What the hell? I take a look at my husband, and glance cautiously at the baby. Something deep in my soul tingles, a feeling I'd only had when other pharaohs had tried to invade my domain. It was clearly an infant pharaoh. what on earth would possibly prompt a monster to abandon their child? I retreat momentarily, muttering to my husband an excuse, and sit down to collect my thoughts. Could it possibly be someone who was trying to find leverage into my home? Deliver a child and allow me to raise her, then use her to gain control of my kingdom? The thought lingered in my head, but I banished it. The only thing more ridiculous than someone trying to use an infant to invade a kingdom was the idea of a mamono abandoning her child. Especially a child of royal descent. I return to the garden. "My dear, I think the past few invasions have left me a little paranoid. I almost considered whether this child could be a threat to me personally". He looked concerned.
"Are you concerned about being able to care for her?"
"No. Absolutely not. Where did you find her?"
"She was left on the door to the palace".
"Then she is ours to take care of. And may I raise her with even half the love and care she would receive from her own mother". I take her into my arms and cradle her, while kissing her forehead.
---
Ten years and we've busied ourselves with the tasks associated with running a kingdom and answering to the citizens, but our real responsibility has been caring for our daughter Corinthea. I'm now in the process of searching for her, through the many halls and chambers of the palace. None of the servants have managed to find her either. As it gets later, I'm starting to get worried, but also a little suspicious. So I rally every servant and designate them to post themselves throughout the palace, one per room. They wait there, while the remainder scour the depths of the closets and storage spaces. I travel with them in a large group, and when we discover one to be empty, we leave one of them at a post. Finally, we arrive in a closet on the bottom level of the floor. Corinthea and her father are sitting there huddled on the floor, and she jumps to her feet when she sees me.
"Mother! Lovely to see you!"
"I could say the same, since we've spent the better part of 2 hours searching for you".
"Hi honey, we were just working on Corinthea's homework". My husband says neutrally, but I stare deep into his eyes and can see that he is not telling the full story.
"Well that's wonderful", I say with a warm smile in his direction, "but", I turn to our daughter, "this closet is dark, cramped and cold, in that order. Aren't there a variety of other rooms that would make for a better place to work?"
"Heh, I suppose it would. Come, father, we should find a better place, right?" She tries to exit the scene but I snag her with my tail and lift her up off the ground. I silence her protest with a look, and carry my husband with me as we retire to the living room, while I send the servants off to relieve the rest of the staff from their posts.
"Corinthea, sweetheart. I have met several pharaohs in my life, and so I can say that I am not only familiar with your ability to will people to do your bidding, but I have also developed quite a mind for tactics. Besides, you were trying that ability as early as five years old. It seems only now you've managed to develop it. So I want you to start by relieving your father of whatever commands you've given him, and tell me exactly what you've been using your powers for. She looks thoroughly ashamed of being caught, but looks at her father and says, "I release you from your commands". His eyes light up.
"Thank you dear. It's been two weeks since she tried giving me commands. I didn't think they worked but then..." I looked at her to explain.
"I...tried first on some of the staff. When I found it was working I tried it on Father. I told him not to make me do my chores, and not to tell you or anyone else what I'd done".
"I'm really sorry I fell for it, honey. It seems she was stronger than I thought".
"There's nothing for you to apologize. But Corinthea, you need to apologize to your father for using him like that".
"I'm sorry for taking advantage of you, father. And, I'm sorry for going behind your back, mother".
"I'm also mandating you take an extra week of assisting the staff with cleaning. I'm sure I don't need to tell you not to try to get out of them by taking advantage of the staff? I'll find other consequences to give you".
"Of course not. I'll do everything properly". I smile and set her on the floor, freeing her from my coils. She brushes her skirt, looking a little bashful. I pat my husband.
"Besides, the reason your father gave in to your demands is because of how much he loves you". She looks away, almost embarrassed.
"As do I". I lean over, kissing her on the cheek.
---
As we celebrate our daughter's 18th birthday, we've gathered together to talk about something that has weighed on her mind. We've long since had the talk about how she ended up in our care, but since then, we've learned nothing more about where she came from or why she ended up with us.
"Mother, Father, I've thought for a long time about how I wanted to live, and I've realized that this kingdom just isn't right for me". My husband smiles and speaks up first.
"Your mother suspected you might be feeling that way. But you've grown so much since we first found you, and I can say with complete confidence that you are absolutely capable of establishing your own kingdom". Corinthea tears up.
"Oh thank goodness. I was afraid you wouldn't like me leaving. But...this kingdom is...too dark. It's uncomfortable, too chaotic, and I haven't even had any luck with finding a man who might accompany me". I chuckled.
"Yes, the citizens are rather forward. As a ruler, I expect your kingdom will be quite different from this one. But we've done everything we can to make sure you've got a good head on your shoulders. You have our blessings, wherever you go". She hugs both of us.
"It's just, I don't know how long it might take".
"Oh, it could take years. Traveling the desert among settlements, trying to find a man who might stand by your side as a ruler. Finding enough servants, finding a corner of the desert to call your own. Maybe even decades. Alternatively, you could try to find a cave or some other place underground, and go to sleep there until someone else found you. But that could take centuries". She looked at me in shock.
"Then I might never see you again!"
"Oh my dear, your father and I have had a few centuries here in this kingdom, and we'll have more to come. I think even if you found a tomb to sleep in, we would still be around when you woke up".
"There's no need to wait that long", she said, hopefully. "Tombs are mostly populated by the old kings who were asleep before the current Lord's rise in power. I'm better traveling the desert, building my followers proactively. Besides...maybe I could find something about my birth parents".
Then have you decided when you're leaving?"
"This week. I wanted to make sure I talked to you first".
"Then it sounds like you're ready. But I have one question. Will we be able to visit your kingdom?" She looked at me in shock.
"Of course, Mother! Father! I couldn't imagine closing the doors to my own parents!"
"Then how might your servants react if they saw an apophis approaching your borders? And what if it was someone who had come to take your throne?" She looked confused, as if never considering the possibility. "I'll tell you what. We'll come up with a phrase. When your kingdom is established, we will visit, and give that phrase to the guards. They will deliver it to you, and you will know you can trust us".
"Oh! That's a great idea, Mother. I thought I had learned everything I could from you".
"Hmm, I wager I'll have more to teach you when I see your new home". I wrapped my tail around both her and my husband so we could have a moment among the family. I felt pride swell in my heart, for my daughter and how much she'd grown. And I couldn't help but feel a bit of sadness at the thought of her leaving us.