Chapter 23

Anhur's POV

I know she will freak out. This isn't the first time. People look at my body and fall in love but when they look at my face they are disgusted. Whoever looked at my face said I'm ugly, disgusting or cursed. My mother was punished severely for giving birth to me. Father only kept me alive so that he can use me as a spy or war hostage. After he was done using me, he threw me away like garbage. So I am used to it.

But she surprises me with her reply, "Your eyes are beautiful brother."

"What did you say?"

"I said your eyes are beautiful."

"My eyes don't look cursed to you?"

"No. They are just rare. Definitely not cursed. You were born with colorless eyes. I've heard about it before. You can see clearly right?"

"Yes I can."

"Your eyes don't have any white parts that's why people think they are scary. It's just a birth defect nothing else."

"You don't think they're scary?"

"No they shine like black quartz. I find them very attractive."

"You're the first person to say this. No ever said my eyes were attractive."

"They are simply ignorant."

I know she isn't lying. She's looking right into my eyes. She's not looking away like others do. I just decided I'm going to devote my life to her.

"Would you still accept me if you I tell you I poisoned your father?"

"I am more than happy to hear that. You must've heard what he did to my mother and my siblings."

"Yes I did. He did that to my mother too."

"What did he do?"

"My mother was his half sister. They were married but never happy. Father was jealous that mother was better in everything comparing to him. To take revenge, he locked her, tortured her. She was raped by his guards. They even tried to destroy her womb so she can never give birth to a royal heir. But she was blessed by the goddess and gave birth to a child. The child was killed immediately. When she was pregnant second time, she decided to run away to save my life. But she was eventually caught after 2 years. Father separated me from her to torture her even more. She died after being tortured and malnutrished for years. Before her death she begged to see my face for the last time. They never let her see me."

"Why did you keep him alive after all this?"

"This is the best punishment. Rather than dying once he can now die everyday. He's lying on bed like a corpse for years. He's breathing but not living."

"I get it now."

"I don't want to scare you but your husband must have felt the same way as father felt about my mother. Be careful. These crazy royals can go to any extent to achieve more power."

"This is why I need you to protect me brother. If all my brothers support me then I can corner the Pharaoh easily. He's too immature right now."

"I will always protect you. Now go back before anyone suspects you. I will send you a message after I find out who exactly is backing up the Pharaoh."

"Stay safe brother."

She hugs me tightly. My heart stops! When was the last time someone hugged me? How many cold nights I've lived crying for a warm embrace?

She lets go of me and hugs Qebeh. No!! Please a little bit more! Please! Hug me again!! I want to feel your warmth. I want to scream, I want to pull her close to my chest again. But my body freezes. I stand there like a statue and watch her leave.