overdue things a little." Jou said.
"Well, chances are that Queen Amara will have Hasina handle Yuugi's looks from now on. Especially for the balls." Yue said, lying in Eternias' arms.
"Why does the council want to meet Yuugi so soon, though?" Yami asked from where he sat on Atemu and Heba's bed.
"The council says that the kingdom wants proof that you do have a woman you are interested in." Eternias said.
Yami growled. "Meaning that the council, not the kingdom, wants to make sure that I do have a woman and not man instead, right?" Yami asked.
"That's the way we see it." Seth answered.
"Well, once they see Yuugi, they will know that it is a woman. Yuugi is certainly a woman." Ryou said.
"Just one that knows how to defend herself." Marik said.
"It'll all blow over once the council sees her, so don't worry about it." Atemu said.
"You know that you have to be there, too, Atemu." Eternias said.
"Yes, Eternias. I know I have to be there." Atemu said.
"So, will the kingdom have to know about this, too?" Malik asked.
"Yes. It'll be announced to the kingdom tomorrow morning." Seth answered.
"At least I'll have everyone off of my back about this." Yami said.
"In my opinion, the council is pushing this issue a little too far. I mean, as the Crown Prince, Yami just has to be married by his nineteenth birthday, but he's just turned seventeen, so he doesn't technically need to be married for another two years." Atemu said.
"The council truly just wants to make sure that Yami doesn't put this off until the last minute." Eternias said.
Yami rolled his eyes. "I have two years. Besides, it's not like I Immediately asked Yuugi to marry me. We're just courting right now." Yami said.
"Still, it'll put the council's mind at ease. Besides, Yuugi won't have a problem having them accept her." Eternias said.
"How do you know that, lover?" Yue asked, glancing up at Eternias.
Eternias chuckled. "I've heard the council talk about how they think that Yuugi would make the perfect wife and queen for Yami. Also, they like her a great deal because she does not think that she is better than everyone else, and she doesn't try and flaunt her status and wealth, not to mention the fact that Yuugi has always treated the servants and slaves with respect. You know the council can't stand it when someone mistreats the servants and slaves here." Eternias said.
"Sounds like Yuugi has a lot working in her favor." Ryou said.
"She does, and I think that the council will be very happy when they hear the news." Eternias said.
"Speaking of which, we really need to get ready. That meeting will be starting real soon." Atemu said.
Taking the hint, everyone left the room, and Atemu, Yami, Seth, and Eternias went to get ready for the meeting.
"Well, it's not as extravagant as I would have liked, but I think that it will do." Hasina said.
Yuugi looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She was wearing a light pink dress that reach her feet. There was lace at the hem of the dress and at the sleeve end, which went to her middle upper arm. There was a sash that was a slightly darker pink that was around her waist. Yuugi also had gold bracelets around her wrists. The scarab necklace was also around her neck.
"Hasina, this does look beautiful, but this is fancier than what I usually wear." Yuugi said.
"Not by much, Yuugi, and you look great in it." Anzu said.
"Yeah. I know that the council will know, without a doubt, that you would look great with Yami." Mana said.
Yuugi blushed. "There's more to a relationship than what the people look like, Mana." Yuugi told her.
"I know, but it's still the truth." Mana said.
"She does make a point. I am certain that Yami will like how you look." Anzu said.
Hasina looked outside. "Well, it's not very long until the meeting starts." Hasina said.
"Surely I don't just walk in there." Yuugi said.
"No. Yami will come here and get you." Hasina assured her.
"Well, Mana and I need to be going. Come on, Mana." Anzu said.
"All right, Anzu. Good luck, Yuugi." Mana said as she and Anzu left the room.
Yuugi sighed. She could feel herself becoming slightly nervous.
"You will be fine, Yuugi. There is nothing for you to worry about." Hasina said.
"I'm a little worried about what they may ask me." Yuugi said.
"All they will ask is whether you have any marital ties, past or present, and about your status. They might enquire as to your reputation as well." Hasina said.
"The only reputation I have is that Mia tried to kill me." Yuugi said.
"Yes, and she got just what it was that she deserved." Hasina replied.
A moment later, there was a knock on the door.
Hasina opened the door. "Yami, I see you got here on time for once." Hasina said.
"Hello to you, too, Hasina, and yes, I am here on time." Yami replied.
"You tend to be late." Hasina said.
"Is Yuugi ready?" Yami asked.
"Yes, Yami. I am." Yuugi replied, walking into Yami's field of view.
Yami saw how Yuugi looked and his jaw hit the floor.
"Yami, mind your manners." Hasina scolded.
Yami closed his mouth and said, "Let's go, Yuugi."
Yuugi nodded and followed Yami out.
Hasina left as well, closing the door behind her.
Yuugi and Yami walked on down the hall.
"I see that Hasina truly is like a mother figure to you." Yuugi said.
"Yes, and the scolding goes right along with it." Yami said.
Yuugi smiled. "That might be a good thing." Yuugi said.
Yami glared playfully at her. "Watch it, Yuugi." Yami said.
Yuugi just smiled innocently at him.
The two soon reached the throne room.
"Are you ready for this, Yuugi?" Yami asked.
"As ready as I'm going to be." Yuugi answered
Yami squeezed her hand reassuringly before the two walked into the throne room.
Aknankanon smiled slightly at the sight of Yami with Yuugi. He glanced slightly at the council and saw their surprise as well as their approval from one look. 'I was right. They approve of Yuugi.' Aknankanon thought.
The council were the ones that took the lead where questioning the woman the Crown Prince was courting, so the head of the council, Omar, started.
"Prince Yami, is Lady Yuugi the woman that you have taken to courting?" Omar asked.
"Yes." Yami answered. 'The scarab necklace should tell you that.' Yami thought. Aloud, he added, "I gave her the scarab necklace yesterday, and she accepted." "Lady Yuugi, do you know what accepting the scarab means?" Omar asked.
"Yes. I was told of it's meaning before I accepted it." Yuugi answered.
"And you have no marital ties, past or present?" Omar asked.
"No, I do not." Yuugi replied.
Omar smiled. "I believe that you have made a fine choice, Prince Yami." Omar said.
Yami smiled. "Thank you, Omar." Yami replied.
Omar turned to Aknankanon and said, "We have no problem."
"Good. It will be announced to the kingdom tomorrow." Aknankanon said.
The night, Aknankanon, Amara, Mahado, Isis, Karim, Shada, Eternias, Yue, Seth, Jou, Atemu, Heba, Ryou, Bakura, Marik, Malik, Anzu, Honda, Mana, Yami, and Yuugi all sat at the dinner table, discussing different things as they waited for different things.
"So, the council had no problem with it?" Heba asked.
"No. They were fine with it." Yuugi answered.
"They approved the moment they saw that it was Yuugi Yami was with." Atemu spoke up.
"Well, they had said they thought that Yuugi would make the perfect wife and queen, so I didn't think that they would have problem with it." Aknankanon said.
"Well, part one is over. Now, the kingdom has to be told." Yami said.
"I think the kingdom will approve, too. Yuugi already has a bit of a reputation in Egypt for being a very kind, compassionate, and forgiving person." Bakura said.
Yuugi blushed. "I do have my limits, Bakura." Yuugi said.
"Yes. We know." Bakura said, smirking as he thought about the time that Yuugi punched the guy in the jaw.
It was soon that the servants brought their food to them.
Yuugi picked up her glass and took a sip to hide her smirk.
Yami looked down to stop his.
Heba, Jou, and Malik all took a bite of their food and nearly choked.
"What's wrong?!" Atemu exclaimed.
All three grabbed their glasses and downed them fast.
"What the hell is this?!" Heba exclaimed.
"That was hot!" Malik added.
Yuugi, along with everyone else at the table with exception of Atemu, Marik, Malik, Heba, Jou, Seth, Ryou, and Bakura burst out laughing.
All eight looked on confused as everyone else laughed.
"What's so funny?" Seth asked.
Yuugi controlled her laughter and said, "Heba. Jou. Malik. Consider that payback for the water incident yesterday." Yuugi said.
"You planned this!" Atemu exclaimed.
"Yes, I did. The cook just made their food that hot so I could get back at them." Yuugi said.
"I must say that was a good trick." Aknankanon said.
"Father, you were in on this?" Atemu asked.
"We all knew, Atemu." Eternias said.
"After hearing what those three did to her, we thought it was fitting payback." Karim said.
Heba looked at Yuugi. "Yuugi, that was a good one, and a new one." Heba said.
Yuugi smiled. "I said I would get back at you." Yuugi said.
"Yeah. Please tell us we don't have to eat this, though." Jou said.
"No." Aknankanon said. He motioned for the servants who brought their real food and took the other away.
The rest of dinner went uneventfully.
Yuugi was a little nervous about her courting Yami being announced to the kingdom.
"Yuugi, it's going to be fine. No one is going to object to this." Yami said.
"I know. I guess this is just a little nerve-wracking." Yuugi said.
Yuugi was dressed in a dress similar to the one she had worn to the council meeting the day before only it was lavender instead of pink.
"Yuugi, it won't last long and then it'll be over. Just calm down." Yami said.
Yuugi nodded. She just wanted to get this over with.
Aknankanon walked out onto the balcony along with Amara, Atemu, and Heba.
The people of Egypt had gathered to hear what it was that their king had to tell them.
"My people, I have called you today to make an announcement. As you know, my son Yami is now the Crown Prince, and he ahs found someone that he has given the scarab necklace to." Aknankanon said.
The people were aware of the fact that the Crown Prince would only give the scarab necklace to the woman he intended to make his wife.
Yami knew his cue and walked out onto the balcony with Yuugi beside him.
"My people. The Crown Prince has chosen Yuugi, the lady of the Mutou house." Aknankanon said.
The people started cheering for them. They knew Yuugi and her reputation among them was good. She had always been kind and courteous to them. She never made them feel lower than her. She didn't flaunt her wealth and status in their faces. She would talk to them in a respectful way and made them feel that they were worth something. Yuugi was also known to help those who were sick and such. She had a very good reputation among them, and the people loved the fact that she, possibly one day, would be made their queen.
Yami tightened his hand around Yuugi's. "I told you that you had nothing to worry about. The people love you." Yami said.
"So I see. All right. I'll say it. You were right." Yuugi said.
Yami smirked. "Of course I was." Yami said.
Atemu and Heba watched this with smiles.
"I think that this might work out." Heba said.
"I know it will. Yami's not going to do anything to lose her." Atemu replied.
Aknankanon and Amara exchanged silent smiles. They knew that things for the kingdom were very good at the moment.
Hope you liked it. Yuugi's revenge came to me on the spur of the moment and I ran with it. Hope you liked it.
The next chapter will be Atemu and Heba's wedding.
R&R.