The Royal Secret

~Reflections~

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Vander had returned once Vi and Caitlyn returned to the noble's home. He had been sitting in the living area focused on some sort of papers and a cigar. Once Vi closed the door, he looked at the source of the sound, "There you are," he said. "Oh, hello, Your Highness."

"Hello, Your Grace," Caitlyn said with a smile.

"Shouldn't you be at the palace with your father?"

"My father probably hasn't even noticed my absence..."

~~~~~~~~~

"Caitlyn Kiramman, where have you been?" The King asked his daughter coldly.

"I was just... out," Caitlyn told him.

"Doing what?"

"Things. You know, shopping, walking. I just decided to stay somewhere else last night because it was close by."

"Hm. I know that you're lying, but I suppose that I wouldn't be able to do anything based on the matter."

Caitlyn sighed, "Father, how upset would you he if I told you that was... in love?"

He paused for a moment. He looked into the eyes of his daughter and thought. Caitlyn wondered what would happen if the man thought a bit too hard. She wondered if it would make him crazy. The thought of that nearly made her laugh.

"I suppose that is a burden you carry," he said to her. "It's a difficult thing. Your mother..."

"With all do respect, father, I do not wish to hear about mother right now. I just wanted your approval on what I had to say."

"It isn't lower class, is it? You know what Piltover will say..."

"Because it would matter so much if it was? But she isn't... she's amongst the new nobles."

"Ah. That is a wonderful way of welcoming someone. Although, you didn't have to be so kind."

"It wasn't just me being kind, Father. This is genuine. You know, you are one to talk about love..."

"And what would you know about my love life, Caitlyn? Hm?"

"I prefer not to say. I never wish to offend you, father... even if you've always offended me. Never defended."

"I have never offended you."

"What? So you wouldn't find it offensive if you wore three different outfits everyday and your father harshly judged you? You wouldn't find it offensive if your father was trying to replace you with a male heir as if his daughter weren't already perfect for the position? If that doesn't offend you, I'll tell you something that will... I know you didn't shed a single tear after mother's death."

"Get out."

"You had never locked my mother away from me like that before, what made that time so different?!

"Get out! You... you disgust me."

The tears formed in Caitlyn's eyes, "I... disgust you...? Perhaps if I'm so disgusting, I will continue my life elsewhere, not underneath your roof."

"You will not!"

"Watch me, you bastard!"

"You dare speak that way to me? To your king?"

"To my father who didn't shed a single tear when my mother died-"

"You have no idea what you speak of..."

"Who was so steeled that he continued on with his daily life as if nothing ever happened-"

"Do you even understand your own words?"