BBYW Vol. 4 Chapter 54 (WN)
Chapter 54 – Midnight Visitor
“I promised sis I’d be home soon, today…”
Half a day had passed since the head cleric’s declaration. Before I could even wrap my mind around what was happening, I was dragged deep inside the shrine, and was locked in a large, luxurious room.
The floor was covered with an expensive-looking carpet, so gorgeous that I was almost scared of walking; the furniture and objects in the room were decorated with gems, there were gold and silver statues everywhere.
There were more riches than any cleric could ever have, even if they worked all their lives. As for me, I let out a pitiful sigh.
“Why was someone like me chosen as Queen…?”
I honestly hadn’t the faintest idea.
I was a cleric in service to the shrine, but I was still just a novice. I was definitely not prepared to bear the divine blessings and lead the country.
Rather than honored, I felt that the burden put on my shoulders was way too heavy for me.
“I wonder what Tep wanted to tell me…”
I looked out of the window, up at the night sky, and sighed for the umpteenth time.
Because of the departure of the former Queen, the Holy Guards, protectors of this country, had disappeared. In order to restore order as soon as possible, my crowning ceremony was going to be held tomorrow.
To prevent attempts of assassination from other countries, the Queen was never to leave the shrine. In other words, I couldn’t go back home anymore — I couldn’t go a single step out of the shrine.
I couldn’t see my sister or Amstrahotep anymore, for the rest of my life, maybe.
“Aah…sniff…why me…”
I never even thought I wanted to be Queen.
I thought I’d work as a cleric until I became an adult, then leave the clergy, marry a nice person and make a big family with them…
That was the kind of simple, ordinary life I thought was waiting for me.
“Why…why me…”
“Tina…Nefertina…!”
“Eh…?”
Suddenly, a man’s voice reached my ears. It was Amstrahotep, no doubt about it.
“Tep…? Why are you—”
“Open the door, Tina!!”
I realized where the voice was coming from and ran to the door.
I removed the bolt and opened it: there I found my childhood friend, covered head to toe by a dark cloak.
“Tina…I finally found you…!”
“Tep..aah, how did you come all the way here…!?”
Not even a day had passed since we last met, but it felt like ages.
Normally, I would have never done something like that — but at that moment, I couldn’t stop myself from hugging him.
“Tina…Tina…!”
Amstrahotep wrapped his arms around me and hugged me back. A stream of tears broke out of my eyes. Just then I finally realized how I really felt about him.
(I…I love him, don’t I…)
Why didn’t I realize sooner?
If I had, maybe things could have turned differently…
“Tina…let’s run away together. We have to get out of this country. You don’t have to become Queen.”
The Queen was the highest authority of the country, the person closest to God.
If I became Queen, I could never be together with Tep, a mere soldier.
(To be together with Tep, I have to escape the country…but is that really the right thing to do?)
I loved Amstrahotep, there was no lie in those feelings.
But he was not the only important thing to me.
(If I left the country, what would happen to my sister? Not only her, but Tep’s aunt and uncle, the other novice clerics, everyone…the whole country might disappear…)
If I ran away with Amstrahotep, our families would probably be accused of being traitors. They would definitely be sentenced to death. In the worst case, they might be tortured, stoned to death…
Besides, without the Queen’s protection the Holy Guards would be lost, and our Kingdom of Jaswat would be raided by the neighboring countries.
“…I’m sorry, Tep. I can’t go.”
“Tina…? Why…!!”
“You know why…there’s no way out.”
Amstrahotep’s face twisted into a grimace. He too understood what would have happened.
There was no way we could escape. We would never be forgiven.
“…I’m sorry…I said something absurd, and troubled you.”
“It’s fine, Tep. I’m really happy you came.”
He was looking down, but I put up the best smile I could.
Then — I got on my toes and lightly pressed my lips against his.
“Ti—!?”
“I will become Queen…but not today.”
I traced the lips I just kissed and let my robe fall on the floor.
Amstrahotep looked at me, wide-eyed. I grinned at him, then lied on the bed.
“This will be my first, and last time…please be gentle.”
“Tina…!”
“Hn…!”
Amstrahotep got on top of me.
His powerful, manly weight was softly received by the delicate bed reserved for the Queen.
We thus spent our last night together.
The desert night eventually turned into dawn — dawn of the day that I would become Queen.