TWENTY

[LADY SULTAN]

"The announcement of the King's son and the soldiers' return. Ramses Sultan's arrival is celebrated in the whole kingdom. For a long time moments matter more than anything in the world.

[TRUMPETS BLARES]

[DRUMS BEATING]

HORNS TOOTING]

[HORSE CLIP-CLOPS]

[HORSE NEIGHS]

"Hear ye! Hear ye!"

[TOWN PEOPLE CHATTERING]

"Quiet! On this day, at Noon, hence, there Prince and his soldiers shall arrive from battle,

By ancient custody, there shall be a ball held at the palace.

Furthermore, under the command of the King, it is hereby declared that commoners or nobles from around the land will attend the ball.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

[LAUGHTERS AND CHUCKLINGS]

"Such is the command of our majestic King!"

[TRUMPETS BLARES]

**********************************

"Your Majesty! The announcement has been made in the town... Should I letters to the royal council?" Ahmed asked.

"Yes, indeed. Send it immediately...." Ahmed bows to leave. "Wait, Ahmed! When is my son's carriage arriving?"

"In an hour, your Highness" He Bowed and then leaves.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

"Father, how long am I going to wait to see Ramses, I have a lot to tell him" I chuckled.

[KING LAUGHS]

"Why are you so excited, Kleopatra?" My mother asked.

"I can not wait to see brother," I screamed. My mother laughed at my excitement.

"Ramses tells me of his adventurous battles and trips."

"Kleo, you could ask for other things that matter most than a mere pep talk of adventures and battles, likewise, you should talk about serious topics," Rashida said.

"Rashida! Watch your language please." My mother instructed.

"Mother, how can we welcome Ramses after his long journey?" I asked.

"A ball was announced so I think that will do the trick."

[CHUCKLING]

**********************************

[HORNS TOOTING]

"The Prince has arrived!" The Palace guard announced.

We raised to our feet to welcome him. Rushing the palace gates, I run to meet him. He picks me up the moment he sees me.

"Ramses!"I shout.

"Sister!" Twirling me in a spin.

"Missed you so much, sister. How is Rashida treating you?" [CHUCKLING]

"Well, she has been trying so hard to get to me but I am not bothered. anyway, tell me about your adventurous stories Ramses." I jumped happily.

"I'd love to, of course, even if you hadn't asked me to." Ramses and I walked through the gates into the throne room, listening to his stories, The defeat of Guez and decolonization of Ismailia and the few Spanish languages he had learned, which made me laugh when he spoke them, whereupon he began to laugh too.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

"Ramses, Darling, welcome home my son." My mother welcomed him with a hug.

"Thanks, mother"

"Ramses! You look so much different since I saw you a year ago, you have grown to become a man." Father said with a chuckle, then reached over and embraced him.

"Welcome home, brother."

"Now, Kleopatra, leave your brother for a while, he desires a rest from the terrifying journey." I had a sudden pang, wishing to spend more time with my brother.

"Oh no, Kleo come! I would still like to discuss the other scenes that occurred on my trip." A smile lit up on m face.

[HATSHEPUT GROANS]

"It's good to have you back home, son," My father said.

*********************************

"Are you well, Kleopatra?" Ramses came to me by the garden bench.

"Yes, Brother," I said.

"[SIGHS] you can tell me anything Kleo, I am your brother, okay?" He said. I nod my head as tears dropped from my eyes.

"Oh, come on tell me, what has gotten you so sad, I promise, the person that has caused you this pain will pay for it." Ramses came closer and placed his hands on my shoulders comforting me as I tried to stop the hiccups through the tears.

"Father made a deal with the lieutenant and I am to marry him or this case would be sorted in court." I cried.

"What? A deal? what deal? Why would he do that?" He stands to leave in anger but I hold him firmly by his garment.

"No Ramses, please !" I pleaded.

"Why no, Kleopatra, you are not ok with it but you still want to remain silent about it." He growled.

"What about Rashida, is she not to marry before you? The law states that the last child cannot marry before the best. So why can't he choose Rashida?"He asked.

"He doesn't have interest in Shida, he sees me as a Flawless flower but Shida a different soul." I sobbed.

"I need to talk to Father about this, it is not acceptable." He stands but I hold his arms firmly.

"I do not want you to start an uncomfortable conversation on your first night of arrival... Let it be." I said, cleaning the droplet of tears from my eyes.

"[SIGHS] So now how do you want me to feel, when my sister feels sad, should I just seat here while I can beat the shit out of that man." He growled.

"No! Ramses, [SIGHS] I am going to be fine." I whispered.

[SIGHS] "I will discuss this with father over lunch tomorrow and that is final, I do not need you to say no or not, it's a choice and I will speak about it."

[SNIFFS]

"Alright," I said defeatedly.

"Now, I heard the news of the arrival of the young prince of England, I believe he paid Father a visit?" Ramses asked.

"Oh, Uhm, yes he came[CLEARS THROAT] to see me actually, last week and he is friendly and whereas annoying too." I smiled weirdly.

"Oh, so you know him already, I was thinking of inviting him over for dinner tomorrow, but it seems you two had made yourself acquaintance, so I am fine," Ramses said.[CHUCKLING]

"Can I ask you a question, brother?"

"Is it about how I met the Prince? Well, we both attended the same high school of fencing, and we are longtime friends."

"Oh really? Actually, [SHAKES HEAD] I was going to ask you if you know the reason why he doesn't talk about his parents, he just said his mother died, years ago but he never spoke of his father or siblings and other family members." I asked.

[INHALES DEEPLY] "Kleo! This indeed a topic we shouldn't be talking about."

"Why, Brother? Tell me!" I plead.

"[SIGHS] Hmm, it is not my position to tell you but I will just say it anyway. Charles's mother died of a plague when she bore him, he was nearly three months old when he knew his mother. So now he lives with his grandparents."

"How very sad." I swallowed in.

"You must not concern yourself about this Kleo."

"I shouldn't, maybe but he is my friend so I deserve at least a brief background about him."

"[SIGHS] Yeah... I must confess, I miss the days we would go fencing together and golf."

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

"You should join us someday at the golf club, you make a wonderful player."

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

"I do?... I mean, the mother will never want me clubbing with the men, she says a lady should always seat by the shade and watch the men play their sport, but as for me, it doesn't work that way."

"Well, it's the rule of a lady, it cannot be changed, except someone can change the rules." He said with a grin.

"[SIGHS] Hmm, and what if I say, I know someone that can change the rules." Ramses turned to look at me with confusion.

"And who can that be, Kleo?"

"You!" I said.

"Me?"He asked.

"Yes, brother, you, when you are crowned king of this land, you will be able to do anything, to change the rules to your taste, to change the looks of the palace to your taste. All power in Egypt will be vested in you." I wiggled my eyebrow.

"Hmm, Kleo, let's take small steps at a time, I will see about that, when I become king but for now, we should obey the rules, ok." He said and I nodded.

"Ok[sighs]"

"Come on let's go, so we won't miss the preparation of the ball." Ramses takes my hand into him as we walked up the stairs.

********************************

[Lovely By Billie Eilish and Khalid (CHORDS)]

[CHATTERINGS]

"Your Grace, May I present Djamila, Princess of Palestine." One of the guards welcomed the princess. He takes her hands in his and places a kiss.

"You are as handsome as I had heard."She said.

"And your Kingdom is Delicate." [CLEARS THROAT]

"And I hope princess that you have a wonderful time tonight" He smiled before taking a bow to leave.

[SILENCE]

"Your majesty, Your highness, my prince, my princesses, My lords, ladies and gentlemen and great people of our land, the Prince welcomes you to a longtime ball. So let the ball commence!" Ahmed said.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[LADY SULTAN]

"As tales say, a ball is the first meeting of a princess and a prince, For the return of the Prince has brought the celebration to the castle of Thebes. Singing and dancing are what makes the kingdom a happy land but a spark can turn the whole ball around."