Chapter 37 Making Me Conflicted

"I'm sorry for this." Seti apologized, in a rare show of both words and emotion. Kiran, no longer stubbornly ignoring him to try and salvage her pride, faced him.

"It isn't your fault." Kiran spoke, even as she held back a wince from the feeling of Seti shackling her wrists. "If anything," She sighed, "It's mine. I was such an idiot to not figure out what Aurera was doing. I'm usually more aware than that." Kiran berated herself.

"It's not your fault." Seti practically growled. Kiran gave him a slightly startled look. Seti was rarely angry, and when he was it was more an annoyed angry, but this...this seemed serious.

"Aurera is an important person." Kiran spoke, looking Seti directly in the eyes. He looked her back in the eyes before giving a barely audible huff.

"Yes." Seti said as he stood up.

That was all the confirmation she needed. Kiran watched Seti walk out of the cell with a slightly solemn look, but the anger was suppressed deep down, now. Kiran could trust that Seti wouldn't do anything. After all, both of them wanted Ramses to be Pharaoh. Dealing with Aurera was just collateral damage.

So why wasn't the burning feeling leaving her chest?

Layla had given Ramses the chance. She had given him the time and space to do something about that bitch Aurera. Yet, all he did was stand by and let her get thrown in the dungeon...again.

When Layla thought about it, Ramses was the cause of Kiran being in jail twice. The first time she had killed Ames- Kiran wouldn't have even gone with the snake if it wasn't for Ramses. The same went with the Aurera mess. Kiran would have no problem sticking up for herself if Ramses' reputation wasn't on the line. What's more is that Ramses let it happen.

That was precisely why, despite the fact that Layla was slightly intimidated by him, she now found herself knocking on his office door.

"Come in." Layla heard Ramses say through the door. She flung the door open with that response, boldly walking in.

"What are you thinking?!" Layla growled at Ramses. It was a good thing Seti wasn't in the room, because Layla may have actually felt a bit of shame in her actions if that were the case.

Ramses stared at her condescending for a moment before speaking, "What are you talking about?"

"Having Kiran thrown in the dungeon." Layla glowered at him. "Who the hell is that woman to make you do that? We both know Kiran didn't even do anything wrong, anyway. Are you casting Kiran aside now-" Layla cut her rant off when she caught sight of Ramses' vaguely guilty expression.

That stood out as a big deal to her- considering that vaguely guilty was probably as outwardly guilty as the general got. It caught Layla by surprise- although that could have been because Ramses was just an arrogant bastard in her mind. Maybe she had been misjudging him, after all, there had to be some reason that Kiran fell for the general- even if she was in denial about it. After a minute of mental debate, Layla took a breath in and spoke.

"Kiran may be a bit of an enigma, but that doesn't mean you can disregard her feelings as a woman." Layla felt so odd speaking like that to Ramses, as he was of greater age and status than her. Still, she had a feeling that Ramses didn't really know much about loving someone.

"I didn't mean to disregard her feelings." Ramses said monotonously, but Layla could still hear the underlying guilt.

"It doesn't change the fact that you did." Layla reprimanded, but stopped herself when she realized it wasn't going to help any. "Hmmm...alright, I can help you." Ramses shot her an annoyed look, like the very implication that he needed help was offensive. Still, it said something that he didn't outright reject her offer. "Buy her a gift, something she'll really like that proves you know and care about her."

"Do you have anything in mind?" Ramses questioned her.

"No, I'm not entirely sure." Layla answered and walked out of the room, because Layla wasn't just going to tell him the answer. She was still mad at him and besides, what was the point of a meaningful gift if he didn't get it himself.

"Did you just come out of Ramses' office?" The voice belonged to Seti and was laced with incredulity.

"Yep." Layla spoke cheerfully with a secretive grin and Seti shook his head at her, but she noticed a sliver of a smile on his face.

Kiran had realized something about being locked up after the first time it happened to her; it gave her a lot of time to think. More than that, it gave her time to think honestly- after the initial dishonest thoughts brought out from annoyance at being locked up. So, Kiran thought honestly to herself.

'It's strange how far I went to protect Ramses' reputation. It was only a few months ago that I hated his guts. Although, admittedly, I never hated King Ramses. Even with that in mind, I'm caring way too much, but why?'

'Why do you think?'

Kiran's eyes widened in realization.

"I...like Ramses?" Kiran questioned breathlessly. Not a crush, like as in more than crush-like. The possibility was already in her head, but now she felt she couldn't deny that it was true.

'That's not good. Besides, even if that is the case, it doesn't change anything. I'm not going to stay and Ramses...'

'What about Ramses?'

"He...doesn't think of me seriously like that." Kiran said the words aloud, trying to ingrain that truth in her mind. Ramses may be interested, but he didn't like her.

'Are you sure?'

No. She wasn't sure. With the way Ramses acted, it was possible her feelings were mutual. Still, the only way to know for sure was to ask, but if the answer was 'yes'...

'Would I still be able to leave?'

"I don't know."

"Do you make a habit of talking to yourself?"

Extra- Gift

Ramses did know Kiran, but it was more of an understanding of her as a person. Kiran had never told him her likes and dislikes, and- while he could assume some of them- that made it difficult in his search for a gift.

Jewelry and clothes wouldn't do- even if Kiran were to want either, Ramses wouldn't know what kinds she liked. He wouldn't copy Harres by getting her a horse- while he was sure she would love it, the thought of mimicking Harres left a bad taste in his mouth. He didn't know her favorite foods, colors, or materials. It hindered his ability to pick out anything for her.

More than all of that, though, Ramses didn't feel it was as meaningful of a gift if it was something he could just as easily bring her here to pick for herself. Ramses eyes landed on a cat walking along the edge of the water.

The cat's fur was tan and spotted with small spots of brown. The way the cat maneuvered was graceful, but sure and fast. In all honestly, it kind of reminded him of Kiran. Suddenly the cat ran past him, he turned to see it leap into the arms of a woman. She looked familiar, although Ramses couldn't pinpoint why for some reason.

She was beautiful with her long blonde hair, but she definitely wasn't foreign. The only thing that really struck him as strange was her eyes. They were golden like those of a lioness- his mind briefly flashed to Kiran at the thought.

She turned to face him with a smile, "You look like you're at a loss." Ramses eyed her warily. "Could you be looking for something, General?"

"Yes," Ramses spoke cautiously, and for some reason he found his eyes shifting to the cat in the woman's arms, "I am." The woman seemed to notice his interest and smiled again before walking over to him...and placing the cat in his arms. Ramses was taken aback, "wh-" but the woman was already walking away.

Ramses stared down at the cat and the cat's blue eyes stared back up at him. That was when Ramses got a better look at the cat's thicker fur and limbs, along with the rounded ears and longer face. A lion cub.

It looked like he didn't have to find a gift, the perfect one had found him.

Fun facts:

- Layla has never spoke to Ramses alone before this chapter

- Layla has spoken only ten words to Ramses since she was introduced

- Layla spoke eight lines in the first chapter she was introduced in, five more than Seti in his first chapter

- Of the eighteen chapters since Layla has been introduced, she's actually been in thirteen of them

Tell me if you guys would be interested in any more fun facts.

Review?