The Bastard Princess

8.

*Song above: The xx - Angels (Official Audio)

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-HER-

"I don't know you," His words knocked the smile off my lips. I stood there, looking up at him in disbelief. I stepped closer to him before I tried again, "Chefren..." My voice broke this time as I tried to force another smile on my face before I continued, "I am Arsinoe," My words had no effect on him.

I searched his face for something... anything but it was void of any emotion. He didn't seem very happy to see me again. There was nothing on his face. I felt my eyes filling up with tears as I tried to reach for him but he stepped back.

He was about to close the door on my face but I held it before I pleaded to him, "Chefren, I have traveled all night. Would you let me in?" His face was still void. His eyes were hard on me before he spoke, "I don't let strangers in my house,"

"Who is it, Chefren?" A voice asked behind him. It was of a female. In the next moment, I saw a woman by Chefren's side, looking at me in bewilderment. Chefren looked at the woman and for a few moments, his eyes softened. I felt a tinge of jealousy in my chest as the possibility of her being his wife dawned upon me.

"It's a beggar," Chefren told her before the door was being closed on my face abruptly. I stumbled back from the effect. I was left standing at the door for moments to come to the terms. He denied recognizing me and didn't even let me stay in his house. I expected a little bit of hospitality from him but again, I shouldn't be surprised.

He had always been this cold to me. I must have forgotten about it over the years. Now, encountering him again, I am slowly starting to feel what I did before. It's been years and I don't know if he ever waited for me. The woman I saw by his side probably must be his wife. It breaks my heart to even think that he could consider someone else other than me after everything I did for him.

I stared at his door for some moments. A part of me wanted to barge into his house and kill the woman. Since yesterday I have killed many people. Killing one more wouldn't do any more harm. Though, I wanted to talk to Chefren. I had been dying to see him. I missed him every day in exile and I was expecting the same from his side too but, I must have forgotten his nature in the long course of time.

When I finally came in terms with what had happened, I decided to leave. My main concern for the day was to meet Cleopatra without getting caught or killed. I could deal with him later. Maybe, it would take him some time to realize that I have now fully grown into a woman and I am not a girl anymore. Maybe, he'd consider me then? I still had my hopes high for him.

It was afternoon and I knew I had to wait till the evening to be able to enter the court. Cleopatra met the natives then. It was my only chance to meet and talk to her. I couldn't barge in somehow because the security was very tight and since I had been away for a long time, I was pretty sure the patterns of the guards have been changed many times. It would be hard for me to guess it and make it through. So, for the rest of the time, I wandered through the city. The sun now hung just above the city's head. It was hot and dry as a city situated in the desert ought to be.

Alexandria hadn't changed for a bit ever since I had left. As I walked down the market, I noticed the same fruit stall from where I used to steal apples when I was small. The same old lady who used to report me every time for theft sat at the stall. Her eyes lingered on me for some moments before she looked away. She must not have recognized me. I had covered my flaming red hair with a headscarf while my dress did very little to do the same for my fair skin. It made some people stop and look at me as if I were some elite. I was fairly experienced with people openly staring at me so I was mostly used to it and ignored them while I proceeded to walk through the market.