Yuki looked at the huge table in a room she hadn't been in since she arrived there five days ago. Of course, the palace was huge and she wouldn't be able to get to know every room in a few days, but this one, in particular, was on the first floor and she believed she had already entered each of those rooms when Durin, now Atila, proved her wrong. She didn't correct his mistake and allowed everyone to believe that she and the Pharaoh were enjoying their honeymoon, although she noticed that Durin, now Sean, was distant during the day, and every time she watched him sleeping with the servant, she noticed that his mood didn't diminish. She was furious that he believed he was lying with her and yet treated her with indifference during the day. She thought it was on those days that she began to hate Sean, when many years later, she consulted her heart. And it didn't matter when Sean revealed to her that he had always known that she wasn't the one he went to bed with.
"You should sit next to me, Yuki." Sean said, interrupting her thoughts.
Yuki looked at the table again and noticed that it was gradually filling up with guests and the servants were hurrying to serve drinks and food. There must have been more than twenty seats at the table, with another chair between them, which allowed the guests to move around freely, chatting and laughing, indifferent to the entrance of Farida and Pharaoh.
"Who are these people?" Yuki asked discreetly as she sat down, noting that none of the Gumis, or the host, or even Atila were there.
"They are representatives of the most important families in my kingdom. I think you should understand that they are the fathers of my concubines." Sean said, helping himself to two ostrich thighs.
Yuki stared hungrily at the whole feast on the table.
"And you don't think it's disrespectful to bring me to meet the fathers of your mistresses?"
Sean leaned towards her, just long enough to ask in a whisper.
"I thought you didn't harbor bad feelings, my Farida. Jealousy doesn't suit your eyes of studied indifference." He said and concentrated again on tearing off pieces of ostrich thigh.
"It's not jealousy, you idiot. I'm just sensible."
"Your wisdom is boring me. Fill your mouth with rice if it pleases you, but spare me the comments and questions that don't interest me." He said rudely and Yuki had to use all her self-control not to get up and leave the place.
She didn't eat anything and resigned herself to waiting for that meeting, where the men began to show their obvious drunkenness, while the people dispersed outside. When she thought, relieved, that their oldest man was getting up to end the meeting, he started talking to Sean, who was grinning like an idiot.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for giving my daughter a place in your harem. The Sular family is honored."
"I hope your daughter will repay this honor by giving me many children." Sean replied and the man sat back down. For the next hour, each father thanked the Pharaoh effusively for his daughter's semen. At least that's how Yuki saw and heard it.
And when the last of the men thanked him and Sean replied, the Gumis entered and the men stood up.
The host was wearing armor with the insignia of two crossed swords. One of fire and one of ice, followed by some soldiers, who wore the same insignia on their armor. But that wasn't what caught Yuki's attention. She stared at her host uncomprehendingly. He looked younger and stronger than when he had met her in the palace garden.
"Your Majesty, it's time for the troop presentation." The host said and noticing Yuki's puzzled look, he winked subtly at her, before turning his attentive face to the Pharaoh, who was getting up.
Sean looked at Yuki.
"You should rest, dear. I don't think talk of war is going to be very interesting for a lady." He said insinuatingly and when he saw Yuki's furious look, he smiled and walked away.
...
Sean entered the arena that surrounded the palace, and there were no longer millions of people, but thousands of soldiers. He walked up to Attila, who had already changed from his clothes as a member of the Royal Family of the celebration into a suit of armor, which, if it weren't for a small silver crown on the left side, would be identical to the armor of the other soldiers. He saluted when Sean stood in front of him and all the buzz in the place turned into a huge Ra! Said in unison by those thousands of soldiers, who saluted and stood in a position of respect, as did Attila.
"Rest." Sean said and only after Attila had left his position, was he imitated by all the other soldiers. The host looked worriedly at the soldiers, but said nothing. That respect they showed for Attila was out of order. He felt as if all the respect they had for the Great Pharaoh was something demanded by his brother and it wasn't yet time for those events.
"Attila is going to explain the plan he has devised so that we can defeat our enemy. You are here because you have proved yourselves capable of sparking a little of the gods' magic. Nothing that is said here should be passed on. From now on, you are sealed to your Pharaoh." Sean said and Attila began to assign some soldiers to their roles as spies. Their meeting took more than two hours and when Sean arrived back at the palace, he was tired.
He drank some wine and then went to Yuki's room and sat on the bed thoughtfully. Now he had almost everything he wanted. Almost.
The woman posing as Yuki approached him sensually, but he held up his hand to stop her.
"Today I don't want to play at pretending you're my wife. Go get your Farida!" He ordered without looking at her.
The woman's face turned red, but she didn't move.
"Your Majesty... My Farida isn't here."
Sean slowly turned to her.
"What did you say?"
"Farida always leaves the room at that time and..."
"Damn you!" Sean said angrily. "That's why Atila wasn't bothering to get close to Yuki during the day. He didn't need to, because every night, that bitch was taking refuge in his arms!" He said angrily, as he paced back and forth and, stopping, looked at the young woman he'd been lying with that day.
"Don't say anything to her or anyone else. If anyone finds out that I always knew you weren't her and that she goes out every night... I'll have your bloody head handed to me on a platter and make Yuki feed on it!"
The young woman made a quick curtsy and ran off.
Sean took off his clothes and couldn't sleep. When the sun had been up for more than two hours, he heard someone entering the room and when he sat up, he saw Yuki, wearing the same clothes as the women in the harem, and became angry again. All his anger returned in full force.
Yuki closed the bedroom door and when she turned around, she saw Sean completely naked in front of her. And for the first time, she felt afraid of him.
Sean approached and every step he took towards Yuki, she took backwards. And she backed away until she found herself at a dead end, when her back hit the wall and prevented her from continuing to keep her distance from him.
"Durin... What... What are you doing here at this time?"
Sean caught up with her quickly and removed the scarf from her head, throwing it back, loosening her long hair, while running his hand over Yuki's face.
"I've been waiting for you." He said hoarsely with desire and bent down to kiss her neck.
Yuki tried to pull away, but he grabbed her and pinned her against the wall with his own body.
"Please, Durin, stop. Shall we talk? I can explain what..."
He was beginning to run his hands all over her body and without stopping, he breathed in her perfume.
"You don't have to explain anything to me, Yuki. I just want what cost me 837,000 dollars."
Yuki tried to push him away, but he was like a concrete wall and her attempt didn't budge him a millimeter.
"Durin, I'm not refusing to... But I think we should talk about it first, let's not rush into things..."
Sean stopped his caresses and took her in his arms, leading her over to the bed and throwing her down rudely, placing himself between her legs.
"I didn't know that Attila fantasized about lying with the women of Pharaoh's harem, even though he often takes Celesty to visit his Ward... But I hope he hasn't made you too tired, Yuki, because I won't spare you until I've had my fill."
"Durin, come on..."
"No, Yuki. You could have talked to me and told me about your romance before. You both made a fool of me, now I'm going to show you that a fool can be smart." He said and bent over her.