The Rejected Cleopatra - Chapter #1 - Free To Read

Bow before your queen!"

The high priest’s voice thundered through the grand hall, the weight of history pressing upon every soul present. The scent of burning incense filled the air, mingling with the rich perfume of jasmine and myrrh.

Torches flickered against the towering columns, casting long shadows over the gathering of nobles, priests, and warriors—Egypt's most powerful figures, all assembled to witness the coronation of Cleopatra.

Draped in gold, her regal white linen dress flowing like the Nile, Cleopatra stood tall, her kohl-lined eyes scanning the sea of expectant faces. The crown of Upper and Lower Egypt rested upon a silken pillow before her, glinting under the temple lights.

This was her moment.

Her heart pounded with anticipation as she stepped forward, her golden sandals whispering against the marble floor. The high priest lifted the crown with both hands, his expression solemn.

"By the will of the gods," he proclaimed, "Cleopatra, daughter of the divine house of Ptolemy, shall ascend as the true ruler of Egypt!"

The nobles erupted in cheers, voices rising in unison. But just as the priest turned to place the crown upon Cleopatra’s head, a voice shattered the celebration.

"Halt!"

The word cut through the chamber like the strike of a blade.

A stunned silence fell over the court as Pharaoh Akhenaten stepped forward, his golden robes billowing behind him. His hawk-like eyes locked onto Cleopatra, unreadable, his lips pressed into a firm line.

Cleopatra felt her stomach tighten. Her half-brother, the ruling Pharaoh, had always been unpredictable, but this... this was something more. She searched his face for an answer, but his gaze remained cold, distant.

"Brother," she said, her voice steady despite the sudden shift in the air. "Why do you interrupt this sacred ceremony?"

Akhenaten’s lips curled into a smirk, but there was no humor in it. Instead, he raised a hand, and the room tensed.

"The gods have spoken," he declared, his voice ringing with authority. "And they do not favor you as Egypt’s queen."

A gasp rippled through the court. The high priest’s hands trembled, and the crown wobbled precariously in his grip.

Cleopatra felt as if the floor had been yanked from beneath her. "What are you saying?" she demanded, stepping closer to him. "The gods have spoken through the high priest! The omens were clear! My birthright is undeniable!"

Akhenaten chuckled, shaking his head. "Your birthright?" His voice dripped with mockery.

"You mean the birthright of a woman who consorts with foreigners? A woman who speaks of alliances with Rome, who seeks power beyond what is meant for her?” Akhenaten smirks.

“You conspire with the Romans to enrich your own tribe, do you not?” Akhenaten raised his chin defiantly, the challenge evident in his piercing gaze. “No, of course you wouldn’t admit it. But worry not, judgment will comes from the gods’ guidance.”

Murmurs of shock and confusion spread among the nobles. Cleopatra clenched her fists. "I have always served Egypt! Every decision I have made was for her glory!"

Akhenaten turned away, pacing leisurely before the court. "And yet, the gods see fit to deny you. Would they allow a true ruler to stand before them, only to be rejected? The truth is clear." He turned back, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. "You are unworthy."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Cleopatra could hardly breathe. The words echoed in her mind, each syllable a dagger to her heart.

"This is madness!" she spat. "You cannot undo what is already set in motion!"

Akhenaten’s expression darkened. He stepped closer, so close that only she could hear his next words.

"I can and I will."

Turning to the high priest, Akhenaten extended his hand. "The crown," he ordered.

The high priest hesitated, his gaze flickering between the two siblings. He opened his mouth, but whatever words he wished to speak never left his lips. Akhenaten grabbed the crown himself, lifting it high for all to see.

"This belongs to a ruler chosen by the gods," he declared, his voice carrying through the chamber. "Not to a woman who seeks to corrupt Egypt’s sacred traditions."

The nobles whispered among themselves. Some looked upon Cleopatra with pity, others with doubt.

Cleopatra felt her pulse quicken. "You would deny me my right? Strip me of everything I have worked for? Do you truly believe the people will accept this treachery?"

Akhenaten smirked again, his grip tightening on the crown. "The people will accept what I tell them to accept."

And then, without another word, he turned and cast the crown upon the temple floor.

The metal clanged against the stone, the sound echoing like thunder in the silent hall. Gasps filled the room. Cleopatra felt as if the air had been stolen from her lungs.

Her future—her destiny—shattered before her eyes.

"You are no queen," Akhenaten said, his voice final. "You are nothing."

Trembling with fury, Cleopatra forced herself to stand tall. She refused to let them see her break.

"You will regret this," she whispered, her voice cold as the Nile at midnight.

Akhenaten only smirked. "Perhaps. But for now, it is you who has lost everything."