The next morning, you woke up only thanks to the blinding beams of sunlight hitting your face. Atem was no longer in bed when you had come to your senses. He must have gotten up earlier and left while you had carried on sleeping after not having been able to a good amount of the prior night. Despite only wearing a light piece of beige clothing that could just barely be called a nightgown, you had already started feeling somewhat hot which in an arid zone such as Egypt wasn't such an unusual thing, even this early in the morning.

After stretching your arms and legs you figured that you could inhale some fresh air on the balcony. Fresh air might have been an excuse since there wasn't even a wall separating your bedroom from the exterior properly, but you nevertheless wished to take a look outside. And that's precisely what you did, only to be greeted by the sight of Atem and Mana messing around as usual outside the palace. Honestly, you weren't bothered at all by the fact that the young Pharaoh was being so chummy with another girl, not in slightest.

Then again, why would you even be upset? It wasn't even like you deeply loved Atem as a lifelong companion, let alone the fact that you weren't even capable of calling him your husband. A sigh escaped your mouth as you watched the two — who in a different life could have been lovers — enjoy one another's presence. How you desired that you and Mahad could act the same... But there was no way Mahad would do such a thing, especially now that you had become his childhood friend's wife. You had already made him sin enough by dragging him into your selfish acts.

Your train of thought was thrown off course the moment you heard a series of faint knocks at the door. It hadn't crossed your mind yet, but now that you had become a member of royalty, servants would certainly come in order to take care of you personally for the smallest of things as well as on a daily basis. "Yes, come in." You called out, not even turning your head around to meet them. "I do not know who sent you, but I do not need any help." You spoke somewhat coldly. It wasn't your intention to drive out the servant, but you really didn't want to get used to this luxurious, lonely lifestyle.

"Do you truly not wish for my assistance?" Your eyes went wide at the mere sound of the apparent servant's gentle voice. You turned around hastily, wanting to confirm your assumption and you couldn't have been happier to see that you weren't mistaken. At the room's entrance stood Mahad in his usual attire who was flashing you a slightly sheepish expression. "M-Mahad...?"

"I shall take my leave in that case." The brunet spoke, almost completely ignoring your rather stupefied state as he almost went as far as to turn around and indeed exit the room which he hadn't yet properly entered. Though he had actually turned his back at you and was truly planning to quit the chamber. Flinching at the thought of allowing Mahad to get away so easily when he went through all the trouble to come and see you after what you had made him do yesterday, you instinctively dashed towards him and firmly grasped the end of his white robe. "Please do not go."

"I shall not, then." You could hear Mahad retort silently, his broad back still facing you. Silence accompanied the room for the next couple of minutes until the male decided to finally turn around, you needing to let go of his robe during the process. Your gaze was fixed on the floor since you couldn't bring yourself to look him straight in the eyes. Mahad could sense your vague uneasiness, though it didn't really take a genius to figure out your feelings. He determined that since it was now also his job to take care of you — you as in the Pharaoh's partner — he should attempt to raise your spirits.

Even though it wouldn't appear to be much to a regular person, the simple gesture of Mahad placing his hand on top of your head and patting it was more than reassuring. You deliberately stumbled forward so that you would fall into the brunet's arms. The way he held you gave you a feeling of safety that no one else beside him could ever give you, and the smell that rested on him made you yearn to remain in that same position for so much longer. "I thought you would not want to see my face ever again. Why have you come here?"

"I will not understand if you want me to stay or leave if you phrase matters that way." Mahad commented relatively playfully for it not being such a light topic. Not to you at least, and you weren't yet aware that it was the same for Mahad. "As I have mentioned earlier, I have come to assist you. It is now my duty to take proper care of you." You understood where he was heading when making that statement, so you pulled your head away to ultimately lock eyes with his gorgeous blue ones.

"You do not have to do this to yourself, Mahad. I can always ask someone else to do it in your stead." You spoke, bearing in mind that the brunet must have been feeling responsible for the 'wrong' feelings you harbored for him instead of for Atem. Mahad once again brushed his hand through your somewhat messy hair and attempted to convince you that things were fine as they currently were. "You do not need to worry about me. I have made this decision myself."

The way the young man peacefully caressed you reminded you of a certain thing the two of you used to do a lot when you were younger. The sudden urge of wanting to do those deeds once again was hard to suppress. Using Mahad's devotion to Atem, you and his job as a Sacred Guardian as an excuse, you were one step closer to once again behaving selfishly. "Then, since you seem to be wanting to 'assist' me that badly, I shall allow you to do so."

Finally cheering up after so long when talking to him, you managed to grin at Mahad and free yourself of his embrace entirely. You soon skipped away from him to the still undone bed and jumped onto it, getting on your knees almost the same moment before patting the area next to where you now sat, beckoning to Mahad. "That is your and the Pharaoh's bed, I could never—"

"Sleeping is all that has been done on it. The kind of sleeping where you simply lie with your eyes closed and do nothing else." You stated, rolling your eyes in slight annoyance, assuming that the brunet was trying to imply something specific with his carefully chosen words. "I would never ask you to come otherwise. How heartless do you think I am?"

"Forgive me." Mahad apologized for his rudeness even though you had to admit that what he did wasn't necessarily impolite. What he had done was a simple act of caution for his own feelings. You observed as the male slowly approached the bed on which you sat and halted when he stood in front of you. "What now?"

"Obviously, get on top of the bed." You retorted bluntly, once again causing Mahad to make a peculiar expression. You sighed and couldn't believe how immaturely the brunet was acting for someone who you've admired for his more adult behavior. Perhaps that was only what Mahad wanted you to think of him now in order for you to draw back, or maybe he was acting like that because he had become overly conscious of you after the occurrences yesterday. There were tons of possibilities, but one thing was for certain: You had clearly begun overthinking the situation. So much that you hadn't even noticed that Mahad had actually taken a seat next to you.

"I know you must think lowly of me after what I did to you yesterday, but please try to at least put some more faith in me." You spoke more to yourself than to the young man himself as you scooted somewhat closer to him, positioning yourself so that you sat behind him. Even while being seated, Mahad was still evidently taller than you — then again, he had always been.

"That is not how things are..." The brunet answered to your prior comment which he so causally happened to hear. Your instincts told you that he was giving you this merciful lip service because Mahad was kind at heart and could never be truly angry at you — no matter how big the mistake you've made. A small smile nonetheless found its way on your face as you used your right hand to take a hold of a big amount of the male's smooth hair.

His long, hazel strands slid through your fingers and on the palm of your hand, your gentle touch awakening Mahad's physical sensitivity that was given away the moment he shivered slightly. "Do you remember when we used to braid one another's hair?" A small giggle accompanied your question, your gesture quite contagious since even Mahad ended up smiling to himself. "How could I not? You would not stop insisting until I had braided your hair for you."

"You put it that way now, but it is only thanks to me that you have become so skilled at it." You remarked cockily, almost melting on the spot the moment you heard the young man's genuine chuckle. It felt like it had been ages since the two of you had conversed over such frivolous matters, ages since Mahad had allowed himself to laugh so carelessly around you. "I suppose you are right, in a way."

"Though you made me quite the victim as well." The dark-skinned male added, even smirked as he turned his head around only the slightest bit, just so he would be able to catch a glimpse of you and your reaction from the corner of his eye. You took his bait and finally went with the flow entirely, permitting yourself to act childish — something you wouldn't easily do around the person you wished to impress the most. "What do you mean 'victim'? You should feel privileged that you got me to braid your hair."

"Mana's and Atem's hair was and still is too short and impossible to braid." You affirmed, working with all of your fingers as you commenced plaiting Mahad's brown hair leisurely. He had been taking care of it so well that it had become completely smooth, the feeling of it against the palms of your hands so soft that it would make hundreds of both women and men in your country jealous. "You, on the other hand, have always had such nice, long hair. I think it is very pretty."

"That does not make me particularly happy, you know." The brunet said sheepishly, referring to how this compliment was more suited to be told to women rather than to men, but you payed almost no attention to his embarrassment since what you were doing right now was just a playful way to spend time in his presence. "It is your turn now." Humming innocently, you made sure to let Mahad know that you had completed his braid and that it was now time for him to do the same to your hair.

The two of you exchanged positions. Mahad had gotten comfortable enough to spread his legs slightly as he sat, a perfect chance for you to sneak between them in order to lean your back against his toned chest while being in extreme close proximity to him. He began parting your hair in equally divided sections before plaiting it. For some reason, it was such a soothing feeling to have your hair played with by someone. Though in your case that 'someone' had always and only been Mahad.

You were simply sitting there and relaxing while the brunet did all the work and even though you couldn't see his face, your heart started beating a tad faster. Not only that, but you felt hot overall, and you were certain it wasn't necessarily because of the room temperature. Why had Mahad come here when you had gone through all the trouble of pledging that you would never want to do anything intimate with him after yesterday? Was he testing you? Or perhaps he was retaliating because you had requested something so heartless of him? "Mahad..."

"Yes?" The young man heard the change in your tone and paused his actions for a brief moment, only to watch you turn around in order to face him. Your upper bodies were so close to each other that your faces consequentially had to be too, and that caused Mahad to raise his guard somewhat which he showed by his slightly widened eyes. Your orbs on the other hand travelled from his grayish-blue ones down to his lips where they rested for more than the planned amount.

It wasn't hard to foresee what you had in mind and Mahad, still having to play the responsible role, wanted to alert you of the actions you might haven't been fully conscious of. "[Name] we really mustn't do this." You were well aware that what the brunet said was true, but you simply couldn't restrain yourself when it came to Mahad. You allowed your head to drop to the side in defeat, your forehead landing between the male's shoulder and neck. "You say that, but it was you who came to seduce me first."

"That... was not my intention." The dark-skinned young man said somewhat more silently and leaned his own head against yours, even if his behavior contradicted his words. You couldn't tell if you had truly misinterpreted things the way you wished them to be or if Mahad was being hesitant because of his relationship with Atem even though he wanted to stay with you the same way you wanted to stay with him. There was only one way to find out for sure. "Are those really your true feelings?"

"I will stop being selfish if they are, but I ask of you to tell me the truth." You spoke and finally lifted your head. Mahad avoided your gaze at first, but met your eyes the moment he had to provide you with his answer. "When have you become as mature as to see right through me...?" A heavy sigh escaped the male's throat, but a rather heavy weight was lifted off his shoulders along with it. "You are right, I do bear ulterior motives. I always have."

Even though Mahad was trying to make himself seem like the villainous one out of the two of you, his words couldn't have made you happier. A little tickle travelled up your stomach and all you did to show your appreciation in order not to seem too fortunate was smile contently.

"Then why not satisfy your ulterior motives?"

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My note to you:
The next chapter doesn't involve smut, but it is a little more intimate than the usual — just a little warning in case you're not comfortable with such things. ^-^

Thank You for Reading!