Chapter 37: Titles and marriages
"I had to tell my family that you are pregnant to excuse you from the dinner table!" Ramses confessed the second they were alone.
"Didn't they know where I was?!"
"My father had told me not to let you visit your brother…"
"Why?"
"He thought you wouldn't come back to me…"
"Oh, Ramses."
"And I said that you might be pregnant to excuse you from the dinner table..."
"I see…"
"Can we pretend this never happened?"
"Ugh. I just wanted a darn dress. Why did she snap at me like that?"
"Because she is a dumb, arrogant snob."
Dedyet's eyes widened. "Uh… Wow. That's not the answer I expected."
Ramses shrugged. "It's the truth."
"But you still shouldn't talk about her like that. She is your own sister, remember? You held her in your arms when she was born. And we don't know what she's going through. I'm sure she has problems, too, especially because it was her who was supposed to marry you. I just came here like that, taking her place, all of a sudden."
"You're right. I shouldn't have judged her like that…"
"It's fine. Making mistakes is incredibly important. They make us grow so much!"
"Dedyet."
"Yes?"
"I will get you a dress, I promise."
"Oh, it's not that important…"
"It is highly important."
"Fine…"
A last kiss happened before Ramses knocked on the door to Neferia's room and then stepped inside.
She turned around to him, a hairbrush in her hand. "What do you want again?!"
"Neferia, please. You are my only sister. Just give Dedyet a dress to wear."
"Is this woman really that poor?!"
"She is rich just like us. It's just that she hasn't brought a thing here."
"Well, maybe she should have thought about that before! It's like these commoners who are poor but keep having children! And then they complain and want the pharaoh to solve it!"
He sighed, thinking of Kija.
"How do you know that she is even royal?"
"Of course she is royal!"
"Did you see her palace? And servants?"
"Yes and yes."
"Oh."
"Now, please. Hand over a dress that you dislike. Dedyet looks great wearing anything."
"Oh, and I don't?!"
"That's not what I said."
She sighed, quieten her voice. "It's so scary that you'll marry soon…"
"Time has been passing in a very fast way, yes."
"And then she'll be queen. Queen of Egypt."
"That's right."
"That's what I wanted to be!"
"I am sorry, Neferia. But there is no way I'd marry you."
She fake smiled another time. "Uh, Ramses?"
"Yes?"
"You just did it again."
"Did what again?"
"CALLING ME UGLY!"
"You are my sister!"
"Still. I wouldn't treat you badly as your wife."
"Of course you wouldn't. But Dedyet won't either."
"Hm."
"Now! Which dress are you fine with giving to me?"
But his sister wasn't done yet. "Why did you tell us that she's pregnant?"
Ramses bit his lip, deciding to lie another time. "I really thought she was…"
"So you were really trying for a baby?"
"Yes… She didn't feel good enough to come to dinner and had to vomit once, too. So I just thought she… You know."
"Oh. Okay."
"So, which dress?"
"I don't know. She'll have many prettier ones anyway once you marry her."
"Neferia, please. Don't be sad or grumpy."
"You don't even know how it feels like. Being replaced like some peasant."
"Might and power are really tempting, I know. I would tell you to marry Dedyet's brother, but he'll lose his position soon. But remember; you'll always be my little sister."
"Nice."
"That's worth something too, right?"
"No. Can you leave now?"
"I will just take this one right here," Ramses said as he grabbed the next best linen dress. "This one is nice."
"You know, we could have had children too."
"Yes, ill ones."
"Who cares? They would have been great rulers."
Ramses slowly walked towards the door, wishing to leave.
"I think this trip to the North has changed you, Ramses."
"Yes. It has in many ways. I'm a better person now."
"The people from the North are crazy, aren't they?"
"No."
"Pff, I don't believe you."
"There are crazy people everywhere. But the most important thing is that everyone keeps their hearts pure. No one should be judged before you get to meet them."
"Who are you and what have you done to my brother?"
"It's Dedyet's influence. She has changed me."
"Can we talk about me again?"
"No. I have to go. Breakfast will be ready within minutes."
"Oh, Ramses. I'm so sad!"
"You will find a great prince to marry, too!"
"Who? Your son?"
"Oh."
"Yeah. There is no."
"Or you marry Tut." He smirked.
"Ew."
"Rather me, huh?"
"Yeah. Tut won't be pharaoh."
"I will leave now. Please come punctually to our breakfast."
With these words, Ramses left. He wondered what else was on his sister's mind…