RUDEV MARY

WITH ALL MY HEART

"I would never bow down to anyone..."Sofia said with a stern voice. That's when Shira came out to the living room. Eve and Joza arrived that very moment.

"What's going on?" Joza asked.

Sofia continued, "Do you think that I'll bow down to some stranger? I've built this kingdom to what it is today and no man or woman can make me bow down"

Priel interrupted, "but why would they want  aunt to bow down? Unless they have a personal issue with her..."

"It doesn't matter! Mum just has to do it," rudev replied.

"And I said no!" Sofia said.

Rudev sighed and replied"Mum you can't drop your self-love beside you and do what is right?" she scoffed and turned around and continued"This house is getting dry, no dad or dan or grandma and you can put an end to this but you rather not bow down...I am disappointed in you"

Sofia glared at her and wanted to speak but rudev interrupted her"You know what mum, all the love and respect I had for you have all vanished."

The family members were stunned by what she just said.

"Yes, mum. I use to love you and revere you because of how smart you were, you saved dad's life and you were so loving back then. But now..."rudev sniffed ."...now I find you annoying, rude, selfish and stern"

Sofia was gobsmacked,rudev didn't stop there"We don't even have a relationship again, because we're all your citizens and not family! When last did we have a good laugh? or when last did you act like a mother and not a Queen? you've been too concerned with ruling the kingdom in the best way possible, you neglected what everyone thought of you."

Rudev had a lot to say, she turned to Joza and continued"Look how you raised him, now he's just like you looking for innocent people to devour..."

Eve stepped forward and screamed, "He's nothing like that!"

Everyone carried their attention to eve, "Rudev! the person that has the problem is you!"

Priel gasped, rudev world spun around her when eve said that. 

Eve snapped"Don't even look at me that way, you are so rude and you call that confidence! I've always had your back ever since we were in jail, you're the cause of all your problems!"Rudev didn't wait for eve to finish, she slapped her twice.

The slap echoed and eve turned around and felt her cheek.

Everyone screamed"Rudev!"

Joza pushed rudev out of the way and attended to eve. Rudev panted and ran upstairs furiously. Priel began sobbing, she went outside.

Sofia walked to her room slowly and staggered down the hall,rudev's words ran into her head as she recalled "We don't even have a relationship again!"

Sofia was depressed 

The words haunted her"When last did we have a good laugh? or when last did you act like a mother and not a Queen?"

She fell flat halfway and cried her eyes out.

 She began to have flashbacks of when she, Ephraim ad rudev would cuddle and laugh. They played and were one big family. When last did she hear rudev say"I love you mum"

She felt so remorseful, that she cried even more knowing that her family was crumbling. Ephraim wasn't there to console her and amira wasn't there to caution her.

Everyone feared her and it felt good but she didn't know what her actions were causing. She pondered for a while and got up, wiped her tears and went to her room to sulk.

***

The next morning.

Priel was taking a phone call when Shira came in."I told you to ship in foodstuffs...what do you mean you can't? we're paying you...we can..our land was burnt down doesn't mean we're broke! Stop right there, you people are inefficient, I'll buy from another kingdom" she hung up rudely. 

Priel dialled another number, Shira noticed that priel  was too busy and exhausted, she walked up to her and took the phone from her"Calm down,priel."

Priel sighed and sat down, she began to sob"Easy for you to say...my kingdom is falling apart and no one wants to help because of so many reasons"

Shira sat close to her and hugged her"I know you people will find a solution, you always do. Ok, I'll go get foodstuffs from outside the kingdom, they won't know that I'm part of your family now..."

Immediately noa interrupted her "Part of our family?" she walked in front of them and cried"That can only happen if dad comes back!"

Shira became paranoid"What is she talking about?"

Priel tried to change the topic but noa was persistent, she screamed even louder" I overheard them saying that dad is in danger, our enemy will harm him"She cried even more.

Shira's face became pale, she looked at priel for an explanation but priel gave no reply.

Shira hugged noa and calmed her but noa pushed her away and said"Stop acting like you care! I hate you and I'll never consider you as my mom!" she ran away.

These words pierced into Shira's soul and they echoed in her head, she sat down on the chair and wiped her tears. Priel was surprised by what just happened, she sat and said to Shira"Dan will come back safely and that's a promise"Even if she didn't have any assurance, she just had to say something.