Chapter 13: Seeing Mother, The Queen
The next morning arrived like a soft sigh against her cheeks, the sunlight slipping in through pastel curtains and painting the room with warm golds and sleepy pinks. Evelisse’s eyes fluttered open slowly, her head half-buried in a pillow that now bore the imprint of her tangled hair.
"Ugh," she groaned, voice scratchy. "I look like I fought a thundercloud."
Fluffy appeared above her, arms crossed, ears twitching. "You look like a squirrel built its kingdom on your head."
Evelisse smirked and stretched, yawning like a lazy kitten. "Good. The squirrel owes me rent."
She sat up fully, blinking at her reflection in the wall mirror. A frizzy, brilliant nest of red hair sat proudly on her head, a chaotic crown that defied all sense of order. Her cheeks were still flushed from sleep, and her nightgown was twisted like she’d spun in her dreams.
But Evelisse didn’t care.
She ran a hand through her messy curls and whispered, "I’m not bald. I’m not wired to machines. And I’m not on that hospital bed."
Her chest swelled with gratitude. ’Whatever this life is... I’ll cherish every second of it.’
Fluffy twirled above her and perched on her head like a fuzzy tiara. "Your kingdom of fluff awaits, Princess Disaster."
"Then long may I reign," she muttered with a grin. "Call it art."
Fluffy flipped mid-air, amused. "Should I start auctioning locks of it to nobles? Limited edition princess strands."