Thin Ropes Hold Dense Weights

"Please, just listen to me." I chased after her. That's all I have been doing ever since she turned seven. She likes to lock herself in her room, stay there for days. It's the first place she goes every day, after school, after her sports, I can never get a word out of her. She's so stubborn. She shows never shows respect for me. I fought for her, I pulled us out of the ground, and ever since I became President she has gotten worse.

"I don't want to talk to you, leave me alone." She continued to race off.

"This house isn't big enough for you to run around in!"

"Yes, it is! You took land from 17 different people! 54,000 acres of land is covered in either your name or mine! You should've just left me out of this monstrosity of a house!" She halted in front of me, our face so close I could feel her breath.

"We needed this land. We needed space, I gave them land back!" I defended myself. We needed this, there are things I need to do with this land she cannot understand.

"I bet you don't even know who you took it from!" She began to run off again.

"Janet Hibblestein, Alexander Patterson, Arnet Long, Jesus Jonason, Aspen Smith, Lexi Ronald, Abel Chung, Fernandez Neil." She stopped and stood at the top of the steps, her fists clenching.

"That's only 8." She turned, her long brown hair flowing with the spin.

"Because there were only eight, not 17. On October 21st, 2108 I had offered 200 acres to eight people, I explained to them, personally, that we needed the land for governmental discussion with Eskra, the Fallen Kingdom of Jest, and Kyen, those discussions would help us halt the fourth World War. They understood. The other 9 had died within the first year of the War." I tapped my foot and rubbed my hand, tugging at my fingers, "This land was a prime target of the war, why? We do not know."

She stood there stiff, her firsts still clenching. I understood her grief. She's the daughter of the most powerful leader in all of Ruboris. I understand what she believes I am, a dictator. I rule over the 23 different collected nations of the United Empire of Ruboris, there's pressure, the school must be hard for her, friendships must be hard, and she knows it, I can see it in her eyes. Within the first year of high school, she was mocked, bullied, and disrespected by almost everyone, and now here she is, she has finished college a year early and is now studying medicine and then go on to study law. I can never be more proud of her.

"Miss Testafaunti," I heard that same sensual voice that's been talking in my ear for my entire reign. He was my right-hand man, my High Advisor, Louis Benjamin. I turned to see his pale skin, his icy blue eyes, dark hair, and tall physique. He was built well, lovely man.

"Yes?" I brushed my hair behind my ear.

"Emergency meeting with the council in the High Commission. It's urgent. We need for you to discuss our options in the situation with North Opsen. They're at it again." His face contorted with every word, his eyes kept darting to the side. Nora was still standing there, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Yes, please Mother, go blow them up again." Her words were cynical and sharp like a viper's tongue. Damned that girl. She darted off and up the rest of the stairs and down the hall, her stomps were an onslaught, they ended with a slam of her room door.

"Stubborn. Let's go now." I raced down many halls. I had my essentials: plan book, pen, phone, water bottle. This was going to be a day. We rushed through two massive doors and into the Capital Private Jet. The seats were cushioned and gray, leather. There were tables to do work, rest things, and so on.

"have you told her yet?" Louis had sat down across from me, legs crossed. This man's eyes were burning holes into my very soul and being, he could pull the truth from anyone, make any man confess, tear down walls with just a look.

"How? How am I supposed to tell her? Tell her didn't want her?" I loved Nora, she was my only child. I treated her with kindness and respect, I gave her what she wanted, protected her passed the extents of my power. I created laws for her, I passed bills for her, I opened doors for her. This was my daughter my blood and soul, I want to tell her everything, but I can't.

"I see. She was an attempt and now you know different."

"Louis," I took in a sharp deep breath. The air was cold, my throat burned. "How do I tell a child who hates me that I didn't want her? Then explain to her that we're not here rightfully?"

Louis stiffened. He was uncomfortable. He's only my Advisor because he's intelligent, not because he's handsome. We disagree on many things, but he was the best candidate, the people loved him. If I planned to stay for the extent of my enlarged life, I need him. Trust me, if I could get rid of him, I would in a flash.

"She's 24 years old, I have kept it from her this long, and I plan to take it to my grave. She will never know how she came into this world and why she needed to leave. She is my only child, she is drifting away, do you think I want her gone? Out there with nothing and no one?"

The plane hit the runway with a shake, coming to a slow and complete stop.

"Let's go." I stood up and walked off. That man has tested me too many times.

The Testafaunti family has been ruling over the Empire of Pace since their first Empress, Yoakam Testafaunti, the most kind, gentle, and powerful leader of the entire Dynasty. She set the image for what other Empresses should look to for advice. Sadly, all have turned off course. They have closed and broken down doors. Some have been cruel, some kind, others stern. Their ever eternal rule has reigned so long due to the one thing that unites everyone across Ruboris. Magic. The power these rulers hold has created mountains, sunk countries, opened holes in their atmosphere. Their power strikes fear and terror, no one has stuck up to them, none have tried to change their ways. No successor may ever.