The next few weeks Edward visited Bella more often, quickly correcting her to not use his title "Prince", and spent the rest of his time being with his family. He spent time playing games with his brothers and sisters, even letting his little sister, Kate, play with him the way she wanted to. When he had time between all of this he spent time with the rest of his family, every day he went to the city to see Bella.
The servants had left the room leaving the family to their discussion. "Edward, your mother and I have noticed you have been spending more time with here at home than usual," his father, Carlisle, commented during dinner one night.
"Yes, usually you spend all your time flirting with the upper class girls. Not that there's anything wrong with that we're just glad it looks like you're growing up," his mother, Esme, added. She passed the honey sweetened cakes and fig sweetened cakes to her husband who looked at her lovingly.
"Well I figure there are more important things in life than trying to impress people," Edward answered reasonably.
"Wow Edward. That's really grown-up of you," Alice, his sister, commented. "What made you change your attitude?"
"Edward was so much fun this week. He even played the games I wanted to," Kate, his youngest sister, told everyone happily.
"Yes I did," Edward agreed with Kate then turned toward Alice. "Let's just say I have someone very special in my life that has changed my perspective on life," he answered vaguely. "I've been spending most of my free time with Bella, he thought to himself, It's no wonder I've changed my behavior, and probably for the better too."
"Well whoever it is seems to know what they're doing," Esme commented, satisfied with her son's answer.
…
"Bella! That's the third time you've passed the wrong bowl to someone," her mother scolded her that night during their dinner.
"Sorry mother. Sorry Charlotte," she apologized to each of them in turn before passing Charlotte the bowl of sweet figs she wanted.
"Are you okay Bella? Maybe you should go to bed early," her father suggested.
"All right," she agreed.
She excused herself from the table and made her way to her room. She walked up the ladder, onto the roof before falling into her bed. The stars glistened in the night, and the full moon shone done casting shadows on the earth below. Bella watched them, thinking about Edward and how much he had changed since their first conversation. He had become nicer and more considerate of other people instead of acting like he was the greatest person ever, like he once did. She then remembered the whole family would have to attend a meeting the following day and they would also have dinner with the Pharaoh as well afterwards. She wasn't sure how Edward would react but she decided to stay indifferent just to be safe. A few moments later she fell into a deep sleep.
…..…...…
"Edward! Did you hear? The General of the Egyptian military, Charlie, is going to be eating with us in a few days, and he and our father will be discussing battle plans," Peter announced to him before going to sleep.
"Ok," he replied sounding bored. He had heard people throughout the palace talking about it but it hadn't really interested him. Why should it? He had so many other things on his mind.
"He apparently has a few daughters and sons. I saw the daughters at some point and there are three. One who looks about ten, one about twenty and the last one is about seventeen or so. I'm not sure her precise age but she's a beauty. I caught some of her name but not all of it. What was it? Isabelle? Isa- Isa-?" he kept going, pathetically trying to remember how to pronounce her name.
"Isabella, but she likes Bella," Edward corrected automatically, slightly annoyed he couldn't pronounce the name of the girl he liked.
"Yeah! That's it!" Peter responded. "Anyway. I think I'll ask to marry her."
"No you're not!" Edward disagreed, surprised at how angry his voice sounded.
"Why not?" Peter asked confused.
"Because I'm going to," he announced surprised again, by his immediate decision. He hadn't known her that long, but he was sure about his decision. She knew more about him than anyone else and seemed to be seeing him for the person he could be, not just who he was. Edward knew he would have to wait longer to ask for her hand but he also knew she was the girl for him. "Although the law would never allow it. Even though we're in almost the same social class, we're not in the exact same one."
"Easy. Just continue to see each other until you think of a solution," Peter told him, like it was a simple child's toy he had mastered within seconds.
"Would you two shut up? We have to get up an hour earlier than usual! Now let's go to sleep!" Emmett whispered angrily to them.
"We'd better go to sleep before someone rats us out," Edward suggested turning over to go to sleep.
"Yeah, because he gets so little sleep anyway," Peter replied sarcastically.
But he also followed Edward's' example and turned over to go to sleep.
Thank you to: YesMyRealNameIsBella for your comment. I don't technically have a beta. It's hard to catch everything. I did change it so now it makes more sense.