Chapter 64: Greeting the guests

It was obvious that the royal guests couldn't be send away. It only took a minute for Ramses to agree, and for the adviser to greet the guests with a bow, allowing them inside, before leaving the family alone. Ramses' need to impress his family, his mother especially, became obvious another time, as he quickly grabbed his sleeping daughter up, ready to present her, and look proud and confident while doing so.

Mother de Nile and her three children walked inside.

Dedyet felt her stomach burn just by seeing them.

"Good morning," Ramses greeted his family calmly, walking forward.

"Oh! Is this him?" His mother asked, greedily taking Nefera out of Ramses' arms.

A feeling of panic overcame the pharaoh. "Yes… That is… That is him..."

"We have a baby girl, Ramses," Dedyet reminded him gently, a bit away from the crowd as she was lying in bed.

"A girl?!" His mother growled.

"I think girls are as good as boys," Dedyet said calmly, before anybody else could speak up.

As an answer, she received a dark look from her mother in law. If looks could kill, Dedyet would have been ready to attend her journey to the underworld.

"Mother. I am sorry."

Dedyet was pained by these words, even though they weren't directed to her. "You don't have to apologize, Ramses," she told him quietly.

"He has to," his mother said angrily, looking right at Dedyet. "Because he failed me."

Ramses gulped. His mind was filled with shame and guilt.

Dedyet couldn't believe it. She was brave and said, "Then please leave the hut."

All of the de Niles were shocked. Every single one of them gasped.

"Are you throwing me out?!"

"Mother, please!" Ramses begged. "Dedyet didn't mean it!"

"Actually, I did," Dedyet told them calmly.

They gasped another time.

Mother de Nile stood there in silence before pushing Nefera against Ramses' chest, so he would hold her, and leaving the hut in anger. Nefera started crying, Ramses' siblings were considering to follow their mother. The second born did, again sucking up to her. "Mother, wait! Your favorite son is with you!"

And so, Dedyet, Ramses, Neferia and Tut were left alone. The attention was on the crying Nefera who had woken up, because of her grandmother's rough actions.

"Give her to me," Dedyet said sadly, holding her arms out.

Ramses did as ordered, and Dedyet immediately began nursing to calm her baby down. And it really worked. A second later, Nefera was quiet, eating hungrily, her eyes wide open.

Both Tut's and Neferia's eyes widened. A queen? Breastfeeding?

Ramses took a deep breath. "Well," he said, facing his siblings. "That's our daughter, Nefera."

Neferia smiled. "Aww… You've named her after me..."

Ramses smiled back at her.

"That means so much to me..."

Tut approached Dedyet, and looked over Nefera as she was being nursed. "What's that on her arm?"

"It's a birthmark," Dedyet answered proudly, remembering how the doctors had called it. Her baby was truly unique!

As Neferia saw it, too, she said, "It looks really ugly. I hope it won't be on her forever. If so, little Nefera is punished by the gods."

Dedyet wanted to defend her newborn daughter. "Why does it have to be a punishment? Just because it's different?"

"No. Because it's ugly."

"I don't think it's ugly at all."

"Then you have no taste." Neferia crossed her arms in disapproval.

The queen rolled her eyes at that shallow statement.

Tut took another look, carelessly saying, "Well, I gotta agree with Neferia. The mark is really ugly."

Dedyet pulled her hungry infant closer in a protective way. There it was. Another proof that the de Niles were unhealthily obsessed with looks.