"But what could I do? I am only a weak woman. Though I bear the title of queen, their power is simply too great.
Who could have imagined that after Father's death, the true power of the entire nation would fall completely into their hands?
I could only play along with them, feigning cooperation, doing everything I could to become the new Pharaoh.
Only in that way could I investigate the truth behind my brother's death."
Hearing this, Alaric could not help but feel sorrow for Nitocris.
This female Pharaoh truly was a pitiable child, so young, yet forced to endure such humiliation and burden. She really was an extraordinary girl.
Nitocris's monologue continued.
"Who would have thought that they would be so utterly unscrupulous?
After I became Pharaoh, they deliberately let me know that my brother had been murdered by them.
They even openly discussed it in front of me, as if they were showing off."
"Because I am a puppet, a bird in a cage, there is no need to avoid me.
Because I am a puppet, a fish in a pond, there is no need to fear me.
Because I am a puppet, something in the palm of their hand, there is no need to be vigilant.
They actually dared, dared to go this far!"
Nitocris's voice grew sorrowful and indignant, filled with accusations against those powerful ministers.
"O gods, please tell me, why do you, who stand so high above, refuse to open your eyes?
Horus, my divine father, protector of kingship, your divine eye sees through all things in time and witnesses every evil deed.
Why do you not cast divine punishment upon those who trample upon royal authority?
Anubis, my guardian god, god of the dead, keeper of the scales, the one who weighs the hearts of the deceased against Ma'at, the goddess of truth, symbolized by the ostrich feather, why do you not pass judgment upon these sinners?
Great Ennead, you who dwell above and govern the order of this world, why will you not look upon the land you once ruled, look upon your descendants who suffer so greatly?"
Though her words were devout, Alaric could still hear the deep resentment buried within them.
At this point, Alaric finally understood.
She had not discovered him after all. Her earlier words were merely an outpouring of emotion and a prayer.
Yet Alaric knew that the girl's prayers were destined to be futile.
Unlike the Greek Olympian gods, who delighted in descending to the mortal world and exerting influence upon humanity, the gods of the Heliopolis pantheon were rather detached.
Though generation after generation of them had once ruled the world personally as Pharaohs, once they returned to the divine realm, they rarely interfered in mortal affairs.
They might hear prayers like hers, but expecting them to intervene was nothing more than wishful thinking.
Seeming to realize that her prayers were useless, Nitocris finally stopped.
"Perhaps I am an unworthy Pharaoh. Perhaps it is because I have done something wrong that I must face such a fate.
Forgive me for my presumptuous requests, please forgive me, great gods."
The way the girl failed to obtain what she sought, yet still blamed herself, stirred a trace of pity in Alaric's heart.
Wading through the water, Alaric walked to the girl standing with eyes tightly shut and hands held in a posture of prayer. From above, he looked down at her face.
The heavens had not only granted this girl a proud figure, but also bestowed upon her peerless beauty.
Even with her eyes closed, the cold dignity mixed with nobility that radiated from her was still utterly captivating.
It was the absolute pride of royal authority, but beneath that pride lay deep melancholy. Fate had dealt her cruel blows.
Though she was a girl in the prime of her youth, even in this moment, soaking alone in warm water meant for relaxation, she showed not the slightest hint of ease.
Still, compared to how she was during the day, she seemed better now.
During the day, her heart was filled with sorrow, with the pain of losing her family, yet because she was Pharaoh, she had to force a smile before her people and outsiders, daring not to reveal her true emotions.
Otherwise, setting aside how the people might react, at the very least, those ministers might feel threatened enough to kill her.
Only in the depths of night, alone in the bathing pool, could she show her true self, pray before the gods and reveal her genuine weakness.
Living like this must be exhausting.
Especially when even the gods she placed her hopes in ultimately disappointed her.
In that case, since the gods cannot grant you hope, then let me be the one to give you rebirth.
With that thought, Alaric dispelled his invisibility and spoke.
"Girl whose heart is filled with hatred, do you desire power? Great power… power that can help you take revenge."
"Who's there?!"
The sudden voice startled the girl into snapping her eyes open.
Then she saw the man's body before her, and that handsome, familiar face.
"Y-you… you… it's you?! Why are you here?!"
She cried out in shock, immediately shrinking into a corner of the pool, both hands covering herself.
Seeing the full form of a male body for the first time, her face flushed bright red, and she even squeezed her eyes shut.
Yet Alaric amusedly noticed that although she was pretending to close her eyes, she had left a tiny gap, as if she were secretly curious.
"What's wrong, Your Majesty the Pharaoh?" Nitocris's voice naturally drew the attention of the maids stationed outside the door. Worried about her safety, they hurried over.
"Think about what I just said. If you want to talk, send them away."
As he finished speaking, Alaric's figure gradually vanished before Nitocris's shocked gaze.
"T-this… what kind of power is this?" His disappearance left her utterly stunned. Even though she uniquely commanded many powerful runic spells, none of them possessed such an ability.
But soon, she recalled the man's earlier words.
"Power? The power of vengeance? Is this the manifestation of the power you spoke of? It truly is formidable."
In an instant, she realized how such power could be used. If this man could infiltrate her palace and enter her bathing chamber with this power, then he could surely use it to assassinate those who had murdered her brother.
With that thought, she made her decision at once.
"It's nothing. The water was just a bit too hot for a moment."
Soaking in the pool, Nitocris's pretty face burned red as she bit down hard on her lower lip, one hand covering herself tightly.
On the surface, however, she acted as if nothing had happened and spoke calmly to the maids who rushed in.