Pyramids: The Gateway to Stars

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIII
The Girl At The Lake

Days passed, I was slowly getting used to living with the royal family and taking care of Djedefhor. He was still quite a handful during the night: playing with his toys until dawn and ruining my body clock along the way. I wasn't used to it.

He may be a cute little cinnamon roll but he's one hell of an insomniac kid. Every night, he's full of energy like a vampire but when morning strikes, he is totally knocked out and fast asleep in his room. But lucky him, he can sleep anytime as he pleases, unlike me.

I yawned as I walked through a pathway of acacia trees. Today, Miss Maat asked me to look for some ingredients—such as figs, grapes, and tamarisks—needed for later dinner.

She didn't give me the exact locations where I could find them since these trees are most likely found everywhere in the city of Memphis. I just had to pick the ripest ones.

Not knowing where to go, I allowed myself to wander to places where my feet ushered me to go until they halted when a faint melodic sound from somewhere nearby caught my attention.

It's a female voice and she sings so lovely—like serene rustles of leaves blown by the wind. So beautiful, it urged me to find out who the girl was.

Carrying the half-empty basket with me, I strolled through the thick bushes and followed that voice until I reached a lake. Its location was a bit far away from the palace.

The hot temperature of sunlight rays covered the entire lake, which answers why it was currently isolated—except for one person.

She was sitting upon a huge flat rock. She's probably the girl who was singing earlier. I could still hear her humming that lovely tune, a typical song that an in-love person would sing.

Although her back was facing me, I recognized the white sheath dress and broad shoulder straps wrapping her small figure. She's somewhat around her teenage years; perhaps, 13 years old?

"Hello," I moved closer to her, "I heard you earlier and I'm amazed. You sing so well, Miss."

Her body halted in a millisecond then turned around to face me. I greeted her with a smile but it slowly vanished when I recognized her face.

Her eyes widened and so did mine.

"P—Princess Meresankh!" I approached her but she stood up and stepped back like a scared cat, like she didn't want to see me here.

I halted and bowed at her. "Greetings to Her Royal Highness, Princess of Egypt... Why are you here, Princess?" I asked.

To think that a royal member is residing here at an isolated lake, far away from the palace. She should be having a tea party with her sisters like they usually do.

She avoided my gaze. "It's none of your business. You are my brother's nanny, right?"

I nodded.

"He's the one you should tend to... Leave me alone now."

But I didn't move.

Even though she has a higher status than me, she's still a kid in my eyes. Who knows what might happen to her when I leave her here? It's dangerous!

I stepped closer to her which had her looking at me annoyed and nervous at the same time; she briefly wandered her eyes to the surroundings and glanced at me again.

"I said leave!"

"Does your father—His Majesty—know you are here?"

She turned pale. The knitted brows etching her face stretched into a worried look. It confused me. Is she perhaps hiding something? And she's afraid that I would tell such a thing to his father? I wonder what it is. The lake is almost nothing but trees, waters, rocks, and sand. What could it be?