𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝑽, 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒐𝒏

September 11, 2022

Kate decided to spend the morning at her parents' house with her children. Because she thought William needed some time alone to think and work as he had a lot of paperwork after the death of his grandmother.

Arriving at Bucklebury they all felt at peace. It always felt right in the Middleton household.

—You're getting older every day— her grandfather said to the teenager as they pulled away from each other's embrace.

—Thank you— she smiled and went to hug her grandmother.

—I missed you—Carole said. —Me too, Grandma— she kissed her on the cheek, which made her heart melt. She loved her with all her heart even if Victoria didn't know it.

—No hug for your favourite aunt?— Pippa asked, looking annoyed.

—I don't have another— she said obviously.

—More reasons why I'm your favourite— she joked.

—I guess— she shrugged as they laughed.

—You did great yesterday. We're proud of you— said Carole as they all sat down on the sofa for tea.

—Thank you— she said with a big smile.

—You're getting so old— pouted her aunt.

-It seems like only yesterday that she was born— her mother continued and her whole family decided it was a good time to tell anecdotes from when she was little, which caused Victoria to sink deeper into the sofa in embarrassment with some of them.

The family decided to go out into the garden as the weather was nice and the children ran out to play on the lawn and the teenager followed them while the rest sat at the patio table. At some point Victoria moved far enough away that she couldn't see them and decided to sit down under a tree to take out a cigarette and a lighter from the coat of her jacket. She took a few puffs until she heard a voice behind her.

—Vic?— asked her aunt with wide eyes as she saw her niece smoking, never in a million years would she have imagined such a scene. The young princess cursed a thousand times in her head. Now her parents were going to find out and the scolding would be enormous.

—Since when have you been smoking?— she asked, still in shock.

—Please don't tell my parents— she begged with tears in her eyes.

—Vic... Why are you doing this? what's wrong with you?— she said very worried, sitting down next to her and taking the cigarette out of her hand.

—It relaxes me— she shrugs his shoulders.

—I know that the death of The Queen has been unexpected for everyone but...— Pippa tried but the teenager interrupted her —It's not that— she said hesitating whether to tell her or not.

—Is it because of school? Harry? Friends? Boyfriend?— she asked with raised eyebrows, but the girl shook her head.

—It doesn't matter. Just don't tell my parents, at least for now. They're under a lot of stress because of my grandmother's death and Harry's...— Victoria pleaded, looking at her aunt with sad eyes.

—It's fine. Only if you promise not to do it again— she said and the teenager nodded.

—Let's go, your mother is worried— said Pippa, hugging her niece sideways and heading towards the adults.

—Don't go too far— said Kate giving her firstborn a little scolding.

—I'm not five, Mum— she rolled her eyes, which elicited laughter from everyone except Catherine who sighed and looked at her mother who just shrugged.

—You used to do the same thing— she said, causing the brunette to shake her head.

—That may be. But I don't want you to do it— she looked at her daughter who was sitting next to her aunt and only nodded her head and muttered a slight

—Mmm...— as she stood up to go to where her siblings were.

—Will it always be like this?— sighed the brunette, looking at her parents who only let out a slight chuckle.

—Not always. Only for the next few years— replied Michael, making her sigh heavily.

It was time to say goodbye and they all gave each other a big hug and told each other that everything would be alright, although they told each other that to convince themselves. Before they could leave Pippa led the young princess to a corner of the garden.

—Promise me you'll never do it again— the woman said tearfully, and Victoria nodded quickly, a little frightened by her aunt's attitude.

—What are you whispering about over there?— Kate asked with a smile.

—Aunt and niece things— smiled Pippa, placing a kiss on Victoria's right cheek.

—Anything I need to know?— asked the new princess with a raised eyebrow.

—No, nothing— replied the teenager sharply. —Are we going home?— she asked impatiently and her mother nodded a little confused.

—Remember what I told you— Pippa says for the last time.

—I will, thank you Auntie— smiled the young girl, getting into the car with her siblings.

—What were you talking about?— she asked when she was alone with her sister.

—Just take care of her please— she replied with a sad smile and walked away back to the big Middleton house.

Her sister's words echoed in Kate's head all the way back to Kensington. —Vic— she called as she got out of the car and headed for the house —Is something wrong?—she asked, approaching the teenager who shook her head, —Are you sure?— she asked again insistently.

—Everything's fine— she smiled, —It's silly about the aunt— she added, playing it down.

Kate refused to accept it, but it made her rather jealous that her daughter was coming to her sister to tell her things instead of her. —You know you can tell me anything, don't you?— she said, and her firstborn nodded.

—Don't worry mum, it's nothing— she said, giving her a kiss on the right cheek and continuing on his way to the living room where he had promised his siblings that he would play Who's Who with them.

She didn't know why but the woman didn't believe her daughter 100%. But she thought that if it was something bad Pippa would have told her, which made her relax a little. She decided to find out what was wrong with Victoria, if it was the last thing she did.

***
This chapter is so bad. I promise that in the next ones there will be more drama. Thank you for reading!! I will try to update as soon as possible :)

-𝑨. 𝑱