A familiar face shook me awake. Brown curls shook with effort and olive skin adorned with beauty marks flushed. “Selene! Seriously, get out of bed. You are going to be late for the meeting.” The face said with exasperation.

“Silas?” I said with confusion.

“Yes, it’s me. Now get up and get ready. Requests will be held after breakfast.” He rolled his eyes and pulled off the covers, revealing my very human and unsophisticated pajamas. “I’ll clean up your room while you get dressed.” 

“That won’t be necessary today. But, can you tell me what we did yesterday while I get ready?” I frowned trying to remember what happened, “I know we went somewhere and I had a meeting…Oh! We were also going to start a plan or something.”

Silas frowned but quickly changed his expression, “Of course I can tell you. That is apart of my job is it not?” 

“Yes it is. Do I need to dress fancy or are we going to Enlightenment?” I replied trying to smile and erase the fact that I forgot. 

“We went to Enlightenment yesterday.” He smiled, being as patient as he could with me. “Here let me just tell you everything we did. First we had a meeting with The Nebula, then we ate breakfast, after that we went to Enlightenment. There, you found out that the human population is declining and has been for the past forty years. We came back here and disscussed it and decided to increase the amount of stories tellers get effectively reversing the issue. Today we were going to write a bill that would force Society Schools to teach tellers how to make clone illusions of themselves.”

“Isn’t that illegal?” I interrupted. “Clone illusions were outlawed twenty years ago because of theft and crime. People would frame other people using a clone to commit crimes.” 

“Yes but we can teach them only how to make clones of themselves. Making a clone of someone else requires much more glamour than most Suns and Stars have.” He replied, wiping away my doubt. “Plus, you are the ruler. Meaning, you make the rules.” 

“I guess. Can you continue with the schedule?” I asked. For the life of me I cannot remember what happened. Maybe I wrote it in my split journal? No that wouldn’t make sense, I didn’t have a split yesterday. 

“Absolutely. After we write the bill you will be holding requests to improve public opinion, then we will plan for the solistce ball. Finally, we finish the day with a meeting with all the country embassadors.” He explained, offering me a hand to stand up and walking me to my closet.

“Thank you, Silas. You can wait outisde for me now, I will ready myself for the day then we can leave.” I walked into my closet shutting the door and hearing his footsteps walk towards the door. Once I was in the clear, I went into my wardrobe looking for my split journal in the secret compartment. “There.” I whispered to myself. 

Flipping to the most recent page I found a run down of my day. The day that apparently happened yesterday from Silas’s description. 

I’d had a split. I thought I wouldn’t have had any, after capturing Her, but I was wrong. I was so wrong. There were other days from as recent as last week. For reference, I captured Her last year. I can’t believe this. What I thought would be the solution to all of my problems was really just revenge. 

“Selene?” Silas called from beyond the door. He had come back. “I noticed you were taking a bit longer than you normally do. Are you okay? Do you want to take the day off?” His concern was so touching I shed a tear but I had to pull through. I promised myself that my splits wouldn’t affect me anymore. 

“No, I’m okay. Just give me five minutes.” I wiped my tears and got ready for the day. Today I wore a sky blue dress with a similar design to my peach dress. It had white lace and tulle. I layered a pearl necklace, some simple makeup, a few rings, and I was ready to go. 

“Ready.” I said stepping out the door. Silas was wearing a dress shirt the same color as my dress, with a white suit. He always knew what to wear for some reason. “Ready to go?” He asked noticing the strain in my face. 

“Ready.” I breathed out, trying to calm myself. “Are we heading to the office or the dining hall first?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood and erase his concern. 

“Actually it’s a surprise.” He responded, smiling for a bit then stopping. He took my arm and started walking. 

“Well, lead the way.” I said. He always knew how to cheer me up. 

~~~

Silas had forced me to close my eyes half way to wherever he was taking me. “You can open them now.” He turned searching for a reaction, smiling slowly when he got the one he wanted. 

“Silas…you didn’t.” I gasped in disbelief. He took me to the gardens. But they weren’t just any gardens, they were full of pink and white tulips, daffodils, and purple lilacs. Tulips were my absolute favorite flower. I didn’t know much about floriography but I knew that this was supposed to be something special. The sun was also rising and the combination of flowers, the sun, just the act of it all made me burst into tears. No one has ever done anything like this for me. Not even Him. It was so sweet I just couldn’t believe he’d had the time. “When did you arrange this?” I asked turning to face him, the tears collecting in my eyes. He was going to ruin my makeup.

“I always have time for you. I noticed that you were feeling down this morning. The flowers were for the ball but I knew you would like them and I wanted to make you feel happy.” Silas stumbled over his words a bit, looking shy. His cheeks started blushing the moment he saw my smile. Sometimes I forget what a softy he can be. “Oh my god are you crying? I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He fumbled around for a handkerchief, landing on the one in his suit pocket. He quickly pulled it out and started drying my tears, “your going to ruin your makeup.” Silas smiled a bit, “I didn’t know this would mean that much to you.” 

“I was having a bad morning and no one has ever done this for me before. And tulips are my favorite, and the sun rise, it was just everything. Everything all at once I-I felt a bit overwhelmed with so mant emotions. I’m really happy though.” I stuttered, slightly embarrassed that he was still drying my tears. 

“I understand,” he said smiling. “How would you like to eat breakfast out here?” My tears finally stopped so he pulled away and stuffed the handkerchief in his pocket. He then grabbed a basket from behind a nearby bush. Inside were sandwiches, pastries, juice, and a blanket. 

“I would love that.” I smiled big. He always knew just the right thing. Whether it be food, a big gesture, a gift, anything. It was always just right. 

~~~

Requests were always held in a smaller version of the throne room. I suspected it had to do with power. As in ‘I will do these things for you because I am above you.’ Or ‘I will do this for you but you have to remain loyal, I am in charge.’ That sort of thing. Personally, I would have rather talked face to face, couch to couch, chair to chair. I hated looking down on people. Especially people who I used to be like. It felt like I was trying to distance myself from my past even though that wasn’t true whatsoever. 

“Now entering request number one.” A guard annouced to me. As if I didn’t have eyes and could not see her walking in. My first request was a mother, I could tell by the two kids clinging to her legs. 

“I’m really sorry about my daughters. I couldn’t find a sitter, their dad died and I tried to leave them with relatives but they couldn’t handle them and kicked them onto the streets.” She apologized profusely bowing her head and smiling softly. 

“Thats alright, what is your name?” I tried not to show my displeasure at her excessive bowing. I hated being treated like someone after being treated like nothing all my life. 

“My name is Idla Reman.” She responded. I could tell she was anxious just by the constant picking at her nails. Her posture, everything screamed ‘I’m scared of you.’ 

“What have you come for?” I sighed, covering my impatience. Every single time I asked this question people took it as an invitation to trauma dump and tell me their whole life story. When I relastically only needed her request. 

“I don’t have anywhere to live. I got fired from my job so I couldn’t pay rent anymore, and my landlord evicted me. I also needed the money for my husband’s treatments. That’s why I tried to put my daughters with their cousins so they wouldn’t have to see their father die. It didn’t work because they were to rowdy, according to my sister, and came running back home.” Idla looked like she wanted to cry. Well not wanted, as she literally started bursting into tears, getting on her knees and begged me, “please. I just want to find a place to live. I don’t even need food. I just need a home for my daughters, we can find food in the trash but I just need a home.” 

Looking into her eyes, I saw the little girl I once was. The poor girl who could only afford food once a month. The girl who’s mother sewed new clothes from torn blankets. I saw the girl who was bullied for not being able to bring a lunch by other children who were poor themselves. The girl who could barely wash her clothes because soap was expensive. The sudden rush of memories brought back an ache I surpressed for years. While I had been helping Lower Mona it still wasn’t enough. I wanted to turn Lower Mona into Upper Mona but no matter what there would always be the poor. The bottomfeeders. The ones who just couldn’t afford it. And I wanted that to change. 

“Your request is approved. As soon as I am able, I will get you a job, eight months’ worth of food, a comfortable home for you and your children, and new clothes.” I walked down the steps leading to my throne. Hugging her because I could tell she needed it. The relief on her face when I answered her. The way her kids started crying and hugging her at the sight of their mother crying. That family needed comfort, and I intended to give it to them. “Give me just a moment.” I walked to the door calling for a guard. I had them bring the family some food for their travel back. When I gave them the food, the kids immediately tore into it. I saw a glimpse of their teeth and realized they also needed healthcare. The children also looked to be at the age for school, but obviously weren’t in it. Tuition was expensive. I wanted to do my best for this family, so I made a mental checklist of everything they needed. 

The next request went smoothly, and was approved. It was an old man asking for more meds for his chronic illness. I decided to void his healthcare payments until he died. 

“Now entering request number three.” That same guard announced. At this point it was starting to become slightly annoying. 

“My name is Sileni Outan, and I need like money or something.” The woman that came in annouced not even three seconds to her entrance. She didn’t even make her way to the floor infront of the throne. I could already tell that she was the selfish type who only cared for herself but acted like she cared for the whole world. Yet and still I gave her a chance. 

“What do you need this money for?” I asked, trying to intimidate the slightest shred of respect into her. Sileni rolled her eyes and finally walked closer. I was glad because my ears had been straining to hear her before that. 

“For like something. Why do you care? Aren’t you just supposed to help us?” Her bratty attitude made me want to rip my head off. 

“No, I hear your request and grant it depending on your situation. That way anything I grant is being used fairly and to the best of its ability.” I sighed, this girl was already testing my patience. The gears finally turned in that broken brain of hers. 

“Oh well like I’m a business owner and like I need money for an expansion.” Now was probably the perfect time to mention that her dress was basically on the same caliber as mine. Except she had tons of jewelry on. Multiple necklaces that all had gems, earring with huge gems on them, and bejeweled shoes that only peeked out when she moved. She probably lived in Upper Mona and started this business with her father’s money. 

“Is this expansion completely necessary?” What everyone was thinking it. I had to ask because by the looks of her coming here to flaunt her wealth, I don’t think this request would be that important. 

“Well it would make my tea shop ten times bigger and bring in more customers so yeah definitely necessary.” Sileni confidently replied. The smirk didn’t even have to make an appearance for me to know it was there. 

“Well is your business failing?” My patience was wearing so thin I don’t think it even existed anymore. Obviously she could sense my irritation, so she tried to lie and agree with me.

“Yeah its like failing a lot. Like I haven’t had a customer since I left.” She nodded along to her statement. I’m pretty sure she didn’t even run the business herself. It’s probably an asset for her parents put in her name to avoid higher taxes. 

“I’ve heard enough. Your request has been denied. I don’t think you really need this expansion considering you make enough money to afford that jewelry and dress. Oh and I don’t think Deion Outan will like the fact you came here in the first place.” I sighed, this meeting gave me a headache.