Forgotten Egypt IV: Tutankhamun

By Ruowen Huang

Determination.

They were children, placed into leadership, and yet they were also puppets. One is stubborn, demanding, entitled and disconnected. The other is broken, meek, unsure and under pressure. Can they learn to rule together, or will they let their lives be manipulated for a master plan?

Sorrow.

Tragedy after tragedy. An entire nation both affected and indifferent. With the royal family weakened and scattered, it us up to a new generation to wade through a sea of sorrow and find light. Only by leaning on each other and learning can they hope to survive.

* * * * *

In the fourth installment of the Forgotten Egypt series, Ankhesenaten, daughter of Akhenaten, is left holding the nation’s reins in her young, unsure hands. As a series of tragedies destroys her family and her heart, she must cope with marriage, pregnancy, and the wrath of Queen Tiye, all while questioning her worth as queen. Her desperate need to bring back what has been lost even leads her to dark magic, as her heart searches for any answer that can help her heal the traumas of her past. And although Tiye continues to shape Egypt, another man emerges as a master manipulator, ready for his turn on the throne.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ruowen Huang
• Release date: Aug 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463064528

Ruowen Huang

Ruowen Huang is an established author, who in her late teens through early 20s, published over twenty books in Taiwan. From here, Ruowen spent ten years blogging on nearly every spiritual topic finding time in between to pen an Egyptian 4 book saga; her first English language novels, that tell a suspenseful story of Egyptian royalty and the control for power and domination through unspeakable acts of betrayal, treachery, backstabbing, and murder.3 years ago, Ruowen decided to face her task and confront her fear of being recognized, posting her first video to YouTube, in English. Through her blogs, vlogs, and books, Ruowen hopes that sharing everything she knows as a psychic, will help others identify and work their tasks in this life and grow and evolve at the soul level.Ruowen works as a graphic designer, an intuitive spiritual coach and a motivational speaker. When she has free time, Ruowen uses her creative energy blogging/vlogging or painting. She currently lives in Vancouver with her very understanding husband and two children.CONNECT WITH HER ONLINE:Blog: http://www.ruowen.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/ruowenhYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/ruowenhuangInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/ruowenhuangAuthor of following publications:性,另一種語言的想法ISBN:9577993257愛在紐約ISBN:9577996914紐約式浪漫ISBN:9578102313相公看刀ISBN:9578410069偷心大盜ISBN:9578410158雙面情人ISBN:9578410433巴黎最後激情ISBN:9578410794遺忘在東京的心ISBN:957812578X情挑夏威夷ISBN:9578126182教父情人ISBN:9578126557桃色契約ISBN:9578127669為卿瘋狂ISBN:9578128398純屬虛構ISBN:9578128800愛我好嗎ISBN:9574911519戀傾奴嬌ISBN:9574911993醉戀語荷ISBN:9574912671小不點的大情人ISBN:9578308612霸王情婦ISBN:957482005X法老王的情婦ISBN:9574820386強娶俏妻ISBN:9579757615

Book preview

PROLOGUE

THIS CAN’T BE REAL.

Ankhesenpaaten’s eyes swung between Tiye and the golden boy who sat next to the throne as dread grew in her chest; she was having a hard time digesting the news that she must marry Tutankhaten in order to crown him pharaoh. Her father had just passed away, and the last thing she wanted was to marry someone she hardly knew, let alone her half-brother. Looking at Tutankhaten’s snobbish face, Ankhesenpaaten couldn’t help but growl quietly in her mind; That pretty boy, half-brother of mine and son of the Great Royal Wife Kiya, definitely has too much gold on him!

Ankhesenpaaten hadn’t seen anyone wear that much gold since the capital migrated to Tell el-Amarna – it felt like the Golden Boy was not simply a nickname for the prince, but a literal description. While the golden palace in Thebes had been grand and luxurious, the palace in the City of Akhenaten was decorated mostly in marble because of her parent’s preference for simplicity. In the past, Ankhesenpaaten would have laughed it off as a joke, but those days were gone. Her father was gone and her mother had disappeared years ago. She had no one left to stand by her side, nor did she have any leverage to fight against the Great Queen.

I am not marrying him, Ankhesenpaaten said, forcing the words from her mouth. She looked at Tutankhaten one more time and felt irritation. Ankhesenpaaten’s parents had always said that she was the one who lived by what she felt. There is something about Tutankhaten that doesn’t feel right, Ankhesenpaaten thought, vowing that he would never become her lawful husband.

This is not a choice! Tiye’s face darkened as she spoke. This is an order you will have to obey. Egypt cannot go on without a pharaoh! Looking at Ankhesenpaaten, Tiye felt agitation ferment in her chest. Daughter of the slave queen, Tiye hissed silently; She should not even exist in the first place. It was Akhenaten who had set the rule declaring that whoever married Ankhesenpaaten would become the next pharaoh of Egypt. Otherwise, Tiye would have never tolerated ignorance like this.

Ankhesenpaaten bit down her lips, unsure of what to say. She knew exactly why Tiye wanted her to marry her half-brother, Tutankhaten, and why Tiye had devoted her life to training him to be the perfect pharaoh. Perfect! Ankhesenpaaten grimaced; Tutankhaten is far from perfect. A great king should have a kind heart and a wise mind, and shouldn’t be a brat that only cares about how he needs to be served.

Ankhesenpaaten kept her eyes on Tutankhaten and remembered how she had seen him years ago. He had been a sad and lonely child, but never selfish or arrogant. She recalled how her parents used to refer to Tutankhaten as a child of destruction, harsh words she had never understood until now. It was the way he smiled and the way he carried himself. As pretty as Tutankhaten looked, Ankhesenpaaten knew that his energy was dark and negative, something she suspected must have come from being raised by Queen Tiye, her grandmother.

Realizing Tiye was still waiting for her response, Ankhesenpaaten couldn’t help but mutter quietly within, Why me? She had never expected to be the Queen of Egypt; Ankhesenpaaten was the third of six daughters her mother birthed. But there had been too many tragedies in the family – Meritaten had married pharaoh Smenkhare and Meketaten died from drowning. With such great responsibility on her shoulders, Ankhesenpaaten felt she needed to be more careful with the person she married. Whoever she chose would need to have a heart for the people, like her father.

Send me a prince from a foreign land, and I will wed him and make him pharaoh, Ankhesenpaaten said, using up all her courage to push words out of her mouth. It was a natural reflex for Ankhesenpaaten to hide before authority, but she felt that she needed to be strong in this instance for the future of her country. Ankhesenpaaten knew that her parents had worked hard to bring Egypt to where it stood, and she did not want their work to be destroyed by her hands.

Ankhesenpaaten turned to look at Tutankhaten again and commented with a frown, He is only nine years of age – too young to be a pharaoh. She was surprised Queen Tiye could not see the obvious. Everyone knew that a pharaoh should at least be eighteen.

Nonsense! Tiye stood up from her chair, furious, and yelled, The power of our Great Egypt should never land in an outsider's hand! You will not marry a prince from a foreign land; you will protect our royalty by keeping it within our bloodline. You will marry Tutankhaten tonight and make him the pharaoh of Egypt. Then Tiye turned quickly toward the guards and ordered, Escort Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten back to her chamber and prepare her for the wedding!

The guards rushed to Ankhesenpaaten’s side and politely directed her towards the door. Ankhesenpaaten threw Tiye one last glance and reluctantly turned, knowing that there was no point in fighting the demands of Queen Tiye. She would force Ankhesenpaaten to marry Tutankhaten no matter what. Luckily, however, her father had foreseen Tiye’s plans and had ruled that no pharoah would be able to alter the laws of Egypt until they reached the age of eighteen.

I will marry Tutankhaten for now, Ankhesenpaaten thought to herself. If I cannot choose whom I marry, I will at least turn him into who I want him to be. With that thought in mind, Ankhesenpaaten stepped out of Queen Tiye’s chamber. She knew that she had to learn to be strong like her mother in order to manage a country as queen.

Slave blood, Tiye snorted as Ankhesenpaaten disappeared from her sight. As obedient as Ankhesenpaaten appeared, there was something about her that continuously reminded Tiye of Nefertiti, and that was exactly what made Tiye uncomfortable; she knew that Ankhesenpaaten had the power to get rid of Tutankhaten as pharaoh until he reached the age of eighteen and was able to alter the law. Tiye dug her fingers into her armrest as her fury grew – she would not let the ghost of a slave haunt her like this, nor would she sully her country’s power with slave blood. One way or another, Tiye swore she would ensure Tutankhaten’s position as pharaoh until he was old enough to change Egypt back to the way she felt it should be.

Who has slave blood?

Tutankhaten’s unexpected question broke Tiye’s train of thought. She turned to look at Tutankhaten and saw him looking at her with wondering eyes. He was perfect as every prince should be; he looked up to her and obeyed everything Tiye commanded of him. At the age of nine, Tutankhaten already knew he was higher than everyone else and deserved to be served. He showed no regard toward those who served him and he looked down at slaves, despising their class. After raising him on her own, Tiye was confident that Tutankhaten would never make the same mistakes as Thutmose and Akhenaten.

Tiye turned towards Tutankhaten and softened her voice, saying, Never let a woman control your mind. Never trust them, as they will only destroy your life and corrupt your soul. Treat them like your servants and never give them power over you. Once you are pharaoh, you can have anyone you want and do anything you like. You will soon become king, with power over all people, do you understand?

Tutankhaten nodded. He didn’t really understand what Tiye meant, but he did know that she was the only one who cared for him and the only one he could trust, so whatever Tiye wished from him, he would obey.

And Tiye was pleased with his obedience – it was exactly what he felt Egypt needed. Akhenaten had corrupted the country during his reign of seventeen years, and it was time to bring order back to where it belonged. Good things happen to those who wait, Tiye thought. She knew for certain that her day was coming, the day when Aten would be forgotten and royalty would be the only ones with power.

BEKETATEN

(Later named Beketamun)

Chapter ONE

YOUR HIGHNESS, THE PHYSICIAN said, seemingly with difficulty. He rubbed his sweaty hands as anxiety showed on his face. It took a while before he finally murmured, I believe you are with child.

Tiye’s face stiffened and she pressed her lips thin. Among all the things she had anticipated, this was definitely not what she had been expecting to hear. Tiye brought her focus back to the physician kneeling before her and asked again, What did you say?

The physician cringed a little. He had been working in the palace long enough to know that Tiye was not someone to challenge, but he knew too well that lying was also not an option. Your Highness, the physician licked his dry lips and continued with a trembling voice, I believe… that you are… with child. The physician lowered his head, afraid to look Tiye in the eyes.

Tiye had been confused by her sudden fatigue, but never thought she could be pregnant. She had stopped taking the concoction of abortive soup a while ago as she had never liked its taste, and she believed herself too old to conceive again. Tiye had not stepped foot into Amenhotep III’s chamber for years; there was another man who had been warming her bed for the last decade.

Your Highness, the physician asked, what would you like to do? He knew too well that Queen Tiye had not served the pharaoh for a long time, and that she hated offspring with impure blood.

Tiye looked back at the physician. Something had shifted in her that softened her expression. Leave it for now, she said. But do not speak a word of this to anyone, or there shall be consequences for you.

The thought made the doctor shiver. No one dared challenge Queen Tiye and no one would. His voice trembling with fear, the physician forced himself to stay calm and promised, I will not say a word to any living soul.

Very well, Tiye said, picking up a goblet and about to drink its wine. She quickly remembered her current physical status and put down the goblet, untouched. Suddenly, Tiye looked at the physician again and said, Bring me an herb that makes people fall into a deep sleep, and the best bottle of wine you could find. I need to do something, Tiye thought. She needed to make people believe that the child in her womb was indeed the child of Amenhotep III.

The physician bowed and quickly withdrew from the chamber. Though he knew very clearly what Queen Tiye was planning to do, he had learned to keep his mouth shut in order to survive.

As the physician left the room, Tiye slowly came to accept the fact that she was pregnant. She placed her hand on her belly and felt as though there was something brewing inside.

The child of Jared.

It was a child Tiye knew she would keep no matter how much effort it took.

* * * * *

What are you doing here?

Amenhotep III had woken with a heavy headache, and the sight before his eyes was definitely not what he had been expecting. Tiye slowly sat up by his side and slipped off the bed, wearing nothing. Amenhotep III frowned; she had no business being in his chamber at this hour, let alone being naked in his presence. He interrogated her with annoyance in his tone, because the sight of Tiye had always irritated him. He had not seen her for years, believing he would never again have anything to do with the woman...

The headache was pounding on his temples; he had not been drunk for a long time, though he quickly realized he had not had enough to be this delirious and confused. He could barely remember what had happened the night before.

Amenhotep reached to his temple and noticed that he too was undressed; the thought of what could have possibly happened with Tiye in his room disgusted him. He looked up from the bed and glared directly at her. She was standing before him, putting on a robe as if she had concluded her business.

What did you do to me? he growled.

What could a wife do with her husband? Tiye implied with a shrug. Her tone was lazy and she didn’t even bother looking at Amenhotep. Her grin was crooked, as though she was enjoying the sound of irritation in Amenhotep’s voice.

I have no business with you, Amenhotep grunted. He had long ago lost feelings towards Tiye.

But I do. Tiye tied the robe and stretched her grin. It’s about time we reunited, because I suddenly feel like having a baby.

Don’t think that I don’t know you have slaves warming your bed, Amenhotep snorted. You could have a thousand men.

Anger grew within her chest, but Tiye knew better than to show it before Amenhotep. She clenched her fists and suppressed her fury. She leaned towards Amenhotep and smirked, You are right, I do have men to warm my bed. But their blood would never be as pure as yours.

You could never steal my seed.

Unfortunately, I already did. Tiye straightened her body with a snort. You have no control over whose seed I want to steal. That much was true, but it also brought up memories of an ugly past she had spent years trying to forget. Tiye turned towards the doorway; she had done what she had come for.

I know that I did nothing with you, Amenhotep shouted behind her back. I will not approve of a child even if you call it my blood.

Tiye halted, and did not turn to look at Amenhotep. It took some time before she said coldly, Your approval means nothing to this country. No one cares whether you live or die. You are nothing but a puppet to me.

Crash!

A vase missed Tiye’s head by an inch and hit the wall next to her. It broke into pieces and spread all over the floor. Tiye turned and saw Amenhotep’s hand in the air with fury written all over his face. Get out! Amenhotep yelled. Don’t let me ever see you again!

You won’t, Tiye lowered her eyes and promised. She turned towards the door and continued her pace. I will be migrating to the new capital with Akhenaten. You can die here as you wish, but you won’t see me again as long as you live.

Get out!

Before Amenhotep was able to grab another vase and throw it at the door, Tiye disappeared out of his sight. Amenhotep had never hated someone so much. He did not know what his country had done to deserve such an evil queen, but he prayed for Anubis, the god of death, to chew up her bones and burn her soul.

* * * * *

Swish!

The stick landed harshly on the back of Beketaten’s hands and a red line quickly surfaced on her fair skin. Though it was a common reflex for people to pull back, Beketaten remained still, knowing any sign of weakness would only bring harsher punishment from her mother. She pressed her lips and forced away the tears that were eager to rush to her eyes. Tiye never liked to see her cry. No matter how much pain she felt or what emotions she had, Beketaten had learned to conceal it all at a young age.

Beketaten was not born to be an ordinary person; she was born to be the queen, or at least that was what her mother had always told her. It was why Tiye believed that Beketaten should be able to endure more pain than any ordinary person; because she was born to be someone extraordinary.

Of course, Beketaten had never asked for that destiny, though after having listened to her supposed purpose her entire life, she had eventually come to believe in it. It was why she had had no friends during her upbringing, instead spending time learning every manner there was in order to become the perfect queen. Tiye did not want Beketaten to confuse herself with ordinary people; even noblewomen were not good enough to be her friends. Leadership is a lonely position; her mother had always told her. Tiye believed it was better for Beketaten to get used to the idea before it hurt her later.

Tiye was the queen of Egypt, even when pharaoh Akhenaten had made it clear that Nefertiti was his only queen during his reign, which was precisely why Tiye had despised her.

In Beketaten’s perspective, Queen Nefertiti had never been as bad as her mother had claimed, instead birthing six daughters and raising every single one of them on her own. Though they had been given the same title, Nefertiti’s daughters had never seemed to suffer like Beketaten and sometimes she felt jealousy brewing in her chest, wondering why she was not born to Nefertiti instead.

Tiye was known for her cruelty. She liked to control people through fear, and Beketaten sometimes wished that she had nothing to do with her. Though I cannot choose my parents, Beketaten thought, I at least have the power to make sure I won’t ever become like her. Beketaten had never shared her thoughts with her mother, and not even her closest servant knew what was in her mind. Being the daughter of Tiye, concealing emotions was part of survival.

Swish!

Another whip landed on the back of Beketaten’s hand. Beketaten bit her lip harder; she would not fight against her mother, but instead pretend to obey everything Tiye asked of her, because Beketaten knew deep down that her day would come. When she was finally crowned the queen, she knew that she would nurture her kingdom with love instead of hate.

Tiye glared into Beketaten’s eyes as if trying to drill her beliefs into the girl’s brain. Never have a heart towards lives lower than yours, Tiye warned. They will only waste your time and ruin your future. I’ve told you a thousand times that being a queen is not an easy task; you'd better learn that now before you feel like the whole world is abandoning you.

Though Beketaten had a thousand reasons to defend herself, she said nothing. She was being punished now because Tiye had caught her caring for a wounded dog. Beketaten had never thought her mother would oppose this too...

Do you understand? Tiye shouted again, not hearing any response from Beketaten. Recalling her own childhood, Tiye felt that she had come to resemble her father; she had high expectations. She didn’t dislike Beketaten because of the blood she carried – in fact, Tiye realized that she cared for the girl more and wished only the best for her. Therefore, a harsher punishment was necessary in order to shape Beketaten into a queen. Tiye had once thought obedience was the only thing needed to hold that position, but Kiya had proven that to be a mistake. Now, Tiye wanted Beketaten to have absolute self-discipline and the ability to fight for what she deserved. In other words, Tiye wanted Beketaten to be just like her, which was why Tiye had to be harsh to Beketaten, just like her father had done to her.

Yes, mother, Beketaten answered in a flat tone, swallowing down her tears. Though her heart was shaking with fright, she used all her strength to ensure that nothing showed in front of her mother. "I will never care for any life lower than mine