Chapter 47: Auntie Neferia
Two more months had passed. This day was a special one, because there would be a special visitor in the palace today. Princess Neferia de Nile.
It was mostly Ramses who was happy to see his younger sister. Dedyet, well… The argument that they had had over a simple dress many months ago was still on her mind. But at the de Niles's wedding, Neferia had been quite nice. Not overly nice. But nice for her own standards.
Dedyet watched anxiously as she saw her husband and sister-in-law in a hug that lasted a few seconds. Surprisingly, Dedyet was pulled into a hug by the princess, too!
As the one-second hug was over, Neferia started with her sassy comments. "Wow Dedyet, you have certainly gained some weight since we've last seen each other."
Dedyet laughed nervously. "Thanks… I guess."
"Ah, I really don't mean it in a bad way!" She fake smiled sweetly.
Dedyet smiled back at her. "Oh, I believe you, it's fine! I really didn't feel insulted!"
"Good, because I know what a drama queen you can be at times!" Neferia laughed loudly, while Dedyet gave her husband a questioning look.
The three of them sat down on a golden table that had been well prepared by several servants before the princess' arrival.
"You two are probably organizing a lot, right?" Neferia asked.
"But of course!" Ramses answered. "I don't want Dedyet to stress too much, so we mostly let our servants do the work. It's just annoying when they fail to do their job properly!"
"Ugh, totally! I still remember when one of my female workers chose the wrong color of henna! Mother threw her out, of course."
Dedyet's eyes widened, sincerely hoping that Neferia was joking.
Ramses answered his sister with a nod of approval. "We are the de Niles and can only have the best of people work for us. Mother has reacted in a good and proper way."
"Of course she has! She's our mother, after all!"
Dedyet felt weird when listening to Ramses and Neferia. They both sounded so stuck up and…arrogant. Yet, no one had mentioned their poor father's death…
"So what about you, Dedyet?" Neferia asked, her voice not less bratty than before.
"Oh, I'm actually quite fine," Dedyet answered. "Just that I'm in pain sometimes, and that tiredness has become a constant feeling, too. Sometimes I feel like I could sleep all day!"
"Well, royalty needs their beauty sleep. Am I right or am I right?" She laughed loudly, again.
Dedyet's eyes widened another time. She didn't want to be rude, though. "Haha, really funny. And you are right, of course."
"I know," Neferia answered, fake smiling back. "It's not like I've ever been wrong. I'm a de Nile after all."
"Yes…" This semed to be a constant slogan...
Dedyet felt the need to cringe after hearing Neferia ask, "So Ramses, have you found a wet nurse yet? I'm sure Mother has some great contacts."
"Thank you for informing me, Neferia. I will tell my loyal scribes to write her a letter in my name."
Dedyet spoke up, too. They had talked about this! "Uh, Ramses?"
He turned to her. "Yes, my love?"
"Didn't we agree on not hiring a wet nurse?"
Neferia laughed loudly once again. The servants in the back seemed to be pained by that noise…
"That was so funny, Dedyet!"
"...I was actually quite serious."
Ramses felt obviously uncomfortable. "Dedyet, not here!"
"What?! We should stand up for what we decide as a couple!"
"We haven't decided anything yet!"
"Well, I have. And it's my body." She leaned back in anger and crossed her arms over her pregnancy belly.
"Wow, Dedyet," Neferia said, smirking, "You are super feisty. I like it!"
"I just… Ugh. Don't you ever have enough of all these royal traditions and rules?" Dedyet asked, trying to somehow find a similarity between her and Ramses' sister.
Neferia didn't seem as if she had understood the question. She looked over at Ramses, who could only shrug, too. The princess then looked back at Dedyet and presented her a raised eyebrow.
Dedyet rolled her eyes. Ugh… Why had she even asked? The de Niles were way too pampered to question their royal upbringing!
Suddenly, several men came inside. They semed uncomfortable to interrupt the conversation, but as no one was talking, they turned to Ramses and said, "Sire… Your chief adviser is waiting for you near the main entrance."
"Oh, to the gods! Is it already four?"
"Yes, your highness."
Ramses nodded and then turned to his sister. "I am sorry, but I have to leave already."
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"My people and I have some planning to do."
No one spoke for a second until Ramses continued. "I wish you two a nice day. You can stay here in our palace as long as you want, Neferia."
With these words, he walked off, leaving the two women alone. Dedyet smiled nervously. Neferia seemed to be a really…scary woman.