The Salem Princess

Chapter 8 : Her Secret

It was already the second day after Laila's death, but the mourners were still arriving. Because Laila has many friends and business partners who come from various regions. Which Dyvette didn't know about them except a few who had met her.

"I SAID NO! STOP OR I WILL KILL ANYONE WHO DARE TO TOUCH MY MOTHER." Dyvette screamed like a devil, Laila's body lay in a coffin, Dyvette didn't allow anyone who wanted to bury her mother's body.

"Miss... Miss, be patient, Miss. Don't be like this...." Vivian cried, she was the one who was with Laila until her last breath. It hurts so much seeing Dyvette like this...

Lucas had grabbed Dyvette's arm earlier, just in case she was about to do something to her mother's chest.

"DON'T BURY MY MOTHER.... DON'T...." Dyvette's voice trailed off at the end of her sentence. "She can't live alone down there..." Dyvette's sobs were getting louder, Lucas worked up the courage to hug her, trying to calm her down. And Dyvette didn't resist the hug.

There was silence for a while, no one dared make a sound.

"Call a mummification expert, I want mom's body to remain intact for hundreds of years to come. I don't want to lose her, she must stay by my side even though she has become a corpse."

Everyone was stunned, as well as Zephyr and Ankhamun who had quietly come to pay their respects. Zephyr and Ankhamun mingled among the dozens of mourners who came, both of them disguised in black robes.

"What are you waiting for? Quickly call the mummification expert!" Mayor Mehmed gave the order, Dyvette turned her head, the Mayor was also looking at her. It was obvious he was grieving and feeling sorry for her, Dyvette nodded her head at the Mayor, the Mayor smiled with sad eyes.

"Dyvette, we are all saddened by your mother's passing. She is a very generous and noble-hearted person, what news we never expected before, God must have missed your mother very much, that's why God called her to him." The mayor's wife, Mrs. Yesa, hugged Dyvette affectionately. Dyvette just nodded in response to Mrs. Yesa consolation.

Zephyr felt very useless seeing Dyvette tightly hugging the mayor's wife, she also wanted to comfort her daughter, but the circumstances were not possible.

Why was God so cruel to her? Can't she be with her daughter in this life?

After late afternoon, one by one the people who were mourning left her house. Now only Dyvette and the workers were left.

Vivian continued to hold her hand, while Lucas had been silent ever since. He was lost for words, even thousands of words would not be able to describe how painful it was to lose the most valuable person in his life.

Laila pulled him from the pit of hell, sharpened him, making him a stronger and more useful person. Why did she have to leave so soon? Laila had just left him Dyvette, apparently it was her last message.

Why didn't Lucas think that far? Isn't it very clear that someone who leaves something most valuable is someone who will go far away?

* * * * *

Zephyr left in a rage, her heart racing, but what could she do? Ankhamun calmed her since earlier, they returned to the palace in silence, all that could be heard was Zephyr's soft cry.

"Queen Mother, I may not look like that all this time, but I am a good listener. Can you tell me, maybe by telling your burden will be lessened?" Ankhamun spoke softly, although Zephyr was not his biological mother, but since childhood, Zephyr was more painstaking in taking care of him than his own mother.

"My son... Even if I tell you, you won't believe it either. Let me keep this bitter memory to myself. However, can you grant this old lady's wish?" Ankhamun sat downstairs and rested his head on Zephyr's lap, just like in his childhood, Zephyr always stroked Ankha's head when he was like this.

They were sitting in the garden, among the blooming beds, Zephyr was like a wilted flower, sadness adorning her face.

"Say, I promise I will do it for you, mother.." Zephyr stroked Ankhamun's hair, tears falling again on her cheeks..

"Dyvette is very important to me, can you take care of her? Don't let your father know about her, let alone your mother, Ahmanet. Isn't she the girl who rejected you years ago?"

"How did you know?" Ankhamun looked up, Zephyr caressed his cheek affectionately

"Your gaze turns warm when you see her, even though your mouth is cold, but your eyes can't lie. You like her, don't you?"

Ankhamun looked down.

"But father won't allow it. Never mind, maybe after I marry Estheria, I can forget about her." Ankhamun surrendered.

"From the information I got yesterday, Dyvette was going to come to your wedding, she is good friends with Alma, Estheria's cousin. Alma asked her to dance at the party later..."

"Really? She can dance?" Ankhamun turned enthusiastic

"She is amazing, many admire her talent. I even managed to get a painting of her while she's dancing, if you want to see it, come to my gallery .."

Ankhamun thought again.

"If there was a way, I really want to marry her. Now she lives alone, she has no other siblings besides her own mother. I've been trying hard to find information about her family origins, but can never find it. Mrs. Laila is very private about their lives, not even her father's name is known. They moved to Salem when Dyvette was under one year old, they have been living in luxury since then, then Mrs. Laila tried her hand in business and was very successful. She has almost half of West Salem's territory, even to the end of the west coast all belongs to her, isn't that amazing? All those assets are in Dyvette's name. I can't imagine what the rest of her family is like, Mrs. Laila isn't married either, people always guess if Dyvette's father is a great bastard. But there are still a lot of mysteries about their lives, I don't know...." Ankha explained at length.

Zephyr was lost in thought, thinking about Ankhamun's words. Yes, Assad really kept his word, the man guaranteed Dyvette's life very well, but why didn't Laila get married? And where did Laila learn business from? Who taught her? Is Assad still secretly communicating with the woman?

How do you think Assad will react when he finds out that Laila has died? Will he take his daughter?

"Yes, you're right. Their lives do hold many mysteries. Surely they are not random people, not everyone can become that great especially since they were immigrants."

"Then why is Dyvette so important to you?" Ankhamun can always find a way to satisfy his curiosity, Zephyr also can't possibly hide it anymore..

"Swear the heavens and the earth upon me, you will keep this secret for the rest of your life."

"I swear to the heavens and the earth, in your name I will keep this secret for the rest of my life. If I break it, the heavens will not accept my soul, and the earth will not accept my body." Ankhamun stood up straight, he touched his chest. Then he took out a dagger and sliced ​​open his palm slightly, letting the blood drip onto the ground, as an oath.

The oath of heaven and earth is the highest oath in Kadesh belief, it is said to have a great magical aura. And whoever takes an oath by this, those who break it will die from being struck by lightning and their bodies must be burned on the sea.

Zephyr smiled seeing Ankhamun's sincerity. The child then knelt in front of her.

"Dyvette is the daughter of a Sultan, for some reason they dumped the innocent girl. Because the truth is, Dyvette's birth was never wanted and if people found out about her whereabouts it would be a big scandal, they say, Dyvette is a disgrace. But of course Dyvette does not know this, she is not guilty in the slightest, just because of the ego of the rulers she must lose the affection of his biological parents."

...

"You mean Mrs. Laila isn't Dyvette's real mother?" Zephyr nodded.

"A daughter of the sultan? Is she the child of his slave? Or the child of the sultan's affair with someone else's wife? Because if she is the daughter of the empress, it is impossible for her to be thrown away like that.."

"No, she is the daughter of the empress."

Ankhamun is getting more and more confused

"Then why was she banished? It can't be just because she's a woman and can't be heir to the throne."

"It's more complicated than you think, Ankhamun. Basically, Dyvette is a descendant of blue blood, descendant of a king, daughter of a sultan, and her father loves her very much. Otherwise, she would not have lived in luxury since childhood. And I believe, until then. Even so, her father is still guarding her from out of sight."

Ankhamun got up and sat next to Zephyr, he grimaced. Zephyr took out a handkerchief and gently tied Ankha's wound.

"Ankhamun, you will become an Emperor one day, I expect a lot from you. Even though you are not my real son, I love you like my own son. Thank you for accompanying me today, this is our secret." Zephyr stroked Ankhamun's hair after she finished dressing his wound.

"I will remember it, Queen Mother."