Kissing the Fae

Chapter 3 - Three Idiots

When tough times come your way, you really only have two options. You can either fight the waves or you can ride them. There are always going to be ups and downs in life and it doesn't mean one shouldn't feel pain. Pain is good. It's where people learned to grow, to accept that life comes with waves, and lastly, it makes you stronger in time.

You have to dive in, embrace the ocean as you ride the waves.

I spent my time wishing things were different and wishing that I was not born with a significant duty over my head. It was other people's wish to be part of the world I was in. Be a leader with an excellent reputation and a strong guild, and the loyalty I get from personalities was even inviable. Their substantial commitments arise rarely these days after all.

The position I have now was what some individuals wanted. Only if they know what I prayed every night...

I never got the chance to enjoy my teenage life. Since my eyes witness the beautiful kingdom, great responsibility comes with my name. It doubled now that I'm not a teen anymore, but a woman everyone respects, a lady they expected to be perfect in the decision-making process.

That every breath I took, an eye was watching me. It was scary to think. People find it hard to please that out of ten, you showed them better but with one mistake, they will have their final verdict, not giving you a chance to present your brittleness.

Some may appear good, and others may not. It will be your loss if you trust the one who arrives to be genuine with their intentions, but later attacks you the moment you turn your back. I have learned to close the door for people who plan to be part of my own world. It was long sealed, and will never be open for the new ones. 

"The King has arrived!" I heard the announcer. 

Everyone stood up, including the queen when the golden giant double door opened, revealing the King marching with all his might. We got down on one knee, bowing our heads to acknowledge his presence. 

"Your Majesty," we said in chorus. We waited for him to sit on his throne, with his Queen beside him.

There are twenty-four of us at a long table filled with gold. That includes the leaders of the other three regions, and the rest was the domain council. 

We all know where this gathering will go. Even we get tired because he will just say the same thing. For the past two decades, for me, I heard nothing but the same. 

"I'm not going to play with words anymore," he started. "Next month marks the day of the tenth year since a mortal was brought here in the Acres Kingdom through the missing portal. We all know that it will happen again next month, and we shall prepare for it, even the burial of the unlucky mortal that will be here by next month."

It's the saddest part. Whoever was brought here died, no one in history has been saved after seven days of staying in our world. It was us who only knew about the missing portal, and its ability to bring a mortal from the other world, or even the fact that there was another realm that exists aside from ours. 

I discovered it when I turned seven. At first, it was amazing knowing that there were two worlds. But then, the idea that this world has killed innocent humans, even if it was the missing portal's curse, which was once part of our world, frightened me. Although I have learned to get used to it; that every ten years, a human dies here in our world. 

We're not immortal. The manipulative creatures of Nixie die, the guardian of the secret knowledge of Sylphs falls, too. The pathfinders of Sidhe get buried, and the fairies of my region, the Faye wither, too. 

Despite it, we were given a long life. Unlike the humans, which I learned would last most likely after sixty. When I found out about it, the first thing that entered my mind was; life was too short for them. Was it even enough to explore their world? 

Both our worlds have a lot of mysteries hidden. It was undoubtedly wonderful, and some may be a tough run, but eventually, it will be worth the energy. 

"We have prepared everything for the upcoming guest, Your Majesty," I said, referring to the readiness of my region. 

"The Nixies' were equipped, too, Your Majesty."

Honestly, one life was not a big deal for all of us. But on behalf of the missing portal, we just had no choice but to clean the mess it made. Us, getting ready was not even necessary. Yet we need to if circumstances occur which only happened once in a tale of the Acres Kingdom. 

The remaining leaders expressed their mobility, even the group of commission. My eyes were just fixed on the plate in front of me, which was empty. Every plate was fruitless, no one dared to even scoop a food that was served for us.

Sighing, I raised my hand holding a bread knife, then cut the big brownish bread into halves which stopped the leader of the Sidhe from talking. 

Everyone fell silent. Even I have to postpone the slicing of gracias.  

My gaze roams around the audience, trying to look innocent as much as possible. This food was served to us. It would be a waste to leave these goodies untouched. 

Terran, the head of Sidhe who has chocolate brown hair styled in a lazy down bit, coughed as he continued talking.

"We're still trying to locate where the missing portal would be, Your Majesty..." he proceeded. 

"Alright," the King stated. "Join Letisha, everyone. The food is waiting."

His words were the law. 

After the meeting, they both left first followed by the twelve committees. The whole room was silent not until the ruler of Nixie laughed. 

Three pairs of eyes landed on him, including me. 

"You really have the guts, Rani. I like that," he sounded amused. "You're making me like you more, huh."

Rolling my eyes, I looked away. "Shut up, Deniz. Nothing is funny."

Among them, Deniz was the manipulative one. He can attack a gullible one with just his blue eyes that can also hypnotize. Yet with his looks, other girls were still eager to have him in bed. Fortunately, Deniz was not interested. Even the slightest one. 

He loves to manipulate the people around me, but not me and the other two.

"You're making Rani pissed again, Deniz," Terran said. "That was why she doesn't trust you."

"I don't trust any of you either," I corrected. "You all are just a piece of jerks who play with someone's feelings."

"Still got a hang of it?" Alistair, the pathfinder rebuked. 

Unlike them, Alistair was one of the trusted ones but I beg not to. I admit, he was the gorgeous one among them. His long icy silver hair that represents the clouds was engaging. It was styled in a half-cute bun, some pieces of strands of his hair were left on to frame his angelic face.

I confess I had a huge crush on him before. But that was until I discovered that Deniz made fun of my mind by making me believe that I got a crush on Alistair as part of his absurdity. Imagine how anguished I was.

As a result of that, I cut my ties with them since we were seventeen, but it was impossible to avoid them not when we have the same ruler. 

Shaking my head, I flashed him a sweet smile. "Nope. I was even sad for you when you admitted your feelings to me knowing that Deniz manipulated me."

"I didn't know, Rani. You know that," he insisted, eager to convince me. 

It has been almost four years since that moment of weakness happened. Something I'd never wanted to transpire again. 

"Adiós un montón de idiotas," I simpered as I made my way out of the hall. 

"Rani!" I heard their heavy steps. 

Waving my hand, I raised my middle finger to salute. A batch of groans filled the aisle. Thinking that I would see them again next week for a deafening festival made me want the Drayds to just swallow me and spit me once the gala finished. 

However, I got a prominent role to execute that even the beautiful tree won't let me get away from the fete.

"Ah! The three idiots have made fun of you again. Am I right?" Rin, who waited for me outside, landed on my shoulder. "You should punish them, Letisha. They were disrespecting you! Make them suffer for their insolence!"

The three inches fairy was mad. 

I let out a small laugh. "Just let them, Rin. You might explode thinking of their sauciness. We don't want your wings to lose their sparks, do you?"

"Of course not!" Her tiny voice thundered. "But I wanted to get even with them. The timing, however, was not good. Tomorrow, you will have a meeting with the twelve directorates, and good thing the three idiots were not going to be there for the meeting. As for your speech, I have prepared it, don't worry." She fled away from my shoulder. 

"Thanks, Rin. I don't know what to do without you," I denoted.

"Don't thank me, Letisha. You can literally do everything alone if not because of your longspan list of feats."

Right... I never even have the time to appreciate my beauty these days. Responsibilities after responsibilities were chasing me even in my sleep. Tiresome yet I had no choice but to be worn out on a daily basis. 

It was never easy to be a ruler. Considering that I'm a woman who was, and still is, tested by the twelve senates. It was funny that gender biases exist in our world, despite having our Queen. The councils were too unprofessional to even accept that a woman can rule.

Sometimes even greater than men.

"Guess we'll have to have them taste their own medicine," I mumbled.