Chapter 22: Meeting once again
Two men entered the dining hall, one of them smirking, the other one looking rather confused.
"I am really sorry to bother this beginning breakfast," the smirking one announced. "But I feel forced to inform you, Mother and Father, that there is something toxic going on here. Anything you want to say to that, Ramses?"
"What?!"
"We know who is here with you."
Their father spoke up quickly. "Who is it?! What is going on?!"
"Her name is Dedyet and she was last seen in Ramses' room," the smirking man said. "Naked," he added without any feelings of shame or guilt.
Ramses hid his face behind a hand, completely embarrassed.
Neferia gave her older brother a surprised look. "How do you know? I've only told Tut!"
Ramses didn't say a word. While there was chaos and many people discussing, he got up from his chair and walked up to his room, entering it quickly.
"Dedyet!"
"Ramses! There was a woman who came in here a few minutes ago! I wasn't even dressed!"
"It was my sister."
"Oh. Well..."
"Dedyet, you have to leave!"
But the door already opened.
"What a nice way to see you again, Dedyet," Ramses' father said when he turned to the door to close it once again.
"I am deeply sorry, your highness," the princess admitted.
"What are you doing here?"
"My brother and I were fighting terribly and… I had to leave."
"I am sorry to hear that. You know, we really don't like unannounced guests in our palace."
"Again, I am sorry." She faced the ground.
"Father, aren't you angry?"
Ramses' question got ignored. "Dedyet, tell me about your brother."
She looked up once again. "He has a really bad temper…"
"Oh, yes, I remember that fact. He is also very unpopular amongst his underlings, as far as I know. Is that true?"
"Yes, Sir."
"And why?"
"Well... Let me say it like that: he has many talents, but ruling is not one of them."
"You know how long I have been ruling my kingdom?"
"How long, Sir?"
"Twenty-five years."
"Wow. I am impressed."
"You may be able to imagine how experienced I am as a king and ruler."
"Yes, Sir."
"And I know that there is an expedient to the terrible situation your brother's kingdom is in."
Ramses interrupted him. "Father," he said through clenched teeth, knowing exactly where this was going.
"And what is it?" Dedyet asked him.
The old man smiled. "Imagine Egypt being united."
"Father!"
"Ugh, Son! Go leave the room if you are impatient!"
"Sir, I don't think my brother would agree. He wouldn't want to share his might and power."
"He wouldn't have to share it."
The princess seemed surprised. "No?"
"Ramses would rule on his own."
"But-"
"A marriage would make that possible."
"Father!"
"What?!"
"Leave my room! Please."
"I will not." He turned back to Dedyet. "So… What do you think?"
"…I wouldn't want to let my brother down."
"Ramses loves you. A lot. He has told me that you are the love of his life."
Dedyet smiled, her eyes shining.
Ramses used his hand once again to cover his face. This was so embarrassing…
"I will leave you two alone now," the pharaoh announced. "But I expect you to come into the dining hall in the next few minutes. It would be a shame if you wouldn't introduce yourself to the family, Dedyet."
"Oh… Okay…"
"I expect you to follow my orders, Ramses."
"Yes, Father."
"Really good."
And so he left.