Chapter 16 (Sister Hazel – All for You)
Yugi was exhausted.
'How is it possible that being spoiled can be more tiring that working?' he thought.
***
Just as Atemu said, Yugi now had a whole new wardrobe. Atemu called up the palace seamstresses and within moments Yugi found himself standing on a stool in the middle of a bright room, surrounded by busy women. Blushing, he was stripped of the robe and then assaulted with yard after yard of soft fabric. Needles flew and scissors flashed as the clothes were cut to fit. Most of the clothes were quickly fitted and then set aside for further decoration, but Atemu intervened and said that he would need something to wear for the day. As the final outfit was being finished with a simple hem of gold thread, Atemu called for sandals.
'Now this is ridiculous,' Yugi thought, as he was almost lifted onto a taller chair to have his feet measured. None of the concubines had ever had more than two pairs of shoes, one for working downstairs and one for entertaining. Now Yugi found out that, as the pharaoh's personal concubine, he needed different shoes for chores indoors, chores outdoors, relaxing indoors, serving the pharaoh, dancing for the pharaoh, and travel outside the palace. Unfortunately, none of them could be finished today because he had such small feet, so today would have to be taken barefoot. Yugi really didn't mind.
Then he was being whisked away again, this time to the palace jewelers. Because the jewelers worked so closely with the goldsmiths, and both required a hot furnace, both workshops were separate from the main palace, along the palace wall. Yugi had never been to this part of the palace before, and still couldn't quite believe he was meant to wear gold and precious stones.
"Gem, do you prefer sapphires or rubies?" Atemu asked.
"…….What?!" Yugi was dumbstruck.
"Well, amethysts are the obvious choice, but you can't wear just one stone all the time, and you will need the basics: gold, silver, jade, and amber. But the rest of it is up to you. I should have asked you earlier about your clothes, but the girls seem to know what they're doing, so I don't usually question them. Is there anything else you can think of?"
What gemstones did he prefer? 'How do I answer a question like that?' Yugi thought. 'My anklets are bronze!'
"Whatever you think is best, my pharaoh," he said, keeping his head down to hide his wide incredulous eyes.
Atemu stopped, reaching down to tilt Yugi's eyes up. His crimson eyes were gleaming as he gazed down into purple gems.
"Sapphire, then," he said, "And possibly some emeralds." With that, he turned and led Yugi into the workshop.
'At least I don't have to stand on a stool for this part,' Yugi thought. Before he had gotten two feet in the door, he and Atemu were quickly pushed onto a short bench in the corner. Despite the irreverence, Atemu didn't seem to mind, and Yugi was frankly relieved. The small workshop was filled with people handling sharp objects, hot metal, delicate glass, and precious stones. A lesser slave pumped the bellows, making the fire roar and spark threateningly. The whole place was packed with tools, pieces of metal and stone, scrolls, wooden tablets, and hot fire, making it swelteringly hot.
"What is it that you require, my pharaoh?" a craftsman asked, kneeling before the bench.
Atemu gestured towards Yugi. "This is my new personal servant, and he needs a whole new collection of gems and gold to match his new status. I was thinking mostly amethyst, to match his eyes, and possibly sapphires and emeralds as well. Then of course all the usual…" Atemu trailed off as the craftsman leapt to his feet and scooped up a whole stack of stone tablets from the nearest table. He kept his head bowed as he dropped the tablets on the bench next to Atemu.
"A thousand apologies, my pharaoh," he said. "If you could look through these and tell us what you want, we can create anything you desire."
Atemu smiled and waved him off before picking up the first tablet. Etched into the surface was an elaborate drawing showing a solid gold collar in great detail. Huge gems had been smoothed into ovals and fitted into the surface around the collar. Atemu turned to ask his little gem what he thought of the first etching when he saw a strange look in Yugi's eyes.
"What troubles you, my gem?" he asked.
'Why did he allow that?' Yugi thought. "Why do you allow them to treat you with such disrespect?"
A grin spread across Atemu's face as he answered. "Just as the seamstresses are masters of their craft, the goldsmiths and jewelers here are the best in the kingdom. They know more about their art than I could ever hope to know. They respect me as a leader, and I respect them as artists. And I try not to get in their way," he laughed. "I suppose they've just gotten used to pushing me around a bit. They know they have nothing to fear from me."
Yugi listened with wide eyes. 'My pharaoh…' He edged closer, needing to be near this kind and gentle leader who had healed him and showered him with gifts.
Atemu smiled and allowed his hand to stray across Yugi's thigh, delighting in the blush that brightened Yugi's face.
"Now do you like this one?" Atemu showed Yugi the tablet. Yugi nodded mutely, not even glancing at the tablet, willing to agree to anything his pharaoh said just then.
"Would you prefer sapphires or amethysts in it?" he asked.
Just like that, the spell was broken, and Yugi's peaceful face was disturbed. 'How am I to answer? Which one would be more appropriate? Which one does would please Atemu? They're both too expensive!' he thought. "Ah….um…"
The craftsman stepped forward again and slid the tablet from the pharaoh's hand. He held it up before Yugi.
"Would this look better in purple or blue?" he asked, a smile tilting his mouth.
"Purple, of course," Yugi said quickly.
The craftsman's smile widened. He carried the tablet over to the goldsmith's table and began shouting orders.
Atemu nodded his thanks to the craftsman and picked up the next tablet. "What do you think of this one?" he asked.
The process progressed more quickly after that, Atemu asking Yugi questions and intercepting any craftsmen who came close to show how the work was taking shape and ask about details like gold and silver quality and stone cut. Someone came close to measure Yugi's neck, waist, wrists, fingers, and ankles. Finally Atemu set aside the last tablet in the stack and they left the blazing shop, much busier than when they entered it.
"Where are we going next, my pharaoh?" After talking with Atemu for over an hour about jewel modifications and metal selection, Yugi felt a little bit more relaxed about asking questions. They had left the garden path behind and were now back in the palace, headed towards the main hall.
"You must be starving," he said. "Noon was hours ago, we're going to eat."
'Now that he mentions it…' Yugi unconsciously put a hand to his stomach and quickened his steps. 'When was the last time I ate? It seems so long ago.'
They entered a room near the main chamber, much smaller and simpler than the banquet hall. A wooden table that could seat twenty dominated the room, and tall windows on the other side looked out over the gardens.
'This must be where the inner court eats when nothing is happening,' Yugi thought. Fortunately the room was empty at this odd time, as it was too late for lunch and too early for dinner.
Atemu took a seat at the head of the table as a servant came in from the kitchens, bearing a large tray laden with fruits, fish, and sweets. Yugi, as his training dictates, automatically tried to take his place kneeling just behind the pharaoh's shoulder. Atemu caught him before his knees could touch the ground and guided him into the chair beside him.
"There's no need for that, little gem. As my personal servant you eat at the table, next to me, as long as there is no ceremonial nonsense that says otherwise." Atemu sighed. "Most of the inner court agrees that it would make a bad impression on visiting diplomats if the pharaoh ate with his servants."
"I don't mind, my pharaoh," Yugi said. "I will serve you in whatever way I am required to. That is my only desire."
Atemu's smile returned. "And my desire is to make you happy. How am I doing so far?"
"My pharaoh this is beyond anything I had ever hoped for. I hope you are pleased with me," Yugi said.
"I am very pleased, my gem, and today isn't even over yet."