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prologue

The sun stabbed mercilessly down on the endless desert. It was probably one of the hottest days the young girl had known, or at least it seemed so. Or maybe she was just spending too much time in the sun or drinking too little. Now that she thought about it, her mouth really felt pretty dry. How long has it been since she'd had a drink? One hour? Maybe just a half? She couldn't say it, she hadn't been able to say anything for a few days. Felt powerless. The exact opposite of what it used to be. She knew how to assert herself, openly shared her opinion with her father and otherwise led a relatively independent life. But now this freedom has been taken from her. One of the rare times, but it was an important decision.

The black horse on which she rode snorted hard; it was probably too hot for him too. She patted his neck reassuringly and praising him, and asked him quietly to hold on a bit, as it might not be long until they reached their goal - or rather at the end. This is how Adile felt - as if she were steering towards the end of a journey that was far too short. A sigh came over her lips as she thought about what had happened. She should marry. Exactly what it has successfully suppressed for many years. Her parents gave her this "order" a long time ago, but gave her the opportunity to choose her own husband and of course things like that have to be carefully considered. She found a flaw in every applicant who introduced himself: too big, too small, not the right hair color, no humor, not the same passions. The list was endless. Sure she knew that she was anything but perfect herself and that if you wanted to, you would find innumerable mistakes in her, but if you don't want to get married, then everything displeases you. And now it was time for her parents to take the helm and just choose a man. A complete stranger who probably hadn't even met the two of them. The only information was that he was probably a pharaoh and therefore lived in Egypt.

As so often in the past two days, Adile looked over her shoulder, back to her home. Egypt was far too far for her liking. They had been on the road for two days now, only resting at night if possible and leaving as early as possible in the morning. The girl was already homesick. She would never again be able to visit her family, her city, her people just like that. Her beloved sea was also infinitely far away, as she loved to plunge into its waters and take home the most beautiful stones and seashells, where she already had a considerable collection.
All she saw here was the desert, through the middle of which a wide river meandered with blooming and prosperous banks.It was a very nice prospect, but nothing against her home and she stuck to it.

Out of the corner of her eye, Adila saw a hand approaching hers and finally resting on it. Her eyes followed the course of the hand, over her arm, up to her father's face, who looked at her worriedly and apologetically. It was too late for that. He apologized so often and inside she knew that she was to blame for this situation, but she had a stubborn head who still said the opposite.
"It's for the best, dear," he said to her in a soft, calm voice and squeezed his daughter's hand tighter. “You will be in good hands there. People only say good things about him.” Adila rolled her eyes. "Sure ... which people would dare to speak ill of their ruler?" None. Anyone who did that was punished. That was the way the laws and rules were, so every hideous king or emperor could be portrayed as extremely benevolent and generous.

In this respect, she was just blindly falling into a trap. She didn't know him, had to get to know him, couldn't adjust to anything. An uneasy feeling began to spread in her stomach area and radiated into all parts of the body. Her heart beat faster and for the first time she felt an unfamiliar uncertainty. What should she do if it didn't work out? Could she just walk then? Or did she have to go through with this? Or maybe she could just disgust him so that he would leave her alone.
Adile pulled her hand away and clung to the reins of her horse again. At the end of the horizon she could make out little white towers and little by little little houses appeared. She swallowed hard. Now they were there, now there was no turning back. She would never again be able to live the life that she knew, loved and cherished. Now there were new rules and conditions, new obligations ... but only her home would she love.