Happy Ever After

Metawin

You know when you tell yourself  'this day cannot possibly get any worse'? Don't do that. Or at least don't do it out loud because the universe thinks it's some sort of stupid dare.

I have been home for only a few minutes and my father has been incessantly on my case. I am convinced he has found a way to get his hands on some alcohol and is now drunk because there seems to be no other explanation for his behavior.

After we were cast away from the castle, he was prone to just loud, homophobic, racist, odd slurs and rants fueled by bottles upon bottles of alcohol. It took years and a lot of help from Dara's family to get my father sober and medicated. Even more effort for him to see his grief counselor and his doctors.

And for the past few years it had been smoother sailing. Of course, there were still days he'd trash his room or start just "rearranging" the house but nothing really violent happened anymore. At most it was just messy.

But today is exactly like those days from years ago. He's better now, thanks to his nurses and Carlton. But better was not okay. He wasn't throwing stuff anymore or shouting  at every single person who comes near enough but he keeps muttering things under his breath about me.

Disappointment in me. Disbelief that I wasn't more of a man. Why do I keep hanging around in the royal castle when they don't want us there? Accusations of me begging royals to give me a shred of attention.

I have lost my loving father years ago. I lost him almost the same time I lost my mother. It's like all his good parts were switched off when she died.

I was so used to his rants, they have not affected me for so long but at this moment my defenses were down. Everything was seeping into my skin.

I wouldn't even need to hear any of this if I could just stomp back to my room. But I needed to watch my father. The staff and the nurses needed a dinner break. I didn't want to be unfair and ask them to hurry although I was definitely silently wishing it.

I almost shouted 'Oh thank god' when Carlton stuck his head in the door. But he wasn't there to tell me he's done eating.
"My Lord, the Prince is here."

"What?"

"I tried to tell him you're not here but he threatened me with the Royal Army and imprisonment."

I sigh. "Let him in. I'll come right down."

Carlton leaves and I make sure my father's bed railings were fixed before I head for the door. But of course, my father won't let me go without a parting shot. "Why is that prince here?"

"He's only visiting."

"Is he here to drag you to the dungeons? Are you a criminal?"

I feel a nerve snap. "You are the only criminal here. You are the only one who ever deserved to suffer." I will regret this outburst later but right now, I didn't want to care.

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