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Caelan caught her hand, gently pulling her to sit in his lap. "It's quite alright, darling" He said softly, wrapping his arms loosely around her. "She keeps me around to distract my father from her. Those scars on my back would have been on my mother's if I hadn't been there and had just ran off. My father needs something to hit--to hurt--when he gets angry. Just sometimes...I wonder why he has me at all. He could have killed me and replaced me by now with either his own kin or an adopted one and faked royalty status. My mother only cares that I get a wife, money, and power. That's all she wants for her husband too. Money and power." |
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Adele tensed a little, then gave in and realxed in Caelan's hands. She listened to his story, partially glad he wasn't mad at her and partially concerned for his wellbeing and home. "That sounds really awful... Before, I think I remember you say that your father was going to die any day. Unless I misheard you?" |
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"No, he is. He's growing sick and only able to look even half well in front of public. Outside of meals and meetings, he's in bed, wasting away until I can take over" |
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Adele didn't have anything to say to that, so she cleared her throat and stood up, then said, "Well, you're right. We should probably go." She grabbed her blankets and headed towards the horses. |
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Caelan felt like he had done something wrong from the way she was acting. "Are you alright, Adele?" He asked softly, concerned a bit and trying to think ofhow he may have upset her. His mouth pressed into a thin line and he mounted Aurora |
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Adele rolled up the blankets and tied them to the saddle before hopping on Calvin. "Yes... But, do you want him to die? Because--" Adele stopped there, deciding that she still wasn't ready to say that. |
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"I want my mother free of him...And me to be free of him. I owe it to myself and the kingdom" |
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"So that's a yes?" Adele was glad she didn't have to face another decision regarding her... situation, but was always sad when she heard someone was dying. She sighed, thoughts swirling like the whirlpool in her dream. |
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"Unless you'd like him to live, yes. I asked the doctors recently to help him stay alive for a bit longer so my mother doesn't pressure me more into marrying some random girl or something..." He said, trailing off as his eyes darted to her ad away again, not even meaning to |
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"I have no reason to want him to live, in fact it's probably the opposite of that, but it's so hard for me to hear that someone's in pain..." Adele shook her head, hoping to end the conversation. "So... What do you do for fun?" |
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Snow and Sleet Mix, Clearing at Night
