Chapter 35: Pet naming

When Dedyet woke up a few hours later, she saw Ramses lying next to her, facing her.

The princess immediately turned to the other side, still angry about their argument. Dedyet rarely fought with people. Fights always left her heart bleeding and empty.

"Are you still mad at me, Baby?" Ramses asked, looking at her back.

"Throwing these women out has shown that, sometimes, there is a demon controlling you."

"Oh, is there?"

"They are homeless and will starve to death now." She sat up, her eyes filling with tears again. "Oh, how could I let this happen? I'm a monster, too!"

"Dedyet."

"Seth has taken control of us, Ramses. We need to find a priest and-"

"Dedyet!"

"What?!"

"Do you really think I threw them out?"

She looked right at him. "You...didn't?"

"Of course not."

There was an instant smile on the princess' face. "I'm so sorry…"

"It's fine."

"I really thought you- Oh Geb. How did I dare to say this? I don't have a home myself!"

"Of course you have a home! Dedyet, you're a princess. Don't forget that you have royal blood inside of you!"

"Yeah, but I am no de Nile."

"You will be soon."

"Oh. You're right. I hope that won't make me as arrogant as you." Dedyet chuckled.

"What did your brother say when you visited?" Ramses wanted to know, this time ignoring her joke.

"He called me names," Dedyet told him.

"What? Why?"

"Because you and I, we have gotten intimate."

"Has he never or what?"

"I don't know."

"Lonely virgin."

Dedyet laughed. "Oh, Rammy!"

"Ugh. Again this name. Dedyety."

She laughed another time. "That's a terrible pet name for me!"

"Not as bad as mine."

"I like yours, Rammy."

"Stop it now."

"Rammy, Rammy, Rammy!" She giggled and kissed his forehead.

Ramses chuckled before his facial expression became serious again. "I am sorry for what I said about Kija and her family… And the people from the North…"

"It's fine. I know you didn't mean it. And I think in Kija's case, maybe the family wasn't even poor before they had children. We don't know it."

"You're right. And that's why we can't judge."

That made Dedyet smile. "I am really proud of you."

"For allowing them to stay?"

"More so for apologizing."

"Oh…" Ramses seemed to be embarrassed.

"I know it's a difficult thing for you to do. I really appreciate it. Especially now, because this was the first time that you actually really meant it. You are capable of so much more."

He smiled warmly. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she told him, smiling back. After a kiss, Dedyet asked, "So where did the women go?"

"I have told my guard to give them some basic rooms to live in."

"Will they work here, too?"

"I don't know."

"Maybe they could work for us once we live alone!"

"Maybe."

She smiled another time.

"We should prepare for breakfast now. My family does not tolerate any sort of unpunctuality."

"It's because they are the de Niles!" Dedyet joked.

"Exactly."

The couple laughed.

It was all fine, until Dedyet looked down on herself, seeing what she was wearing.

"I'm almost embarrassed to wear this same dress again… Do you think your family will notice that and think badly of me because of it?"

"Hundert percent."

"I hate that most royals are so focused on their image. My brother is, too..."

"Appearance is important, especially for someone of royal blood. I would never date a woman that looks less than stunning."

She ignored that compliment. "But how could looks be more important than personality?"

Silence.

"Dedyet?"

"Yes?"

"Maybe Neferia has a dress for you to borrow."