Royal strife

Cleopatra VII's involvement and popularity in the political affairs of the country, which began with Ptolemy XII before the death of her father, and the belief of many local people that she was the reincarnation of the goddess Isis, established Cleopatra VII's influence and status among the Egyptian people.

Thus, when Ptolemy XII died, although Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII were married by will and governed Egypt together, they subsequently fell out over factional struggles and the struggle for power. The Egyptian court was soon divided into two political factions, the "male faction" and the "queen faction", with Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII fighting to maintain their dictatorial rule!

The night after the wedding ceremony, Ptolemy XIII was overjoyed to see that the beautiful Cleopatra VII had become his lawfully wedded wife! He came to Cleopatra VII's side and wanted to hold her and make out with her! Ptolemy XIII said: "My dear Queen Cleopatra VII, today you will officially become my woman! I am dazzled by the beauty of your dress today and I can't wait for our first night of romance, come, let me hug you!"

Cleopatra VII was a little uncomfortable to see her half-brother Ptolemy XIII, who was usually uncomfortable with her, start making advances towards her! She avoided Ptolemy XIII's open arms as she rubbed her forehead and frowned, "My father has just died, I've lost my body's strength from crying from grief these days, and I'm so tired from today's wedding ceremony that I can hardly hold on, I want to be alone!" Cleopatra VII said, and without looking back, ran to the room where she had lived when she was a princess and locked the door behind her! Cleopatra VII did not know what to do with the man she had married, who from this day on was indeed her lawful husband, but who was her half-brother, plus the fact that from childhood until now, Ptolemy XIII and Princess Arsinoe had always joined forces to make fun of her as a motherless person! Now that Cleopatra VII was legally married to Ptolemy XIII, she could never find it in her heart to embrace and kiss him, let alone make love to him and become his woman! Cleopatra VII said to herself, "No, I have to change the bad habit of inbred marriages in the Egyptian royal family!" She didn't want a marriage without love as queen, let alone forcing herself to make love to a man she didn't love for political rights! What was she to do? Cleopatra VII lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze ...

In the royal bridal chamber, Ptolemy XIII, his pride wounded by Cleopatra VII's refusal, sat somewhat angrily in a corner of the bridal chamber bed, drinking sullen wine!

The princess Arsinoe, who had somehow crept up beside Ptolemy XIII, poured a glass of wine, raised her cup and said, "This is a good day for your double happiness, congratulations on your accession to the throne and your groomhood!"

After toasting with Arsinoe, Ptolemy XIII finished his glass in one gulp and said sullenly, "Today may not be the day of my double happiness, but the beginning of a tragedy!"

Alcinoi, pretending to be calm, asked curiously, "Why? What is there to trouble you now that you are king?"

Ptolemy XIII poured another glass of wine and, after taking a sip, said, "My lawful wife refuses to make out with me!"

Alcinoi's eyes widened in anger and he said, "What! She's gone too far! You married her and this was all arranged by the Father! If she refuses to be your queen, then you can use her failure to obey her father's will as a reason to take back her right to be queen and run the country with you!"

Ptolemy XIII's eyes lit up when he heard Arsinoe say this! Smiling somewhat excitedly, "Good idea! Why didn't I think of that!"

Alcinoi squeezed his eyes at Ptolemy XIII and said with a wicked smile, "I can join forces with you to exclude her! But if you take the reins, don't forget about me?"

Ptolemy XIII said, "What would you want if I were to become the sole ruler of Egypt?"

Alcinoy thought for a moment and said, "I want that crown of coloured gems that my father gave to Cleopatra VII on her 16th birthday!" Alcinoy thought about that beautiful crown and imagined herself looking beautiful and proud when she wore it, she was so excited that her eyes lit up a little and she looked at Ptolemy XIII and added, "You can also make me queen and I can fulfil the requirements of my father's will and work with you to maintain the pure royal bloodline and run the country with you! " Alcinoy said ambitiously!

When Ptolemy XIII heard Alcinoi say this, he was instantly energised: "Do you have any good plan to leave me alone in power?"

"Then, of course, we could join forces, together with the two supportive ministers, Bochnius and Occhivian, and unite against her, and kill or drive her out of Egypt, wouldn't we?" Alcinoy's confident look made Ptolemy XIII feel as if her plan had been in preparation for a long time!

"Good idea, let's do it!" Ptolemy XIII got up and wrapped his arms tightly around Alcinoy, smiling ambiguously, "I'm just now noticing that you're smarter and sexier than Cleopatra VII! Let's join forces to drive Cleopatra VII out of Egypt, and we can celebrate when I have the reins of power in Egypt all to myself! From now on, whatever you want, I'll give it to you!"

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