>>18842601>[The silence that fills the small room as Raquel mentions the Princess is deafening. The mood changes, as Victoria straightens her back and raises her head. Victoria notices Raquel’s height for the first time. While sitting, their eyes are level and there is no doubt they would be the same if each were to rise. Quietly she speaks, almost subconsciously:]“If you’ve done anything to hurt her, I’ll bring down the wrath of a Kingdom on you.”
>[The Queen composes herself.]“But of course, which is to say, Miss Durango, that the Flower of Nōminstadt is her own woman, as are you, and as am I. What the interlopers to the company have done to her contract, as well as many others, is regrettable. Though I assure you, her situation is nothing to do with me. If the Princess wants her contract back, she will need to earn it, as I did my own once upon a time. But toughness builds character... I would never wish to presume another woman’s age, but you must look back fondly on the follies of youth, yourself. Imagine then which poor decisions you might look back on in another decade still.”
>[Victoria closely eyes the tiara pieces, but a slight smirk crosses her face. Again, she suppresses it. The Princess made quite a show of handing Victoria the Royal Tiara at the Clash in the Kingdom event. A well-rehearsed act indeed, though laced with too much dramatic irony.][3/5]
