𝐋𝐚 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬

i. 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙

Helena sat next to her mother for afternoon tea, watching the boys play cricket outside. Her bright blue eyes observing one of the boys kiss his lover. She sipped her tea delicately out of her porcelain cup, careful not to spill.

Her head snapped to her mother once she cleared her throat for attention, bright blue eyes meeting a pair of equally blue ones. Helena watched the way her mother delicately tapped her  mouth with her napkin before addressing her. "How has your day been, dear?" the Queen implored, knowing full well Helena had spent the day glued to her mother's side.

Helena straightened her back, setting her cup down. "It was delightful, Mother. I had a wonderful day helping write Leopold's thanks to the dukes and duchesses. It allowed me to practice my penmanship" Helena answered with a slight smile, clenching her hands together in the ruffles of her dress.

"Well," the Queen sighed, "if Leopold would write his own letters, you needn't have to stress your delicate hands such."

"It was not a hassle. My dear brother needs a nice relaxing day, especially on a day as special as his birthday," Helena stated firmly. She knew how overbearing her mother could be on the young boy, especially with his weak physical state. Her eyes flit back to her hands, twisting the rings on her hand. "By any chance, has he asked for a birthday gift from you mother?" She glanced up at her mother whose lips were back on her teacup, eyes looking out the window placidly.

Queen Victoria hummed, "No, not yet. I wonder what he'll ask for this year. If he asks for another horse, I might have to knock him a good one myself."

Helena grimaced at her mother's words from behind her own cup. Instead of taking another sip of the lukewarm tea, she offered, "I can go ask him myself mother. If I think it's unsuitable, I won't even relay his wishes to you mother."

"Alright darling. That sounds good. You can go on and stretch your legs," the queen agreed.

Helena got up delicately, folding her napkin up as she went. She walked out of her mother's room with her chin held high and her hands clasped around her fan, an attendant automatically following her. As soon as she left the immediate vicinity of her mother's room, Helena let her shoulders droop and her back slump. She glanced back at her attendant, Hugh, before bolting off as fast as she could in the direction of Leopold's room.

She heard Hugh's footsteps behind her as she ran, laughing at the sound of his many chains and medals clanging against each other. She reached Leopold's room at the same time as Daimler, Leopold's attendant, who was holding an engraved wooden box.

"Daimler," she nodded at him, quickly adjusting a ringlet of her tightly curled hair.

"Her Royal Highness." He bowed his head towards her. "Please don't cause such a ruckus in the halls. It's not befitting of a person of your stature." Daimler sighed at Helena's silence. "Well, Your Highness will be happy to see you, I suppose," he stiffly said, watching as Hugh came to a stop, his combover in disarray.