Chapter 18: An unexpected return
It was a dark night when Ramses entered his bedroom. He heard a voice in the distance.
"Ramses!"
"Huh?"
The prince stepped outside, on his balcony, and almost got a heart attack. "Dedyet!"
She was sitting on the ground, her white linen dress dirty. "Ramses!"
He picked her up from the ground and she fell into his loving arms.
"What are you doing out here?!"
"I ran away."
"What?!" Ramses couldn't believe it. "Are you insane?! You can't just run away! Do you know how danger-"
She kissed his lips.
He kissed hers back.
"I missed you so much," she mumbled.
"Baby. Come inside."
They left the cold balcony, closed the door for warmth and privacy and sat down on Ramses' bed.
"You must tell me what happened!" Ramses demanded, still shocked that she was so suddenly sitting next to him.
"My brother found your letters…"
"Oh Ra…"
"I didn't have a chance to write you back! My brother was so furious that I had to leave! I was so scared… It took me several days to get here and that's why there was no answer. I'm so sorry."
"How did you manage to get here?"
"I covered up so no one would know it's me and convinced some men to take me with them to the South."
"Oh, Dedyet." He hugged her tightly.
She didn't hug him back. "I hate myself so much, Ramses."
He looked her in the eyes. "How could you hate someone so wonderful?"
Dedyet smiled sadly. "There is no hope anymore."
"Don't say that. Now that you are here, I can introduce you to my family."
"I don't mean our relationship, Honey."
"Is there anything more important?"
"Yes. The wellbeing of thousands of people."
"I don't quite get it. Our marriage would make the complete kingdom happy!"
"And what about my kingdom? The place I grew up in? Set is on his own. I let everybody down."
"You didn't let anybody down, Dedyet."
"Thinking about the things my brother could do to the innocent, poor people…" She paused in shock.