“You’re a changed woman Cassy. Why can’t you be my little girl anymore?”

Tegeen blinked back the tears she hasn’t realised had spilt out of her eyes and wiped them on the back of her hand. She didn’t care anymore than usual that her eyeliner was smeared, and she didn’t care that she looked a mess. All she wanted now was her daughter back…

“Because mother,” said the proud princess, clenching her jaw. “I am not going back to the past. I have no wish to.”

Cascata tossed her silver locks out of her face to hide her embarrassment at the situation. Nobody was there except the two of them, and yet she felt that the chambers were filled with wide eyed courtiers, watching everything they said and did. Being in the centre of attention would’ve thrilled Cascata but this was a different matter.

“I’d almost escaped you and your laws, your rules and your plans for me. You wanted me to be a spoiled palace brat, and so I am everyone says. I’m the perfect lady you wanted me to be though you’ve turned the whole world on me.”

“That’s not true Cassy…” Tegeen chocked on the words. She knew it was true and she was trying to lie to herself. She’d made her daughter this way. The Queen’s mind raced. Her own grandmother, the countess of Oled was a monster and a criminal, and Tegeen had been training her daughter to be just like her. She should only be thankful it hadn’t come to the pain and slaughter the countess had caused. She could only pray that Cascata was not so violent and merciless.

“Of course it’s true,” Cascata went on, unaware of the effect her words were having on the Queen. “You told me words are stronger weapons than swords. The last time someone tried to make a deal with the enemy, I saw them slain in front of me. Steel beats words, mother. It always has and look at my kingdom! My people fear me, but they adore me. They bow before me like I’m a goddess.”

“You’ve caused an unnecessary war!” Tegeen cried. “Yes words are weapons, but you need to use them properly. You yelled, and screamed and threatened your prisoners so that my kingdom, and yours despised you.”

“I am the perfect lady,” she repeated. “I can rule, and I can protect my country but I am proper, smart and polite. Just like you wanted- you purposely destroyed my reputation!”

Cascata spat the words and Tegeen could not see the properness, the intelligance or the manners. She was a wild thing, driven mad from luxary and power. She had ruined her child.