THE CROWNED SHE

THIRTY-TWO

"Kleo, you look dazzling in this dress..." Rashida commented as she walked into her sister's chamber in Hohenberg. 

"Thank you, Shida, How are your husband and the babe?" I asked looking around the exquisite design of the gigantic mahogany furnished room.

"He is all right, but my baby is sleeping, Caroline will bring her anytime soon." She smiled. Kleo forced a smile, still, the thought of being lonely in Thebes made her feel tense. 

"Are you well, Kleo? I can tell my maid to make you tea." Rashida said.

"[CLEARS THROAT] Oh, yes, I am well, I am just thinking of the lonely Palace." I smiled.

[SIGHS]

"You know Kleo, you do not have to stay there all by yourself, you can visit me anytime, my arms are open wide for you. " 

[SIGHS] "I know Shida but that's not the problem... Since Brother died, the workload hasn't been done, father was getting too weary to handle the words and frail to see the numbers..."

"[SIGHS] Hmmm, I know, so what's your point?" She asked me.  

"I don't know Shida, you are the first child now... The palace duties and throne cannot be left idled away, definitely, it has to be occupied by someone." I said standing up to look out the window. The sun was out and blinding through the glass.

"Hmmm, you have a point, but I don't know." Rashida hummed.

"Shida should we write to cousin Hussain? He can take over the throne and rule Egypt." I said walking away from the window, towards Shida, who was seated halfway in the chair. Her eyes thought for a moment before shooting me a glare and standing up to walk around the chair.

"You have no idea of who you are calling to rule our father's throne," She looked at me.   "Uhh, He is our cousin Shida, from our Father's side, truly he can rule a kingdom and besides he is a strong man of a youthful age," I said rolling my eyes.

"No! We will not write to him. He is our father's adversary. Father's brothers were against him taking the throne, they always wanted him to be a knight and I believe you wouldn't want that to take place again. Hussain will not just only rule Thebes but he will throw you off the Face of the earth." She looked serious. 

[SIGHS] "So what is going to be our next option ?" I said thinking for a while. 

"Uhmm,..." She thought.
"You!.... You Shida" I said pointing at her.

"What? Me what?" She asked looking straight at me in confusion.

"You will be the ruler of Thebes," I said smiling at my great choice.

"No! No Kleo, you know I cannot be the ruler of both Thebes and Hohenberg. I am the duchess of this land and also a wife and a mother. Those responsibilities are not enough? " I looked down at my riding boots. 

"[SIGHS] I am sorry Shida, that hadn't come to mind. But if you are not going to rule Thebes and our cousin wouldn't, then...[SIGHS] who would?" I asked looking at her.

"You! ...."  She said. "Me?" I asked.

"Yes you, Kleo, you are young, ambitious and fearless, those are the qualities of a ruler, I may not have it but you do. "

"But I am a lady, Shida and no lady has ever ruled Egypt." I cocked my head.

"Yes and so? You will be the first greatest and most memorable Lady to rule the kingdom.  You do not have to answer now but you can think upon it till whenever you are fine about it." She smiled. I sank into my seat, in thoughts, Six years ago, I had wished to rule this land like the way my father did but look at me now, running from the opportunity laid before my eyes.

[BABY CRYING]

"Awnnn, Little Nefertari is awake, how are you baby?" Rashida cooed her baby as the little babe's cry died down into giggles. I smiled at both my sister and the baby, I had never thought my sister was a baby type, she had once said she will wait for three years after her marriage before she bore a child but that's the past.

[BABY GIGGLING]

"She looks just like you and got the eyes of her father," I commented. 

"Yes she does, do you mind holding her, I would like to get her blanket." I take little Nefertari in my hands from Rashida. Nefertari giggled when she saw my brown eyes, I kissed her cheeks as she giggled into my chest. 

[RASHIDA CHUCKLING] "It reminds me of when mother gave me you to carry when she went for a walk with father. You couldn't stop burbling when I made funny faces, sometimes brother will scare you and you will run to me with tears in your eyes, I would laugh and beat brother...." She smiled as she recalled the memories. I chuckled looking at Nefertari as she looked at me quietly.

     Caroline, Nefertari's nurse walked in and took Nefertari from me before walking back to the nursery. Rashida linked her arm to mine before smiling. "Let's take a walk to town." I nodded and smiled.