Kissing the Fae

Chapter 9 - Queen Mother

The place felt nostalgic.

My heart is filled with hopes of seeing the Queen Mother again. Aside from la Reina and el Rey, the former Queen was always supportive. She never doubted my capability to rule, she has always been my safe haven; venting out everything, how I wish to be a normal Fae rather than someone who has a big duty over my head.

The Queen Mother understands me. She never fails me...

With that, I’m beyond thankful.

“Rani Letisha...” she called once she was covered.

Yes, she still shifts back to her normal form. Staring at her beautiful face reminds me of His Majesty. My father is literally the girl version of Queen Mother. They both have the same aura; powerful yet soft-spoken.

I turned around to see her smiling brightly at me. Just like the first time, Queen Mother has this genuine smile on her lips.

Like the world outside her majestic garden doesn’t bother her anymore.

Although deep inside, I knew there was longing in her heart. I could feel it, and I could see it in her emerald eyes.

After all, she was once part of the Acres Kingdom. And she will always be part of it.

“Rani, you grow up so fast...” she uttered, walking near the bench. She sat there and motioned me to sit beside her.

“Time flies so fast, Queen Mother. I’m sorry for I rarely visit you and when I do, I always come to seek help. I miss hearing the story you always tell.”

I felt guilty thinking of it.

When I was a child, I always came to see her without any reason. I just wanted to have a word with the Queen Mother, and totally laugh at our jokes. She always tells me about this certain story about a boy and a girl fairy which until now, is not yet finished.

She left me wanting to hear more. I have been asking her to continue but she just always smiles and says...

“Next time, I’ll tell you the continuation of the story.”

Shaking my head, a small smile made its way to my lips.

How do I tell her that I already forgot some parts of the story?

“Queen Mother...” I sighed deeply, thinking of the reason why I came to see her. “Today marks the start of my new journey. I temporarily left the Faye region for this mission I need to accomplish.”

“Is it the directors’ challenge for you?”

I shook my head. “I think it was father’s...” I blurted out.

She didn’t talk.

Queen Mother knows it wasn’t my dream to have a title. She always advises me to express my unwillingness to lead to la Reina at el Rey, but I was scared to see them get disappointed.

Now that I know they won’t, that they’d rather see me happy than be stuck with something I’m not passionate about, I can’t give up because a lot of Fairies are waiting for me.

“They’re starting again,” she said. “The counselors won’t let you slip that easily, Rani Letisha. While you’re in the process of winning, they will pull some tricks for you to give up. They play dirty, daughter. It wouldn’t be easy to take them down.”

“I’m not stopping, La...” My voice held conviction. “Every sexist director needs to stop being one. I’m just hoping they’d be kicked out soonest. I think they have a hidden agenda as to why they’re doing this.”

I came to a realization that they were actually doing this for a purpose.

For the last decades, they haven't let anyone take the role of being a mother of all regions. It wasn’t hard to accept the queens who once and currently lead us all after everything they’ve shown to us.

They reign with good intention, and it was to make our world better, to give us the life we all deserved.

To make our world a safe place where everyone could be happy.

“Now that I have a hunch that they’re doing it for a reason, I wouldn’t mind putting my life at risk if it means winning the spot.”

Silence filled us.

Rin was out to roam around. It wasn’t her first time but it was her way to give us privacy.

“What did they give you?”

I looked at her. She was looking with pure curiosity in her eyes.

“I need to show them my wings, la. And owns the power of illusion.”

Her eyes widened a bit. But she managed to replace it with her neutral expression.

“Your father...?”

I nodded. “Yes. It was the king who personally made the obstacle given to me.”

“He knows you don’t have those two,” she spouted. “I mean, he could have thought of anything aside from those two, Rani Letisha.”

“I guess it was his way to kick me out from the position I don’t like from the start.”

My eyes fall on the white horse across us, laying on the soft grass, not minding anything.

“Mum and dad wanted me to be happy...”

“If I were in their position, I’d do the same thing, daughter. It was hard to see you doing something you don’t love. I know you... You always come here to tell me how you hate having a title, responsibilities after responsibilities, dealing with people that are hard to please... Those are just some reasons...”

I averted my gaze from the horse and looked at her with my eyes filled with exasperation.

“But I wanted to stay,” I whispered, baffled. “I can’t leave those people who have put their faith in me. If the directors remain on their spot, a lot of women in the next generation will suffer. I can’t let that happen, Queen Mother.”

“I admire your intent, Rani...” She let out a small smile then, reached for my hands. “I will be here with you, okay? Just tell me what you want and I’d do everything in my power to help you.”

The Queen Mother will always be here for me. I’m thankful for those people who stayed with me despite the hate I got from those personalities who can’t accept I could lead.

I’ll say again that things will not be easy from now on. I would probably face death and I might wither yet the thought can’t stop me from fighting for my rights.

I didn’t endure all those wounds and hardships I got when I trained to take the position. Those tears were shed for nothing only to be taken down by them.

My time and effort won’t be put to waste and that I promise everyone.

“I wanted to know where the Pixies are right now, la. I need to have their power...”

“Rani Letisha,” she called with worry. “They’re not easy to deal with. They won’t give it to you that easily.”

“I know, Queen Mother... But that’s how life works. They’d probably put me at risk before I could have it, but it’s the only way.”

She shook her head and was silent for a moment. But then, she sighed deeply.

“The last time I got in touch with a Pixie was in a place called Achlys...”

Pixies are the only way. They might give me hard times before I could acquire their power, I won't back down. I need to earn the power of illusion, whatever the circumstances. If being on the verge of death would make me win it, I'd be willing to be in throe.

"Rani Letisha, they are not easy to take down."

I smiled at her assuringly. "I'm not planning to, Queen Mother."

No... I will not fight them. I'm the one who needs them, and picking a fight is not a good idea. I'd accept whatever they desire me to do just to pass this obstacle.

"You will arrive in Achlys in three days, Rani Letisha. You'll need something to survive the voyage." She fetched something out of her pocket. "Look for the old man you'll come across when you reach the next town. Give this to him, so he could take you to the Achlys."

"Thank you, Queen Mother..." I took the acorn from her.

The Achlys. I always read books about the history of the Acres Kingdom. Each of the divisions has histories, their past battles, the former leaders, and the fight between the Faye and the Pixies.

It was stated that they were once united. There were no Pixies before, just pure Fairies who have a good aim for everyone. But one day, one Fairy suddenly appeared and started chaos that made everyone fight, that made them divided into groups; the Faes and the Pixies. Then, the former Queen of Faye's siblings led them.

That happened a long time ago. When the Queen Mother was still a child, and the previous queen was her mother.

I wanted to ask about the whole story, or what really happened in the past. But by just reading a few parts of the book, it was painful. How the Queen Mother’s mum died in the arms of her own sibling... I don't want to bring it back. And the rest was heartbreaking.

Sure, it was in the past. She may have now healed from it, but I can't bear to awaken the pain in her heart as I knew, it will always be there.

There's no more pain than losing someone you loved most.

"Take care, daughter..."

I reached for the pack the Queen Mother handed to me. I didn't bother to check what's inside, I quickly hung it on my back and smiled at her genuinely.

"See you soon, Queen Mother."

I'll be back, alive.

When we were out of the border, longing started to creep inside my heart. We'll go out of the kingdom, I'd be missing a lot of things in our region.

"Where are Tia and Zah?" I asked when I noticed that they were both missing.

"We're here, Rani!" Suddenly, I heard their small voices.

Chuckling, I let them three lands on my shoulders.

"This will be a long journey, Rani Letisha. But we're willing to help! We are with you."

"Rin is right, just Letisha. You are our queen and a queen should not leave without us!"

I shook my head at their cuteness. These three have been there with me since day one. They witnessed me fall, and they clapped in our successful moments. We were best of friends and I don't know what to do without their help. They are everything to me, and I wish to not lose them all.

"I think someone's coming towards our direction..."

I halted when I realized Tia's words. From our position, I could see someone from afar walking in our spot. I squinted my eyes when I noticed the movements. It was familiar, and even my ears caught the changes of the sounds from the river far from us.

"Oh, hell..." I uttered when I found his blue ocean kins. "What the hell is he..."

Shaking my head, I glared at Deniz.

He was smiling brightly as he stopped a meter away from me. Deniz even spread his arms as if welcoming me.

"Surprise, Rani Letisha!"

And it was followed by Terran's voice who came from nowhere.

"Uh, my legs hurt! F ucking Deniz!" he groaned as he strikes his head with his hand.