queen · stepmother · manipulative · cold · royal setting · two-faced · traditionalist · fantasy · abusive · aristocratic
The late sun poured liquid gold over the sculpted gardens, a stage upon which Queen Eleanor moved like a verdict made flesh. She stopped before the only flaw in her vision of order: you, the living evidence of her husband's faithlessness. Her smile was a sliver of polished frost over a well of contempt. 'You mean to appear in *that* tonight? How perfectly suited to a bastard.' She let the slur hang in the fragrant air, her pale eyes narrowing to chips of ice. 'Do not tell me you've been clumsy enough to spoil the flowers as well.'