Chapter 48: Worries and surprises

Well, the first question Neferia asked was already a bad one…

"I have never seen your parents, Dedyet, even though I have a right to. Where are they?"

Dedyet really disliked talking about her parents, already because of the simple fact that it brought up so many horrible memories. But on the other hand, the queen knew that her terrible past was part of her life. The past made her the person she was now. And that was someone she was insanely proud of.

"...Not all of us have the luck to be with their parents for such a long time," she simply stated.

Nefreia's answer was an obvious proof of the fact that she was much brattier without Ramses around. "Ugh, that's not what I asked!"

Dedyet felt hurt by Neferia's reaction. "My parents aren't with me," she tried to explain, holding back tears.

"Where, not with you? In afterlife or what?!"

"Probably."

"Well, you must know!"

"My father died when I was ten."

Neferia continued without a single 'sorry'. "And your mother? She was queen, right?"

"Yes, for a short time."

"So… Where is she?"

"She left me after my father's death."

"What?! Why?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen her after it."

"That's, like, totally weird!"

"My brother said she ran away. I think this is quite likely, actually."

"How can someone just run away and leave two children behind?!"

"I don't know."

"My mother would have never done such a thing to any of us! The de Niles certainly know what responsibility is!"

"My mother knew, too… She was mentally really unstable, if you know what I mean."

"No. I don't 'know what you mean'."

"Well… I feel like, sometime when I grew up, she just lost all her happiness."

"I'm glad that didn't happen in my family. But it wouldn't anyway, because-"

"You're a de Nile. I get it."

"Yeah, a born one, unlike you."

Dedyet leaned back and crossed her arms. "Does that make you any better than me?"

"Everyone is below the de Niles."

"I'm a de Nile, too!"

Neferia presented Dedyet the scariest fake smile she had ever seen. "No, you are not a de Nile."

Dedyet's eyes widened. Now, she really felt scared.

"And don't be so rude to me. Or you'll regret it!" Neferia continued.

Dedyet sighed. "I really didn't mean to."

"Alright, I'm exhausted." She stood up and clapped her hands. "Servants!"

Two young women ran towards her, obviously anxious.

"Bring me to my room!"

They bowed down. "Yes, your highness."

"And hurry! I need my beauty sleep!"

She then turned to her sister-in-law, a fake smile on her face. "It was fine talking to you, Dedyet."

"Thank you. It was nice talking to you, too."

"I know." And so, she left.

Dedyet kept sitting there for a while, rather worried than happy. There were so many thoughts going through her mind lately…

A girl, not older than fourteen, suddenly walked towards her. "Your bath is prepared, my queen."

Dedyet faced her with confusion. "What bath? I didn't order one."

"The king did, for you."

Dedyet's eyes sparkled, a smile presented itself immediately. "Thank you for informing me."

Ah... Thinking of her health even when he was super busy. Ramses really was the man of her dreams...