Denial

ch.35

Waking up to sunlight peacefully sprawled across the wooden floor of the small habitation I'm taking stay in, is beyond relaxing wishing I could wake up to it every morning.

I stay in bed looking out through the window, watching the sun fully rise then finally get up before lazily making my way downstairs to eat breakfast with Em.

"Goodmorning medusa" Em chuckles as she flips a pancake and surprisingly making it onto a plate with previously made ones. I roll my eyes and ignore my frizzy hair spread across my face as I simply just blow some away from my mouth.

" 'Morning to you too Chef Em. I should just hire you as my personal Chef" I giggle grabbing a plate and grabbing two pancakes and slapping them onto my plate.

"You know, that's actually a great idea"

"But I feel as if I'd get annoyed of your presence if I see you 24/7" I say playfully with a look of disgust as I take a sip of my tea.

She frowns as she looks at me gasping whilst pressing her hand to her chest,

"That almost broke my heart" Giggling she then pushes at my shoulder as she puts freshly made bacon on my plate.

"So, has Queen Eli called you yet? About the- the uh the cover page? If she hasn't then you should, it comes out today Scar" She informs me as if I hadn't already known.

"I'm fully aware and yeah I should actually call her before she has a heart attack and I get a call from the hospital informing me of her tragic passing" I sigh sarcastically whilst getting up to grab my phone from the nightstand in my bedroom.

As if on cue, I hear the same trumpet ringtone as I did yesterday and I mentally cringe at the lecture I know I'm about to receive; But really, I'm about to turn 22 and I still let her run my life?

"Scarlett Santos here, leave a message at the ton-" I say quickly trying to settle the spark that'll eventually start a fire.

"SCARLETT ELIZABETH SANTOS WHAT ON EARTH WHERE YOU THINKING?!" Is the first thing I hear as I pull the phone away from my now ringing eardrum.

"Mom will you relax? It's just a cover on vogue. The world isn't ending" I sigh closing my eyes and rubbing at my temples.

"Your reign will if our people feel as if you aren't cut out to be their queen! Do you not understand that?!" She somewhat yells/whispers through gritted teeth, clearly furious.

"Mother I'm a 22 year old woman! It's a silly cover on a magazine that was bound to happen, nobody has ever seen what I look like in 12 years so if anything, it'll be a jump start to my reign!" I try and settle the situation as much as I could, only earning a low sigh on the other end.

"Yes I get that, but next time consult it with me okay? Next time, just- just pray to the heavens that our people will react positively to this cover of yours" She mumbles reassuringly only making me smile in relief.

"Will do mother, I'll speak with you later" I say ready to cut off the line until I hear her call my name as I take the phone away from my ear.

"You look beautiful in that cover"

For once, in a long-long time, I feel appreciated; Acknowledged. I smile down a the ground,