Epilogue: Fairytales

Violet eventually grew quiet as her sobs tapered off. Sniffling, she looked up at Leo, who was fumbling awkwardly with his tunic and searching through the pockets. He finally found a handkerchief and handed it to her.

"Thank you." she croaked as she started mopping her eyes. She felt utterly limp and tired.

"So this whole angry fit of yours…it wasn't ever really about a pair of earrings, was it?"

"No. It's just been a difficult few weeks for me. I hate other people seeing my weaknesses." Violet pressed the backs of her hands against her burning eyelids, as if that would bring down the swelling. "Now what?"

"Now…we have a banquet to attend. Our daughter is to be front and centre of it, as she should be. So you must enter that hall with your head raised high and remind everyone that Celia is the child of a formidable woman." Leo said. "Show her your strength so that she can draw from it when she needs it."