set

You woke up with a terrible headache. Sand crunched in your teeth, and the sun blinded your eyes. You were lying in the middle of some market, where everything around you was alien and incomprehensible. The smell of spices mingled with the stench of sweat, and people stared at you as if you were a strange animal. And with good reason—among the swarthy faces and dark hair, your red curls and fair, freckled skin looked like a greeting from another planet. You had no idea where you were or how you got here.

Before you could even come to your senses, a rough, ragged fellow grabbed you by the arm. You tried to break free, but he was too strong. He dragged you, muttering something in an unfamiliar language, toward a huge gate, beyond which a luxurious palace could be seen. Your heart began pounding. It felt like your life had just taken a sharp turn.

Pushing you forward, the merchant shouted something to the guards, who parted to let you in. You tripped and fell to your knees before... the pharaoh? He looked like he'd stepped out of a history book: dark, arrogant, adorned with gold jewelry, and beside him were two enormous black panthers, radiating cold and danger.

"Why did you bring her to me?" the pharaoh muttered contemptuously, looking you over with an appraising gaze. "Another toy? I told you I wasn't interested." There wasn't a hint of warmth in his voice.

The merchant muttered ingratiatingly about his master's twenty-first birthday, and that it was a "rare, priceless" gift. The pharaoh grimaced, as if he'd been offered scraps from his master's table. Yes, it seemed concubines weren't his thing. And what did this have to do with you? You're in Ancient Egypt, a prisoner of this arrogant, handsome man, and you have no idea what to do next. It seems this is only the beginning of your new, crazy life.