Am I a Villainess?

Tea with a Side of Tears

After my birthday my mother was having tea with Queen Ayla who was uncommonly quiet.

Ayla and my mother had developed a sort of friendship. Ayla found it difficult to make femal friends since her marriage to the King, who routinely tried to bed anyone with a pulse. Celeste, being Draco's wife, was strictly off limits. Sometimes I would spot him watching her, but he would not risk his friendship with my father. So Ayla became close with my mother, and often visited with the twins.

Winter and Delia were playing "statues" it was a version of tag that I used to play with my siblings. A player would face a wall and knock three times, "one, two, three knock the wall." Then the player would turn and watch the other players, if you caught a player moving they had to goto the back. Once someone reached the "counter" a regular game of tag started.

Winter was very competitive but Delia was better at playing the game. She stayed as still as a statue while Winter was always desperate to take another step.

"You're moving your foot Winter." I said motioning him to the back.

Winter pouted and stomped his foot cutely.

"I always win at the palace!" He whined.

"Because those bootlickers let you win." I said shooing him to the back.

Winter looked shocked as if the idea had never occured to him.

"If you want to win get better."

Winter went quietly behind Delia, he was deep in thought for such a young child.

Even though the twins are older than me, I often treated them like younger kids. Delia was very shy and I always tried to pull her out of her shell. And I always teased Winter so he wouldn't become an arrogant prat. He was so used to getting everything handed to him.

"You don't like me." Winter said with a sad voice.

I turned to fully face him. "If I didn't like you, I would just ignore you or pretend to be sick whenever you visit."

Winter mulled over my comment when Adros and Orion entered. They were sweaty from practice, but I didn't care. I went over to hug them and say hi.

"See!" Winter complained in an accusatory tone. " you like them, you don't like me."

I frowned and tried to summon patience. As an adult I had to be patient with the little prince. "It's different, I like you, but I love them." I squeezed Adros around the waist and smiled at him. "Right?"

Adros mussed my hair with a smile, Orion gently pulled me away to kiss my forehead. Winter started to cry.

Adros went over and patted his head. Winter was so shocked that he stopped immediately, it was awkward for both of them, but Adros was trying.

"Winter, Aurora is a very kind girl who sometimes doesn't think before she speaks. She didn't mean anything cruel by it. I don't think she's ever had a bad thought about anyone."

"I have!" I pouted and knew a blush was forming on my face. I do put my foot in my mouth sometimes.

"Really." Adros said with a skeptical smile.

"Plenty." I was serious. I didn't like Adros' father. Or the sycophants in Winter's camp. I liked Ayla, but wished I could admonish her for being neglectful towards Adros. I also had some very unkind thoughts about Flora. I knew she had been truly in love with Draco, or the idea of him, but she should have left when he married my mother.

"Well what do you think of Winter and Delia?"

"Beautiful." I said without pause.

"Men don't like being called beautiful." Orion noted.

"Look at them." I said with a gesture "They are ridiculously beautiful. And they're smart, Delia is so gentle and serene, Winter is very athletic and brave." Compliments flowed from my mouth more freely that wine at a wedding. I've always been able to find something nice to say about someone.

Delia was covering her face and blushing furiously. Winter too. Pleased with myself I turned to issue compliments to my mother and the Queen.

I had missed something. My mother was staring ahead with shock and Ayla looked away with guilt.

"It can't...it has to be a mistake or a misunderstanding." She said with a small voice.

Ayla shook her head. "I had it investigated, they have his eyes."

"No!" Celeste stood up abruptly knocking over a tea cup that shattered on the ground.

"I'm sorry, I don't want it to be true. I didn't want to tell you."

"Where?"

"Celeste, calm down."

"WHERE!" Celeste slammed her fist on the table and plants in the garden began to grow thorns. The foliage around us rustled and grew wild, breaking pots and planters. I have never seen Celeste angry, frustrated, vexed and aggravated, but never angry. Right now she looked furious. I have no doubt that she could kill someone.

"Eastern district, just outside the markets. Yellow house, blue flowers."

Celeste stormed away and almost passed me but I gripped her hand. She snatched it away but I clutched her skirts. She finally stopped and breathed deeply. She knelt in front of me and smoothed my hair from my face.

"I'll be back soon, Ayla will watch over you till I return." The smile on her face did not reach her eyes.

I remembered how broken she was after her miscarriage. I couldn't see her like that again.

"I love you Mama." I said hugging her. She hugged me tightly and breathed in the scent of my hair. For a moment I thought she would stay, then she let me go and stormed out.

I turned towards Ayla who looked down at her now cold tea with guilt ridden tears in her eyes. I went to her and held her hands.

She wiped the tears away and smiled at me.

"Your mother will be back soon."

I squeezed her hand. "The truth will always out."

Her eyes widened and I continued . "Hard truths always cut both ways, but it will heal. You have not lost your friend." Tears came to my eyes "Thank you. I've always been a coward, I couldn't tell her."

Ayla hugged me suddenly. "No child, it was not cowardice, it was love. You love both your parents and never should have known."

I hugged Ayla back and buried my face in her neck. I wasn't sure what would happen and for the first time since I stopped wearing daipers I cried.

)O(
Sorry this update took so long. Been dealing with work and my depression.
Comment and vote please.