The Untouchable Queen

Ep • 9 Scandels

𖥔

A false rumor can silence their joy, blur their accomplishments, and force them to fight a battle they never asked for.

———

Soft rays of morning sunlight streamed gently through the curtains, landing delicately on Juniper’s face, coaxing her from the depths of her sleep.

She blinked slowly, her eyes still heavy with the haze of dreams, as she tried to make sense of the world around her. With a drowsy hand, she clutched the soft blanket, then brushed her hair away from her face.

Her gaze wandered up to the pristine white ceiling, and then around the unfamiliar room, piecing together the details.

The sudden strangeness of the place made her sit up abruptly, her heart skipping a beat before she remembered. They were in France, having arrived the evening before to spend a few days away from the world. The realization made her exhale softly. But where was Arsyn?

Juniper scanned the room for him, her mind still groggy from sleep. Before she could properly rise from the bed, her phone buzzed with a new message.

She lazily reached for it, expecting nothing out of the ordinary, but as her eyes skimmed over the notifications, her expression shifted. Her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes widening with disbelief as the contents of the message unraveled before her.

Just then, Arsyn emerged from the bathroom, his damp hair slightly tousled, the crisp scent of cologne lingering in the air. He noticed her startled expression and smiled softly.

— “You’re awake, Juni.”

Arsyn immediately noticed Juniper’s distant expression, her eyes not quite focused on him. Concern washed over him, and he took a few steps toward her, his brow furrowing with worry.

Was something wrong? His mind raced with possibilities, but before he could ask, Juniper turned to him with a glowing smile that radiated pride.

— “Arsyn, I’ve been nominated for 'Businesswoman of the Year!'”

She exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. For a moment, Arsyn stood in stunned silence, processing the news.

His eyes darted to her phone as she showed him the article. When he finally grasped it, a wide grin spread across his face.

Without warning, he tossed the phone playfully into the air and pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her as though he never wanted to let go.

— "Congratulations, my love!"

He whispered into her ear, his voice filled with genuine admiration. The warmth of his embrace said more than words ever could.

They stood there in silence, locked in each other’s arms, savoring the moment, as if the world outside had ceased to exist. A quiet contentment enveloped them, needing no words to fill the space between.

Later, they found themselves seated at the dining table, breakfast laid before them.

— "I can't believe it... I’ve actually been nominated for the most prestigious award in the world."

Juniper chuckled softly, her voice tinged with disbelief, as if she was still processing the magnitude of the moment. Arsyn, ever composed, poured juice into her glass, his expression filled with pride as he glanced at her.

— "Of course, you did, Juni. I always knew you would achieve something like this. You’ve worked so hard for everything—this is exactly what you deserve."