This may not be canon- yet again, I have not watched all the episodes- but it is purely for the drama, anyway.
Disclaimer: I do not own YGO.
"I'm afraid I don't understand, my Pharaoh." A blatant lie if he ever heard one, but it was better than the alternative.
"Seth, I've been explaining this for half an hour, and I know for a fact that you are far from stupid." Atem frowned, the Puzzle glinting darkly from where it hung on his neck. "I have decided to lock the Shadows away. I will use my Ren as a seal. You are to carry out the ritual. Is that clear enough, or do I have to pummel the idea into your head with the Rod?"
"I am sure that it need not go that far, my Pharaoh." Seth replied smoothly, determined to keep the conversation going on for as long as he could before he sna-
"Then I take it that you are perfectly willing to put the Rod to its proper use, and help me to lock my soul away."
The priest snapped. Status of the son of Ra be damned, but he was not going to follow orders to as good as murder his Pharaoh.
Atem blinked. Seth had gotten up from kneeling in front of the throne, climbed the three stairs to position himself in front of his cousin, towering over him with his considerable height, and grabbed him by the shoulders in a tight, trembling grip. The young Pharaoh mused over how long Seth had practiced to move that fast.
"Ren lost to the sands of time, never to be spoken again. Sheut and Ba, locked with the Shadows." Seth's voice began as a vehement hiss, slowly giving way to a roar that made the guards outside tremble; one worthy of the High Priest's beloved Blue Eyes White Dragon. "Ha to be consumed by the Shadows, Gods alone know what will happen to Ib and Ka- probably condemned to Duat on Earth, and why are you laughing?!"
The Son of Ra shook with laughter, wiping tears from his kohl-lined eyes. "Oh, cousin mine," he chuckled. "You have always protected me, have you not? It seems like yesterday when you took the blame for my mistake and let yourself get whipped for it..."
"This is more serious than who gets the whip to his back," Seth was incredulous. "Do you not fear death?"
"...Yes." Atem whispered, all jocularity gone from his face. A barrier seemed to collapse, and Seth looked once more into the eyes of the frightened youth who had lost his father and gained the weight of the Pharaoh's crown in a single day.
Then his back straightened, and the proud Pharaoh of all Egypt looked back. "But I will do whatever it takes to protect my people. Even if it costs me my soul."