Mummy Evolution-Chapter 35: Zainah’s Ceremony (3/3)

MOM!!

Neilara squeezed his hand, making Sett behave.

Zainah, who had understood some of the implications, also sweated buckets.

She took a deep breath and finally met the Pharaoh’s eyes.

Zainah had a pitiful look to her, one that would make even women dote on her, but to the Pharaoh, that was nothing.

Zainah knew this was a test.

It was also a punishment.

Other princesses would already know what cities they wanted, in fact, they would look after those cities even before they were officially handed the territory.

But she was not like that.

Zainah didn’t know what city was vacant and ready for her to take command, either. After all, Zainah was not the politically savvy type who was fresh on the empire’s news. Sett had taken care of everything for her, and in fact, he had even chosen a city for her yesterday.

He must have told about the chosen city to his mother.

But Neilara still didn’t straightforwardly choose for her, which meant, this was, indeed a test. Sett had also briefly mentioned a few cities’ names to her, but Zainah struggled to remember them.

Was it hmm, Neil Island City? Hm, no, what was it?

Zainah knew that even if she told the city’s name, which Sett had chosen for her, to his mother, Zainah herself would look like she was taking advantage of Sett and his love a bit too much.

She would be seen as nothing but a useless beauty by his side.

Not even politically savvy, what was she worth?

Zainah bit her lip gently.

If she chose a random city and that random city ended up already having an owner, that would be even worse. Since that meant she was willing to make enemies for her husband and herself for no benefit.

This was a test.

The Pharaoh didn’t plan to let her son coddle Zainah.

She couldn’t use Sett’s preparation, which his mother would already know, nor could she blindly guess a city.

She needed to do something about it quickly.

She had to find a vacant city right now and choose that!

Zainah smiled slightly and looked at Sett.

She found his sweating figure incredibly adorable. The way the confident guy was now glancing away, how he looked so guilty. She had to find a time to bite him sometime today.

She then smiled at the crowd surrounding her, stunning many of the young men who were there to watch.

Let’s see.

She blinked.

Axiom of Playfulness.

An unseen wave of energy exploded from her as the center, targeting a young nobleman who was seated beside a High Noble.

Axiom of Playfulness—Game of Benefits!

The young man, who was staring at her with wide eyes, suddenly became immensely nervous as she glanced at him.

How beautiful, he thought. The prince sure is lucky. And she looks so pitiful. Maybe she doesn’t know what cities are vacant. Should I tell her? That prince truly is worthless, not even choosing a city for such a beauty.

Then, the young nobleman walked out of his seat—to his High Noble grandfather’s chagrin—and stood in front of them all with a raised chest.

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"Miss Zainah, you should choose a city in the Dargam Zone near Western Desert," he said, eyes bright. "The city lords in that region were all executed recently due to an underground revolutionary protest, so those cities are all vacant."

Sett watched him with a hidden, but rather irritated gaze.

Most nobles sweated on the young man’s behalf!

He had ruined the Pharaoh’s test.

Zainah blinked.

"Um, I planned to choose that to begin with," she said with an embarrassed expression.

Sett shook his head, smiling wryly.

One of her Axiom’s abilities, Game of Benefits, can be used to confuse people into believing that they had to help her, no matter what they stood to lose themselves.

Of course, it only worked for a short time.

If the person she targeted didn’t even understand what they stood to lose, they would immediately help her. This was an ability that almost always worked.

Especially on idiots.

It was her most useful tactic, always.

After all, the world was full of idiots.

Zainah felt smug inside.

The Pharaoh looked at her with an amused expression. "Looks like Sett taught you some of his bad habits." Then, she looked towards the High Noble and shook her head. "Sorry, Noble Bulwarn, and do not worry, it is a simple test for my daughter-in-law. Nothing more. And she passed, though barely."

On the other hand, the young nobleman, who didn’t understand anything, felt his hair stand as his grandfather smiled obsequiously at the Pharaoh.

Oh no, did I do something wrong?

It’s all that prince’s fault!

Zainah clenched her fists in victory. She called me daughter-in-law.

Neilara looked at the girl and shook her head again. "The way you handled it is passable but not very good. For one thing, you should have taken the time to study the cities and the surrounding situation before you came here."

Zainah bowed in embarrassment. So the Pharaoh did understand that she had let Sett handle everything.

Indeed, she should have at least studied what mattered.

It is Sett’s fault though, he coddles me too much. That’s why, not because I am lazy.

"Secondly," the Empress continued. "If you took a city in Western Deserts as your territory, you will have to go there and that will mean you can’t see your precious husband so often anymore."

Zainah’s expression changed. That was true. Taking the City Lord position not only came with benefits, but also responsibilities.

She would have to leave the palace and go to the city to rule it.

If she took station so far away, how could she meet Sett anymore?

I am so foolish, I did such a blunder in an attempt to impress Mother in Law…

She wanted to cry.

"That was your first mistake," the Empress said, looking at Sett before turning back to Zainah. "And second. Even though you used your Axiom to make Bulwarn’s grandchild blurt a way out for you, most of us here could tell what you did."

The young nobleman was startled, staring at Zainah as if he had seen a ghost.

Sett rubbed his nose. That was so obvious.

The other noblemen also nodded.

They weren’t fools and most of them knew what Axiom Zainah had, so of course they would know what she did.

Zainah didn’t feel so smug anymore.

She wanted to find a hole and hide in it. She smiled embarrassedly.

I am not so smart, she thought, am I?

She took a deep breath.

Then, she asked, "What should I have done?"

"Answer her, Sett Ramses," The Empress commanded.

Sett looked at the girl, who looked back at him with curiosity. He said calmly, "You should have come running to your husband for help. Nothing more, nothing less."

Many people in the crowd were speechless, especially the young nobleman.

"I prepared everything for you, and you saw it as an embarrassment because that would make you look like you are not politically savvy. But that is not an embarrassment at all. After all, you honestly are not politically savvy."

Zainah glared at him. But he didn’t mind—cute glares could never hurt him. Throw more at him and he will just bask in them.

He said, "I am part of your power. Just as you are part of mine. You have your strengths, weaknesses too. One cannot do everything by oneself, that is why they need subordinates and families. And you, when I am around, has no need to be politically savvy."

Neilara nodded.

Then, she looked at Zainah.

"Tell me, which city do you want?"

Zainah bowed. "I am not well versed in these matters, so will you please let my husband handle it for me?"

"No." The Pharaoh shook her head. "You can get lost and become politically savvy first before you get a city."

Sett was speechless, Zainah was speechless, everyone was speechless.