A Royal Pain

I look down at the beautiful white lilies that I am currently planting into the small flower bed out back next to our little wooden cabin. “They really are the most beautiful flowers Momma”, I say looking over to where my mom is sitting, reading one of the infamous romance novels she recently bought. She only hums in return, oblivious to whatever I have just said to her, to engrossed in her book to look up and respond to me. Shaking my head, I giggle softly to myself before continuing with the planting of the flowers and leaving her to live out her fantasy a little longer. This is how life has always been for me, just me and mom doing what we love on our small piece of land out in the country far away from the rest of the human population. Mom says that dad died when she was a couple of months pregnant with me and was left all alone with a little bit of savings, hence she decided that it would be best to move out to the country and raise me by herself away from all the ‘evils of the outside world’ as she would put it. “Annie, the world out there is violent and cruel! They do not care if you are innocent and pure, they only care about their own power and would in turn damage your soul and good heart.” Mom would say when I use to ask her about the outside world that I never got to see. Eventually I would stop asking as it seemed to make her bitter and I never enjoyed seeing her in that state. I trust her word and I know that she would always keep me safe and protected for valid reasons. She did everything on her own – giving me an excellent home-based education, teaching me about farming and hunting of our own food, cooking, cleaning and recently she even started teaching me about herbal medicine to cure various illnesses; should it ever be required for either of us. I have never met another human being as there was never any people passing by our little cabin and when mom goes into the nearest town for certain supplies, we were not able to cultivate, she would always keep me locked in the cabin for safety precautions. I never really mind that either as she only went every second month or so and it was only for the day. My life has truly been blissful and that is the way I preferred it to be honest. I enjoy spending time with my mom and getting to learn things that was vital to our survival being out in the middle of nowhere. I mean don’t get me wrong, I was very interested in meeting other girls or even just another soul for that matter however mom was my friend, mentor, both parents as well as my teacher, so I never really complained. After I was done planting the new lilies into the flower bed and giving them the much-needed water, I decided to start with dinner seeing that it didn’t look like momma was planning on leaving her fantasies any time soon. Going into the cabin with enough wood to start the fire operated stove, I set everything up and waited for the water to boil. Most meals we had was plant based as we didn’t go hunting every week, perhaps only once or twice a month however, we had our own little fruit and vegetable garden so there was an unlimited supply of fresh produce. We had a couple of chickens but that was mostly for their eggs, a horse that mom used to go to town with and then there was Sebastian, my loving stray kitten that mom got in town a couple of weeks back. When she first brought him home, I was over the moon delighted. He was dull grey in colour and small and petrified but now that we have taken very good care of him, he has gotten this healthy glow and a little more weight on his bones. He has also become more playful and is less scared of the people around him which makes my heart truly happy to see. “Oh honey, you should have told me that you are making the dinner. I would have come in to help you prepare.” Mom said as she entered the kitchen once the dinner was served and ready on the table. We sat down on the little table to enjoy the meal I have prepared. “Momma your nose was buried so deep in the book out there that I decided to let you finish reading instead.” I replied smiling brightly at her before digging into my soup. “How is the novel? Will I be able to read it soon or is it one of those books that is, how do you always say? Inappropriate?” I ask her, arching my eyebrow mischievously. “You know very well what I call those novels, young lady. They are not for children and thus makes them inappropriate for you to read.” She replied with a scowl on her beautiful face. I should have known; she always gets worked up when I mention her romance novels. “But Momma… I am definitely not a child anymore; tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday and that makes me old enough don’t you think?” I argue back. My mommas head shoots up from her bowl so fast that I am a 100% certain she is going to feel it tomorrow and gives me a very unimpressed look. “Now just because you turn eighteen tomorrow Annie, does not make you an adult and it definitely does not make you old enough to start reading my novels. Do I make myself clear? They are for fully grown women like myself.” “Yes momma, I understand”, I reply knowing full well that I have pushed the wrong buttons tonight and have gotten mom upset.  “Good girl. Now, I want you to go shower, brush your teeth and get into bed! I will clean the kitchen seeing that you made the dinner for us which by the way was lovely - thank you. Sleep tight my angel, I love you.” Momma said with a soft smile on her face, yet her eyes had this look that said, ‘Do not argue about this anymore young lady’.    “Will do momma and it is a pleasure. Sorry for bringing the novels up. I’ll see mum then in the morning, and I love you too.” I smiled at her getting up from the table, walking over to her and giving her a kiss on the cheek before heading to the bathroom. Giving up on all hopes of ever being allowed to read those novels. The truth is, I have never really cared much about reading my mom’s secret stash of romance novels that she hides in her room behind her cupboard, I was actually quite content with reading my educational books such as Herbology and Psychology & Anatomy for as long as I can remember but, in the recent weeks I have found myself being more intrigued by them. It was two months ago that mom went to town and kept me in the cabin as she always did when I accidentally stumbled across the secret hiding spot. At first, I thought nothing of it but then it was like it was calling out to me and I just needed to read it. It started out normal, with the couple meeting but things soon escalated. Mom covered the s*x topic during my schooling very basic, to be honest, she actually made it sound very gross and painful thus successfully ensuring that I never wanted to participate in those kinds of actions. However, what I read in that book seemed so beautiful and the actual deed sounded so amazing. I could feel how I clenched my thighs together instinctively every time the book mentioned some s****l i*********e. I so wished to experience a release just like the protagonist in the book had but I have given up on that thought. I ensured that I placed the book back in the same place just before mom returned later that day and made as if I had never discovered it and she was never the wiser for it either. So, it has become my naughty little indulgence every time that mother has gone to town, I would secretly read chapters of one of those novels and dream about meeting a handsome man like that, who will help me feel love just like that.   With those happy thoughts in mind, I crawled into my warm bed alongside Sebastian to fall asleep…