ONE

AUTHORS NOTE:

Words written in bold and italics are the words of LADY SULTAN and the words written in bold are the things or sounds of everything happening...

Love you and thank you for choosing my book😘😘

"Mummy! Mummy! Tell us a story, please!!!" My two children crawled towards where I was seated, holding their toys tightly to their chests.

"But, mummy is tired, babies," I said with a look of weariness. They looked up at me with a pout on their face. Aww, why do they have to be so cute?

"Ok, mummy is going to read to you cuties" I cooed at them as they giggled at my defeat.

"Read, The crowned she, mummy pretty please" They kept blinking their long lashes continuously to draw my attention. But for real why are they these cute?

"Ok, are you ready?" They nod their small head up and down nonstop.

{THE CROWNED SHE}

(LADY SULTAN)

{WHIRRING}

Malkata, west bank of the Nile at Thebes, 1834.

"Dearest readers,

Once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away a baby girl was born. Her skin was dark as coffee chocolate. Her hair was black like the midnight sky. She was unique and looked nothing like the other Sultan. Her shin colour was not gotten from her father or her mother. Every of her speciality made her the favorite of the king, He would spoil the little girl. He could afford to, of course, as he was the king...

But I digress,

That is how I would have started my story but not this time. My name is Kleopatra Sultan, the princess of Egypt and the daughter of king Horus Sultan and Queen Hatshepsut. I am the second daughter and the last child of the sultan. Being the favourite in the family made things easier for me, but not when the Princess is forced to follow the rules.

Fifteen years passed, and Kleopatra grew older and bloomed..."

👸🏾~

(SIGHS)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(TWITTERING)

(FANFARE PLAYING NEARBY)

Oh, I think the party has started. I looked at the bird by the window. Staring at the door for a few more moments. The sound of footsteps got louder and closer to my room entrance. I squeeze my eyes shut to avoid my mother's unbelievable looks.

"Kleopatra, seriously?" I hear my mother's flimsy voice snap as she opens my bedroom door. With an annoyed grunt, I lift my head and meet her dark brown eyes like mine.

My brown eyes were the only thing I received from my pretty but fierce mother, while my Elder sister seemed to be the replica, my Older brother got my father's stature and slim figure. S Sporting my Mother's curvy body, straight hair, pure white skin and high cheekbones. I was so different from my mother, I got curly ebony hair, a slender figure and tanned skin. "Great looks and stature run in the family" My mother would always say whenever we were complimented. My father and Brother are the ones that held the height of the sultan. While the women in my family had extremely curvy figures except me, my figure was slender, my breast and bottom grew into modest size while the rest of me didn't. My hair was the mixture of my parent, ebony from my father, and softness from my mother's.

"I'm awake" I sighed not wanting to face her.

Every year the Eve Ball is held in different countries. Finally, the time has come for the southern part, of Egypt, the one my family belong to, to host the Eve Ball. The Eve Ball is supposed to be grand and romantic, somehow, This event is held towards giving young Bachelors of high stands and Single ladies a chance to find their perfect match. Each year I managed to escape it but this one this year is hosted by the Sultans so no escaping. I refused to be worried. I would simply go for the ball and when no one is looking I will sneak away and spend my night writing or reading in the library or my bedroom.

"You need to get up and get dressed! Breakfast will be served by 9:30!" My mother hissed as she walked out of my door. Scolding myself for almost forgetting breakfast, I stood from my bed with a growl and made an effort not to fall back into the comfort of my bed. Miriam walked in with the different colourful silk clothing and satins, behind her were two guards with a bathtub, they walk to the corner of my room dropped it gently and walked out.

"Morning, Princess!" Miriam smiled. I take off my dressings and climbed into the bath step by step before sitting inside it.

'Morning Miriam, how was your night?" She scrubbed my neck and then to my back. I pour the lavender oil on my hair.

"It was lovely, thank you!" After how many minutes of rubbing and cleaning, I wrapped myself into a robe before seating before the mirror, waiting for Miriam to brush out the tangles of my hair.

"Princess, which one would you like to wear? The green satin dress or the Tiffany blue-pink silk dress?" I turned to look at my options as I observe the two dresses.

"I go with the Tiffany dress!" I stare at myself in the mirror.

"Ok, let me put them inside the closet" She walks back to my side and takes the brush, starting with the tip of my hair. She packs my hair into a high ponytail, then placed a small flower clip on the side of my hair. I stopped using the straighteners for my hair, because my hair is the stubborn type, after an hour or more of straightening my hair, the curls keep popping out and loosening, so I never bother myself to straighten my curls. Even though Mother doesn't really like my curls, father finds them attractive.

One of the things I never miss is breakfast or should I say my meals. The breakfast was finally served on the large tables. Lots and lots of fruits, toast, meats and tea or coffee. I grabbed a strawberry from my plate, placed it on a toast and began shovelling it into my mouth. I moaned from the sugary goodness of the toast. I look up to see everyone at the table staring at me with questioning looks.

"What? It is delicious" I looked at them with wide eyes.

"Well then moan quietly or enjoy your food in silence, no one wants to hear you savour your breakfast" Rashida burst out in irritation. Mum cleared her throat for the both of us to stop the argument and eat our food.

I keep savouring the taste of the toast and the berries, trying not to moan out again. We turn our heads to the familiar voices of the palace messenger.

"Your Majesty! Every invitation card has been delivered safely to the whole kingdom." He bows his head as he speaks.

"That's good, you can go now!" Father waved his hands as a gesture of release.

Breakfast was made within an hour ago, I lay on the tiny bed beside my large window, staring at the palace garden and listening to the town's music played distantly from the palace walls. Scrambling out of bed, I change into a dress, more or less will I say a cheap dress that will make me look nothing like the royals or palace workers. I take out my niqab(headdress for Arabian girls) and wrap it around my head. I take a basket with me, picking some apples, strawberries, bread, water and milk. I put all of it into the basket and sneak out through the maid gates. I can't pass through the main gates because my father will never allow me to pass through the palace walls. They say it is for my safety but I still have to see what is behind these gates, like I said, I break rules. I try running out of the door, but my name is called by no other person but Miriam, my assistant maid. I turned slowly to face her with a smile.

"Where are you going? and why are you dressed like that?" She scanned my body.

"Shh, Miriam, please cover up for me, I want to see the town, please Miriam." I kept begging like a child.

"But what if the king and queen find out, what will I tell them?" She looked worried. I look up to think before speaking.

"Please Miriam, pretend to be me, I owe you" She nods before dragging my hands to get my attention.

"Come home immediately you are through, before lunch, ok!" I nod again before walking out the door. She runs ahead of me to create a distraction for my escape. She talks to the guards while I snuck out of the palace gates.

Finally, I can feel the softness of the grass beneath my feet, the scent of nature, mixed with cinnamon, and the sounds of birds chirping and singing. The life behind those gates is natural and calm. I hop on my horse and rode off the partway to the town.

(TOWN BELL RINGS)

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, what do you think of Kleopatra, can she keep up with the secret outings for so long? I would love to hear your thoughts and I hope you will consider voting for every chapter.

I am not a professional writer, and neither am I British. publishing My first British, historical book. Please do not forget to vote, add to your library, and Comment, your feedback really counts.

Thank you! Love you!

~Krusticaramel🖤🤍