Chapter 12 – Contemplation; One-day queen

Aliya woke up early after a sweet dream. She glanced at her right: Pagan was still deeply asleep. She covered him with a tender look: such innocence…for a man who is said to be violent and cold.

The tyrant woke up later…and was disappointed not to see his dove next to him. She entered the room some seconds later.

-Ahh, good timing. Good morning.

-Good morning, my dove...I thought you already abandoned me…I would love waking up next to you.

-I woke up early and I wanted to…make this.

While he was straightening, she sat near him and gave him a little plate. Pagan marveled.

-Isn't it your famous cake? What a cute attention! You made my day!

He began to eat it properly, but rapidly let his little spoon to eat it with his hand.

-You put crumbs everywhere.

Pagan took an embarrassed face, saying he couldn't resist. Aliya took a serious air.

-I…I would like to ask you a favor.

-Of course, my sweet, what is it?

-Can I go to Kalaiya, today? I…it is the anniversary of…my parents' death.

The tyrant raised one finger, asking her dove to wait until he finish to savor his last bite.

-Sure. I will go with you.

-You don't have to bother yourself…

-What are you saying here, my precious, this doesn't bother me at all. I wish to meet my future step-parents.

-I didn't say I will marry you…

-Ahh, does that mean that you are thinking about it?

-Don't put ideas in your head….

-Hm hm…

-You say you want to meet them, but I don't think they will be able to say something…

-This will mean I have their blessing.

Aliya smiled and went in her room to get ready to go, letting the tyrant doing the same. They took three quarter of an hour to arrive in destination. At the sight of the house, Aliya's heart tightened. After a moment, she entered and silently headed to a piece of furniture. She opened it and touched the two urns with her fingertips and apologized not to have visited them earlier. The dictator approached and stared at the photo that over hanged the urns.

-What would they say if they saw me like I am now?

-Hm…surely what every parent would say: that you became a beautiful young woman, that they are proud of you and of the fact that you are someone good.

-Proud of the fact that I kill people?

-The noble cause of those acts would make them proud. The task you got assigned is very difficult.

-But I still became a monster…

She looked at him with her wet eyes. He took her hands and smiled.

-Every parent wants their children to feel good. The fact that you finally feel alive isn't enough? The monster you became is a servant of peace, and this is all your honor.

-…But I take lives…Have I not become loathsome?

-Absolutely not. You take hundreds of lives to bring peace to thousands ones; you mustn't blame yourself for that.

He brought her hands to kiss them.

-Even I, Pagan Min, prostrate in front of such devotion. You are an exceptional person, and this is for that reason I want you to become the queen of Kyrat…My queen.

His intense look and his words made her blush. He shrugged his shoulders.

-If you are really worried, you will talk with them when you will join them. A day I expect extremely far away.

-Ohh, that's cute, you are worried for me?

-Of course, I am, what a question!

-So why did you make me become a mercenary instead of keep me in the palace?

-In Kyrat, you have to be strong; I wanted you to know how to defend yourself.

-I see…

- You never cease to exceed my expectations...you are perfect.

-Nobody is perfect.

-Nobody but you.

-What a smoothie…you say it because you love me!

-Indeed. I got so attached to you, my dove.

Aliya's face became more and more serious after his replica. At this moment, his phone rang. Seeing that the call would last, he told his dove he will wait for her in the helicopter to let her take enough time to contemplate herself fully.

The young woman then raised her eyes on her parents' photo.

Eric and Sevati met during an exchange in university. Sevati gave birth to Aliya when they were separated, which relaunched their love whereas it was in a bad state. But as conflicts and the fact that she was born out of wedlock made an unbearable pressure, they just kept arguing. Once she could, Aliya settled in France with her uncle to do her studies. Unfortunately, she learnt her parents died less than a year after, and couldn't attend to their cremation. According to the information she had, they died because of a bomb after a conflict between villages.

A moment later, she noticed there was a hole behind the photo. She took off a pin and discovered a box. She took it, slowly opened it and saw three letters and a necklace with the letter "A" for pendant. Then, she read the first letter.

"To our beloved daughter,

If you found this letter, it will mean we are no more part of this world. You must have grown up so much! You must have become so beautiful…what a pity we can't see it for ourselves. We know we hurt you during your childhood…and we genuinely apologize for it. Despite all that happened, be sure that we loved you, and we really wanted to give you a better and warmer life.

So much to say and so little time…

Our only wish is that you find your place in this world, and that you feel good in it. We know you will do great things in your life.

From where we are, we will protect you forever.

Eric and Sevati, your parent who love you."

She had tears in her eyes. Recovering her mind, she read the two letters left. Her father told her to always keep the good memories, to make other ones, and to become what she wanted to. Her mother begged her to find a good husband and to love what she did, whatever it could be.

After all that words, she said to herself – still with difficulty – that the monster she became was not as loathsome as she thought. She put the necklace and intensely looked at it before walking in the whole house. Then, she closed the piece of furniture and joined the tyrant.

-Ahh! Are you done?

-Yes. We can go.

They took off. Aliya glanced at the house until she couldn't see it anymore, and then sat correctly.

-You have a very nice necklace, here.

-Thanks. I found it in a box hidden behind the photo. There also were three letters.

-Three letters?

-Yes: two were written by one parent and the last was written by both of them.

-I see. May I ask you what did they wrote?

-What every parent would say…

-Didn't I tell you? Ahh, my intuition is just priceless!

-Stop being snooty.

-I am not, I simply say the truth.

-God, from where is all that arrogance come from?

-This is not arrogance, it is an extraordinary self-confidence. Doesn't it part of my charm?

-Ohh no, not-at-all!

-Oh, what a shame…well, what does my charm, then?

Aliya knew he would say that and couldn't prevent from smiling.

-Hm…I don't know…

-Oh, my dove, please tell me. I love when you speak about me.

She let a little bit dismayed laugh go. After a few seconds, she told him what she had in mind: she told him what she appreciated in him, but confessed her preference for his eyes, that owned something special. He stared at her with attention all that time. He slyly approached her and stole her a kiss. As she was surprised, she averted her eyes; her cheeks were all red.

-Err…hum…thank you to have let me visit my parents.

-It is normal, my precious. May I ask you something too?

-What?

-Will you marry me?

-…No.

-Why?

-…I don't feel like I want to marry…for now…

-Well, if you change your mind, just let me know.

She laughed. When they came back to the palace, Aliya told Pagan she would do whatever he wants for the rest of the day, as he dedicated her all the morning.

After a reflection time, he asked her to dress like a queen and do as if they were married. Although she was reluctant at the beginning, she ended up doing it.

When she joined him dressed like he wanted to, he was just dazzled by her beauty. Very embarrassed at first, she rapidly played the game, strangely finding that situation more pleasant than she could think. They walked, recreated the whole world chatting during hours, all this in an atmosphere that gave wings to both of one-day spouses.

The tyrant's eyes were particularly brilliant. He kept complimenting her, and always supported the idea to make her his wife, which had the gift to embarrass her. They ended continuing to chat on the dictator's balcony, admiring the moon together.

-This was one of the best days of my life! We can't spend all days with such a wonderful mercenary queen!

-Hm…I'm glad you appreciated that day so much.

-Turn around, I want to look at you again.

He took a step back while she turned toward him. Starting from the bottom, he slowly raised his eyes before stopping on the young woman's face, who blushed a little. Then he came to her and took her in his arms before kissing her. While descending his kisses to her neck, he lowered the closure of her dress to reveal her shoulders and browsed through them with his lips and hands. The young woman raised her head, thrilling under her one-day husband's touching. As it became difficult to breath, she put her hands on his chest and slowly pushed him, but her eyes couldn't detach from his.

-I…can I sleep with you tonight?

-How could I say no?

She bit her lip and told him she will come back later. She was surprised as she felt her mouth move by itself to ask him this question. But all she wanted was to fell asleep in the magical atmosphere he offered her this whole day. She rapidly took a bath and dressed in a night gown before joining him.

He followed her with his eyes until she lays in the bed. Shyly looking at him, she didn't dare saying anything. He took her in his arms and kissed her forehead.

-Thank you for this day, my precious. I really appreciated.

He slowly fell asleep smiling, and his queen followed him, her head full of stars.