Chapter 25: Death threats
The letter was sent away within minutes, but it had taken several days for a new one to arrive. Days in which the couple had snuggled, laughed and talked. The young princess felt loved and understood, believing to have found a new home and a new family. A complete new life, even!
Everything was wonderful until a dirty, half ruined letter was handed over to her.
Dedyet!
I have no time for whatever nonsense you are writing! Come back home or stay where you are! The people in Upper Egypt are evil, every single one of them. If you are too naive to believe me, then it is your own stupidity which makes you stay on the side of Seth. Be sure that he will find and haunt you! I have placed a curse on you and this pathetic family, hoping you will all get your bloody payback! Lower Egypt is the only kingdom blessed by Isis herself. It is our home and exactly where we both belong. If you are too dumb to understand that, believing that you want to marry this man, then go ahead. Be a traitor and this man's slave! But don't wonder if the gods will punish you for this once you are dead! Your heart is getting heavier with each day, so heavy that Ammit will have fun eating it once you have reached her. Which will hopefully be soon as I, Lower Egypt's admired pharaoh, would have no problem with. You hear me? Your death would be a deserved punishment for your horrendous crimes! You are underserving of the life you were given. Every single demon and curse will lead you to death for letting a stranger manipulate you into a toxic marriage, leaving your older brother behind in the process.
Shame on you! Pharaoh Setpenkhamun
Dedyet broke down in tears.
Several servants surrounded her in panic.
Ramses on the other hand only had eyes for one thing. "What insolence!" He cursed after reading the letter. "Calling my family pathetic?! This man will die in a fire!"
"My brother is so terrible," Dedyet sobbed. "We always got along, more or less. But now that I'm with you, he is such a tyrant."
"The coward is afraid of losing his power," Ramses told her. "He wants everything to be like before we met. But the people in Lower Egypt need help. And I doubt your brother is able to provide it."
"Ramses. What do we do now?"
"We marry, unite Egypt and show your brother that love is stronger than hate."
"Do you… Do you really mean it?"
"Dedyet. I'd marry you anytime."
She got up, the servants quickly leaving. "I love you, but… I'm afraid of making a mistake. I don't want to let my brother down! He has suffered so much!"
"And this is why you refuse to live your life the way you want to? Because of him?"
"I don't know…"
"He wrote he doesn't care if you die!"
"Don't remind me of it…"
"Dedyet. Think of all the people in Lower Egypt. They need our help."
"I know…"
"I have held it back for days…"
She looked at him, surprised. "What have you held back?"
"Dedyet."
"Yes?"
"Do you want to marry me?"