Chapter 12. I am a Women

I don't wanna row, row, row the boat

Wrist full of rocks and I hope I float

Big up yourself 'cause you know they don't

I chew, chew 'cause they hope I choke

I'm a bitch, I'm a boss

Regiana's pov

My mother walked in front of me, she was wearing the same green suit and pants in which she died. Her suit was covered in blood but her face was devoid of emotions. I tried to move forward to see her but my chains wouldn't let me go any further. I tug on the chain, wishing it would magically come off.

"Mother, help me!" I scream. Suddenly my mother turned towards me, she trudged forward. She lifted my chin harshly, she looked at me disappointedly or should I say with the look she always use to give me, "All you do is talk big. You're a big disappointment, you are an emotional fool! You let your emotions get the best of you, pathetic!" She rumbled. She pushed me back as I groaned in pain.

Suddenly another person came in front of me. It was my father. He looked at me with disgust, "You really think that you can rule? After being missing for 7 years you come back and expect the kingdom to be handed over to you?" He then laughed at me. I felt my inside crumble as I struggled against both the chains and the criticism.

I couldn't bare refusal and criticism. I lived on praises and pats on my back. They were tearing down my belief system, they were breaking me. But isn't it what I face every day? Everybody underestimated me, everybody willed that I fail. My failure is what satisfies them.

I woke up, sweating profusely. This was a daily schedule, everyday. My nightmare was my morning clock yet my nightmare was my jail. My nightmare would suffocate me until it wanted. Almost as if it was a human.

I jumped out of my bed had a quick shower. The hot shower washed away my sore muscle. I changed into orange suit and pants with a white shirt. I combed my hair into a loose ponytail and ran to the meeting room with a packet of chips. I need to start eat nutritionist food, maybe I will start tomorrow. ("The tomorrow never came" said the author, munching some more chips)

I opened the meeting room and saw all the MPs, Prime Minister and my friends sitting. "I am here! Sorry I got up late." I exclaimed. Eirene looked at me with look up disappointment while Valerie was trying to suppress her laughter.

I quickly took my place in the middle of the long wooden table, I cleared my throat and commanded to start the meeting. For the claim to the throne the parliament people were important as they have half the power over the royalfamily. I thought it was a bit of absurd but you can't change the old traditions. I observed that except me, Valerie and Eirene, all the MPs were men but why?

"Princess Regiana, we think you are not fit for the crown" Prime Minister Houlton replied coldly. Wow, straight to the point are we? I smiled slyly as I already knew that things like this would be mentioned so I prepared a whole speech in the shower and sure that the shampoo bottles were proud of me.

An expression of fear passed through the eyes of Houlton. "Well fit or not, I am the heir to the throne. Also can you say some pointers on why I should not rule or be the Queen?" A look passed between the MPs and Houlton stood up to speak again. "Princess Regiana, you have been away from the court for seven years and there have been many changes since then, we don't think you might catch up. The most obvious reason is that you are a women! A women is not strong enough to rule, it destroys their feminine virtues. What can a reckless women like you do to serve our country? Even if you become the Queen, no man will bow to the weaker gender! Being a Queen does not mean looking pretty, it also means to do heaps of work."

I felt my blood boil hearing the words tumble of Houlton's mouth. "Princess Regiana, permission to slice Houlton's neck?" Valerie fumed as she was almost half risen from her seat, ready to strangle the Prime Minister. I smirked at Valerie's protective nature, "I wish I could grant you the permission but I have a better idea up my sleeves. Yes Mr. Houlton I was gone for seven years but I already know what has changed. As for the point of being a women, I would like to say that the crown's power doesn't shift by the gender rather by the birthright, this is my birthright." I said coldly.

Women are always discriminated and humiliated in every field they go. Their abilities are questioned but no man's capabilities are questioned. I had to talk to parliament about my succession because I was a women but if it were my step brother then there would be no room for discussion. We are in the 21st century with advance technology yet the mentality of the society is still in the 60's.

"Just because I am a women doesn't mean I am not capable of carrying the crown. I can carry the crown same as my father or perhaps better. The mother of this dynasty and the first ruler was a women and she did better work than every one of you in this room. The fourth law in the succession states that the throne can be occupied by both the gender but none of you want it to be out in the spotlight." I said with a sneer as many of them scoffed. "You are considered as an illegitimate child so throne will pass on to Prince Bates." One of the members speaks up.

My façade of calmness boils into pure fury. I clench my fist and speak with gritted teeth, "My mother, Lady Jane was the first queen and wife of my father. I will be considered as the child of this dynasty as I have the blood of the Alder running through my veins. My mother was active participant in this country's well fairness. You will not blame my dead mother merely because she is not here to defend herself. I am here to honor her name. She opposed all the member of the parliament for exploiting their power and I am sure that is one of the reason you'll oppose me. For your information, Prince Bates is not favored among the castle and I won't mind releasing the information on how the good price locked the heir to the throne with the intention to kill her." I say as my threat turns their face sour.

"All of you have been in this position for more than twenty years, what good have you'll do? There is still humongous gender inequality in our nation, our trade relations are weak and there is still unequal payment between the genders. There has been water problem in the south and no full time electricity for the people in the north. So what have you'll done rather than illegally change the survey reports so that my father may not know about the problem going around the country? What will the people do when they find out their tax money is being spend for your pleasure rather than the betterment of the people." I said sarcastically as I could surprise and fear settle within each one of them. I have done my checking on them and let me tell you they are not as innocent as they look. The people of the members accuse my father of the way things run in the country when it is them who are responsible. They ask people for tax for the maintenance of the castle when it strictly forbidden to do so.

I raised a brow, "Any question?" and after meeting with complete silence I smiled and got up. "Thank you for this meeting! I think that it's final that there is no problem in me being the Queen, if you have one remember the threats. Also there will be an event for women's day. To celebrate women and I want information to be released in the public so they can indulge." I said turning around feeling patriotic music playing in the background as I exit the meeting room leaving very scared MPs with mumbling protest and proud friends. Virtual hair flip.