One day, while gathering herbs in the countryside, Nefertari accidentally fell into a pit of snakes. She was rescued by a mysterious boy who had been raised by snakes. He couldn't speak human language, and was both innocent and cruel.
Moved by compassion, she brought the little beast back to the human world, kept him by her side, and taught him to speak, to be human, and to love.
She also promised she would never betray him.
But who could have guessed that the unwanted child she had taken in was the son of the current pharaoh?
That day, Seti I arrived with a prophecy, calling him "Ramesses," the future sun of Egypt.
Ignoring his struggle and pain, Nefertari fled in a panic.
Ten years later, in the corridors of the Temple of Iunu.
Ramesses II, now pharaoh, had a dark look on his face as he squeezed her throat and pinned her against the stone wall.
He forced out the low, broken syllables one by one:
"Nefertari, tell me, why are you still alive?"
All this time, he had thought that if she died, he could let her go.
But she was alive, and even dared to pretend nothing had happened.
Breathing became more and more difficult. Ramesses's hand tightened like an iron band, and the handsome face twisted with rage before her eyes began to blur.
As her consciousness faded, Nefertari thought she should have known this moment would come.
"But, Nefertari, the soul is eternal. I always hope that my devotion to you will be like my soul, crossing a thousand years without fading. The thought that one day I might stop loving you, that even as your eyes look into mine my heart might feel nothing, makes me want to foolishly wage war on time."
"My dear Nefertari, tell me, what becomes of those who wage war on time?"
"Tell me I won't be utterly defeated."
"Swear by Ra that you will never betray me."
"Those who betray me will never find peace in the afterlife."
Some coercive elements, younger obsessive hero, raised together. One-on-one, both leads inexperienced, happy ending.
[Ramesses II x Nefertari]
[Son of the Serpent, Pharaoh x Slave Girl, Priestess]
[Set in ancient Egypt, with original worldbuilding and plot, lots of creative liberties]
Theme: Love is a storm of the soul
I like it so much. I'm so hungry.