Nitocris's words were filled with sorrow, and Alaric could not help but pull this girl, who had long suffered under the weight of hatred, into his embrace once more.
This time, Nitocris did not stubbornly struggle free. Instead, she accepted the embrace openly and even responded with a pure kiss.
In this regard, although Nitocris was inexperienced, Alaric was anything but.
Thus, under Alaric's lead, the young Pharaoh experienced a lingering, tender closeness, until the journey finally ended and she felt slightly dizzy.
If this were modern times, revealing one's romantic experience in front of a girlfriend would not be a good thing.
Whether male or female, people would care about their partner's past.
But in ancient Egypt, this was not an issue at all.
Breaking free from that sense of happiness, Nitocris looked at Alaric with a flushed face.
After hesitating for a long while, she finally stammered and took out the orichalcum dagger from her arms.
"Um… Thoth, as a return gift, this dagger… I… I'll give it to you," she said awkwardly.
"This…" Alaric accepted the dagger, confused.
This dagger had been a gift from her elder brother, Meraran II. It had also been the weapon she used tonight to avenge her hatred.
Though the dagger now appeared spotless, Alaric had personally witnessed how it had tasted the blood of more than a dozen Egyptian nobles and officials, her enemies.
In both practical value and symbolic meaning, it was an extremely precious item. Why would Nitocris give it as a gift in return?
When Alaric asked her this, the Pharaoh's expression immediately changed.
"Id… idiot!"
With that, Nitocris turned and left, exiting the vast underground chamber, leaving Alaric standing there in confusion.
What exactly did this Pharaoh mean?
Although Alaric had little experience actively pursuing girls and was not good at guessing their thoughts, he was still someone who had succeeded countless times in life.
Very quickly, he realized the meaning behind Nitocris's gift.
For Nitocris, this dagger represented everything about her past.
What had her past been like?
Born as a princess of Egypt, she had been one of many royal children and was not especially valued by her father.
Yet her elder brother had raised her as though she were his daughter. In order to help him, she had become his queen.
Then her brother had been assassinated, and she had become Pharaoh, her heart filled with hatred toward those who had murdered him, vowing revenge…
This dagger had been her brother's gift and the symbol of her vengeance.
Now, by placing it in Alaric's hands, she showed that she was no longer bound by the past. It also meant she entrusted her future to him.
After all, although she had never had a true relationship, she still carried the title of Queen of Meraran II.
So… that was what she meant.
Alaric smiled.
Nitocris truly was reserved when expressing her feelings.
But it was deeply moving.
How should he respond to such feelings?
Looking at the orichalcum dagger, Alaric thought for a moment and made his decision.
He would reforge it and create a new magical staff or similar artifact as a gift in return.
Such a lovely girl, her future would belong entirely to him. Even her late brother would never be able to compete with him.
But for now… perhaps Nitocris was still waiting for him.
With that thought, he put away the dagger and left happily.
He went to Nitocris's chambers in search of the Pharaoh.
However, she was not in her room.
That did not trouble Alaric.
He used a locating spell and immediately found her.
She was in her bath.
Indeed, bathing was an essential pleasure for her, especially after such a long and exhausting night.
A warm bath would wash away not only the dirt on her body but also her fatigue.
Thus, Alaric cast an "Ultimate Invisibility" spell and skillfully slipped into the bath.
Just like the first time they had met.
After entering, the invisible Alaric relaxed in the pool, lying back comfortably.
Nitocris, as always, did not notice.
She leaned against the edge of the bath, idly playing with the flower petals floating on the water.
Soon, however, she seemed to grow impatient and angrily slapped the water.
The ripples scattered the nearby petals.
"Stupid Thoth! Idiot Thoth!" the girl complained.
"After doing something so excessive before, now he's being so dense. He's such an idiot!"
Unbeknownst to her, the "idiot" she spoke of was right beside her, listening with a wry smile.
Her complaints continued.
"Ahh! What is he even doing? I made such obvious hints, yet he still didn't understand! How did I end up liking someone so annoying?
No… no, that's not right. If he hadn't helped me take revenge, I wouldn't have liked someone this slow."
Clearly, the last sentence was merely stubborn denial.
Soon, her anger turned into anxiety.
"Could it be… could it be that he dislikes me, so he's pretending not to understand and avoiding me?" she worried.
"Does he think that because I was once another man's queen… that he won't accept me? Some people do care about their partner's purity, right?
But… but I was only a queen in name back then. If it's about purity, I… I'm still fine…"
Watching the girl struggle with worry and confusion, Alaric felt both amused and touched.
After all, only someone who truly cared would torment herself like this.
With that thought, he decided not to tease her any longer.
"O maiden filled with love, do you wish to obtain your beloved? A handsome one, exactly like the person in your heart!"
As he spoke, the man's tall and elegant figure gradually appeared before her.
Hearing those familiar words and seeing that familiar figure, Nitocris felt both joy and a sense of unreality.
How familiar this scene was.
Ah… yes. The first time this man appeared before her, it had been just like this.
Although it had only been a few dozen days since they met, why did it feel as if they had known each other for a lifetime?
Her gaze became hazy.
"Thoth!"
Instinctively, she threw herself into his arms like a young bird returning to its nest.
In an instant, the entire bath was filled with the warmth of spring…