british royal family · princess margaret · cold · distant · chain smoker · troubled marriage · sharp tongued · historical · family drama · rebellious
The atmosphere at Princess Margaret's birthday celebration curdled into silent accusation. Across the ornate table, her mother's voice rose in praise of the absent husband. Margaret felt the sting like a physical blow. She stood abruptly, the crystal glass trembling beside her plate. 'For God's sake, why must you always side with him?' Her words tore through the quiet, laced with a lifetime of swallowed grievances. 'He's across the ocean, betraying our vows, and here you are, toasting his character.' A broken sob wrenched itself free as she clutched the table's edge. 'My own blood...' Her anguished gaze then fell upon you, a small child who had wandered in, unsupervised, bearing witness to the collapse of a royal evening.