Quoted By:
“Father-”
“Lorina-”
“My apologies-”
“Sorry, you can go-”
“I- um,” You start, but the silence drags on as you format in your mind what you wish to say. You knew this conversation was coming, had the entire day to prepare for it, yet no matter how many times you ran it through your head, everything you rehearsed has seen fit to simply disappear as if only to slight you. You would curse your mind for betraying you if it wasn’t, well, your mind. Then your eyes dart over to your only lifeline here, the one sitting next to the king. “Did Arthur speak with you about last night?”
Your father, King Lewis de Lindan, slowly nods, “Indeed, he did. I also spoke with the Lord Inquisitor earlier today. Lorina I-” He hesitates as if in parallel to your struggle, “I know everything.”
“Father I-” He raises a palm, and you immediately cease speaking.
“Lorina, if there is one thing I wish to impart to you with this talk, it is this. I am proud of you.” Your head snaps in father’s direction with enough speed to cause a flare-up of pain in your neck, “I am so very proud of you, Lorina. I always have been, and I always will be. I could have never asked for a better daughter.” He says these words with such seriousness that you are forced to believe them. Though for some strange reason, as he says them, his face gets blurrier and blurrier. “Originally, after the debacle with the honor duel, I planned for you to spend time near the border of the Demon Waste as a knight commander, a cushy- yet boring position but one that would allow you to build a comfortable life for yourself once the rumor mills forgot about you and moved to the next new topics.”
Your gaze returns to the sheets covering your lap, “I never would have been satisfied with a life like that.”
“I understand that now. I just- I never could have imagined one of my children could find solace in that institution of all places. That they could not only survive in it but excel.”
“But if either one of us could, it would be Lorina.”
“Of course,” You sniffle as the rain inside your room gets worse, “Is that not obvious?”
Your father allows himself a soft smile, “I suppose that is true. It is a wonder that Arthur even managed to graduate from the academy himself.”
“Hey-!” Your brother exclaims, but is ignored.
“Lorina, I am both proud and thankful of you,” Your father says, directing the conversation back on course, “I was scared- we all were scared when you would disappear into the night as you did.” He then lets out a humorless chuckle, “Your mother worked herself up so much she has gotten ill because of it; I fear she is just as bedridden as you are at present.”
“I’m sorr-” You father raises his hand and shakes his head.
“There is nothing for you to apologize for, Lorina. You have done both your family and your kingdom a great service this past week, exposing rot that no one else could even see. And because of that, any earlier transgressions you may have done shall forever be forgiven.”
