Pharaoh's First Love

page 10

“I’m surprised to still see you within my kingdom. You have my apologies for yesterday, after all my own brother has admitted he had hired you as musicians and yet neglected to inform me. Even so had I known who you were I would not have imprisoned you, nor removed you from my little brother. It was an honest mistake. I won’t grovel for forgiveness, because I only sought to detain you before speaking to you. My concubine acted on her own accord, but even so… she also had not known who you were so I cannot in good faith punish her for a mistake that she didn’t know not to make. I don’t know the details of the assault… and you had left before answering me as to how harmed you were. If my apology is not enough then I suppose war is inevitable. Much blood will surely be spilled on both sides  and I imagine a plague will rip through these lands whereby innocents will not have access to medications. It seems like a hefty price for innocent civilians to pay due to a mistake, but all the same I ask for your forgiveness, and if not, I ask for you to name your price in what may make matters right in your eyes.”
Yun gave an aggravated smile and did as told before collecting Jin and going into the town.
Shelyn didn’t look his way right away. Since she was in the confines of the land the pharaoh gave her parents, she certainly did see she was doing wrong.
"Exactly where is it I was supposed to go instead of my home when the night was freezing?" She replied first. "But since you seem insistent, I will be sure I leave after my parents return home this afternoon."
She turned. The red mark on her thin neck now a very obvious large hand print in the form of a black/green bruise. Which would explain why she only looked at him when she turned her whole body. Handing him a white vase painted with bright flowers. And in it were many kinds of roses, lilies, daisies. "A gift for ruining the ones in your hall. But you need not worry over a war. I have said nothing to my parents or brother, and they will surely serve you without faultier from my part. And as I said...my name is Shelyn..."
She kept things simple. She didn’t bother commenting on her assault. It wouldn’t change anything. It would fix the beautiful dress or remove the bruise. It wouldn’t remove the horrific things that had happened. And she was going to simply avoid the palace all together. "If you excuse me, pharaoh, I promised my parents I would water the herbs this morning. Please excuse. Once I’m done I will be out of your sight and soon from your land." She bowed as best she could at the waist. A bit tense but standing she offered an innocent bright smile as if nothing bothered her. Then she stepped away from the little fence that separated the sand from her parents yard.
“Then you have my appreciation and that of my civilians for not dragging this misunderstanding into a war.” He said, taking the vase, although not entirely too concerned with the wellbeing of the plants which had died within the palace. “You needn’t leave if you wish to remain here. I’ll see to it that what took place yesterday is not repeated, but of course I understand if you’d like to return to your homeland.” The king bit his inner cheek while his eyes settled upon the nasty bruise upon her pale flesh around her neck. Her assault was unfortunate, though he hoped the bruise was the only thing which had marked her skin.
“My young brother, Jin, as you know is quite fond of you. As upset as he is at me I would like to extend to you an offer to teach him your musical arts if you are of mind. Furthermore I would see to it that if you stayed to tutor him I would set you up in a fine room where none shall disturb you nor lay hand upon you again. Might you reconsider your departure and allow me to see to it that your stay in this palace is how it should have been from the very start?” The pharaoh offered, preferring to get to know the young maiden better as he found her quite striking, but all the same he would understand if she wished would to leave so soon given what had transpired. If she did leave then he wouldn’t stop her, after all she was a free woman.