ROSES FOR RACHEL: EPISODES 41-50
By Painter
Episode 43
?My Beautiful,?
I hope this letter makes its way to you in time, but, happy one week anniversary! One week ago you gave me the best day of my entire life, and it is thoughts of you that are getting me through all of this here.
I wish I could be with you, but I know how important that it is that I handle this, and I hope you understand. I think of you constantly, Rachel. I hope things are going well for you.
Master Ronald tells me that the transition was a little rough, but that you’re making headway now. I do hope that’s true.
I know you, and I know you are worried about me, and about being a good queen, but you don’t need to be.
I’ll be fine, and I will come back to you as soon as I can, and you’re too perfect for the people not to love you. I won’t lie to you, Rachel, its tough here.
Most of the time I don’t even know if I am making any progress. These fools want so much from me that I am not willing to give.
They are finding out fast that they were wrong in their desires for me to be king.
Any who refuse to cooperate with my rule are being klled on the spot, and I never thought I’d have such a hard time with it, but there has been so much death, and despite everything, it still weighs heavy on my heart.
Being a king is much harder than I ever imagined it to be. I’ll be meeting with the head of the revolt at the end of this week.
He likely won’t be happy since we’ve been steady cutting down his numbers, but I hope that we will be able to come to some kind of agreement. If not, it will mean more fighting, and more wasted time away from you.
I wish more than anything that I could be near you. I know you’re in good hands, I just wish they were mine.
? All my love, Cal ?
ROSES FOR RACHEL: EPISODES 41-50
I folded up my letter and carefully placed it back in it’s envelope, then hugged it to my chest.
Calvin sends a letter every day. They are usually a day behind, but it at least gives me some idea of what he is doing.
My heart felt heavy knowing that he was having a hard time, but I prayed that the meeting at the end of the week will bring good news, and him back to me.
I understood entirely what he meant about being a king, and how much harder it was than you’d think.
Being a queen was the exact same way. In all the stories you hear about royalty, it’s all so glamourous and powerful, but in my reality, it was just scary and full of worry.
I worry constantly about Calvin. Not only because I want him back safe, but because the thought of what happens to me if he doesn’t return is also a road that leads to terror.
It’s been one very long week since I married Calvin. The very first day after he left had been the absolute hardest.
I cried most of the day, until Pedro finally convinced me that I had to at least be seen leaving the room at some point, to give the people a chance to really get used to the idea of me as their queen. He wouldn’t let me hide.
Everywhere I went I was heavily guarded, and while most of the people I met were very open and kind to me, some sent me looks of disapproval that would make my stomach turn.
Someone knocks on the door, making me jump like I always do now. I’m so jumpy when I’m alone, and I always have the dreaded thought that it could be someone here to tell me that something has happened to Calvin. “Come in.” I call as I put my letter into the drawer in the nightstand with the others.
Master Pedro pokes his head in. “How are you today?” He asked like he has every time he’s seen me since the wedding.
I roll my eyes at him and walk over to the new vanity, fiddling with my hair in the mirror. “I’m fine, Pedro.”
He laughed, closing the door behind him. He walked over to me and there was an apprehensive look in his eyes. “So, I have something to talk to you about.” He said. “As the queen, I mean.”
I sighed heavily. It’s never good when Pedro wants to talk to me as the queen. Last time he said that, we had to make arrangements to separate two guards from the same unit because they couldn’t stop trying to kll each other.
They had both been very hostile towards me because neither wanted to be the one to get moved to a new unit. “Being a queen sucks, Pedro.”
He laughed, coming to stand behind me and brushing my hair out before he started braiding it mindlessly. I knew he was only doing it because he didn’t want to have to look at me.
“Yes, well, so does being the hand of the king.” He joked. “If I’d known it was so much work, I would have chosen Frankie.” He laughed lightly to himself.
I know he’s been having a hard time too. With Calvin gone, he is basically filling in as the king. “You’ve got to speak to the people, Rachel.” I shot my eyes up to his, and he gave me a hard look.
“Now, Rachel, I have delayed it as much as I can. I have been the one addressing them about the conflict and about you. Your written statements just aren’t good enough anymore.
You’ve got to show the people you are here and that you are ready to be their queen. Right now you’re pretty much just an idea.
They know you’re here, but they haven’t heard from you.” He paused, softening his expression. “It’s time.”
I let my shoulders slump forward. “I know.” I gave in. I’d been putting it off for way too long. I just don’t really know what I’m supposed to do, much less say as the queen. “I just wish Calvin was here.” I muttered.
“Me too.” Pedro agreed, coming to lean on the vanity in front of me. “You’re going to be exhausted, you know?” He pointed out as he looked at the bags under my eyes. I’d gotten my hours messed up again. Now I was on half vampire time, and half human time.
“I know.” I said nodding.
“I’m getting exhausted too, keeping up with you.”
“You don’t have to keep the same hours as me.” I pointed out.
He tilted his head. “Yeah, right.” He laughed. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Then I really would have to do all of the work while her highness sleeps her life away.”
We smiled at each other and he reached over to tap me on the nose and I sighed. “I promise to get my hours turned back around.” I told him.
“Thank you.”
He started to walk away but I called to him. “Do you know where the girls are?” I asked, perking up a little.
He looked stressed all over again. “Rachel, you already know where they are.” He said. “It’s not healthy for you to be spending so much time up there with them.
You need to start getting used to this life. I don’t think Calvin would be very happy if he knew.”
I stood up quickly, straightening my knee length lilac dress. “Well you aren’t going to tell him, and neither am I.” I said sternly. “Right?” I asked, putting my hands on my hips.
ROSES FOR RACHEL: EPISODES 41-50
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