Queen Raeanne

"Yes, mother. I have just said that numerous times." I roll my eyes. How many times does she want me to say this? It has been painful enough to say it once. But over and over? She does not know how much it is killing me inside. I wish she did. But I can never tell her the truth. I must keep my image up for her and my people. That means lying to her and everyone else I love. And even those I do not.

I can only hope that the king sticks to his end of our deal. He claims the child as his own and I keep the details of his affair a secret.

"I am sorry dear. I am just so excited. You are really with child!?" She jumps up and down, pulling me in for an embrace. "A baby?!"

"Yes." I sigh, having to explain myself at least a hundred times to her. This situation is stressful enough without my mother badgering me about it. "The physician just told me."

"Less than a week of marriage and you are already producing an heir to the throne! You two are fast!" She smiles. "And here I thought you still hated me for marrying you off! I guess you have moved past it!" She claps her hands together and smiles, her grin stretching all the way from one side of her face to the other. "Well, this news sure explains your sudden illness! Oh, how wonderful this is! We must alert the entire kingdom at once! There will be parties across the nation in your honor!" She turns to make arrangements. She plans on telling everyone about my child. What am I to do? I am too ashamed to tell anyone else.

"No!" I shout, trying to stop her. What now?

"What?" She asks, turning back to face me, shocked.

"I mean," I laugh nervously. "We should not tell everyone just yet. I only now found out about this child. Give me some time to settle in to this- this situation. Give the people time to settle in to this new era of rule. This is a big change for all of us. A big step." I try to talk her out of telling the kingdom of me being with an heir. "We might scare them if we throw this at them now."

"You are right. You are completely right dear. Yes, we will wait to tell everyone. That will give the little baby time to develop a bit." She walks over and places her hands gently on to my stomach. "My little grand baby prince or princess." She smiles, falling in love with my dirty little secret. "Oh, it had better be a boy!"

Everything inside of me is telling me to tell her the truth about the father of her grand-baby. About how I was not married when this baby inside of me was conceived. About how I had only known the father for hours before he put a baby inside of me. I want to tell her everything. All of my feelings about him and the King. About how this marriage makes me feel inside.

I want to tell her about the affair and how it makes me feel. I need to tell her how my heart aches for the love that could have been.

But I know that I can not. I made a terrible mistake telling Phillip. He was a lot more understanding and willing to conform to my needs than I thought. My mother will not respond the same way. She will rip me to shreds for losing myself to a stranger before marriage. And to a common boy none the less.

I laugh nervously, trying to hide the pained expression on my face.

"Where is Phillip now? I need to congratulate him. He has done good work with you." My mother looks around, standing on her toes to see over my shoulder, as if he would be standing right behind me. The way she said that sends chills up my spine. She acts as if I am a project he has been working on and has finally finished.

"He should be out in the garden. He told me he needed some air."

"Okay, take care of yourself in the meantime, my child. Ah! I am going to be a grandmother!" She squeals as she turns to find Phillip in the gardens. "A grandmother!"

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Should I change the cover for this story? This is the current one (sorry for the terrible quality)

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