The Pharaoh and His Slave

Chapter 5

The Pharaoh greets the all the noblemen and council inside the room and introduces me to them. "This is my newest personal servant, Yugi," he says and I nod keeping my eyes down trying to be respectful. "Beautiful one you've found there Pharaoh," says one. "He will someday be a good asset to this council. For now, he will mainly be observing until he has learned enough to hold his own," says the Pharaoh. "Really Pharaoh you didn't even do this with Joey," says Seth. "Of course. I sense a strong intelligence in this one," he says and I blush.

"Now lets stop fawning over the Pharaoh's boy and get this meeting underway," says Isis and everyone sits down. The Pharaoh has me sit in his lap with his arms wrapped around my waist holding me. "Alright the first order of business is what we are going to do about the taxes," says a noblemen. "We can't raise them any higher. We're already hurting the people of Egypt. Look at the Pharaoh's boy. He's an example of that staring us in the face," says Mahad. "Well we have to find a give to lower the taxes to the point the people can pay," Seth. 

"Unfortunately that may be harder than it seems," says the Pharaoh. I can feel one of the noblemen staring at me. He just kept eyeing me like I was a piece of meat and it was making me uncomfortable. One of the noblemen, tapped his knee so he wasn't caught staring and gives him a funny look. I tense up a bit and the Pharaoh must feel me tense up and his hand rubs my lower back to ease me and works a bit. I had been watching the exchange between the people in the room when Seth looks at me.

"Yugi, you're probably the person with the biggest scope of the problem. Can you tell us briefly what you're financial situation was," he asks. I swallow before speaking. "Before I was brought here, I lived in a game shop not far from here. We were getting some business. However, between the taxes, my Grandpa's medical bills, and expenses my Grandpa was unable to pay the adequate amount of money for the taxes," I say. "So this boy is in an average income home and he got plucked from his house. That's a problem," says a councilmen.

They go back and forth for what felt like an hour before I sense the Pharaoh agitated. "Alright, let's take a break for lunch. We're not getting anywhere. Use this to think of ideas," he says and he has me stand and guides me out of the room. "Thank you for being honest in there Yugi," he says. "You're welcome my Pharaoh," I say and we go back to our chambers. He takes off his crown and fancy jewelry. "Put on something less revealing," he says and I raise an eyebrow and go into the closet and change into some more regular clothes. 

The Pharaoh is standing there with a hooded robe for both me and him. "Let's go out for lunch and see your Grandpa," he says and I smile and take one and we walk towards Joey's room and he's stepping out in his own room already dressed. "Hey you two had the same idea," he says. We both smile and we head out of the palace. We walk through the people and I spot Cleopatra's soup stand. "Are you hungry Pharaoh," I ask and he nods and we walk up to the stand.

She looks up and sees me. "Oh Yugi boy I heard what happened it is so good to see you," she says. "Yes thank you. Do you got your specialty," I ask and she looks at the Pharaoh and Joey and I can see it in her eyes that she knows that it's the Pharaoh. "Of course I do for you Yugi. Are you going to see your Grandpa too," she asks and we sit down while she scoops the soup into the bowls. "Yes that's where we're going after," I say and she sets the soup down and we dig in. "Wow miss. This soup is amazing," says Joey.

"Thank you," she says. "This really is good. What kind is it," asks the Pharaoh. "It's merely my special secret soup that this young one helped me make. He was always coming over and trying my recipe and telling me where it needs to go," she says and gives us a few rolls. After we finish eating, the Pharaoh pays here generously and offers her a job within the palace as a cook and she graciously accepts. She's been wanting to earn more money so she can purchase space so she can serve out of more than just a stand.

I lead them to my Grandpa's shop and we go in and Grandpa is sweeping the floor. "Grandpa," I say with a smile and he drops the broom and turns. "Yugi my boy," he says and hugs me. "It's good to see you Grandpa," I say and looks and notices the other two and the Pharaoh removes his hood and Grandpa recognizes him. "My Pharaoh it is an honor to have you here," he says and bows his head in respect. "It is an honor to be in the home of this little one," he says and places a hand on my back.

"I am grateful you took him in and didn't send him off to the pyramids," he says. "Regardless he wouldn't have gone. I look at each boy before they go and decide whether or not they are fit for the pyramids or not. If not, I employ them at the palace so they can pay their taxes. This is Joey and he is my other servant," I say. "It's good to meet you," says Joey. "Please do call me Grandpa. I see you have a duel monsters deck. You play a lot," he asks. "Yeah but I need better cards and Yugi says I need some spell and trap cards as well," he says.

Grandpa take Joey and looks at his deck and shows him a few cards that may help. While Grandpa takes care of Joey, the Pharaoh and I look through some other cards and we build a deck together. He already has his own, but he wanted to create one we both could use. "This one will definitely do," he says and plucks up a Mirror Force trap card. "That's definitely a powerful trap," I say and we place it as the last card in the deck. "Now this will be a deck that's tough to beat," he says.

"Well have you two built a deck," asks Grandpa. I smile and show him. "That's my boy. Able to build decks that are as good as my own. However I can see your touch in this one too Pharaoh. A perfect balance of you both," he says and we go to where he keeps his money and the Pharaoh sets a lot of money in it. More than what the cards are worth. "This is also a portion of what Yugi earns as my servant. I am aware of how bad the taxes are and we are doing our best to lower them without sending this country down," he says.

"I know you are and thank you. Take care of my grandson. He's the only family I have left," says Grandpa. "You have my word as the Pharaoh of Egypt," he says and bows his head to my Grandpa showing his respect. "Thanks Grandpa for helping me with my deck," says Joey. "Not a problem. Come back whenever you like," he says. I give him one last hug before we return to the palace. "Bye Grandpa. I'll come visit as often as I can," I say. He smiles and sends us off. "He's honorable man," says the Pharaoh. I nod and smile at the Pharaoh. I can't help but have what happened earlier on my mind. Why was that guy staring at me?