Chapter 29: Under control
The palace was quiet until an overly excited man began jumping around like a five year old. "YES! Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"Please don't be so loud, Father. Dedyet just went to sleep!"
The man stopped jumping and raised an eyebrow. "To…sleep? For Ra's sake, the sun didn't even set yet!"
"She didn't feel good."
"Whatever. You are married soon, my son!"
"Father. Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Why exactly are you so happy? Is it because I'm in love or because of the kingdom?"
"Ramses, you will unite Egypt!"
"Oh, so it's the kingdom, huh?"
"You don't need to be in love to marry someone. How often have I told you that?"
"I am, though. I am in love."
"That's good as long as you aren't blinded by it!"
"I'm not…"
"My son. What is in focus now?" Obviously, this was a catch question to see if Ramses was paying attention.
"My marriage."
"And after it?"
"The takeover."
"Exactly. I am so happy that our plan is working! After my death, you will have to thank me every time again and again! It is me who has made this possible. Me! My ka will leave my body, but there will be justice. Once through the underworld, I will sit right next to the most important gods! And as soon as you die, my son, you will, too."
"I hope really, really hope so…"
"Once Dedyet is married to you, there is no going back! She finally won't be able to ruin the plan anymore, then!"
"Father, could you please stop pretending I'd be tricking her into it?"
He wasn't even listening, instead saying, "Soon, she will be pregnant!"
"Ugh…"
"You know that it is your duty to get her pregnant right after marriage, right?"
"Yes."
"You are a loser if you don't manage to do that. And we – as the de Niles – are not losers. We are completely flawless! Also, fertile."
"Well, Father, about the takeover... How exactly is it going to happen?"
"I die, you marry his sister – take away his power so that he is left with nothing – and convince his underlings to hate him. Which will probably be easy. I mean, they dislike him already."
"Oh. Okay…"
"You will naturally marry near the border. Both kingdoms will be invited. And after that," he laughed darkly, "you will have one! And it'll be yours! The gods will watch and never leave our god-like side! Every afterlife of anybody in the de Nile family will forever be secured!"
"What about her brother's palace?"
"You can get rid of that trashy hole."
"It's where Dedyet grew up in…" Ramses mumbled.
"Anything else to waste my time with?" his father asked, crossing his arms while raising a disapproving eyebrow.
Ramses quickly took this chance to talk about some other worries. "Do you think the people in Lower Egypt will like me?"
"But of course! You will only show your best side at the marriage ceremony. We will prepare a speech for you and these peasants will love you in no time!"
"I don't think Mother is so pleased about all this…"
"Your mother is old and grumpy. But do you know what she is, too? Power-hungry. And power is something our family will have more of in only a few weeks! I don't know if I will still be there to see it. But I don't care either way, as my afterlife is granted!"
"There is something else I need to tell you, Father. It's kind of important…"
He rolled his eyes, allowing Ramses to continue.
"Dedyet wants to go back home tomorrow."
"What?! Why?!"
"She wants to talk to her brother about the marriage."
"Hasn't she said yes already?!"
"She has, but she wants to talk to him anyway."
"Why?!"
"I don't know."
"That can't be good. We will stop her from going."
"But-"
"It's good that you told me, so I might be able to arrange something."
"…But the plan doesn't involve you making her sad, does it?"
"It's rather the circumstances that will make her sad."
"Father!"
The pharaoh seemed careless. "What?"
"I don't want that…"
"Don't be so silly, Boy!"
"I will manage to make her stay on my own, okay? No need for you to arrange anything."
"Alright, if you say so. I just hope she is a fertile woman."
"Yes."
"Oh, is she?"
"I don't know."
"You could already get her pregnant now. It would be a great way to control her!"
"Father, I really love this woman."
"And that's no reason to get her pregnant?"
"I don't want to control her…"
"Let me tell you something. If this woman acts out on you and suddenly decides that marrying you is nothing she wants, she will go back to her brother and uniting Egypt will be impossible! And you know how angry your father gets if he doesn't reach his goals, right?"
"…Right, Father."
"Good. And please take this seriously. You know, if she won't get pregnant within a few months, she is probably infertile. This way, you'd have to get your sister pregnant."
"Oh, gods…"
"Now go up to your wife. And don't forget what I told you!"
"…Yes, Father."
Ramses turned around to go, and the last thing he heard before leaving the halls was a darkly hissed "Stop her from leaving."