Chapter 56

Kentanvi sits on the middle reaches of the Nile, acting as a link between the upper and lower reaches and serving as a major transit hub. With people constantly coming and going, it is exceptionally prosperous.

Over the past few days, the two had wandered throughout Kentanvi, witnessing many sights never seen in Thebes—it was a rather pleasant experience.

Twisting and turning through the city, they veered from the orderly, flat main streets into narrow side alleys. Along the way, they passed vendors selling steaming adobe-style loaves of bread from ovens, as well as stalls selling wine, jade, and various small trinkets.

Although Edith had retracted her sharp edge, the arrogant majesty that unconsciously leaked from her every movement made people hesitate to approach.

Ye Zhiqing found it amusing; throughout their walk, not a single stall owner had dared to try and sell them anything.

Looking at Edith, even as the surroundings grew more dilapidated and run-down away from the main road, she maintained the same composure and calm as if she were taking a stroll within the palace of Thebes.

As if sensing Ye Zhiqing’s gaze, Edith spoke, her indifferent voice infused with an indefinable, distant melancholy.

“I was exiled to the border when I was eight. That place was enveloped by an endless desert. The only food was bread—hard and filled with grit. The houses were even more broken down than the ones you see here.”

As she spoke, Edith suddenly paused, looking ahead with an indifferent expression. Ye Zhiqing followed her gaze.

There was a child who looked only five or six years old, struggling to push a water bucket nearly as tall as himself into a narrow side alley. The boy was so thin that his head appeared too large for his body, a disturbing sight. His body was covered by a tattered cloth so dirty its original color was gone; Ye Zhiqing could clearly count the ribs on his chest.

He was in a state worse than the refugees of the 21st century.

Edith watched for only a moment, the indifference on her face unchanged, ​Read on BaiLianTales​and continued walking forward.

“At the border, there are many children like this. War, death, and hunger shroud that place year-round.”

As a fellow monarch, Ye Zhiqing deeply felt the profound sorrow contained in Edith’s words. She quietly squeezed Edith’s hand. “Edith, a monarch with foresight and strategy will make their country better and better, no matter how dire the current situation. Moreover, Egypt is already a nation at its peak momentum. I believe you will make Egypt even more powerful.”

Their gazes met, and the rest required no words. A flicker of light danced in Edith’s eyes, giving way to a faint smile.

Both were monarchs; whether born at the pinnacle of power or having paved a throne with blood, they were lonely. It was a loneliness etched into the marrow and deep within the soul—one that swallowed you through countless days and nights, reminding you at every moment, forcing you to grow accustomed to its presence.

This was true for Ye Zhiqing, whose soul belonged to the 21st century, and it was equally true for Edith, who had survived years of slaughter.

Their meeting was perhaps a mercy from the gods. Edith never believed in gods, but with Ye Zhiqing’s arrival, she sometimes harbored the absurd hope that gods truly existed—that Amun had sent Ye Zhiqing to her side to be her companion for all eternity.

Aside from state affairs, neither spoke much. They simply held hands in silence, and a feeling of indefinable yet intense pleasure spread through Ye Zhiqing’s heart.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, as dusk fell, they returned to the main street. By now, only a few scattered vendors remained, and the area was quiet.

They walked along the main road toward the guest house. When they reached the entrance, Edith suddenly released Ye Zhiqing’s hand. Her expression turned tender as she summoned an attendant. “Go back to the room and rest first. I will be back in a moment.”

Having said this, she strode away quickly, giving Ye Zhiqing no chance to speak.

Edith’s silhouette soon vanished into the dim twilight. What could have happened to make Edith leave in such a hurry? Ye Zhiqing lowered her eyes, carefully recalling every detail of their time since reuniting. After much thought, she remained clueless.

Standing at the door for a while, Ye Zhiqing turned and went upstairs to her room, thinking it wouldn’t bailiantales.com be too late to ask when Edith returned.

Gentle moonlight lent a touch of warmth to the window frame. In the distance, the harbor situated on the banks of the Nile flickered with occasional lights.

Edith pushed open the door to the guest room and saw Ye Zhiqing staring blankly at the scenery outside the window, motionless.

Lightening her steps, Edith approached from behind, encircled Ye Zhiqing’s waist, and pulled her firmly into her embrace.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Thinking about when Your Majesty would return.”

In the silent, cold night, the gaze they shared was peaceful, yet like deep water running still, it hid an almost imperceptible surge of tenderness and affection.

Edith herself didn’t realize that whenever she looked at Ye Zhiqing, no matter the occasion, the ruthlessness and coldness in her eyes would vanish completely, replaced by soft ripples like those on the Nile at dawn.

Edith slowly opened her palm, and a vibrantly colored bracelet entered Ye Zhiqing’s sight.

Ye Zhiqing looked at Edith with a smile in her eyes but did not move.

“Yours,” Edith said, nudging her hand closer to Ye Zhiqing.

The bracelet was made of beads of various shapes and sizes. The large colored beads in the center were hollowed out, and one could faintly see flickering lights of different colors within them.

Upon taking it, Ye Zhiqing could tell the smaller beads were merely ordinary marble—likely made from clear, beautiful marble scraps. However, after looking for a long time, she couldn’t identify the material of the larger beads.

Ye Zhiqing pointed to them. “Your Majesty Edith, what material are these large beads?”

“Wolf fangs,” Edith said. The hand on Ye Zhiqing’s waist slid slowly toward the center as she pulled her closer. Her other hand braced against the window frame, and Ye Zhiqing was completely enveloped in Edith’s embrace.

“In Kentanvi, ‘Shahato’ bracelets are only given between lovers.”

“How does Your Majesty know that?”

“I heard it by chance while walking on the street this afternoon.”

“So, Your Majesty went out specifically just now to buy this bracelet for me?”

“Mm.” Following Ye Zhiqing’s movement, Edith adjusted her hold so they were facing each other.

Her gaze, posture, and expression were composed, as if she were oblivious to the teasing and inquisitive look in Ye Zhiqing’s eyes. To Edith, this seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

Yes, it was natural. Ye Zhiqing smiled and put on the bracelet. Fundamentally, before the identity of the Egyptian monarch was thrust upon her, Edith was still a person—an ordinary human among the masses who could fall in love.

After securing the bracelet, Ye Zhiqing met Edith’s tender gaze. She straightened Edith’s slightly rumpled collar and sighed softly.

Following the curve of Edith’s arm around her, she rested her hands on Edith and leaned into her chest.

“Your Majesty Edith, whether as Queen Fu Jia or as Ye Zhiqing, my heart is very joyful bailiantales.com right now. Joyful for the King of Egypt, and joyful for Edith.”

“Zhiqing,” Edith said. The golden flecks in her pupils danced as she watched Ye Zhiqing with focused tenderness.

Her usually indifferent tone grew deeper and slightly raspy, sounding incredibly solemn. “Zhiqing, you shall be the Queen of Egypt. My Queen. My… only Queen.”

Even though the powerful Egyptian Empire was now ruled by Edith, even in the modern 21st century, there were very few female leaders—and those with female partners were rarer still. One could only imagine how precious Edith’s promise was in Ancient Egypt, thousands of years before the 21st century.

Ye Zhiqing stood on her tiptoe and lightly pressed her lips against Edith’s, pulling away instantly. “Your Majesty Edith, I believe you.”

The warmth on her lips quickly seeped into her skin, blood, and marrow, racing through her entire body. The light fragrance on Ye Zhiqing, her warmth, and her moist breath brushing against Edith’s neck easily robbed Edith of all capacity for thought.

“Zhiqing,” Edith swallowed involuntarily.

Ye Zhiqing heard Edith’s voice take on an unusual huskiness. She looked up and met a gaze filled with desire, yet governed by incredible restraint.

Without hesitation, she proactively pressed her body against Edith’s. Under Edith’s restrained gaze, she tilted her head up and slowly pressed her lips against Edith’s cool ones.

This time, it was not a fleeting touch. Ye Zhiqing clumsily traced the shape of Edith’s lips, over and over. Without hesitation—with a bit of recklessness, a bit of testing, and a bit of impatience—she invaded Edith’s territory.

Before long, unconscious whimpers escaped, completely breaking the silence of the night.

The clumsy actions easily provoked Edith to her limit.

Surging ecstasy occupied Edith’s [unauthorized copy]heart; she stood dazed for a moment, letting Ye Zhiqing continue.

Her eyes were red and shimmering, her voice hoarse, but she couldn’t stop Ye Zhiqing’s movements.

Faint starlight, when gathered together, becomes a brilliant and vast sea of stars. Once Edith snapped back to her senses, she didn’t hesitate for a second. She captured the hands moving randomly over her body and, in one fluid motion, pinned them behind Ye Zhiqing’s back.

With a domineering air, she firmly held the back of the woman’s head, pried open Ye Zhiqing’s slightly swollen lips, and instantly reversed the situation.

The bustling daytime of Kentanvi was gradually swallowed by the boundless night. In a two-story tower not far from the guest house, a faint firelight flickered, making the expressions of the several people inside appear even more grim.

“This is the Queen’s instruction. We should move everyone to the lower reaches first.”

“But such an opportunity is hard to come by! We could cause a distraction and rescue the Queen.”

“The Queen of Egypt cannot be without defenses. We must not be fooled by appearances.”

Voices rose and fell as they argued heatedly.

When the situation reached a stalemate, Virgil spoke with finality: “Withdraw everyone tonight to several major cities in the lower reaches.”

Virgil. Leader of the Puntite Royal Secret Guard.

Ye Zhiqing’s hidden confidant.