CHAPTER 9 - SOUTHWEST

"And our new Queen of Southwest is, Ms. Snow!" everyone celebrated and shout her name. But one voice caught everybody's attention.

"Why wouldn't she win? She sleeps with one of the judges," said Claire.

Everyone was whispering something but Snow wasn't affected even by an inch.

"Why would you accuse others with something that you have done, Claire? Isn't it you who slept with Hector last summer? To win that cheap bikini open?"

"Is the Hector you are talking about is the Emperor?" someone from the crowd asked.

Snow looked intently to Claire, "Yes, he is. Your Bikini Open Queen slept with the Emperor to win the cheapest pageant here in the country."

Everyone laughed and teased Claire.

"That was savage, Snow!" cheered by one of the candidates.

"Stop!" she shouted, "You were all cheering for his daughter, dumbasses! You think she can make it if it wasn't her father backing her up?"

"She won because she deserves it, Claire. No one here knows that she is the Empress," David fired.

"Yeah, that's right! We saw how deserving she was," the crowd agreed.

"Stop your nonsense, Claire. A cheap queen-wannabe doesn't belong here."

With that, Claire rushed out of the Auditorium. People inside it all knelt in front of her, "Greetings, our future Empress."

"You don't have to that. Stand up you all."

"If that psycho girl hasn't told us, we will not even know. Especially when you disclosed that rumor about your Father," the emcee said.

"The truth shall not be hidden from the constituents. It was his fault, I am in an issue that I haven't done. To shut that slut up, I should take a deeper and deadly attack," she explained.

"Wow! Our Queen is unstoppable!"

Everyone is applauding when David suddenly pulled her off the stage.

"What are you up to, David? Let me go!"

"What the hell did you do, Snow? What would your father say about that, huh? Are you even thinking?"

"Did you just entered this relationship because of my father? Am I a means for my father to like you? Do you want the position that bad? Answer me, David?"

"Stop your drama. There's no camera here, stupid."

"Woah, I thought I might confuse you if I do it. You are too intelligent and firm for not giving in it."

"Your charms don't affect me, Enchantress."

"Are you even a guy, David? Tell it to me now?"

He turned his back but she stopped him.

"Why won't you tell me? So I can work harder."

"Work harder with what? Your art o seducing men? Stop it, Snow. You will be the next leader, won't you think about your reputation?"

"It's their choice to ignore or give attention to me, David. I don't see anything about it. Besides, I don't sleep with them so what reputation are you saying, huh?"

"You accept their offers. Gifts like jewelry, foods, dresses, shoes, and so on. Isn't it odd to see?"

"Really? Are you annoyed by it?" she playfully smiled.

"The car is outside, let's go now."

"Why can't you like me, David?"

"I said, stop—"

"I'm not acting the hell out! Why does everyone like that Claire slut, huh? My Papa slept with her knowing that Mama will stay up until he was home. I saw you looking at her intently that night, David! That why I joined this contest. To finally see you looking at me with admiration. I was looking at you the whole time but you didn't even laid once on me and—"

David passionately kissed her.

"You are spilling so much nonsense, Snow," he said while brushing their lips, "You don't have to do anything to get my attention, you got mine first long time ago. I have no eyes for other women except you. Why would I stay by your side all these years if you haven't got me, huh?" and he kissed her again.

Snow let go and hugged him, "What I have said a while ago was true. I was thinking that you only aim for the position and my Papa's approval. I already considered marrying the Governor���s son."

David laughed, "What the heck, Snow? That nerd? You'll exchange me for that? You can even wish to your father if you want me that bad."

"Hey! You sound so proud now. I will choose to settle for the man who loves me than the man who doesn't even look straight into my eyes."

He held her cheeks and look at her eye to eye, "Why won't I will be so proud of that? The Queen of Southwest, the next Empress and the Woman that every man here in our nation is dreaming? What the hell? I believed that all this time you were just playing with me, I could have known earlier you were this serious, Snow."

"Who said I am serious right now?"

He was about to walk out when she grabbed his hand and kissed him.

"Let me finish first, Baby. I am not serious right now because I am hella sure about you."

They went home holding hands. As soon as they reached the living room, someone slapped Snow so hard that she fell on the floor. David immediately helped her.

"Emperor—" David wasn't able to finish what he wanted to say.

"Who do you think you are? Do you even think, Snow?" the Emperor asked.

"What did I've done wrong, Papa?" she was in tears.

"Is that the right question? Did you ever do right, Snow? Why do you have to say that in front of the media?" he shouted and slapped Snow again.

"Why, Papa? Did what you do was right? Is it right to cheat on Mama? Do you think you didn't hurt us?"

"What is happening here?" Mama came. She wiped the blood on her lips.

"What the hell are you doing, Hector? For God's sake, she's your daughter!" Mama shouted at Papa.

"Not when she ruined me, ruined us, Dawn," Papa answered.

Mama glared at him, "You, you ruined us, Hector. She did nothing wrong. What she said was true and we both know that."

"I guess there is no point about sending David to the Mythical Island. I will send you instead, Snow. You will go there and represent Southwest."

"The island that we do not even know what they're up to?" I asked. "You will send me there?"

"No, Hector. I won't let you."

"My decision is final. You will go there this weekend. Prepare your things."

I looked at David and he doesn't look at me. He still is bowing down to my Father.

"If that's what you want, Emperor," and I bowed.

I heard Mama crying and fighting with Papa. Do you want to get rid of me? Wait and watch until I get rid of you, cheater!