Chapter 50: Uncertainty

When the de Nile family had finished their plates, they got up from the chairs. Ramses grabbed Nefera's hand and pulled her along. "And now, my daughter, you will learn something you will actually need in your future life. Unlike the useless stuff your mother keeps teaching you."

Nefera looked up to her father. Were the funny things she used to do with her mother really...useless?

"What are you doing, Ramses?"

"Just what I said."

"Seriously? Is this a joke?"

"I don't joke, unlike you, my dear."

Dedyet crossed her arms. "So, you will bring Nefera to a random nurse, and will give her one hour time to teach Nefera things the nurse has no actual idea about? And then Nefera will present them to us? And all of that, just to make me look bad?"

Ramses couldn't hold back a dark laugh. "It's to prove you that a single hour of teaching her is worth more than five hours of play."

"We don't just play..."

"But you have never even talked to her about what being royalty even means. Since your are her mother and have experience of your own, it is your job to teach her. What would Mother think seeing Nefera behaving like some commoner?"

Nefera looked up in shock. Having fun was for commoners?!

Dedyet gave her husband an angry look. A few seconds of silence later, she watched them leave the halls.

Nefera looked back a last time. The queen was facing them, wearing a face that didn't look happy at all.

The toddler turned back forward. Hopefully her mother wasn't angry at her!

A moment later, they arrived in another big hall that Nefera rarely visited at all. There was nothing she could actually do in here. Nothing...funny!

The two walked so far, until they reached a hall that had many doors to small rooms. Rooms Nefera had never visited!

It was then when her father stopped walking. "I need a nurse!" He called out.

The second door was the one that opened the fastest. A young nurse stepped outside, walked forward and bowed down to both Nefera and her her father.

Ramses spoke up, his voice sounding as dark and emotionless as always. "Nefera is here to learn some royal manners. I do not have time to teach her them, it is you who will."

The dark-haired woman got up slowly, with big eyes. She seemed to be intimidated.

Ramses continued his speech, but he was saying the next part through gritted teeth. "Her mother is seemingly not competent enough to teach Nefera the most important things in life for her."

The nurse gulped.

"I give you an hour to teach her some manners. She will present them to me, so don't dare to not take this task seriously!"

The nurse nodded. "I understand."

"That is what I expected." He turned to his daughter. "Nefera, do not disobey your nurse!"

"I don't even know the nurse, Father!"

Ramses frowned. He looked back at the woman. "Are you new?"

She nodded a second time. "Yes, Sire."

The pharaoh smirked. "Even better."

With these words, he left behind a confused toddler and a challenged nurse. Was this challenge even possible?