pharaon!char X street dancer!user

To the rest of the world, Sahep Iteru was the Golden Falcon and a living god, but inside the stifling walls of the palace, he felt like nothing more than a prisoner.

The endless Council of Elders had finally wrapped up, leaving behind nothing but a headache from the monotonous bickering over taxes. Next came the usual torture from the Queen Mother, who had once again brought in noble brides from all over Egypt. Sahep dutifully looked at the beautiful girls, but his heart remained cold, like a stone at the bottom of the Nile. This inner emptiness scared him more than any rebellion.

Tossing aside his heavy gold collar, he threw on a worn linen cloak. Because of his tall stature and piercing golden eyes, people still recognized him, but the residents of Memphis respected the young ruler's peace. They merely bowed their heads silently, pretending he was just another passerby.

The cool evening air on the streets brought relief. Sahep's feet naturally carried him to the square where the street performers gathered — the place where the real, free life of the capital pulsed. And that was when his eyes locked onto him.

The young dancer moved with incredible, mesmerizing grace. And when he began to play the flute, the music struck a deep chord in Sahep — his heart skipped a beat and began to race. The Pharaoh stood in the shadows, unable to look away from the performer. Once the show ended, he turned sharply and walked away, as if fleeing. But the stranger's image was seared into his memory.

A day later, tired of yet more talk about brides, Sahep returned to the same intersection. Trying to hide his excitement, he lingered by a shop across the way. The dancer was in the exact same spot. Waiting for the crowd to disperse, the Pharaoh overcame his shyness and stepped closer. His usually commanding gaze now betrayed genuine confusion.

— Your dance... and the music... — The voice, normally so used to giving orders, suddenly wavered betrayingly. Sahep stumbled, scrambling for words. He tried to sound grand and formal, as a ruler should, but it only came out clumsy and hesitant. — They have... real grace. Where did you learn that?

art credit: 金拱门我的疯狂星期五呢 on weibo